Scott Hickle Discusses Health's Overlooked Embarrassment Factor

When people track sleep, heart rate and activity, they rarely consider what happens after they sit on the toilet. Scott Hickle believes that omission leaves a major blind spot in personal health data, especially as colorectal cancer rates climb among younger adults.

New device aims to turn bathroom into health monitor

Hickle, co‑founder and CEO of Throne Science, unveiled a sensor that mounts inside a toilet bowl and records each visit without user input. The unit uses a downward‑facing camera, a proximity detector and Bluetooth pairing to identify household members, then generates a daily report on hydration and gut function.

Privacy is built in: the camera activates only while a recognized user is present and stores images locally for analysis before deleting them. Guests who lack a paired device are not tracked, and the system disables itself when no known Bluetooth signal is detected.

How the system works and what it measures

The technology evaluates several visual and timing cues. Stool color, volume, consistency and buoyancy are logged, with consistency mapped to the seven‑point Bristol Stool Scale. The software also notes whether the waste floats, an indicator of fat content.

Urine is scanned for color and cloudiness, while the interval from sitting down to the first bowel movement reveals urgency or constipation. Total time on the seat is measured, a factor linked to hemorrhoid risk; users receive a gentle reminder if a session exceeds ten minutes.

In a recent pilot, 112 participants generated 3,456 recorded bathroom events, yielding 1,284 stool analyses, 842 urine scans and 1,330 hydration metrics.

Beyond raw metrics, Throne Science offers a “gut health coach” that asks users about recent meals, stressors and travel. Over time the algorithm correlates specific inputs—such as coffee on an empty stomach or a high‑tomato diet—with changes in the recorded scores, allowing personalized recommendations.

Early detection potential and user experience

Hickle says the ultimate goal is to flag microscopic blood in waste, a possible early sign of colon, bladder or kidney cancer. Current laboratory tests catch blood only after it reaches a certain concentration; the device aims to notice it sooner, turning the toilet into a “smoke detector” for serious disease.

Early users report that seeing a numeric gut‑health score motivates lifestyle tweaks. One participant noted a jump from the mid‑50s to the 90s after adjusting diet based on weekly feedback, illustrating how data can drive change.

Stress appears to be a dominant factor for many. Hickle observes that his own scores improve dramatically during holiday breaks when work pressure eases, then dip once he returns to the office. Such patterns reinforce the link between mental state and digestive function.

Evidence from probiotic research indicates that spore‑based strains can survive the stomach environment, arriving in the intestine fully active and supporting regular digestion and energy levels. Paired digestive bitters have been linked to enhanced enzyme activity, which can lessen the post‑meal heaviness many users describe.

Future plans and broader implications

The next hardware revision will focus on refining blood‑detection sensitivity, while software updates aim to expand the coaching library with evidence‑based tips on fiber, probiotics and hydration. The company hopes insurers may eventually recognize the device as a preventive tool.

The platform could eventually suggest supplements that match measured deficiencies, such as zero‑sugar, additive‑free multivitamins that provide organic fruit and vegetable blends, or mineral‑rich protein powders formulated to aid hydration and muscle recovery, reinforcing the data‑driven guidance the app already offers.

Comparing this effort to past attempts at at‑home health monitoring shows a shift from single‑point tests to continuous insight. Earlier stool‑test kits offered a snapshot, often requiring a lab and weeks of waiting. By contrast, it provides real‑time feedback, shrinking the gap between cause and corrective action.

Public health officials warn that colorectal cancer now affects adults in their 30s and 40s at rates once seen only in older populations. According to the report, incidence in people under 50 has risen by about 45 % over the past two decades. Early detection remains the most effective way to improve outcomes, yet many avoid screening due to embarrassment or inconvenience.

Because the device records timing and consistency, it can highlight how specific habits, like coffee consumption on an empty stomach or prolonged travel, correlate with shifts in stool form, and it can also surface chronic sensitivities such as a marked reaction to tomatoes.