JP2000333923A - Body fat percentage measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stabilize the held state of a body fat percentage measuring device that measures body fat percentage or the like by use of biological impedance method, thus always stabilizing the state of contact between electrode parts and the palm of the hand and thereby providing measurements of good reproducibility and reducing the time needed from the input of an individual's information to the start of measurement. SOLUTION: This body fat percentage measuring device includes a pair of current application electrodes and a pair of voltage-measuring electrodes formed on a main body, a group of input keys 17 for inputting data on an individual's height, weight, age, sex and the like, and a display part 19 for displaying the result of body fat percentage computed from the measurement of impedance and the input data or the like and for displaying the input data. The front current application electrode 11 and the front voltage-measuring electrode 13 are formed on the front surface of the main body and the side current application electrode 7 and the side voltage-measuring electrode 9 are formed on the side faces of the main body.

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 described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-174679. Was.

[0003] A housing 1 of this device 101 shown in FIG.
02 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and the key input unit 10 is provided on the front surface 102a.
3 and a display unit 104 are arranged. On both sides of the front surface 102a of the device 101, a plate-like voltage measuring electrode 105,
An elliptical or elliptical current applying electrode 107, 108 is provided on both sides of the upper surface 102b of the device 101.
Is arranged.

After the input information is completely input by the key input section 103 provided below the center of the housing 102 of the apparatus 101, predetermined positions on both the left and right sides of the apparatus 101 are set as shown in FIG.
As shown by, it is grasped with both hands 117 and 118. Then, positioning is performed by abutting the thumb side of the base of the index finger against the flanges 115 and 116 on both sides of the device 101. At this time, the palm from the base of the left thumb to the wrist contacts the voltage measurement electrode 105, and the abdomen of the thumb contacts the current application electrode 107. Similarly, the voltage measuring electrode 1 is applied to the palm part from the base of the right thumb to the wrist and the ventral part of the thumb tip.
06 and the electrode 108 for current application.

Thus, the current applying electrodes 107, 10
Even if only the abdomen of the tip of the thumb is brought into contact with 8 and only the thumb is used as the current application site, the thumb is thicker than the fingers and has a low resistance value, and a low current application error can be reduced. Becomes possible.

[0006]

However, in the prior art, the abdomen of the tip of the thumb is brought into contact with the electrode for current application, and the palm from the base of the thumb to the wrist is brought into contact with the electrode for voltage measurement. For those with long fingers or long fingers, the first joint of the thumb may not fit well at the corner between the upper surface and the front surface.In this case, the palm from the base of the thumb to the wrist is separated from the voltage measurement electrode. Because it floated and could not make good contact, the contact position and contact area between the palm and the voltage measurement electrode part changed,
There was a problem that the contact state was extremely unstable, the measurement result data such as the body fat percentage was not stable, and the reproducibility was poor.

Further, in order to take a posture for starting measurement from a posture in which input data is input, it is necessary to re-hold the electrode portion of the apparatus, so that the time from input to the start of measurement becomes longer, and operation becomes difficult. If you are unfamiliar, there is a problem that the contact position or contact area with the electrode becomes unstable because you try to take the measurement posture in a hurry, the body fat percentage measurement result is not stable, and the reproducibility is poor .

Accordingly, the present invention provides a body fat percentage measuring apparatus for measuring a body fat percentage using a bioelectrical impedance method,
By stabilizing the holding state of the device, the contact state between the electrode unit and the palm is always stabilized, thereby obtaining a reproducible measurement result and shortening the time from input of personal information to the start of measurement. It is an object of the present invention to provide a body fat percentage measuring device.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a current application electrode pair and a voltage measurement electrode pair formed on a main body and data such as height, weight, age, and sex of an individual are inputted. And a body fat percentage measuring device provided with a display unit for displaying a body fat percentage result and input data calculated from the measured impedance value and the input data, and the like. A voltage measuring electrode is formed, and a side surface current applying electrode and a side surface voltage measuring electrode are formed on a side surface of the main body.

[0010] Further, a positioning recess is provided on the side surface.

[0011] The front current applying electrode and the front voltage measuring electrode are formed substantially concentrically.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment
The embodiment will be described with reference to the external perspective view of FIG. This embodiment is characterized in that a front current application electrode and a front voltage measurement electrode are formed on the front surface of the main body, and a side current application electrode and a side voltage measurement electrode are formed on the side surface of the main body.

The body fat percentage measuring device includes a side current applying electrode 7 on the right side 5 and a side voltage measuring electrode 9 on the left side 3 as viewed from the front of the substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body 1. The front electrode 1 has a front current application electrode 11 and a front voltage measurement electrode 13, and has a side current application electrode 7, a side voltage measurement electrode 9, a front current application electrode 11, and a front voltage measurement electrode 13. Is electrically connected to a circuit unit (not shown in FIG. 1) in the main body.

On the front of the main body 1, a power switch 15, an input key group 17 for inputting physical characteristic data such as the height, weight, age, and gender of the subject, and selecting and determining items, input data and calculations. A display unit 19 for displaying the result is arranged.

When measuring the body fat percentage using the body fat percentage measuring device, the subject applies the side voltage measuring electrode 9 on the left side surface 3 of the main body from the base of the left thumb, as shown in FIG. By touching the wrist near the wrist and putting a finger on the side surface current application electrode 7 on the right side surface 5, the side surface can be gripped so as to sandwich the side surface, and can be held in the palm of one hand.

Then, after holding the main body with one hand, the tip of the forefinger of the right hand, which is the opposite hand, is
Then, the belly of the middle finger is pressed against the front voltage measurement electrode 13, and the arm is stretched forward in this state so as to be horizontal.

By taking such a measurement posture, the contact between the palm and the finger and the electrode unit can be made stable.
Therefore, the bioimpedance between the palm of the left hand and the right 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. As shown in 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 side current applying electrode 7 for applying the generated current to a living body, and a front current applying electrode 11
And a side voltage measurement electrode 9 for measuring a potential difference caused by an applied current and bioimpedance, a front voltage measurement electrode 13, and a potential difference signal from the side voltage measurement electrode 9 and the front voltage measurement electrode 13. Receiving the differential amplifier 23, a full-wave rectifier 25 and an integrating and smoothing circuit 27 for processing the sine wave signal from the differential amplifier 23 into an absolute value signal which is an analog signal, and converting the analog signal into a digital signal. A / D converter 29 for conversion, ROM 31 for storing a body fat percentage measurement program, and A / D converter 2
CPU 35 for taking in data such as height, weight, age, and gender from input unit 9 and input key group 15 and executing impedance measurement processing calculation, etc .; RAM 33 in which a work area of CPU 35 is set; It has.

When the body fat percentage is measured in the above embodiment, the side voltage measuring electrode 9 on the left side 3 is brought into contact from the base of the left thumb to near the wrist, and the right side 5
By putting a finger on the side surface current application electrode 7, the left side palm can be gripped so as to sandwich the side surface.
The belly of the index finger of the right hand is pressed against the front electrode application electrode 11 and the belly of the middle finger is pressed against the front voltage measurement electrode 13, and in this state, the arm is stretched forward so as to be horizontal. Then, a sine wave signal having a frequency f and several hundred μA is applied to the side current applying electrode 7 and the front current applying electrode 11 from the high frequency signal generating section 21, and the side current applying electrode 7, the left hand palm, and the side voltage measurement are performed. Between the side electrode 9 and the front side voltage measurement electrode 13 by applying an electric current between the body electrode 9, the living body, the front side voltage measurement electrode 13 and the front side current application electrode 11, and the applied current and the bioelectrical impedance. The generated potential difference 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 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 operation procedure of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the power switch 15 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 17. It waits until the input of these data is completed. When the data input is completed, it waits until the measurement start switch of the input key group 17 is 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 start of the measurement is displayed on the display unit 19.

When the measurement is started, a display such as "Please hold the electrode part correctly and take the measurement posture" is displayed on the display unit to pay attention to the measurement posture. 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 the 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 19, and then the measurement result is displayed on the display unit 19.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The present embodiment is characterized in that a positioning concave portion 39 for positioning a finger is provided on the right side surface 5 of the main body.

The body fat percentage measuring device of the present embodiment
The side surface current application electrode 7 and the side surface voltage measurement electrode 9 are provided, and a positioning recess 39 on which the position of the finger is easily fixed is provided on the right side surface.

When the body fat percentage is measured using the body fat percentage measuring apparatus of the present embodiment, the subject is required to measure the side voltage measuring electrode 9 and the side current applying electrode 7 on the left side surface 3 of the main body.
From the base of the thumb of the left hand to near the wrist,
As shown in FIG. 5B, for example, by fitting the middle finger and the ring finger into the positioning recess 39 formed on the right side surface 5, it is possible to hold the both sides firmly with one hand and to hold the palm of one hand. It is possible to greatly facilitate the holding within.

Then, after holding the main body with one hand, the forefinger and middle finger of the right hand, which are the opposite hands, are pressed against the front current applying electrode 11 and the front voltage measuring electrode 13 on the front of the main body, and the fingers are pressed. Extend your arms so that they are horizontal.

By taking such a measurement posture, even if a person with small hands, a person with a weak gripping force, or grips with a small force, the finger holding the right side surface 5 is not displaced, and the palm and the electrode portion can be moved. Can be brought into a more stable state, the bioimpedance between the palm of the left hand and the right hand can be accurately measured, and an accurate body fat percentage can be obtained.

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, a front current applying electrode 11 and a front voltage measuring electrode 1 provided on the front of the main body are used.
3 are provided substantially concentrically.

The body fat percentage measuring device of the present embodiment
A side current application electrode 7 and a side voltage measurement electrode 9 are provided, and a front current application electrode 11 and a front voltage measurement electrode 13 provided substantially concentrically on the front surface.

At this time, the total area of the front current applying electrode 11 and the front voltage measuring electrode 13 is substantially equal to the area of the finger pad.

When the body fat percentage is measured using the body fat percentage measuring apparatus of the present embodiment, the subject is required to measure the side voltage measuring electrode 9 and the side current applying electrode 7 on the left side surface 3 of the main body.
From the base of the thumb of the left hand to near the wrist,
By putting a finger on the right side surface 5, the side surface can be gripped so as to firmly sandwich the side surface, and it is possible to very easily hold the right side within the palm of one hand.

After holding the main body with one hand, FIG.
As shown in (b), an arbitrary finger of the right hand, which is the opposite hand, is pressed against the front current applying electrode 11 and the front voltage measuring electrode 13 which are provided substantially concentrically, thereby forming one finger. so,
The front surface current application electrode 11 and the front surface voltage measurement electrode 13 can be simultaneously contacted.

In this state, the arm is extended forward so as to be horizontal, so that the front current applying electrode 11 and the front voltage measuring electrode 13 can be contacted with a uniform pressure, and the palm and the finger can be contacted. The contact with the electrode unit can be stabilized, so that the bioimpedance between the palm of the left hand and the right hand can be accurately measured, and an accurate body fat percentage can be obtained.

The body fat percentage measuring device shown in the first, second, and third embodiments may be formed integrally with a portable device such as a mobile phone, for example. Since it is possible to obtain a good and stable state with the electrodes, it is possible to accurately measure the bioimpedance between both hands, and to obtain an accurate body fat percentage.

[0040]

As described above, the current applying electrode pair and the voltage measuring electrode pair formed on the main body, the height of the individual,
An input key group for inputting data such as weight, age, and gender;
A body fat percentage measuring device including a display unit for displaying a body fat percentage result and input data calculated from an impedance measurement value and input data, wherein a side current application electrode and a side voltage measurement electrode are formed on a side surface of the main body. As a result, the palm of one hand is brought into contact with the electrode for measuring the side voltage, and the finger is brought into contact with the electrode for applying current to the side. it can.

In such a holding state, a key input for inputting personal physical information with the finger of the other hand can be performed in a stable state, and when the measurement posture is taken after inputting necessary information, While holding the side current application electrode and side voltage measurement electrode with one hand, the fingers of the other hand can be brought into contact with the front current application electrode and front voltage measurement electrode, thus holding the device. The condition is very stable, and the contact between the electrode part and the living body is stable. Therefore, the bioimpedance between the palm of the left hand and the right hand can be measured stably and accurately. Can be obtained. In addition, since it is not necessary to re-grab the electrode part of the device to take the posture of the measurement start from the posture in which the input data is input, the time from the input to the start of the measurement can be shortened and the measurement operation can be performed quickly. Become.

Further, the positioning concave portion is provided on the side surface, so that the person holding the right side surface 5 is displaced even when a person with a small hand, a person with a weak gripping force, or grips with a small force. Without having to make contact between the palm and the electrode unit more stable, the bioimpedance between the left hand palm and the right hand can be accurately measured, and an accurate body fat percentage can be obtained. .

The front current applying electrode 11 and the front voltage measuring electrode are formed substantially concentrically, so that the front current applying electrode 11 and the front voltage measuring electrode 13 are uniform. Pressure, and stable contact between the palm and finger and the electrode can be achieved.Thus, the bioimpedance between the left hand palm and the right hand can be measured with high accuracy. A high body fat percentage can be obtained.

[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 a finger 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 a second embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 7 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 7 Side current application electrode 9 Side voltage measurement electrode 11 Front current application electrode 13 Front voltage measurement electrode 15 Power switch 17 Input key group 19 Display unit 21 High frequency signal generation unit 23 Differential Amplifier 25 Full-wave rectifier 27 Integral smoothing circuit 29 A / D converter 31 ROM 33 RAM 35 CPU 37 Battery 39 Positioning recess

Continued on front page (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Nakagawa 6-11-12 Honcho, Tanashi-shi, Tokyo Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Inside Tanashi Works (72) Inventor Minoru Koide 6-1-112, Honcho, Tanashi-shi, Tokyo Citizen 4C027 AA06 BB03 CC00 EE01 FF01 HH03 KK01 KK03 KK05

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electrode pair for current application and an electrode pair for voltage measurement formed on a main body, an input key group for inputting data such as height, weight, age, and gender of an individual, an impedance measurement value, input data, and the like. A body fat percentage measuring device comprising a display unit for displaying a body fat percentage result and input data calculated from
A body fat percentage measuring device comprising: a front current applying electrode and a front voltage measuring electrode formed on a front surface of a main body; and a side current applying electrode and a side voltage measuring electrode formed on a side surface of the main body. 2. The body fat percentage measuring device according to claim 1, wherein a positioning recess is provided on a side surface. 3. The body fat percentage measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the front current applying electrode and the front voltage measuring electrode are formed substantially concentrically.