Medical Toilet with Aptamer Sensors to Analyze Urine

Abstract

We disclose an in-toilet urinalysis system which includes a system for collection urine and for analysis of urine components using aptamer technology. Urine collection system may dispense urine into cuvettes, channels, or other containers that include aptamers. The aptamers may detect target molecules in urine. The aptamers may measure urine analytes, detect excreted drugs or drug metabolites, or disease markers. Upon binding to the target molecule, the aptamers may produce a signal which a sensor in the toilet may detect. In some embodiments, the signal may be electrochemical, fluorescent, or colorimetric. The measurements obtained from analysis of the urine may be used to assess a user's health or diagnose disease. In some embodiments, the measurements are stored in a controller which may transmit the measurements to a healthcare provider for assessment.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A medical toilet comprising an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell comprising:
 a. a counter electrode;   b. a functionalized electrode;   c. at least one aptamer,
 i. wherein each of the at least one aptamer is bound to the functionalized electrode, and 
 ii. wherein each of the at least one aptamer comprises at least one binding site which binds a component of a user's urine. 
   
     
     
         2 . The medical toilet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. a urine capture reservoir; and   b. a channel, wherein the channel fluidly connects the urine capture reservoir to the at least one electrochemical cell.   
     
     
         3 . The medical toilet of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one binding site comprises a plurality of binding sites. 
     
     
         4 . The medical toilet of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of aptamers, wherein the plurality of aptamers comprises a plurality of unique binding sites, wherein each unique binding site binds a different component of the user's urine. 
     
     
         5 . The medical toilet of  claim 1 , additionally comprising a bias or voltammetry circuit. 
     
     
         6 . The medical toilet of  claim 5 , further comprising a reference electrode, wherein the reference electrode is connected to the bias or voltammetry circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The medical toilet of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller, wherein the controller comprises computer readable medium, and wherein the computer readable medium analyzes signals produced by the at least one aptamer. 
     
     
         8 . A medical toilet comprising:
 a. a fluorescence spectrometer;   b. at least one fluorescence cell;   c. at least one aptamer, wherein each of the at least one aptamer comprises:
 i. at least one binding site which binds a component of a user's urine; 
 ii. a bound fluorophore. 
   
     
     
         9 . The medical toilet of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a. a urine capture reservoir; and   b. a channel, wherein the channel fluidly connects the urine capture reservoir to at the least one fluorescence cell.   
     
     
         10 . The medical toilet of  claim 8 , further comprising a dispensing system, wherein the dispensing system delivers the at least one aptamer into the at least one fluorescence cell. 
     
     
         11 . The medical toilet of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one aptamer comprises a bound quencher. 
     
     
         12 . The medical toilet of  claim 8 , wherein at least one binding site comprises a plurality of binding sites. 
     
     
         13 . The medical toilet of  claim 8 , comprising a plurality of aptamers, wherein the plurality of aptamers comprises a plurality of unique binding sites, wherein each unique binding site binds a different component of the user's urine. 
     
     
         14 . A medical toilet comprising:
 a. an absorption spectrometer;   b. at least one absorption cell, wherein the at least one absorption cell comprises:   c. at least one aptamer, wherein each of the at least one aptamer comprises at least one binding site which binds a component of a user's urine; and   d. a plurality of nanoparticles, wherein the plurality of nanoparticles comprises a first color when bound to the at least one aptamer, and wherein the plurality of nanoparticles comprises a second color when aggregated to each other.   
     
     
         15 . The medical toilet of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a. a urine capture reservoir; and   b. a channel, wherein the channel fluidly connects the urine capture reservoir to at least one absorption cell.   
     
     
         16 . The medical toilet of  claim 14 , further comprising a dispensing system, wherein the dispensing system delivers the at least one aptamer into the at least one absorption cell. 
     
     
         17 . The medical toilet of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles comprises gold and or other noble metal nanoparticles, including combinations, mixtures, and alloys thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The medical toilet of  claim 14 , wherein at least one binding site comprises a plurality of binding sites. 
     
     
         19 . The medical toilet of  claim 14 , comprising a plurality of aptamers, wherein the plurality of aptamers comprises a plurality of unique binding sites, wherein each unique binding site binds a different component of the user's urine. 
     
     
         20 . The medical toilet of  claim 1 , wherein the functionalized electrode comprises a surface comprising a noble metal selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, osmium, iridium, platinum, and combinations, mixtures, and alloys thereof.