System and method for monitoring the presence of a person on a toilet

A system for monitoring the presence or absence of a person seated on a toilet, the toilet having a toilet seat with a full or partial ring structure and a hinged attachment structure securing it to the toilet, the system comprising:

• a toilet seat sensor, the toilet seat sensor comprising:
• first and second electrically conductive elements, the first conductive element extending in an arc at least partially around one side of the toilet seat ring and the second conductive element extending in an arc in a direction opposite the first element at least partially around a second side of the toilet seat ring, the first and second conductive elements each further comprising electrical connection terminals;
• a pair of electrical conductors, connected to the terminals of the conductive elements;
• and
• a pair of electrically conductive through-bolts extending through the hinged attachment structure of the toilet seat connecting the pair of electrical conductors to external snap connectors, the external snap connectors positioned in an externally accessible location at a rearward facing side of the toilet seat;
• and
• an interconnect module having an input connected to the external snap connectors on the toilet seat sensor, the interconnect module having electronic circuitry for measuring a dielectric shift between the conductive elements of the toilet seat sensor, the interconnect module further having an output for wired or wireless connection to an existing nurse call alert/alarm system.