JP2000325324A - Somatic fat rate mensuration device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To keep constant a contact position between the palm and a pair of electrodes to stably obtain measuration result with good reproducibility by disposing a positioning part above a left side current applying electrode, a right side current applying electrode, a left side voltage measuring electrode and a right side voltage measuring electrode. SOLUTION: A somatic fat rate mensuration device includes a left side current applying electrode 7 and a left side voltage measuring electrode 9 on the left side surface 3 and a right side current applying electrode 7 and a right side voltage measuring electrode 9 on the right side 5, and the electrodes 7, 9 are electrically connected to a circuit part in a device body 1. A power supply switch 17, an input key group 15 and a display part 13 are disposed on the front of the device body 1. A projecting positioning part 11 is formed above the electrodes 7, 9. When the device body is held with the left side surface 3 and the right side surface 5 held by both hands, the contact position between the palm of the left hand and the electrodes 7, 9 is positioned constant, and the contact position between the palm of the right hand and the electrodes 7, 9 is positioned constantly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a body fat measurement for measuring body fat percentage, body fat mass, body fat mass, and body water content by measuring the impedance of a measurement site of the human body. It concerns the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various methods such as an underwater body weight method and a caliper method have been proposed and adopted as means for measuring a body fat percentage. Among them, the bioimpedance method has attracted attention as a means for measuring the body fat percentage simply and in a short time. As a measuring device, there is an apparatus as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-51242. Was.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 13 is a first electrode pair 117, 11 for applying a high-frequency signal between measurement sites of a subject.
8 and a second pair of electrodes 119 and 120 for measurement for arranging the applied signal in the body conduction path and measuring the body resistance potential
Means for calculating a body internal impedance based on a current passed between the first pair of electrodes and a body resistance potential between the second pair of electrodes, and means for inputting subject and body specific information Means for extracting health evaluation data such as body fat, lean mass, and body fat percentage based on the impedance value and the body specifying information. It is characterized in that the electrode pair is formed integrally with the grip portion.

Also, grips 112, 1 are provided at both ends of the apparatus main body.
13, a display unit 116 for displaying data and information is provided in the apparatus main body 111 between the two grip portions.

In this device, the grips 112, 11
By grasping 3 with both hands, both hands and the electrode pair can be brought into contact, and the subject can perform measurement by himself while standing. Also, grip portions 11 are provided at both ends of the apparatus main body 111.
2 and 113 are formed, and the display section 116 for displaying data is provided on the main body of the device between the two grips, so that the right and left hands respectively hold the right and left grips of the main body to measure. Since the display unit is located in front of the subject, measurement results and information can be easily read.

Further, by gripping the right grip 113 with the right hand, it is possible to contact the electrodes of the first electrode pair 118 and the second electrode pair 120, and to grip the left grip 112 with the left hand. First electrode pair 117, second electrode pair 119
Can be brought into contact with each other, and the bioimpedance between the palm of the right hand and the palm of the left hand can be accurately measured.

[0007]

However, in the prior art, an electrode pair is formed on the grip portion,
There is a problem in that the contact position between the palm and the electrode pair changes depending on how to grasp, and the measurement result data such as the body fat percentage changes.

Further, since there is no means for controlling the current value to a fixed value or less, it is difficult to control the current value to a fixed value or less.
There is a problem that an excessive current may flow through a living body.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a body fat percentage measuring apparatus for measuring a body fat percentage or the like using the bioelectrical impedance method, whereby the contact position between the palm and the electrode pair is kept constant, whereby a stable and reproducible measurement is performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a body fat percentage measuring device capable of obtaining a result.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a body fat percentage measuring device capable of obtaining stable and reproducible measurement results by improving the contact state between the palm and the electrode pair.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a safe body fat percentage measuring device that controls a current value flowing through a living body to a certain value or less and prevents an excessive current value from flowing in any case.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a current applying electrode pair and a voltage measuring electrode pair formed on a side surface of a main body, a power switch, and a height, weight,
An input key group for inputting age, gender data, and the like, and a body fat percentage measuring device including a display unit for displaying a calculation result and input data obtained by calculating a body fat percentage from the impedance measurement value and the input data, A body fat percentage measuring device having a positioning portion above a surface current application electrode, a right side current application electrode, a left side voltage measurement electrode, and a right side voltage measurement electrode.

Further, the left side current application electrode and the left side voltage measurement electrode, the right side current application electrode and the right side voltage measurement electrode are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction, and the left side current application electrode is provided. And the left side voltage measuring electrode, the right side current applying electrode and the right side voltage measuring electrode are arranged in a comb shape, the left side current applying electrode and the left side voltage measuring electrode, the right side current The application electrode and the right side surface voltage measurement electrode are arranged concentrically.

An electrode pair for current application and an electrode pair for voltage measurement formed on the side surface of the main body, a power switch, an input key group for inputting height, weight, age, sex data and the like of the individual, and a measured impedance value And a display unit for displaying a calculation result obtained by calculating a body fat percentage from input data and input data, and a display unit for displaying the input data, wherein a current control means is provided.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment
The embodiment will be described with reference to the external perspective view of FIG. The present embodiment is characterized in that a positioning portion is provided above the left side current application electrode and the left side voltage measurement electrode, and the right side current application electrode and the right side voltage measurement electrode.

The body fat percentage measuring device includes a left side current applying electrode 7a and a left side voltage measuring electrode 9a on the left side 3 and a right side current applying electrode 7b on the right side 5 as viewed from the front of the main body 1. A right side voltage measuring electrode 9b is provided, and the left side current applying electrode 7a, the left side voltage measuring electrode 9a, the right side current applying electrode 7b, and the right side voltage measuring electrode 9b are inside the main body. It is electrically connected to a circuit unit (not shown in FIG. 1).

On the front of the main body 1, a power switch 17, an input key group 15 for inputting physical characteristic data such as the height, weight, age, and gender of the subject, and a display unit 13 for displaying the input data and calculation results Is arranged.

When the main body is held with the left side 3 and the right side 5 sandwiched between both hands, the contact positions of the palm of the left hand, the left side current application electrode 7a, and the left side voltage measurement electrode 9a are fixed. The left side current applying electrode 7a formed on the side of the main body and the left side so that the contact position between the palm of the right hand and the right side current applying electrode 7b and the right side voltage measuring electrode 9b is fixed. A convex positioning portion 11 is formed above the surface voltage measurement electrode 9a, the right side current application electrode 7b, and the right side voltage measurement electrode 9b.

Note that the term "upper" refers to the upper surface direction of the measuring device.

Since the measuring device has a portable size and weight, the subject holds the left and right sides of the main body of the device so as to be sandwiched between the palms when performing the measurement. , Extend both hands straight forward and level. Then the body will be shoulder level.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the user holds the positioning portion 11 so as to be sandwiched between the thumb and the index finger, and presses the base between the thumb and the index finger against the end 19 of the positioning portion 11. .

Then, the left side current application electrode 7a and the left side voltage measurement electrode 9a can come into contact with each other in a range surrounded by the forefinger to the base of the little finger of the palm of the left hand and the vicinity of the center of the palm. , Right side current application electrode 7
b, The right side surface voltage measurement electrode 9b can come into contact with the right palm palm in a range surrounded by the index finger to the base of the little finger and near the center of the palm.

As described above, when the body fat percentage measuring device is provided, the left side current applying electrode 7a, the left side voltage measuring electrode 9a and the right side current applying electrode 7b formed on the side surface of the main body 1, By holding the surface voltage measuring electrode 9b between the palms of both hands and pressing the end portion 19 of the positioning portion 11 against the base between the thumb and the index finger, the contact position and contact state between the palm and the electrode portion are improved. It can be always constant.

Therefore, the bioimpedance between the palm of the right hand and the palm of the left hand can be accurately measured, and an accurate body fat percentage can be obtained.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration in the main body 1 connected to the left side current application electrode 7a, the left side voltage measurement electrode 9a, the right side current application electrode 7b, and the right side voltage measurement electrode 9b. FIG.

The internal circuit of the body fat percentage measuring apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has a frequency f (about 10 kHz to about 100 kHz).
z) a sine wave, a high-frequency signal generator 21 for generating a constant-current high-frequency signal of several hundred μA, a left-side current application electrode 7a for applying the generated current to a living body, and a right-side current application electrode 7b. Left side voltage measurement electrode 9 for measuring a potential difference caused by an applied current and bioimpedance
a, a right side voltage measuring electrode 9b, a differential amplifier 23 receiving a potential difference signal from the left side voltage measuring electrode 9a and the right side voltage measuring electrode 9b, and a sine wave signal from the differential amplifier 23. Full-wave rectifier 25 and integral smoothing circuit 2 for performing absolute value processing to obtain an absolute value signal which is an analog signal
7, an A / D converter 29 for converting an analog signal to a digital signal, and a ROM for storing a body fat percentage measurement program
CPU 35, C that takes in data such as height, weight, age, and gender from the input key group and the input from the A / D converter 29 and executes impedance measurement processing calculation and the like.
A RAM 33 in which a work area of the PU 35 is set, a power supply battery 37, and the like are provided.

When the measurement is performed in the above embodiment, the left and right palms are used to measure the left side current application electrode 7a and the left side voltage measurement electrode 9a, the right side current application electrode 7b and the left side voltage measurement, respectively. The electrode 9b is sandwiched. Then, a sine wave signal having a frequency f and several hundred μA is applied to the left side current application electrode 7a and the right side current application electrode 7b from the high frequency signal generation unit 21, and the left side current application electrode 7a, the palm of the left hand, A current flows between the left side voltage measurement electrode 9a, the living body, the right side voltage measurement electrode 9b, and the right side current application electrode pair 7b, and the left side voltage measurement electrode 9a and the right side surface are applied by the applied current and bioimpedance. The potential difference between the voltage measurement electrode 9b and the voltage measurement electrode 9b is applied to the differential amplifier 23, and a potential difference signal proportional to the impedance is obtained.

The obtained potential difference signal is converted into an absolute value signal by an absolute value circuit composed of a full-wave rectifier 25 and an integrating and smoothing circuit 27, and this signal is converted into a digital signal having a predetermined number of bits by an A / D converter 29. Convert to a signal.

The converted digital signal is input key group 1
The arithmetic processing is performed by the arithmetic processing CPU 35 together with the data such as the height, weight, age, and gender input from 5 to obtain a result as a body fat percentage.

Next, the measuring operation of the apparatus of the above embodiment is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the power switch 17 is turned on, a calibration process is performed. Next, the subject inputs physical information such as height, weight, age, and gender from the input key group 15. It waits until the input of these data is completed, and when the data input is completed, it waits for the measurement start switch of the input key group 15 to be turned on. Confirm that the measurement start switch is turned on, the subject correctly contacts the electrode section, and that an impedance of a certain value or more is detected.
The display 13 indicates that the measurement has started.

When the measurement is started, a display such as "Please hold the electrode unit correctly and take the measurement posture" is displayed on the display unit. Alternatively, a time interval is required until the subject takes the measurement posture correctly.

Then, it is confirmed whether or not the measured value of the impedance between both hands is stable in a normal range. If not, the measurement is repeated until the value is stabilized. At this time, the time until the measured value stabilizes may be determined to be a fixed time, and if it takes longer, an error may be displayed.

When the measured value is normal and stable, the measurement processing and the conversion calculation of the body fat are executed, the end of the measurement is displayed on the display unit 13, and then the measurement result is displayed on the display unit 13.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the upper surface of the main body 1, the left side surface 3, and the right side surface 5
Is characterized in that a positioning portion 11 is formed at a point where the side surface, the front surface, and the concave portion intersect with each other, by having a concave portion having a shape on which a thumb can be put at a corner portion of the concave portion.

With this arrangement, when the main body is sandwiched so that the positioning portion 11 is pressed against the base between the thumb and the forefinger, the contact portion between the electrode portion and the palm can always be at the same position. Stable and good reproducibility.

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The present embodiment is characterized in that a concave portion in which the thumb can be inserted and placed on the upper surface of the main body 1 near the left and right sides is provided, and a positioning portion 11 is formed between the concave portion and the side surface. Is held in contact with the base between the thumb and the index finger, so that the contact portion between the electrode portion and the palm can always be at the same position, so that the reproducibility of the measured values is good.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, a convex positioning portion 1 formed on a side surface is used.
1 is characterized in that it is partially provided on the front side of the side surface, and this positioning portion 11 can be stored by pushing it into the main body at the time of non-measurement, or can be stored by folding. It is also a structure that can be pulled out again at the time of measurement.

Next, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, from the front surface to the side surface of the main body, a convex curved surface is formed, the display surface is formed on the front surface, the electrode portion is formed on the side surface, and the upper surface side of the electrode portion includes the thumb and the index finger. Positioning unit 1 that can determine the position between
1 is provided with a convex portion on the upper surface so as to be provided.

Next, another electrode structure of the body fat percentage measuring apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This electrode structure is characterized in that electrodes provided on the side surface are vertically arranged in two rows, and a current application electrode is located at the back of the display surface and a voltage measurement electrode is located at the front. With this, when the subject is in the measurement posture, even when a force is applied to the index finger from the little finger, the force is uniformly applied to both the voltage measurement electrode and the current application electrode, so that the contact can be achieved. Stable measurement is possible. Further, the voltage measurement electrode pair is completely located inside the current application electrode pair in the current flow path, so that stable measurement can be performed.

Next, another electrode structure will be described with reference to FIG. This electrode structure is characterized in that a voltage measuring electrode and a current applying electrode are formed in a comb shape. As a result, the inter-electrode portion becomes concave at the comb tooth portion and the electrode portion becomes convex, so that the adhesion between the electrode portion and the palm becomes better than before, and stable measurement becomes possible.

Next, another electrode structure will be described with reference to FIG. This electrode structure is characterized in that the electrodes are formed concentrically, and the outer side is located at the current applying electrode, the inner side at the voltage measuring electrode or vice versa. Since the electrodes are concentric, the manner in which force is applied can be kept constant, and stable measurement can be performed. A single concentric electrode can provide a sufficient effect, and a plurality of concentric electrodes can provide the same effect.

Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. This embodiment has a circuit configuration including a current control means 39 connected to the left side current application electrode 7a, the right side current application electrode 7b, the left side voltage measurement electrode 9a, and the right side voltage measurement electrode 9b. 1 is provided.

The internal circuit is a high-frequency signal generator 21.
Current control means 3 capable of controlling a constant-frequency high-frequency signal having a frequency f and several hundreds of μA generated at an arbitrary current value.
9, the generated current is applied to the living body by the left side current application electrode 7a and the right side current application electrode 7b, and the potential difference caused by the applied current and the bioelectrical impedance is measured by the left side voltage measurement electrode 9a. , And the right side voltage measurement electrode 9b. The subsequent signal processing method is the same as in the first embodiment.

When measuring the body fat percentage in the apparatus of the above embodiment, the left palm is used to apply the left side current application electrode 7a and the left side voltage measurement electrode 9a, and the right palm is used to use the right side current application electrode. 7b, the right side voltage measurement electrode 9b is sandwiched. Then, a sine wave signal having a frequency f and several hundred μA is generated from the high-frequency signal generation unit 21, and the current controlled by the current control unit 39 is applied to the left side current application electrode 7 a and the right side current application electrode 7 b. Then, a current is applied between the left-side current application electrode 7a, the left palm, the left-side voltage measurement electrode 9a, the living body, the right-side voltage measurement electrode 9b, and the right-side current application electrode 7b. The potential difference between the left-side voltage measurement electrode 9a and the right-side voltage measurement electrode 9b due to the bioimpedance is applied to the differential amplifier 23, and a potential difference signal proportional to the impedance is obtained.

The obtained potential difference signal is converted into an absolute value signal by an absolute value circuit composed of a full-wave rectifier 25 and an integral smoothing circuit 27, and this signal is converted into a digital signal having a predetermined number of bits by an A / D converter 29. Convert to a signal.

The converted digital signal is input group 1
The arithmetic processing is performed by the arithmetic processing CPU 35 together with the data such as the height, weight, age, and gender input from 5 to obtain a result as a body fat percentage.

[0048]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the palm and the left side current applying electrode 7a and the left side voltage measuring electrode 9 are sandwiched between the thumb and the forefinger.
a, a positioning portion that can stabilize the positional relationship between the right-side current application electrode 7b and the right-side voltage measurement electrode 9b, so that the contact position between the palm and the electrode portion is always constant. And stable and reproducible measured values can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the left side current application electrode 7a and the left side voltage measurement electrode 9a, and the right side current application electrode 7b and the right side voltage measurement electrode 9b are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction of the side face. Because it is characterized by being arranged, when considering the path of current flow, the voltage measurement electrode pair can always be located inside the current application electrode pair,
A stable measurement value can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the left side current applying electrode 7a and the left side voltage measuring electrode 9a, the right side current applying electrode 7b and the right side voltage measuring electrode 9b are arranged on the comb teeth. Therefore, the adhesion between the palm and the electrode is excellent, and a stable measured value can be obtained.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the left side current application electrode 7a and the left side voltage measurement electrode 9a, and the right side current application electrode 7b and the right side voltage measurement electrode 9b are arranged concentrically. Therefore, the adhesion between the palm and the electrode is excellent, and as a result, a stable measurement value can be obtained.

In the invention according to claim 5, since the current control means is provided between the high-frequency signal generating section and the current applying electrode, the current does not excessively flow even when the device breaks down. Also, it is possible to provide an effective and safe body fat percentage measuring device even when it is desired to control the current value to a fixed current value or less.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a body fat percentage measuring device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a contact state between a palm and an electrode in the body fat percentage measuring device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal circuit configuration of the body fat percentage measuring device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the body fat percentage measuring device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing another electrode structure of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view showing another electrode structure of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view showing another electrode structure of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an internal circuit configuration provided with a current control means in the body fat percentage measuring device of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a conventional body fat meter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 3 Left side 5 Right side 7a Left side current application electrode 7b Right side current application electrode 9a Left side voltage measurement electrode 9b Right side voltage measurement electrode 11 Positioning part 13 Display part 15 Input key group 17 Power switch 19 End 21 High-frequency signal generator 23 Differential amplifier 25 Full-wave rectifier 27 Integral smoothing circuit 29 A / D converter 31 ROM 33 RAM 35 CPU 37 Battery 39 Current control means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Yoshiyuki Nakagawa, Inventor, 6-11-12, Honcho, Tanashi-shi, Tokyo Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Tanashi Factory (72) Inventor Minoru Koide, 6-1, Honcho, Tanashi-shi, Tokyo 12 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Tanashi Factory F term (reference) 4C027 AA06 CC00 EE01 FF01 FF05 HH00 KK01 KK03 KK05

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An electrode pair for current application and an electrode pair for voltage measurement formed on a side surface of a main body, an input key group for inputting data such as height, weight, age, and gender of an individual, an impedance measurement value and input data A body fat percentage measuring device provided with a display unit for displaying a calculation result or input data obtained by calculating a body fat percentage from the like, comprising: a left side current application electrode, a right side current application electrode, and a left side voltage measurement electrode. A body fat percentage measuring device having a positioning portion above the right side voltage measuring electrode. 2. The electrode for applying current on the left side and the electrode for measuring voltage on the left side, and the electrode for applying current on the right side and the electrode for measuring right side voltage are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction. The body fat percentage measuring device according to claim 1. 3. The electrode for applying a current on the left side and the electrode for measuring the voltage on the left side, and the electrode for applying a current on the right side and the electrode for measuring the right side voltage are arranged in a comb shape. The body fat percentage measuring device according to claim 1. 4. The electrode for current application on the left side and the electrode for voltage measurement on the left side, and the electrode for current application on the right side and the electrode for voltage measurement on the right side are arranged concentrically. The body fat percentage measuring device according to claim 1. 5. An electrode pair for current application and an electrode pair for voltage measurement formed on the side surface of the main body, an input key group for inputting data such as height, weight, age, and gender of an individual, an impedance measurement value and input data. What is claimed is: 1. A body fat percentage measuring apparatus comprising a display unit for displaying a calculation result of a body fat percentage calculated from the above and input data, wherein a current control means is provided.