Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39486001›Full record

ArticleNeurogastroenterology and motility2025

Long-term, automated stool monitoring using a novel smart toilet: A feasibility study.

Jin Zhou, Yuying Luo, Julia W Darcy, Kyle J Lafata, Jose R Ruiz, Sonia Grego

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neurogastroenterology and motility, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jin ZhouDuke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7980-7952
Yuying LuoMount Sinai Centre for Gastrointestinal Physiology & Motility, New York, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1738-0313
Julia W DarcyDuke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0633-8187
Kyle J LafataDuke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Jose R RuizUniversity of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Sonia GregoDuke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1734-2157

Funding

Smart Toilet with Artificial Intelligence for Remote Management of Inflammatory Bowel DiseaseR41DK131678 · NIDDK · COPRATA, INC. · PI GREGO, SONIA · 2022 to 2022
$350k
NIDDK NIH HHS R41 DK131678
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatients' report of bowel movement consistency is unreliable. We demonstrate the feasibility of long-term automated stool image data collection using a novel Smart Toilet and evaluate a deterministic computer-vision analytic approach to assess stool form according to the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS).

methodsOur smart toilet integrates a conventional toilet bowl with an engineered portal to image feces in a predetermined region of the plumbing post-flush. The smart toilet was installed in a workplace bathroom and used by six healthy volunteers. Images were annotated by three experts. A computer vision method based on deep learning segmentation and mathematically defined hand-crafted features was developed to quantify morphological attributes of stool from images. KEY

results474 bowel movements images were recorded in total from six subjects over a mean period of 10 months. 3% of images were rated abnormal with stool consistency BSFS 2 and 4% were BSFS 6. Our image analysis algorithm leverages interpretable morphological features and achieves classification of abnormal stool form with 94% accuracy, 81% sensitivity and 95% specificity.

conclusionsOur study supports the feasibility and accuracy of long-term, non-invasive automated stool form monitoring with the novel smart toilet system which can eliminate the patient burden of tracking bowel forms.

Indexed as

Feasibility StudiesFecesAdultBathroom EquipmentDefecationFemaleHumansImage Processing, Computer-AssistedMaleToilet Facilitiesartificial intelligencecomputer visionconstipationdiarrhearemote patient monitoring

Identifiers

PMID39486001
PMCPMC11686500

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.