JPH11113870A - Body fat measurement device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: An object of the present invention is to calculate a body fat distribution on a cross section of an electrode attachment site by measuring impedance between a plurality of electrodes. SOLUTION: A plurality of electrodes 101 are mounted on a body surface, an impedance between electrodes is measured by a measuring means 102 to generate an impedance matrix of an electrode mounting section cross-section 100, and a calculating means 103 receives the mounting part from an input means 104 The product of the body matrix and the coefficient matrix according to the information is obtained to clarify the body fat distribution of the target section, and the user is visually notified of the body fat distribution using an image via the display unit 105.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring body fat in a living body, and relates to a technique for calculating a body fat distribution in a section of a living body part equipped with electrodes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The measurement of body fat has the advantage of allowing more precise control than observing only weight in managing obesity, and is becoming widespread in home health care. . Conventionally, a large-scale device for measuring gravity by immersing the whole body in water has been required. In recent years, a simple measurement method having a high correlation with the conventional method has been proposed. Some of these use near-infrared light or ultrasonic waves,
Recently, the method using impedance has become mainstream.

As a technique for measuring body fat using bioelectrical impedance, there is a technique for calculating the body fat percentage of the upper body by measuring the impedance between both hands as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-51242, for example. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a conventional technique. A grip 2a and a grip 2b are provided at both ends of the main body 1 so as to be grasped. The grip 2 has a first electrode pair including an electrode 3 and an electrode 4 and an electrode 5 and an electrode 6.
A second electrode pair is disposed. The first pair of electrodes is for applying a high-frequency signal, and the second pair of electrodes is for measuring a body resistance potential. The user inputs body-specific information such as height and weight, and then enters the grip 2a.
When the user grips the grip 2b, the bioelectrical impedance is measured, and data such as body fat, lean mass, body fat percentage, water content, and basal metabolism are extracted.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Body fat measurement using impedance is expected to become more and more popular in the future in view of its simplicity. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to know what kind of exercise should be performed only by knowing the body fat percentage of the whole body or half body.
Of course, fat should be burned by whole body exercise, but it would be very interesting for the user to know how fat is partially applied. However, local subcutaneous fat thickness may not be very real. Considering the increase in cases where there is no problem as a body shape but actually the fat is attached to the visceral organs, it is useful information for the user if the fat distribution in a certain biological section is known. Nothing is allowed.

[0005] Then, when measuring the partial body fat distribution, there is a problem that information on the measurement site must be given.

Further, in order to know the body fat distribution, it is necessary to mount a plurality of electrodes, but there is a problem that attaching and detaching these electrodes is complicated.

[0007] Further, unlike the body weight, it is difficult to say that the understanding of the numerical meaning of the index such as the body fat percentage is fully permeated by all users at present. Therefore, there is a problem that the body fat portion must be displayed by an image in order to make the body fat distribution intuitively understood.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a plurality of electrodes are mounted on a body surface, and an impedance between the electrodes is measured by measuring means to generate an impedance matrix of a cross section of the electrode mounting portion. Then, the calculating means finds the product of the body matrix and the coefficient matrix according to the wearing site to clarify the body fat distribution of the target section, and visually displays the body fat distribution to the user using the image via the display means. To inform.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a plurality of electrodes mounted on a body surface, measuring means for measuring a plurality of impedances using the plurality of electrodes, and measuring the impedance from the impedance obtained by the measuring means. And calculating means for calculating a body fat distribution in a cross section of the attached body part.

The measuring means sequentially or simultaneously measures the impedance between arbitrary electrodes using a plurality of electrodes, and generates a matrix of the impedance of the cross section of the living body part to which the electrodes are attached. The distribution of body fat in is calculated.

Further, the present invention provides a plurality of electrodes mounted on a body surface, measuring means for measuring a plurality of impedances using the plurality of electrodes, and an input for inputting information on a living body part to which the plurality of electrodes are mounted. Means, and calculating means for calculating the body fat distribution in the cross section of the living body part from the impedance obtained from the measuring means, the information input to the input means in the calculating means for calculating the body fat distribution The configuration is used for correction.

Then, the calculation of the body fat distribution by the calculation means is corrected according to the information input to the input means.

[0013] The information input to the input means is a circumference of a living body part on which the sensor is mounted.

The information input to the input means is a name of a living body part on which the sensor is mounted.

The plurality of electrodes are arranged on a belt that can be worn on a living body. Then, the user attaches the belt to the measurement site so that the electrodes disposed on the belt come into contact with the body surface, thereby enabling impedance measurement.

Further, the belt has a circumference measuring means for measuring the circumference of the wearing part when worn on the living body, and the calculating means calculates the circumference of the wearing part measured by the circumference measuring means as a body fat distribution. It is characterized by being used for correction of calculation.

When the belt is worn, the perimeter is automatically measured and utilized for correction of the calculation without the user inputting.

Further, the apparatus is provided with display means for displaying the body fat distribution so that the body fat portion and the non-body fat portion can be distinguished.

The result of the calculation by the calculating means is displayed to the user in the form of an image, so that the state of the body fat distribution can be easily grasped.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a body fat measuring device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Electrodes 101a, 101b, 10 for impedance measurement
1c, 101d, 101e, 101f, 101g, 10
1h is attached. These are connected to the measuring means 102. Further, the measuring means 102 is configured to output impedance information to the calculating means 103.
The arithmetic means 103 is configured so that information about the living body part on which the electrodes are mounted is also sent from the input means 104. The output of the calculating means 103 is output from the display means 105. As the electrode 101, a general biological electrode can be used, and a disposable electrode may be used. Measuring means 102
And the calculating means 103 can be realized by a microcomputer circuit to which a switching circuit for selecting the electrode 101 and an impedance measuring circuit are added. As the display means 104, for example, a liquid crystal display may be used. In addition, the biological cross section 100
Assumes the abdomen, thighs, or upper arms of the human body.

In the above configuration, the measuring means 102 measures the impedance between two electrodes in order from among the electrodes 101 and generates a matrix of impedance in the cross section 100 of the living body. Since the four-electrode method is generally used for measuring bioelectrical impedance, it is not always necessary to select only two electrodes at the time of measurement. Even in the case of the four-electrode method, each of the electrodes 101 can be used for both voltage application and impedance measurement.

FIG. 2 shows the electrode 1 with the body section 100 as the abdomen.
It is explanatory drawing of impedance between other electrodes based on 01a. 106 is a body fat portion, and 107 is a non-fat component. 108 is a spine. Therefore, the electrode 101
a and 101e are electrodes 101b, 101c, 10
1d is an abdomen, and electrodes 101f, 101g, 101
It can be seen that h is attached to the back. When the electrode 101a is used as a reference, impedances 109a, 109b, 109c, 109d, and
109e, 109f, and 109g.

FIG. 3 shows the magnitude of each impedance.
Shown in The X axis and the Y axis indicate the plane coordinates of the section 100 of the living body. Reference numeral 110 denotes a mounting position of the electrode 109a. As shown in FIG. 3, the impedance between adjacent electrodes is smaller. Further, it is recognized that the impedance on the abdomen side is larger than that on the back side. It is known that impedance has a high correlation with the amount of body fat, and that a portion containing a large amount of body fat has a high partial impedance. FIG. 3 is consistent with the fact that body fat is distributed more on the abdomen side than on the back side.

In FIG. 2, the reference electrode is the electrode 109a, but the measuring means 102 measures the impedance of all combinations between two points on the electrode 101 by sequentially setting other electrodes as the reference electrode.

The body fat distribution at the electrode attachment site is obtained by matrix calculation. That is, in the arithmetic means 103, the measuring means 102
Is obtained two-dimensionally by multiplying the impedance matrix generated by the measurement performed by the coefficient matrix approximating the body fat thickness. The coefficient matrix to be used may be different depending on the mounting site of the electrode. Which part of the body the electrode is attached to can be input from the input unit 104. The input means 104 is provided with buttons 111a, 111b and 111c for designating a part. Of course, the number of buttons 111 does not limit the present invention. In addition, since the impedance between the electrodes 101 varies depending on the circumference of the mounting portion, it is possible to perform correction by inputting the circumference.

The obtained body fat distribution is displayed on display means 105.
Is displayed on the screen as a graphic. The body fat portion 106 and the non-body fat portion 107 are color-coded on the cross section of the wearing portion, so that the user can confirm the distribution of the body fat at a glance. Of course, the body fat percentage of the cross section can be calculated from the area ratio between the body fat part 106 and the non-body fat part 107, and this may be displayed as auxiliary information.

By knowing the body fat distribution, it is possible to know which body fat is attached to which part and to what extent, which can be used to create a more effective exercise menu for reducing body fat.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a sketch showing the structure of a belt of a body fat measuring device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The belt 112 has electrodes 101a, 101b, 101c,
101d, 101e, 101f, 101g, and 101h are provided. The connector 113 is for connecting each of the electrodes 101 and the measuring means 102 with a cable (not shown). The magic tape 114 is for fixing the belt 112 by tightening it with an appropriate strength when the belt 112 is worn on the body.

The circumference measuring means 115 is a belt 112
The scale is arranged along the line and is electrically readable, and is configured so that the circumference of the living body can be measured at the fixed position 116.

In the above configuration, the user can use the belt 112
Is attached to the site where you want to know the distribution of body fat. By fixing with the magic tape 114, the electrode 101 comes into contact with the body surface. Electrode 101 that contacts depending on the circumference of the mounting part
Are different, but when the belt 112 is fixed,
When the perimeter is read at the fixed position 116 and the matrix calculation is performed, a correction can be made.

[0032]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

By calculating the impedance matrix of the cross section of the electrode attachment site generated using a plurality of electrodes, the body fat distribution of the cross section of the living body can be calculated two-dimensionally.

By inputting information on the electrode attachment site from the input means, data can be corrected when calculating body fat distribution.

By making the input information the perimeter of the electrode mounting site, it is possible to make a correction according to the change in the interelectrode density.

By using the input information as the name of the electrode attachment site, it is possible to select a coefficient matrix used in calculating body fat distribution based on the anatomical characteristics of the attachment site.

By arranging a plurality of electrodes on the belt, the electrodes can be easily attached and detached. The circumference of the living body part is measured only by wearing the belt by the circumference measuring means, and correction for accurate calculation can be performed without the user inputting.

By displaying the body fat distribution using the image so that the body fat portion and the non-body fat portion can be distinguished, the user can easily understand the intuition.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a body fat measurement device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of impedance measurement in a cross section of a living body.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing impedance between electrodes.

FIG. 4 is a sketch of a belt in a body fat measurement device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a conventional technology.

[Explanation of symbols]

101a, 101b, 101c, 101d, 101e,
101f, 101g, 101h Electrode 102 Measurement means 103 Calculation means 104 Input means 105 Display means 112 Belt 115 Perimeter measurement means

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of electrodes mounted on a body surface, measuring means for measuring a plurality of impedances using the plurality of electrodes, and a cross section of a living body part on which the electrodes are mounted based on the impedance obtained by the measuring means. And a calculating means for calculating a body fat distribution in the body. 2. A plurality of electrodes mounted on a body surface, measuring means for measuring a plurality of impedances using the plurality of electrodes, and input means for inputting information on a living body part to which the plurality of electrodes are mounted, Calculating means for calculating a body fat distribution in a cross section of the living body part from the impedance obtained by the measuring means, wherein the information input to the input means in the calculating means is used for correcting the calculation of the body fat distribution. Body fat measuring device, characterized in that: 3. The body fat measurement device according to claim 2, wherein the information input to the input means is a circumference of a body part to which the sensor is attached. 4. The body fat measurement device according to claim 2, wherein the information input to the input means is a name of a body part to which the sensor is attached. 5. The body fat measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are provided on a belt that can be worn on a living body. 6. The belt has a circumference measuring means for measuring a circumference of a wearing part when worn on a living body, and the calculating means calculates a circumference of the wearing part measured by the circumference measuring means as a body fat distribution. The body fat measurement device according to claim 5, wherein the device is used for correction of calculation. 7. The body fat measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a body fat distribution so that a body fat portion and a non-body fat portion can be distinguished.