IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,611,200
Granted Patent B2
US 12,611,200 · App. 18/007,601 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Excrement analysis apparatus, analysis system, server apparatus, analysis method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium

Inventors: Tomoyuki Sato (Kanagawa, JP); Tsutomu Mieno (Kanagawa, JP); Haruhiko Yamabuchi (Kanagawa, JP); Masahiro Wakabayashi (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: PARAMOUNT BED CO., LTD.
A61B10/0038G01N33/4833G01N33/493G01N2021/177
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,611,200
App. No.
18/007,601
Granted
Apr 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An excrement analysis apparatus includes an inputter, a memory, a first analyzer, and a second analyzer. The inputter inputs imaging data captured by an image capture apparatus installed in such a way as to include, in a capturing range, an excretion range of excrement in a toilet bowl of a toilet. The memory temporarily holds the imaging data input by the inputter. The first analyzer analyzes first analysis target data being the imaging data input by the inputter, and outputs notification information to an observer who observes a user of the toilet. The second analyzer analyzes second analysis target data being the imaging data that is input by the inputter and temporarily held by the memory, and outputs detailed information indicating a content of excretion.

Claims (67)

1 . An excrement analysis apparatus comprising:

an inputter configured to input imaging data captured by an image capture apparatus installed in such a way as to include, in a capturing range, an excretion range of excrement in a toilet bowl of a toilet:

a first analyzer configured to analyze first analysis target data being imaging data input by the inputter as a real time analysis, and output notification information to an observer who observes a user of the toilet:

a memory configured to temporarily hold the imaging data input by the inputter; and

a second analyzer configured to analyze second analysis target data being the imaging data that is temporarily held by the memory as a non-real time analysis, and output detailed information indicating a content of excretion,

wherein the first analyzer performs an analysis to determine whether a foreign body is present in the first analysis target data, the foreign body being an object other than feces and urine and a subject except for the toilet bowl and washing liquid for the toilet bowl; and

in response to determining that the foreign body is present, the first analyzer:

outputs, as the notification information, an alert requiring rushing action by the observer in case of emergency.

2 . The excrement analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first analyzer outputs the notification information by transmitting the notification information to a terminal apparatus to be used by the observer.

3 . The excrement analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second analyzer outputs the detailed information by transmitting the detailed information to a server apparatus connected to the excrement analysis apparatus via a network.

4 . The excrement analysis apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first analyzer outputs the notification information by transmitting the notification information to the server apparatus.

5 . The excrement analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the memory temporarily holds an analysis result by the first analyzer as a part of the second analysis target data.

6 . The excrement analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first analyzer acquires the notification information from the first analysis target data by using a learned model of inputting the first analysis target data and outputting the notification information.

7 . The excrement analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second analyzer acquires at least a part of the detailed information from the second analysis target data by using a learned model of inputting the second analysis target data and outputting the detailed information.

8 . The excrement analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first analyzer outputs, as at least a part of the notification information, at least one of information indicating a usage situation of a buttocks washing machine installed in the toilet bowl and information indicating that sitting is performed on the toilet bowl.

9 . The excrement analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising the image capture apparatus.

10 . An analysis system comprising:

the excrement analysis apparatus according to claim 1 ; a terminal apparatus being connected to the excrement analysis apparatus and used by the observer; and a server apparatus being connected to the excrement analysis apparatus and the terminal apparatus, wherein

the excrement analysis apparatus outputs the notification information by transmitting the notification information to the terminal apparatus, and outputs the detailed information by transmitting the detailed information to the server apparatus,

the server apparatus stores the detailed information received from the excrement analysis apparatus in a viewable state from the terminal apparatus, and

the terminal apparatus includes a diary generator configured to generate an excretion diary, based on the notification information received from the excrement analysis apparatus and the detailed information stored in the server apparatus.

11 . The excrement analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the foreign body is at least one of vomit, blood vomiting, a urine absorbing pad, a diaper and a toilet paper core.

12 . The excrement analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the notification information to the observer does not contain the imaging data captured by the image capture apparatus.

13 . The excrement analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second analyzer analyzes the imaging data to determine at least one of a feces characteristic, a feces color, a feces amount, a urine color, and a urine amount.

14 . The excrement analysis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second analyzer analyzes the imaging data to acquire a comparison result by comparing a feces amount and a urine amount from a predetermined threshold, and outputs the detailed information containing the comparison result.

15 . The excrement analysis apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the memory temporarily holds the imaging data input by the inputter; and

the detailed information does not contain the imaging data captured by the image capture apparatus.

16 . The excrement analysis apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the detailed information:

does not include the imaging data captured by the image capture apparatus; and

comprises information indicating at least one selected from the group consisting of a feces characteristic, a feces amount, a feces color, a urine amount, a urine color, a defecation count or an amount of defecation per unit time, and an excretion timing.

17 . The excrement analysis apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the alert requires immediate action by the observer to remove the object.

18 . An analysis method comprising:

by an excrement analysis apparatus, inputting imaging data captured by an image capture apparatus installed in such a way as to include, in a capturing range, an excretion range of excrement in a toilet bowl of a toilet;

by the excrement analysis apparatus, analyzing first analysis target data being imaging data input in the inputting as a real time analysis, and outputting notification information to an observer who observes a user of the toilet;

by the excrement analysis apparatus, temporarily holding imaging data input in the inputting, and

by the excrement analysis apparatus, analyzing second analysis target data being imaging data that is temporarily held in the temporarily holding as a non-real time analysis, and outputting detailed information indicating a content of excretion,

wherein the first analyzer performs an analysis to determine whether a foreign body is present in the first analysis target data, the foreign body being an object other than feces and urine and a subject except for the toilet bowl and washing liquid for the toilet bowl; and

in response to determining that the foreign body is present, the first analyzer:

outputs, as the notification information, an alert requiring rushing action by the observer in case of emergency.

19 . An analysis method according to claim 18 , further comprising:

by a server apparatus, receiving the detailed information;

by the server apparatus, storing the detailed information received in the receiving;

information processing; and

providing, wherein

the detailed information includes at least information indicating an excretion date and time, a kind of excrement, and a shape of defecation,

the information processing includes, by the server apparatus, aggregating the detailed information for each shape of the defecation, and

the providing includes, by the server apparatus, providing a processing result in the information processing to an external apparatus.

20 . The analysis method according to claim 18 ,

wherein the alert requires immediate action by the observer to remove the object.

21 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for causing a computer for control included in an excrement analysis apparatus to perform:

inputting imaging data captured by an image capture apparatus installed in such a way as to include, in a capturing range, an excretion range of excrement in a toilet bowl of a toilet;

first analyzing first analysis target data being imaging data input in the inputting as a real time analysis, and outputting notification information to an observer who observes a user of the toilet;

temporarily holding imaging data input in the inputting; and

second analyzing second analysis target data being imaging data that is temporarily held in the temporarily holding as a non-real time analysis, and outputting detailed information indicating a content of excretion,

wherein the first analyzer performs an analysis to determine whether a foreign body is present in the first analysis target data, the foreign body being an object other than feces and urine and a subject except for the toilet bowl and washing liquid for the toilet bowl; and

in response to determining that the foreign body is present, the first analyzer:

outputs, as the notification information, an alert requiring rushing action by the observer in case of emergency.

22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing the program according to claim 21 , wherein

the program is a program for causing the computer to perform:

receiving, as the detailed information, detailed information including at least information indicating an excretion date and time, a kind of excrement, and a shape of defecation;

storing the detailed information received in the receiving;

information processing to aggregate the detailed information for each shape of the defecation; and

providing a processing result in the information processing to an external apparatus.

23 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing the program according to claim 21 ,

wherein the alert requires immediate action by the observer to remove the object.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2024
From: NEC PLATFORMS, LTD.
To: PARAMOUNT BED CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 069110/0199 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2022
From: SATO, TOMOYUKI; MIENO, TSUTOMU; YAMABUCHI, HARUHIKO; WAKABAYASHI, MASAHIRO
To: NEC PLATFORMS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 061944/0454 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2020-097575 · Jun 4, 2020 · national
JP 2020-179605 · Oct 27, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230225714A1 · Jul 20, 2023
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