June 23, 2026
A new device aims to fill a gap in personal health tracking by focusing on a routine that most people overlook.
Surveys show that 60% of Americans own at least one wearable tracking device. Watches count steps and calories. Rings track sleep. Wearables monitor heart rate, blood glucose, and recovery. Apps log workouts, blood biomarkers, and food intake. At the same time, interest in gut health is at an all-time high. People spend billions of dollars each year on probiotics, supplements, and digestive wellness products.
Despite this focus on health data, most people have little objective information about their own digestive patterns. It is possible to gather data on almost every aspect of daily life, but not in the bathroom.
Kohler Health’s Dekoda is a tracking tool designed to fit on the toilet. It captures information on bathroom habits, helping users track patterns in hydration and digestive health.
The importance of digestive health
Research over the last two decades has shown that the digestive system affects the whole body. The gut microbiome contains trillions of microorganisms that help with digestion, nutrient absorption, immune function, and metabolic health. Scientists have found communication pathways between the gut and the brain, known as the gut-brain axis. A large part of the body’s immune system is in the gut. The gut also plays a central role in nutrient absorption and blood sugar regulation.
Because of this, digestive health is seen as a foundation for overall well-being.
The challenge of measuring gut health
Healthcare providers often ask detailed questions about bowel habits and digestive symptoms during checkups. These patterns can provide clues about what is happening in the body. The problem is that most people do not have enough objective information to answer those questions accurately. People rely on subjective observations and memory, which are often inconsistent.
Most people do not know if their hydration levels change, if their bowel movements look the same from day to day, or what their normal range is. Obvious symptoms like bloating or constipation do not always tell the full story. By the time discomfort is noticeable, changes may have been developing for some time.
Healthcare professionals look for patterns over time, changes from a normal baseline, and shifts in routine. Most people are not paying close enough attention to notice when those shifts happen.
Finding a personal baseline
What is normal for one person may be different for another. Understanding personal patterns is often more useful than comparing to someone else. Healthcare providers focus on trends rather than isolated events. A single day provides little insight, but weeks or months of information can reveal meaningful patterns.
Establishing a personal baseline makes it easier to recognize when something changes. This can help determine whether lifestyle factors, stress, hydration, or diet are affecting digestive health.
Health signals in bathroom habits
Kohler Health tracks key metrics to help users stay informed. Hydration influences energy levels and digestion. The device learns what is normal for each user’s hydration and flags subtle shifts. Gut health markers include consistency, color, and volume, with algorithms trained on the Bristol Stool Chart. The device also flags the presence of blood, which is an important signal that should not be ignored.
The device attaches discreetly to the toilet and works passively. It captures biometric signals related to hydration, gut health, and the presence of blood. Information is delivered to the Kohler Health App, where users can monitor trends and establish personal baselines. All data is securely delivered to the app, allowing users to understand their body’s patterns while maintaining privacy and control.
Over time, the device builds a picture of bathroom habits, turning a routine into usable information. This can surface patterns in how stress, diet, travel, sleep, or activity affect regularity. It can also flag shifts that might otherwise be missed.
