JP2003093362A - Apparatus for measuring bioelectrical information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for safely measuring a bioelectrical information by making it possible to stably constitute a section for holding an electrode within a short period of time in the mass production process. SOLUTION: This apparatus is equipped with a means 17 for measuring an impedance between the electrodes, a means 6 for inputting information on a subject, a means 34 for calculating the information regarding the living body of the subject 33 from the impedance and the information on the subject and at least one electrode 3 which is installed in the holding section 2 to be manually held by the subject, where the holding section 2 is formed nearly in a cylindrical shape and the electrode 3 for the holding section is formed in the shape of the holding section 2, and the electrode 3 for the holding section is retained by simply engaging the electrode 3 in the holding section 2 in stably and safely constituting the electrode 3 for the holding section 2 within a short period of time in the mass production, since the electrode 3 for the holding section does not come up from the holding section 2 thereby preventing the subject 33 from touching the edge of the electrode 3 for the holding section.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a biological information measuring device for calculating information on a living body based on the impedance inside the body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a biological information measuring device of this type, there has been a device described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-37363. FIG. 5 shows the appearance of the conventional biological information measuring device described in the above publication.

In FIG. 5, a gripping portion electrode 3 wound around a substantially cylindrical gripping portion 2 of the main body 1 that can be gripped by both hands, and a person to be measured grips the gripping portion 2 of the main body 1 with both hands. If the posture is determined and measured, the gripping electrode 3 provided on the gripping portion 2 of the main body 1 contacts the palm to measure the impedance between both hands, and the information about the living body is calculated based on the impedance. To be able to get.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, when the grip electrode is wound around the grip,
Since it is necessary to wind the elastic member against the restoring force of bending, the winding operation is very cumbersome and time-consuming in the mass-production assembly work. Also, if the gripping part electrode is released before it is fixed or held, it will come off the gripping part due to the restoring force and must be reassembled from the beginning, or work for temporary fixing until fixing, and further for temporary fixing. Special structural ingenuity was required. Furthermore, after the grip electrode is wrapped around the grip, it is fixed with a screw, but when the screw is loosened, the grip electrode expands in the direction away from the grip due to the restoring force, and floats without following the grip. There has been a problem that the end of the grip electrode touches the person to be measured, making it unsafe.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and makes it possible to stably construct the grip electrode in the grip in a short time in a mass production process, and the grip electrode does not follow the grip. It is an object of the present invention to provide a biological information measuring device capable of preventing an unsafe situation in which the end portion of the grip portion electrode comes into contact with the measurement subject and becomes unsafe.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the biological information measuring device of the present invention is an impedance measuring means for measuring the impedance between at least two electrodes that come into contact with the person to be measured. In the biological information measuring device having an input means for inputting the measured person information representing the physical characteristics of the measured person, and an information processing means for calculating the information about the measured person's living body from the impedance and the measured person information. At least one of the electrodes is a gripping part electrode provided on a substantially cylindrical gripping part that is gripped by a person to be measured by hand, and the gripping part electrode is formed so as to fit into the shape of the gripping part. The electric conductor is inserted into the grip portion.

As a result, the conductor forming the gripping portion electrode is held in the gripping portion only by fitting it into the gripping portion, and it is not necessary to separately hold it, and the gripping portion can be stably held in the gripping portion in a short time in the mass production process. The electrodes can be configured and also
The conductors that make up the gripping electrode are formed in the shape of the gripping part, so they follow the gripping part and do not float from the gripping part. There is no safety.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 is at least two electrodes that are in contact with the person to be measured, impedance measuring means for measuring the impedance between the electrodes, and the object to be measured that represents the physical characteristics of the person to be measured. In a biological information measuring device having an input means for inputting person information and an information processing means for calculating information on a living body of a measured person from impedance and measured person information, at least one of the electrodes is a measured person. Is a grip portion electrode provided in a substantially cylindrical grip portion to be gripped by hand, and the grip portion electrode is configured to be fitted into the grip portion with a conductor formed to fit the shape of the grip portion. , The gripping part electrode is held in the gripping part only by fitting it into the gripping part, and it is not necessary to separately hold it, and the gripping part electrode is stably configured in a short time in the mass production process. In addition, since the gripping part electrode is formed in the shape of the gripping part, it is along the gripping part and does not float from the gripping part. Therefore, the measurement subject touches the end part of the gripping part electrode. It is safe without.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in particular, since the grip portion electrode according to the first aspect is composed of a plurality of conductive plates electrically connected to each other, the grip portion electrode is formed over substantially the entire circumference of the grip portion. The contact area between the grip electrode and the hand can be increased, and the measurement accuracy can be improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in particular, by having fixing means for fixing the ends of the plurality of conductive plates according to the second aspect, the ends of the plurality of conductive plates are overlapped and fixed at the same time. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the number of fixing means compared to the case of individually fixing and it is possible to configure at a low cost, and almost the entire circumference except the fixing means part can be configured by the gripping part electrode, and the gripping part electrode and the hand The contact area can be increased, and the measurement accuracy can be improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in particular, a plurality of fixing means according to the third aspect are provided, and at least one fixing means also serves to electrically connect a plurality of conductive plates, thereby fixing In addition to the means, a member for electrically connecting the conductive plates to each other is not required, and the cost can be reduced.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in particular, a plurality of fixing means according to the third or fourth aspect are provided, and at least one fixing means also has an electrical connection with the impedance measuring means. In addition to the above, a member required for electrical connection with the impedance measuring means is not required, and the cost can be reduced.

The invention according to claim 6 particularly claims 3 to
By providing a plurality of fixing means according to any one of 5 and at least one fixing means is formed of a conductor,
In addition to the fixing means, a member for electrically connecting the conductive plates to each other is not required, and the structure can be constructed at low cost.

The invention as defined in claim 7 is particularly defined by claims 3 to
The grip portion according to any one of 6 above is provided with a concave portion on the circumference thereof, and at least one end portion of the plurality of conductive plates has a shape that fits into the concave portion, and is electrically connected in the concave portion. A conductive plate in addition to the fixing means, by having a fixing means for electrically joining, concealing the concave portion, the end portion of the conductive plate and the fixing means, and having a surface having a shape along the hand. It is safe because it does not require a member to electrically connect each other, it is safe because it can prevent the end of the conductive plate from touching from the outside, and the surface of the cover has a shape that fits your hand. It can be easier to grip.

The invention described in claim 8 is particularly characterized by claims 3 to 3.
7. Providing a concave portion on the circumference of the grip portion according to any one of 7,
At least one of the ends of the plurality of conductive plates has a shape that fits into the recess, covers the recess and the ends of the conductive plate, and has a surface that fits in the hand. Since the end portion of the conductive plate can be prevented from being touched from the outside by having, it is safe and the surface of the fixing means can be easily grasped in a shape along the hand.

[0016]

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

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is an external view of a biological information measuring device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a grip portion where a grip electrode is fitted, and FIG. It is an explanatory view at the time.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 denotes a human body placing portion, which is an outer shell of the apparatus main body, and is made of ABS resin in this embodiment, and a foot electrode 5 is attached thereto. The human body placing section 4 is provided with a keyboard 6 as an input means for inputting the information of the person to be measured and a liquid crystal display 7 as an informing means. The human body placing portion 4 and the grip portion 2 are connected by a cable 9 having a lead wire 8 therein. The grip portion 2 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and is made of ABS resin in this embodiment,
The grip portion electrodes 3 are formed at two locations in the axial direction of the grip portion 2 having a substantially cylindrical shape.

In FIG. 2, the grip portion electrode 3 is formed along the substantially cylindrical shape of the grip portion 2. Grip part electrode 3
Is fitted in a part of the grip part 2 that has been dropped, and the surface of the grip part electrode is positioned flush with the surface of the grip part 2 or slightly depressed.

In FIG. 3, at the time of measurement, the person 33 to be measured holds the grip portion 2 and rides on the human body placing portion 4 with bare feet. At this time, the grip electrode 3 contacts the palm of the person 33 to be measured, and the foot electrode 5 contacts the sole of the foot of the person 33 to be measured. The foot electrode 5 and the grip electrode 3 are connected to the impedance measuring means 17 via the lead wire 8, and the impedance measuring means 17
Applies a constant current between the two electrodes on the toe side of the foot electrode 5 and one electrode of the grip electrode 2 by the four-terminal method, and the two electrodes on the heel side of the foot electrode 5 and the grip electrode 2 The impedance can be measured by measuring the voltage between the other electrodes. In this embodiment, 50 kH
It uses a weak current of 800 μA, which the human body does not feel. The measured impedance is input to the microcomputer 34 as information processing means. The keyboard 6 and the liquid crystal display 7 described above are connected to the microcomputer 34.

Next, the operation and action will be described.

Prior to the measurement, the person 33 to be measured inputs the height, weight and sex as the information of the person to be measured using the keyboard 6. Since the keyboard 6 is connected to the microcomputer 34, the microcomputer 34 is preliminarily input with the measured person information. Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the person 33 to be measured holds the grip portion 2 with his arms extended horizontally and rides on the human body placing portion 4. At this time, the grip electrode 3 contacts the palm of the person 33 to be measured, and the foot electrode 5 contacts the sole of the person 33 to be measured. The grip electrode 3 and the foot electrode 5 are connected to the impedance measuring means 17 by the lead wire 8 and measure the impedance between the limbs of the person 33 to be measured. When the impedance from the impedance measuring means 17 is input to the microcomputer 34, the microcomputer 34 calculates the body fat percentage from the impedance and the subject information by a program, and outputs the result to the liquid crystal display 7. Although various formulas for obtaining the body fat percentage are known, in the present embodiment, B obtained from the body density is used.
The formula of Rozec (report of Brozec et al. J. Bro
zec, F.F. Grande, J .; T. Anderson
and A. Key; "An NY Acad.sc
i 110 (1963) 113-40). For example, in the case of men, it is as follows.

Body density = 1.1544-0.0841 × body weight × impedance / height 2 body fat percentage (%) = (4.9
5 / body density −4.5) × 100 Although this formula is for men, it can also be applied for women by changing the coefficient of each part, so it is based on the gender included in the measured person information. Switch the expression to. Also, many other formulas for calculating the body fat percentage have been reported, but any formula may be used as long as it is a formula for determining the body fat percentage from the impedance, which is beyond the scope of the present invention. Not something to do.

In the biological information measuring device of this embodiment,
The foot electrode 5 that is provided on the human-body placement part 4 on which the person to be measured 33 rides and comes into contact with the foot of the person to be measured 33 and the grip portion 2 that the person to be measured 33 holds by hand are provided. The gripping part electrode 3 which comes into contact with the hand of the user, the impedance measuring means 17 for measuring the impedance between the electrodes, and the keyboard 6 as an input means for inputting the measured person 33 information representing the physical characteristics of the measured person 33, Impedance and subject 3
In the biological information measuring device having the microcomputer 34 as the information processing means for calculating the information regarding the living body of the person 33 to be measured from the 3 information, the grip portion 2 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the grip portion electrode 3 is gripped. After processing so as to fit the shape of the portion 2, the gripping electrode 3 is fitted into the gripping portion 2 so that the gripping portion electrode 3 is held in the gripping portion 2 only by fitting into the gripping portion 2 and is separately held. It is not necessary to keep it in place, and the grip portion 2 can be stably provided in a short time in the mass production process.
The grip portion electrode 3 can be configured as follows.

Further, since the grip portion electrode 3 is formed in the shape of the grip portion 2, it is along the grip portion 2 and does not float from the grip portion 2, so that the end portion of the grip electrode 3 is covered. It is safe because the measurer 33 does not touch it.

In the present embodiment, the body fat percentage calculated from the impedance is displayed as it is, but the body fat weight, the lean fat weight, the lean fat percentage and the like obtained from the body fat percentage are also displayed. Good. Further, although the keyboard 6 is used as the input means, if it is a method capable of inputting the target measured object information, for example, a combination of an up-down switch and an input switch, a rotary input means using a rotary encoder, or the like. It doesn't matter.
Further, although the liquid crystal display 7 is used as the notifying means, other notifying means, for example, one using a light emitting diode, or one notifying by voice may be used. Further, the frequency and the magnitude of the current can be arbitrarily changed as long as the constant current is within a range that the human body does not feel. Further, in the present embodiment, the impedance is measured between the right hand and both feet, but it may be at any measurement position where biological information can be obtained.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of a grip portion in Embodiment 2 of the present invention in which the grip electrode is fitted. In FIG. 4, one grip portion electrode 3 is composed of two conductive plates 10 and 11 so as to cover the substantially cylindrical circumference of the grip portion 2. The grip portion 2 is provided with a recess 12 having a substantially U-shaped cross section on the circumference, and one end of each of the two conductive plates 10 and 11 is machined so as to fit to the side surface and the bottom surface of the recess 12. I am doing it. Here, when the two conductive plates 10 and 11 are fitted into the grip portion 2, the end faces of the two conductive plates 10 and 11 overlap each other at the bottom surface of the recess 12 as shown in the figure. Holes 14 and 15 are provided in the end faces of the two conductive plates 10 and 11, respectively, and screws 16 as fixing means are provided.
However, the conductive plates 10 and 11 penetrate the holes 14 and 15 and are screwed into the holes 13 provided at the bottom of the recess 12 so that the conductive plates 10 and 11 are held.
It is fixed at the same time and electrically connected. This screw 1
6 and the conductive plates 10 and 11 by interposing a spectacle terminal (not shown) attached to the lead wire 8, the conductive plate 1
0 and 11 are electrically connected to the impedance measuring means 17 via the lead wire 8. 18 is the recess 12 and the screw 1
6 is a cover for covering the surface of the grip electrode 3, and has a substantially arc-shaped cross section having the same shape as the surface of the grip electrode 3, and is shaped to fit the hand.

Further, the grip portion 2 is provided with a concave portion 19 having a V-shaped cross section on the side opposite to the concave portion 12 having a U-shaped cross section. Two holes 20 are provided on each of the two inclined surfaces of the concave portion 19,
21 and holes 22 and 23 are provided, and the ends of each of the two conductive plates 10 and 11 that fit into the recess 19 are machined along the inclined surface of the recess 19, and when fitted into the grip 2. The hole 2 is provided at a position where the holes 20, 21, 22, and 23 face each other.
4, 25 and holes 26, 27 are provided. As a fixing means of this portion, as shown in FIG.
A joint 28 having a shape in which the end portion of 1 is pressed against the concave portion 19 is used. On the back of this joint 28,
Claws 29, 30, 31, 32 are provided for penetrating and fixing holes 24, 25, 26, 27 of the conductive plate and holes 20, 21, 22, 23 provided in the recess 19, respectively. Also,
The surface of the joint 28 has a substantially arc-shaped cross section having the same shape as that of the surface of the grip portion electrode 3, and has a shape along the hand.

The other grip portion electrode 3 is also constructed in the same manner as described above.

As described above, in the biological information measuring device according to the present embodiment, the foot electrode 5 provided on the human body placing portion 4 on which the person 33 to be measured is placed and in contact with the foot of the person 33 to be measured, and the person 33 to be measured.
Is provided on the grip portion 2 that is gripped by hand, and the grip portion electrode 3 that comes into contact with the hand of the person to be measured 33, the impedance measuring unit 17 that measures the impedance between the electrodes, and the person to be measured 33
Keyboard 6 as an input means for inputting the information of the person to be measured 33 representing the physical characteristics of the person, and a microcomputer 34 as an information processing means for calculating information about the living body of the person to be measured 33 from the impedance and the information of the person to be measured 33.
In the biological information measuring device having the above, the gripping part 2 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the two gripping part electrodes 3 are respectively provided with two conductive plates so as to cover the substantially cylindrical circumference of the gripping part 2. 10, 11
The two holding electrode 3 are held by the holding portion 2 only by fitting the two conductive plates 10 and 11 into the holding portion 2, and are held separately. Since it is not necessary to place the grip portion electrode 3 in the mass production process in a short time and stably, the grip portion electrode 3 can be formed.
Since the grasping portion electrode 3 is formed in the shape of the grasping portion 2, it is along the grasping portion 2 and does not float from the grasping portion 2, so that the measurement subject 33 touches the end portion of the grasping portion electrode 3. It is possible to cover the entire circumference of the grip portion 2 with the grip portion electrode 3, increase the contact area between the grip portion electrode 3 and the hand, and improve the measurement accuracy. You can

Further, by providing the screw 16 or the joint 28 as a fixing means for fixing the end portions of the two conductive plates 10 and 11 of the two gripping part electrodes 3 respectively, the number of fixing means can be minimized. In addition, the grip electrode 3 can be configured at a low cost, and almost the entire circumference except the fixing means can be constituted by the grip electrode 3, and the contact area between the grip electrode 3 and the hand can be increased, improving the measurement accuracy. Can be made.

A screw 16 as one fixing means
Has a function of electrically connecting the plurality of conductive plates 10 and 11, so that the conductive plates 10 and 1 are provided in addition to the fixing means.
1 can be constructed at low cost without requiring a member for electrically connecting the two.

Further, the screw 16 as one fixing means
Since it also has an electrical connection with the impedance measuring means 17, it can be constructed at low cost without the need for a member required for the electrical connection with the impedance measuring means 17 in addition to the fixing means.

Further, the grip portion 2 has a recess 12 having a substantially U-shaped cross section on the circumference of a substantially cylindrical shape, and one of the two conductive plates 10 and 11 of each of the grip electrode 3 at two locations. The end portions have a shape that fits in the recess 12 and have a screw 16 as a fixing means that electrically joins in the recess 12.
In addition to the fixing means, the conductive plate 1 is provided by having the cover 18 which covers the recess 12 and the ends of the conductive plates 10 and 11 and the fixing means and has a surface conforming to the hand.
It is safe because it does not require a member for electrically connecting 0 and 11 to each other and can be configured inexpensively, and it is possible to prevent the end portions of the conductive plates 10 and 11 from being touched from the outside.
The surface of the cover 18 can be easily gripped with a shape that fits the hand.

Further, a cross section V is formed on the substantially cylindrical circumference of the grip portion 2.
Each of the two gripper electrodes 3 has a V-shaped recess 19
The other ends of the conductive plates 10 and 11 have a shape that fits in the recess 19, and cover the recess 19 and the ends of the conductive plates 10 and 11 together, and the surfaces are not covered by hand. By having the joint 28 as a fixing means formed along the shape of, it is possible to prevent the end portions of the conductive plates 10 and 11 from being touched from the outside, which is safe, and the surface of the fixing means has a shape along the hand. It can be easier to grip.

Further, in the present embodiment, one fixing means portion is formed in the concave portion 12 having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and the other fixing means portion is formed in the concave portion 19 having a V-shaped cross section, but both are formed in cross section. The substantially U-shaped recess 12 or both fixing means may be formed in the recess 19 having a V-shaped cross section. On this occasion,
By forming at least one cover 18 or joint 28 of a conductor instead of the screw 16 as the fixing means, a member for electrically connecting the conductive plates 10 and 11 to each other is required in addition to the cover 18 or the joint 28. It can be constructed inexpensively.

In this embodiment, the body fat percentage calculated from the impedance is displayed as it is, but the body fat weight, lean fat weight, lean fat percentage, etc. obtained from the body fat percentage are also displayed. Good. Further, although the keyboard 6 is used as the input means, if it is a method capable of inputting the target measured object information, for example, a combination of an up-down switch and an input switch, a rotary input means using a rotary encoder, or the like. It doesn't matter.
Further, although the liquid crystal display 7 is used as the notifying means, other notifying means, for example, one using a light emitting diode, or one notifying by voice may be used. Further, the frequency and the magnitude of the current can be arbitrarily changed as long as the constant current is within a range that the human body does not feel. Further, in the present embodiment, the impedance is measured between the right hand and both feet, but it may be at any measurement position where biological information can be obtained.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, the gripping part electrode is held in the gripping part only by fitting it into the gripping part, and it is not necessary to separately hold the gripping part electrode. The gripping part electrode can be configured in the gripping part, and since the gripping part electrode is formed in the shape of the gripping part, it is along the gripping part and does not float from the gripping part. It is possible to provide a biological information measuring device which is safe because the person to be measured does not touch the end of the.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a biological information measuring device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a portion in which a grip portion electrode of a grip portion of the biological information measuring device is fitted.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the biological information measuring device during measurement.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a portion in which a grip portion electrode of a grip portion of a biological information measuring device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is fitted.

FIG. 5 is an external view of a conventional biological information measuring device

[Explanation of symbols]

2 grip 3 Grip electrode (electrode) 5 Foot electrode (electrode) 6 keyboard (input means) 10, 11 Conductive plate 12 Concave section (recessed section) 16 screws (fixing means) 17 Impedance measuring means 18 cover 19 V-shaped concave section (concave section) 28 joints (fixing means) 33 Person to be measured 34 Microcomputer (information processing means)

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kazutoshi Nagai             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 4C027 AA06 EE01

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. At least two electrodes contacting a person to be measured, impedance measuring means for measuring impedance between the electrodes, and input means for inputting person to be measured information representing physical characteristics of the person to be measured. In a biological information measuring device having information processing means for calculating information on a living body of a measured person from impedance and measured person information, at least one of the electrodes has a substantially cylindrical shape that the measured person holds by hand. It is a gripping part electrode provided in the gripping part,
The living body information measuring device, wherein the grip portion electrode has a configuration in which a conductive plate formed to fit the shape of the grip portion is fitted into the grip portion. 2. At least two electrodes contacting the person to be measured, impedance measuring means for measuring impedance between the electrodes, and input means for inputting person to be measured information representing physical characteristics of the person to be measured. In a biological information measuring device having information processing means for calculating information on a living body of a measured person from impedance and measured person information, at least one of the electrodes has a substantially cylindrical shape that the measured person holds by hand. It is a gripping part electrode provided in the gripping part,
The biological information measuring device, wherein the grip electrode is composed of a plurality of conductive plates electrically connected to each other. 3. The biological information measuring device according to claim 2, further comprising fixing means for fixing the end portions of the plurality of conductive plates to each other. 4. The living body according to claim 3, wherein the living body has a plurality of fixing means, and at least one fixing means of the fixing means simultaneously fixes and electrically connects a plurality of conductive plates. Information measuring device. 5. A plurality of fixing means are provided, and at least one fixing means of the fixing means simultaneously fixes a plurality of conductive plates and electrically connects the impedance measuring means. The biological information measuring device according to 3 or 4. 6. The biological information measuring device according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of fixing means, and at least one fixing means of the fixing means is formed of a conductor. 7. The fixing part has a concave portion on its circumference, at least one end of a plurality of conductive plates has a shape to fit into the concave portion, and is electrically joined in the concave portion. The living body according to any one of claims 3 to 6, further comprising: a means for covering the concave portion, the end portion of the conductive plate, and the fixing means, and having a cover whose surface is shaped along a hand. Information measuring device. 8. A grip has a recess in the circumference thereof, and at least one end of the plurality of conductive plates has a shape that fits into the recess, and the recess and the end of the conductive plate are connected to each other. The biological information measuring device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, further comprising a fixing unit that covers the surface and has a shape that conforms to the hand.