In alternative embodiments, the invention provides compositions, e.g., formulations, used for gastric, gastrointestinal and/or colonic treatments or lavage, e.g., orthostatic lavage, e.g., for inducing the purgation (e.g., cleansing) of a gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including a colon; and methods for making and using them. In alternative embodiments, compositions and methods of the invention are used for the stabilization, amelioration, treatment and/or prevention of constipation, for the treatment of abdominal pain, particularly non-specific abdominal pain, and diarrhea, including diarrhea caused by a drug side effect, a psychological condition, a disease or a condition such as Crohn's Disease, a poison, a toxin or an infection, e.g., a toxin-mediated travelers diarrhea, or C. difficile or the pseudo-membranous colitis associated with this infection. In alternative embodiments, the invention provides pharmaceuticals and products (articles) of manufacture for delivering these compositions and formulations to an individual, e.g., a human or an animal. The invention also provides devices for delivering a fecal material to a patient.

The present disclosure relates to methods of collecting and testing bacteria containing samples from within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject. The methods may include disposing an ingestible device in the GI tract, collecting a bacteria-containing sample from the GI tract, selectively lysing eukaryotic cells in the sample by combining the sample with a dried reagent, exposing bacteria in the sample to resazurin in the ingestible device to produce resorufin, emitting light from the ingestible device, the emitted light being filtered through an optical filter to control for scatter so that the light interacts with the resorufin to produce fluorescence, and measuring a total fluorescence from the resorufin; or a rate of change of fluorescence from the resorufin as a function of time within the GI tract of the subject; and correlating the measured parameter to a number of viable bacterial cells in the sample.

A device and a method for a lavage-type introduction of a stool transplant or of another, local or topically effective substance through the anus into the colon of a patient, wherein the substance to be introduced is flushed also into the upper parts of the colon of the patient in a torrent-like manner through correspondingly large-lumen catheters; said device comprises an ano-rectal placed head part remaining inside the patient from the beginning until the end of the application and a system of exchangeable bags, which are connectable to the head part, whereby two different types of bags can be applied, one of which is designed for the cleaning lavage, while the another is designed for the introduction of a substance or a transplant.

A bio sample collection device including: a housing; a cap part detachably fastened to the housing, and including a bio sample collector for collecting a bio sample; and a bio sample processing liquid storage unit storing bio sample processing liquid, the bio sample processing liquid storage unit being formed to be broken when the cap part is combined with the housing after bio sample is collected so that the bio sample processing liquid is mixed with the bio sample.

The present invention relates to a method for determining whether or not a subject has a parkinsonian condition, comprising determining the concentration of 2-hydroxypyridine in a sample obtained from the subject, wherein the subject is determined to have, or to be at risk of having the parkinsonian condition, if the determined concentration of 2-hydroxypyridine is increased compared to a control. The present invention further also relates to a method for monitoring the progression of a parkinsonian condition in a subject diagnosed with the parkinsonian condition and a method for assessing the efficacy of treatment of a parkinsonian condition in a subject diagnosed with the parkinsonian condition as well as a kit-of-parts for determining whether or not a subject has a parkinsonian condition.

Aspects of the invention provide a biological sample collection pad (e.g., for the collection of fecal, liquid or tissue samples). Method of using such pads and analyzing collected samples are also provided.

A stool management system having a tubular body including a first end section disposable in a rectum of a patient and a second end section including a first connector which detachably mates with a second connector coupled to a collection container which receives waste matter passed through the tubular body from the bowel of the patient.

A toilet device includes a toilet seat disposed on an upper side of a toilet; an image sensor provided on a back surface of the toilet seat and configured to image an inner space of a toilet bowl at time of excretion; an open-close acquiring device configured to acquire open-close information of the toilet seat; and an imaging controller configured to determine whether or not to image by the image sensor according to the open-close information of the toilet seat acquired by the open-close acquiring device.

A collection container can include a first end, a second end, and a central recess disposed between the first end and the second end. The central recess can be configured to receive a sample. The collection container can have a first stopper disposed adjacent to the first end and a second stopper disposed adjacent to the second end. The first stopper and the second stopper can be configured to together grasp opposite sides of a toilet bowl upon installation of the collection container on the toilet bowl. The first stopper and the second stopper selectively hold the collection container in place on the toilet bowl during collection of the sample.

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to devices, systems and methods for the collection of bodily fluids. The collector can make use of microfluidic networks connected to collection sites on the skin of a subject to gather and shuttle blood into a removable cartridge. The collected fluid is supplied to substrate for drying, storage and transport.