This Japanese toilet worth ¥500,000 can analyze your poop health

For decades, Japanese toilet Renowned for its innovative features and unparalleled functionality. Industry giants are now integrating advanced fecal analysis sensors directly into toilet bowls, a surprisingly revolutionary move that is sure to grab the attention of health-conscious consumers.

Toto Ltd., in particular, made waves last summer with the launch of its Neorest range, which uses LED technology to scan waste and transmit the data directly to a mobile app, allowing up to six users per household to track their digestive health and receive dietary advice. Stool scanning technology was originally developed to help residents of nursing facilities and is now being targeted at a wider group of general consumers.

Picture from “PR Times”

How is stool analysis performed?

By automating stool data collection, Toto’s Neorest series eliminates the need for manual recording and provides a standardized method for tracking biomarkers. So how exactly does it work?

In a nutshell, the hardware uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) built into the device to project light onto the waste, while sensors capture the reflections to determine length, contour and surface shape. There are seven levels of stool consistency, ranging from liquid to semi-solid. The process also records three different levels of volume and color, such as ocher or dark brown.

The linked smartphone app serves as the primary interface for users to view changing patterns in their health status over time. The app generates charts monthly to visualize changes in stool status and provide specific analysis, such as identifying recurring trends in soft stools. Based on these findings, the software provides actionable recommendations, such as recommendations to increase vegetable consumption.

The two Neorest toilets, Neorest AS-W and Neorest LS-W, are considered luxury toilets and are currently priced at 493,900 yen and 542,300 yen including tax, respectively.

Picture from “PR Times”

Moving to bathroom-based health monitoring

Following the Toto Neorest series aimed at a wider population, Panasonic Holdings and Panasonic Household Appliances are launching a device specifically for nursing facilities in 2023. The device is a specially designed “excretion sensor” designed to be linked with the care support platform “Life Lens”, using artificial intelligence and sensing technology to record the time in and out of the toilet, the time spent sitting, and the frequency, volume and shape of stools.

Data collected by this “Life Lens” add-on can be centrally managed and viewed on a facility office computer or smartphone, allowing staff to monitor residents’ daily rhythms and physical conditions in real time without the need for manual patrols or intrusive manual inspections. Essentially, the system is designed to reduce physical and mental stress on caregivers while improving residents’ quality of life through more personalized care.

Panasonic’s technology is already being used in care facilities such as Granda Yotsuya, demonstrating a shift to using cloud-based software updates to continuously upgrade bathroom health monitoring capabilities.

Related posts