JP2004350836A

JP2004350836A - Optical fat measuring device and optical fat measuring method

Info

Publication number: JP2004350836A
Application number: JP2003150782A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Kazuya Kondo; 和也近藤; Shinji Uchida; 真司内田
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
Priority date: 2003-05-28
Filing date: 2003-05-28
Publication date: 2004-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2023-05-28
Also published as: JP4385650B2

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fat measuring device and an optical fat measuring method for highly accurately measuring the state of fat with excellent reproducibility. <P>SOLUTION: The optical fat measuring device comprises: a molding part 3 which impresses such a pressure that subcutaneous fat 2 under a living body surface 1 is not deformed any more to the living body surface 1 and is provided with a plurality of light source parts 6 arranged on the living body surface including a part where the pressure is impressed and a plurality of light receiving parts arranged, a prescribed distance away from light emission parts, on the living body surface including the part where the pressure is impressed; a plurality of light source elements for emitting light; a photodetector 8 for measurement and a photodetector 9 for correction for receiving the light; and an arithmetic part 10 for calculating the state of the subcutaneous fat 2 of the living body on the basis of the reception quantity of the light of the photodetector. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、脂肪の状態を光学式に測定することができる光式脂肪測定装置及び光式脂肪測定方法に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
図１３に、従来の技術による光式脂肪測定装置を示す（例えば、特許文献１を参照）。図に示すように、光式脂肪測定装置は、生体表面１に接触する脂肪測定用接触子１３１と、脂肪測定用接触子１３１に内蔵された光源１３２と、複数の受光素子１３３ａ〜１３３ｄと、光源１３２の光量を制御する光量制御回路１３４、受光素子１３３ａ〜１３３ｄをいずれかの切替を行うとともに、切り替えられた受光素子から得られた信号を増幅器１３６へ出力する切替回路１３５と、切替回路１３５からの出力を増幅する増幅器１３６と、増幅器１３６の信号をＡ／Ｄ変換するＡ／Ｄ変換回路１３７と、ユーザが測定のための入力を行うための入力部１３８と、入力部１３８からの情報またはＡ／Ｄ変換回路１３７からの信号を処理し、光量制御回路１３４、切替回路１３５および表示部１４０を制御するＣＰＵ１３９と、ＣＰＵ１３９が処理する各種情報を表示する表示部１４０とを備えている。
【０００３】
このような光式脂肪測定装置によれば、生体表面１に配置された光源１３２から、皮下脂肪２、筋肉５等からなる生体内部に入射した光のうち、生体内部で散乱、吸収されながら伝播して再び生体表面にあらわれた光１４１，１４２等を受光素子１３３ａ〜１３３ｄを選択的に用いて受光し、この受光した光に基づいて、ＣＰＵ１３９等により生体内部の皮下脂肪２の厚みを測定することができる。
【０００４】
【特許文献１】
特開２０００−１５５０９１号公報
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、上記従来の脂肪測定装置においては、生体組織１の中でも柔らかい皮下脂肪２は外力により変形しやすい。したがって、脂肪測定用接触子１３１を生体表面１にそっと載せるだけでも生体表面１は変形し、測定ごとに、皮下脂肪２の厚みは変動してしまう。そのため測定再現性が悪化していた。この問題点は、特に皮下脂肪２が厚い場合に顕著であった。
【０００６】
また、皮下脂肪２が厚くなると、受光素子１３３ａ〜１３３ｄの受光量はだんだん飽和し、ある程度以上の厚い皮下脂肪は測れないという問題点があった。
【０００７】
そこで本発明は上記従来の問題点に鑑み、皮下脂肪等の脂肪の状態を再現性良く高精度に測定することができ、さらにより厚い脂肪まで測定することができる光式脂肪測定装置及び光式脂肪測定方法を提供することを目的とする。
【０００８】
【発明を解決するための手段】
上記の目的を達成するために、第１の本発明は、生体表面に、前記生体表面下の脂肪がそれ以上変形しない程度の圧力を印加する圧力印加手段、前記圧力が印加された部位を含む前記生体表面上に配置される単数または複数の光出射部、および前記圧力が印加された部位を含む前記生体表面上に、前記光出射部と所定の距離を置いて配置される単数または複数の光入射部を有する脂肪測定用接触子と、
前記光出射部から光を出射するための単数または複数の光源と、
前記光入射部から光を受光するための単数または複数の受光部と、
前記受光部の光の受光量に基づき、前記生体の脂肪の状態を演算する演算手段とを備えた光式脂肪測定装置
である。
【０００９】
また、第２の本発明は、前記生体の脂肪の状態は、脂肪厚または脂肪率である第１の本発明の光式脂肪測定装置である。
【００１０】
また、第３の本発明は、前記演算部は、前記受光量が規定範囲内に安定しているかどうかを判定し、前記規定範囲内で安定している受光量に基づき、前記演算を行う第１の本発明の光式脂肪測定装置である。
【００１１】
また、第４の本発明は、前記脂肪測定用接触子は、前記生体表面と面接触する第１の接触面を有する成形部を有し、
前記光出射部および光入射部は、前記第１の接触面上に設けられている第１の本発明の光式脂肪測定装置である。
【００１２】
また、第５の本発明は、前記第１の接触面は、実質一様な平面である第４の本発明の光式脂肪測定装置である。
【００１３】
また、第６の本発明は、前記第１の接触面は、少なくとも一対の前記光入射部と前記光出射部との間に設けられた凸部を有する第４の本発明の光式脂肪測定装置である。
【００１４】
また、第７の本発明は、前記光入射部は、前記凸部の主面上にも設けられている第６の本発明の光式脂肪測定装置である。
【００１５】
また、第８の本発明は、前記成形部は、前記第１の接触面の周囲に設けられ、前記第１の接触面と段差を有する、前記生体表面と接触する第２の接触面を有する第４から第６のいずれかの本発明の光式脂肪測定装置である。
【００１６】
また、第９の本発明は、前記第２の接触面は、前記第１の接触面と平行である第８の本発明の光式脂肪測定装置である。
【００１７】
また、第１０の本発明は、前記脂肪測定用接触子の前記圧力印加手段は、前記脂肪測定用接触子そのものであって、
前記圧力は、前記脂肪測定用接触子の自重である第１の本発明の光式脂肪測定装置である。
【００１８】
また、第１１の本発明は、前記脂肪測定用接触子の、少なくとも前記第１の接触面および／または前記第２の接触面は遮光性を有する第４または第８の本発明の光式脂肪測定装置である。
【００１９】
また、第１２の本発明は、生体表面に、前記生体表面下の脂肪がそれ以上変形しない程度の圧力を印加する工程と、
前記圧力が印加された部位を含む前記生体表面上の単数または複数の部位から光を出射する工程と、
前記圧力が印加された部位を含む前記生体表面上であって、前記光が出射される部位と所定の距離を置いた、単数または複数の部位から光を受光する工程と、
前記受光した光の受光量に基づき、前記生体の脂肪の状態を演算する工程とを備えた光式脂肪測定方法である。
【００２０】
また、第１３の本発明は、前記生体の脂肪の状態は、脂肪厚または脂肪率である第１２の本発明の光式脂肪測定方法である。
【００２１】
また、第１４の本発明は、前記演算の工程を、前記受光量が規定範囲内に安定しているかどうかを判定し、前記規定範囲内で安定している受光量に基づくことにより行う第１２の本発明の光式脂肪測定方法である。
【００２２】
また、第１５の本発明は、前記演算の工程を、前記受光量が規定範囲内に安定しているかどうかを判定し、前記規定範囲内で安定している受光量に基づくことにより行う第１２の本発明の光式脂肪測定方法である。
【００２３】
また、第１６の本発明は、前記光が出射される部位と前記光が入射される部位との間の少なくとも一部の部分を、他の部位より深く変形させる工程を備えた第１２の本発明の光式脂肪測定方法である。
【００２４】
また、第１７の本発明は、前記光が出射される部位と前記光が入射される部位とを含む一部分を、前記圧力が印加された部位より深く変形させる工程を備えた第１２の本発明の光式脂肪測定方法である。
【００２５】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、図面を用いて、本発明の光式脂肪測定方法及びそれに用いる装置について詳細に説明する。
【００２６】
（実施の形態１）
図１は本発明の実施の形態１における光式脂肪測定装置の構成図であり、図２は同光式脂肪測定装置の成形部３を生体表面１と接する接触面３ａ側から見た上面図である。
【００２７】
皮膚４、皮下脂肪２、筋肉５の３層からなる生体表面１上に、生体表面１を押し下げる方向に成形する成形部３を配置するようにしている。
【００２８】
成形部３内には、光源素子が内蔵された光源部６と、複数の受光部７とが設けられている。受光部７には計測用受光素子８と補正用受光素子９がそれぞれ内蔵されている。計測用受光素子８と光源部６との距離は４５ｍｍであり、補正用受光素子９と光源部６との距離は２２．５ｍｍである。光源部６から出射する光の出射口は直径φ１．５ｍｍであり、計測用受光素子８及び補正用受光素子９の光の入射口はφ１．５ｍｍである。なお、計測用受光素子８と光源部６との距離は３５ｍｍ〜８０ｍｍの間であることが好ましく、補正用受光素子９と光源部６との距離は１５ｍｍ〜３０ｍｍであることが好ましい。
【００２９】
光源部６が点灯したときに、補正用受光素子９において補正用受光量（Ｙ１）が受光され、計測用受光素子８において計測用受光量（Ｙ２）が受光される。ここで、光源部６は光源素子として中心波長が７８５ｎｍのレーザーダイオードを用いている。なお、光源素子は、上記のものに限らず、中心波長が５００ｎｍ〜１０００ｎｍのレーザーダイオードまたはＬＥＤなどを用いれば、皮下脂肪２と筋肉５との光伝搬特性の差を大きくとることができるので好ましい。さらに光源素子から光ファイバーなどの導光部品を用いて生体表面１まで光を導光する構成とすると、光源素子で発生した熱が生体表面１に伝わらないので好ましい。
【００３０】
受光部７の受光素子としてフォトダイオードを用いている。なお、受光素子はＣｄＳなどの光電変換素子でもよい。また、生体表面から受光素子までを光ファイバーなどの導光部品を用いて光を導光する構成としても良い。
【００３１】
また、成形部３は直径６０ｍｍの円盤形状をしており、後述するように所定の重量を有する。生体表面１と接する面は略平面形状にすることで、生体表面１は平面形状に安定し、測定再現性に寄与する。
【００３２】
また、成形部３は遮光のために黒色ＡＢＳでできている。成形部３の材質は光源部６からの光に対して低反射率のものであることで、生体表面１から出射した光が再び生体へもどることを防ぐことができ、受光部７では生体の深い領域を伝搬してきた光のみを受光することができ測定精度が向上する。また、ノイズとなる光源以外からの外乱光を遮光することもでき測定精度が向上する。なお、成形部３は黒色ＡＢＳに限らず、遮光性のある材料なら任意のものを用いて作成してもよい。また、塗装等の処理により、生体表面１と接触する接触面３ａのみに遮光性を与えるようにしてもよい。
【００３３】
さらに成形部３は縁を丸くすることで生体表面１に鋭角な部分があたらない構造とすることで、成形部３を生体表面１に押し当てても、ユーザは縁による痛みを感じない。
【００３４】
演算部１０では、受光部７で得られた受光量に基づき、皮下脂肪２の厚みを算出する。算出された皮下脂肪２の厚みは表示部１１に表示され、通信部１２を通して他の機器にデータとして送られる。
【００３５】
また、入力部１３から直接、または通信部１２を通して他の機器から、身長、体重、年齢、性別、測定部位などのデータを入力することにより、皮下脂肪２の厚みと相関性のある体脂肪率を演算部１０で計算し、表示部１１に表示したり、通信部１２によって他の機器へデータを転送したりすることもできる。
【００３６】
なお、上記の構成において、光源部６は本発明の光出射部、受光部は本発明の光入射部、光源素子は本発明の光源、補正用受光素子９および計測用受光素子８は本発明の受光素子、演算部１０は本発明の演算手段、成形部３は本発明の成形部および脂肪測定用接触子、接触面３ａは本発明の第１の接触面に相当する。
【００３７】
以上のような構成を有する本発明の実施の形態１における光式脂肪測定装置の動作を説明すると共に、これにより、本発明の光式脂肪測定方法の一実施の形態について説明する。
【００３８】
まず、計測原理について説明する。筋肉５と皮下脂肪２とでは光の伝搬特性が大きく異なり、筋肉５ではより吸収傾向が強く、皮下脂肪２ではより散乱傾向が強い。この特性の違いは５００ｎｍ〜１０００ｎｍの波長の光で顕著である。そのため、光源部６より生体表面１から入射した光は皮下脂肪厚が厚いほど皮下脂肪２内で拡散し、深さ方向だけでなく、横方向にも広がる。したがって、この横方向に広がり再び生体表面１に出射した光は皮下脂肪２が厚いほど増加する。
【００３９】
この横方向に広がり再び生体表面１に出射した光を受光部７で受光することにより、皮下脂肪２の厚みが測定できる。
【００４０】
次に計測の手順について説明する。第１の動作として、光源部６が点灯していない状態で、成形部３を、接触面３ａが面接触するように生体表面１に押し当てる。
【００４１】
第２の動作として、受光部７での受光量が１００ｐＷ以下になることで、受光部７全体が生体表面１と接し、生体表面１が押し下げられていると確認されて光源部６が点灯し、光が生体表面１を照射する。
【００４２】
このとき、接触面３ａを介して生体表面１に加えられる圧力の働きにより、皮下脂肪２の厚みは、接触面３ａに対応する部分は、それ以上変形しないまでに一様につぶれて安定している。圧力としては、実質上７ｋＰａ以上であれば、皮下脂肪厚が安定するので好ましい。
【００４３】
第３の動作として、補正用受光素子９に到達した光１４を計測することにより補正用受光量（第１の距離での受光量Ｙ１）が得られ、計測用受光素子８に到達した光１５を計測することにより計測用受光量（第２の距離での受光量Ｙ２）が得られる。
【００４４】
ここで、補正用受光量および計測用受光量の両受光量は成形部３を生体表面１に押し当てる強さや、皮下脂肪２の厚みが変化することにより変動するので、補正用受光量および計測用受光量が安定したかどうかを判定することで、押し当てる強さや、皮下脂肪２の厚みが安定していることを確認する。これにより精度の高い測定が可能となる。
【００４５】
受光量が安定しているかどうかの判定は、サンプリングサイクル１００Ｈｚで各受光素子の受光量毎に計測を行い、２００ｍｓのサンプリング時間における各受光量の最大値と最小値の差が最大値の１０％以内に収まるかどうかを判定することにより行う。なお、心拍の影響と、人の体動の影響を除去するために、サンプリングサイクルは速いほうが良く１００Ｈｚ以上、サンプリング時間は短いほうがよく５００ｍｓ以下であることが好ましい。
【００４６】
次に、演算部１０での皮下脂肪２の厚みの算出方法について説明する。図３に、計測用受光量と皮下脂肪２の厚みとの関係を示す。図３において、白丸が計測用受光量と皮下脂肪２の厚みとの関係を示している。また、点線が１次回帰直線である。
【００４７】
図からわかるように、計測用受光量と皮下脂肪２の厚みとの相関を示す複数の１次回帰直線をあらかじめ求めておき、１次回帰直線と計測用受光量とを用いることにより、皮下脂肪２の厚みを再現性良く高精度に測定することができる。
【００４８】
ところで、計測用受光量には皮膚５の散乱及び吸収のばらつきの影響が誤差要因として含まれている。この皮膚５の影響を補正するために、補正用受光量を用いる。
【００４９】
計測用受光量（第２の距離での受光量Ｙ２）を補正用受光量（第１の距離での受光量Ｙ１）で割ったパラメータＹ２／Ｙ１と皮下脂肪２の厚みとの関係を図４に示す。図４において、白丸がＹ２／Ｙ１と皮下脂肪２の厚みとの関係を示している。また、点線が１次回帰直線である。
【００５０】
図３と比較して、明らかにばらつきは収まり、補正用受光量による補正の効果のあることがわかる。１次回帰直線とＹ２／Ｙ１とを用いることにより、皮膚５の影響及び生体表面に加わる圧力の影響を補正することができるので、皮下脂肪厚をさらに再現性良く高精度に測定することができる。
【００５１】
このように、本実施の形態によれば、接触面３ａを介して生体表面１に加えられる圧力の働きにより、皮下脂肪２の厚みをそれ以上変形しないまでに一様につぶれさせて安定させ、この変形した状態が安定していることを判定した上で測定を行うようにしたことにより、皮下脂肪厚を再現性良く高精度に測定することができる。
【００５２】
なお、以上の説明においては、図１、図２の構成のように光源部６を１つの光源素子、受光部７を計測用受光素子８と補正用受光素子９からなる構成としたが、図５の構成図及び図６の成形部３の上面図に示すように、受光部７を１つの受光素子、光源部６を計測用光源素子１６と補正用光源素子１７からなる構成としてもよい。この場合、補正用光源素子１７が点灯し計測用光源素子１６が消灯しているときに、受光部７において受光される光１８の受光量が補正用受光量となり、補正用光源素子１７が消灯し計測用光源素子１６が点灯しているときに、受光部７において受光される光１９の受光量が計測用受光量となる。また、光源素子および受光素子の個数も上記の構成に限定されない。さらに、補正用受光量と計測用受光量との二種の受光量が得られるようにする限り、光源部６，受光部７のいずれも複数の光源素子、複数の受光素子を用いるようにしてもよい。
【００５３】
ここで、さらに図７の構成図および図８に示すように、成形部３の接触面３ａ上に、本発明の凸部に相当する凸部２０を設けてもよい。ここで凸部２０は、接触面３ａと段差をもち、接触面３ａと実質上平行な接触面３ｂを有し、その面上に補正用受光素子９を配している。
【００５４】
このような凸部２０を有する成形部３を用いて上記と同様の測定を行うと、この凸部２０により生体表面１上の光源部６と計測用受光素子８との間の一部の領域が、接触面３ａにより押し下げられている部分より深く押し下げられることで、接触面３ａと接触面３ｂとの段差が生体内の浅い領域を伝播してきた光２１をカットする。これにより、受光部７では生体内のより深い部分を伝播してきた光のみを受光できるようになり、皮下脂肪２の厚みの測定精度が向上する。
【００５５】
また、接触面３ａを介して圧力を加える方法は、図示しない外力を用いても良いが、成形部３の自重を利用してもよい。このとき成形部３の重量は１ｋｇ重であることが望ましい。また、本実施の形態は、体脂肪厚を測定するものとして説明を行ったが、本発明の脂肪の状態としては、体脂肪厚以外の状態を測定するものであってもよい。
【００５６】
例えば、生体の体脂肪の割合を示す体脂肪率は、生体の各部位の皮下脂肪厚と相関性があり、皮下脂肪が厚いほど、体脂肪率は増加する。しかしながら、同じ皮下脂肪厚でも、筋肉量が多いと体重は重くなり体脂肪率は低くなる。
【００５７】
そこで、入力部１３もしくは通信部１２から計測部位と体重などの情報を入力することにより、演算部１０により体脂肪率を求めることができる。演算部１０での計算には、あらかじめ体脂肪率が既知である検体を複数用意し、既定の計測部位の皮下脂肪厚を検体の重量で割った値と既知である体脂肪率との関係をグラフにプロットし、その一時金自著苦戦から求めた計算式を用いる。なお、個々で体重のほかに、身長、性別、年齢などを入力し、各条件での個別の計算式を容易することで、より高精度な体脂肪率の算出が可能となる。
【００５８】
（実施の形態２）
図９は本発明の実施の形態２における光式脂肪測定装置の構成図であり、図１０は同光式脂肪測定装置の成形部３を生体表面１と接する接触面３ａ側から見た上面図である。
【００５９】
実施の形態１と同様の部分については説明を省略し、異なる部分について説明する。生体表面１を押し下げる方向に成形する成形部３の接触面３ａ上には、さらに局所的に押し下げる凸部２２が設けられている。凸部２２も成形部３と同様遮光のために黒色ＡＢＳでできている。凸部２２の形状は幅５ｍｍ長さ５５ｍｍの、接触面３ａと平行な接触面３ｃを有し、高さ５ｍｍの段差をもって接触面３ａからせり出している。接触面３ｃ上に光源部６と受光部７とが設けられている。なお、接触面３ｃは、接触面３ａとは必ずしも平行でなくともよい。段差があればよい。受光部７は計測用受光素子８（第２の受光素子）と補正用受光素子９（第１受光素子）からなる。計測用受光素子８と光源部６との距離は４５ｍｍであり、補正用受光素子９と光源部６との距離は２２．５ｍｍであり、光源部６および各受光部７はほぼ一直線上に配置されている。なお、上記の構成において、接触面３ｃは本発明の第２の接触面に相当する。
【００６０】
実施の形態１と異なる点は、凸部２２で、接触面３ａが接触している部分より局所的に皮下脂肪２を大きく変形させるようにしている。したがって、皮下脂肪２が厚い場合は、凸部２２がない場合と比較して凸部２２の高さ分だけ薄い皮下脂肪２を計測することになる。また、皮下脂肪２が薄い場合には皮下脂肪２は変形しないので計測する皮下脂肪２の厚みは変化しない。したがって、凸部２２の高さの分だけより厚い皮下脂肪２が計測できる。
【００６１】
このときの計測用受光量と皮下脂肪厚みの関係は図１１に、皮膚の補正を行ったパラメータＹ２／Ｙ１と皮下脂肪厚みとの関係は図１２にそれぞれ示すようになり、この点線の１次回帰直線と計測用受光量もしくはパラメータＹ２／Ｙ１とを用いることにより、皮下脂肪厚を局所的に薄くして計測することができ、薄くなった皮下脂肪厚からもとの皮下脂肪厚が換算できるので、より厚い皮下脂肪厚を再現性良く高精度に測定することができ、皮下脂肪厚の測定範囲を増大させることもできる。
【００６２】
なお、上記の説明において生体は人体としたが、他の動物であってもよい。
【００６３】
【発明の効果】
以上から明らかなように、本発明によれば、脂肪の状態を再現性良く高精度に測定することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施の形態１における光式脂肪測定装置の構成図
【図２】同光式脂肪測定装置の成形部を生体表面と接する側から見た上面図
【図３】本発明の一実施の形態における光式脂肪測定装置により求めた計測用受光量と脂肪みとの関係を示すグラフ
【図４】同光式脂肪測定装置により求めたパラメータＹ２／Ｙ１と皮下脂肪厚みとの関係を示すグラフ
【図５】同実施の形態における、光源部と受光部の構成が異なる光式脂肪測定装置の構成図
【図６】同光式脂肪測定装置の成形部を生体表面と接する側から見た上面図
【図７】同実施の形態における、突起部を設けた光式脂肪測定装置の構成図
【図８】同光式脂肪測定装置の成形部を生体表面と接する側から見た上面図
【図９】本発明の他の実施の形態における光式脂肪測定装置の構成図
【図１０】同光式脂肪測定装置の成形部を生体表面と接する側から見た上面図
【図１１】同光式脂肪測定装置により求めた計測用受光量と皮下脂肪厚みとの関係を示すグラフ
【図１２】同光式脂肪測定装置により求めたパラメータＹ２／Ｙ１と皮下脂肪厚みとの関係を示すグラフ
【図１３】従来の光式脂肪測定装置の構成図
【符号の説明】
１生体表面
２皮下脂肪
３成形部
４皮膚
５筋肉
６光源部
７受光部
８計測用受光素子
９補正用受光素子
１０演算部
１１表示部
１２通信部
１３入力部
１４補正用受光素子が受光する光子
１５計測用受光素子が受光する光子
１６計測用光源素子
１７補正用光源素子
１８補正用光源素子からの光
１９計測用受光素子からの光
２０凸部
２１生体の浅い部分を伝播する光
２２凸部[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical fat measuring device and an optical fat measuring method capable of optically measuring the state of fat.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 13 shows an optical fat measuring device according to a conventional technique (for example, see Patent Document 1). As shown in the figure, the optical fat measuring device includes a fat measuring contact 131 that contacts the living body surface 1, a light source 132 built in the fat measuring contact 131, a plurality of light receiving elements 133a to 133d, A light amount control circuit 134 for controlling the light amount of the light source 132, a light receiving element 133a to 133d, and a switching circuit 135 for switching any one of the light receiving elements and outputting a signal obtained from the switched light receiving element to the amplifier 136; 136, an A / D conversion circuit 137 for A / D converting the signal of the amplifier 136, an input unit 138 for a user to perform an input for measurement, and information from the input unit 138. Alternatively, a CPU 139 that processes a signal from the A / D conversion circuit 137 and controls the light amount control circuit 134, the switching circuit 135, and the display unit 140; There has been a display unit 140 for displaying various information to be processed.
[0003]
According to such an optical fat measurement device, of the light incident on the inside of the living body including the subcutaneous fat 2, the muscle 5, and the like from the light source 132 disposed on the living body surface 1, the light propagates while being scattered and absorbed inside the living body. Then, the light 141, 142, etc. appearing again on the surface of the living body is received by selectively using the light receiving elements 133a to 133d, and based on the received light, the thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2 inside the living body is measured by the CPU 139, etc. be able to.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-155091 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-mentioned conventional fat measuring device, the soft subcutaneous fat 2 in the living tissue 1 is easily deformed by an external force. Therefore, even if the fat measuring contact 131 is simply gently placed on the living body surface 1, the living body surface 1 is deformed, and the thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2 changes every measurement. Therefore, the measurement reproducibility was deteriorated. This problem was remarkable especially when the subcutaneous fat 2 was thick.
[0006]
Also, when the subcutaneous fat 2 becomes thicker, the amount of light received by the light receiving elements 133a to 133d gradually becomes saturated, and there is a problem that a subcutaneous fat thicker than a certain level cannot be measured.
[0007]
In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention can measure the state of fat, such as subcutaneous fat, with high reproducibility and high accuracy, and can measure even thicker fat. It is intended to provide a method for measuring fat.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Invention]
In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention includes a pressure applying means for applying a pressure to a surface of a living body such that fat under the surface of the living body is not further deformed, and a portion to which the pressure is applied. One or more light emitting portions disposed on the living body surface, and one or more light emitting portions disposed at a predetermined distance from the light emitting portion on the living body surface including the portion where the pressure is applied. A fat measuring contact having a light incident portion,
One or more light sources for emitting light from the light emitting unit,
One or more light receiving units for receiving light from the light incident unit,
An optical fat measurement device comprising: an arithmetic unit configured to calculate a state of fat in the living body based on an amount of light received by the light receiving unit.
[0009]
A second aspect of the present invention is the optical fat measuring device according to the first aspect, wherein the fat state of the living body is fat thickness or fat percentage.
[0010]
In a third aspect of the present invention, the calculation unit determines whether the received light amount is stable within a specified range, and performs the calculation based on the received light amount that is stable within the specified range. 1 is an optical fat measuring device of the present invention.
[0011]
Further, in a fourth aspect of the present invention, the fat measuring contactor has a molded portion having a first contact surface that makes surface contact with the living body surface,
The light emitting unit and the light incident unit are the first optical fat measuring device of the present invention provided on the first contact surface.
[0012]
A fifth aspect of the present invention is the optical fat measuring device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, wherein the first contact surface is a substantially uniform plane.
[0013]
A sixth aspect of the present invention is the optical fat measurement device according to the fourth aspect, wherein the first contact surface has a convex portion provided between at least a pair of the light incident portion and the light emitting portion. Device.
[0014]
A seventh aspect of the present invention is the optical fat measuring device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, wherein the light incident section is provided also on a main surface of the convex section.
[0015]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the molded portion has a second contact surface that is provided around the first contact surface, has a step with the first contact surface, and contacts the living body surface. It is an optical fat measuring device according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects of the present invention.
[0016]
A ninth aspect of the present invention is the optical fat measuring apparatus according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, wherein the second contact surface is parallel to the first contact surface.
[0017]
The tenth aspect of the present invention is the fat measuring contact, wherein the pressure applying means is the fat measuring contact itself,
In the optical fat measuring device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the pressure is a weight of the fat measuring contact.
[0018]
An eleventh aspect of the present invention is the optical fat according to the fourth or eighth aspect of the present invention, wherein at least the first contact surface and / or the second contact surface of the fat measuring contact has a light shielding property. It is a measuring device.
[0019]
Further, a twelfth aspect of the present invention provides a step of applying a pressure to the surface of a living body such that the fat below the surface of the living body does not deform any more.
A step of emitting light from one or more sites on the biological surface including the site where the pressure is applied,
On the surface of the living body including the site where the pressure is applied, a predetermined distance from the site where the light is emitted, a step of receiving light from one or more sites,
Calculating the fat state of the living body based on the received light amount of the received light.
[0020]
A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the optical fat measuring method according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, wherein the fat state of the living body is fat thickness or fat percentage.
[0021]
In a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the calculation step is performed by determining whether the received light amount is stable within a specified range and based on the received light amount stable within the specified range. 3 is an optical fat measurement method of the present invention.
[0022]
In a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the calculation step is performed by determining whether the received light amount is stable within a specified range and based on the received light amount stable within the specified range. 3 is an optical fat measurement method of the present invention.
[0023]
A sixteenth aspect of the present invention is a twelfth book comprising a step of deforming at least a part of a part between the part where the light is emitted and the part where the light is incident deeper than another part. It is an optical fat measuring method of the present invention.
[0024]
Further, a seventeenth aspect of the present invention includes a step of deforming a part including the part where the light is emitted and the part where the light is incident deeper than the part to which the pressure is applied. Is an optical fat measurement method.
[0025]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the optical fat measuring method of the present invention and the device used therefor will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0026]
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical fat measurement device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a top view of a molded portion 3 of the optical fat measurement device as viewed from a contact surface 3a contacting a living body surface 1. It is.
[0027]
On the living body surface 1 composed of the three layers of the skin 4, the subcutaneous fat 2, and the muscle 5, a forming part 3 for forming the living body surface 1 in a direction of pressing down the living body surface 1 is arranged.
[0028]
A light source unit 6 having a built-in light source element and a plurality of light receiving units 7 are provided in the molding unit 3. The light receiving section 7 has a light receiving element 8 for measurement and a light receiving element 9 for correction incorporated therein. The distance between the light receiving element 8 for measurement and the light source 6 is 45 mm, and the distance between the light receiving element 9 for correction and the light source 6 is 22.5 mm. The exit of the light emitted from the light source unit 6 has a diameter of φ1.5 mm, and the entrance of the light of the measurement light-receiving element 8 and the correction light-receiving element 9 has a diameter of φ1.5 mm. The distance between the measuring light receiving element 8 and the light source 6 is preferably between 35 mm and 80 mm, and the distance between the correcting light receiving element 9 and the light source 6 is preferably between 15 mm and 30 mm.
[0029]
When the light source unit 6 is turned on, the correction light-receiving element 9 receives the correction light-receiving amount (Y1), and the measurement light-receiving element 8 receives the measurement light-receiving amount (Y2). Here, the light source unit 6 uses a laser diode having a center wavelength of 785 nm as a light source element. In addition, the light source element is not limited to the above, and it is preferable to use a laser diode or LED having a center wavelength of 500 nm to 1000 nm, because a large difference in light propagation characteristics between the subcutaneous fat 2 and the muscle 5 can be obtained. . Furthermore, it is preferable to adopt a configuration in which light is guided from the light source element to the living body surface 1 using a light guiding component such as an optical fiber because heat generated in the light source element is not transmitted to the living body surface 1.
[0030]
A photodiode is used as a light receiving element of the light receiving unit 7. The light receiving element may be a photoelectric conversion element such as CdS. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which light is guided from the surface of the living body to the light receiving element using a light guiding component such as an optical fiber.
[0031]
The molded portion 3 has a disk shape with a diameter of 60 mm and has a predetermined weight as described later. By making the surface in contact with the living body surface 1 a substantially planar shape, the living body surface 1 is stabilized in a planar shape and contributes to measurement reproducibility.
[0032]
The molded part 3 is made of black ABS for shielding light. Since the material of the molded part 3 has a low reflectance with respect to the light from the light source part 6, the light emitted from the living body surface 1 can be prevented from returning to the living body again. Only light that has propagated in a deep region can be received, and measurement accuracy is improved. In addition, disturbance light from sources other than the light source that becomes noise can be shielded, and measurement accuracy is improved. The molded part 3 is not limited to the black ABS, and may be made of any material having a light shielding property. Alternatively, light-shielding properties may be given only to the contact surface 3a that contacts the living body surface 1 by a treatment such as painting.
[0033]
Further, the molded portion 3 has a structure in which the edge is rounded so that an acute portion does not hit the living body surface 1, so that even if the molded portion 3 is pressed against the living body surface 1, the user does not feel pain due to the edge.
[0034]
The calculation unit 10 calculates the thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2 based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 7. The calculated thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2 is displayed on the display unit 11 and transmitted as data to another device through the communication unit 12.
[0035]
Also, by inputting data such as height, weight, age, gender, and measurement site directly from the input unit 13 or from another device through the communication unit 12, the body fat percentage correlated with the thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2 is obtained. Can be calculated by the arithmetic unit 10 and displayed on the display unit 11, or data can be transferred to another device by the communication unit 12.
[0036]
In the above configuration, the light source unit 6 is the light emitting unit of the present invention, the light receiving unit is the light incident unit of the present invention, the light source element is the light source of the present invention, the correction light receiving element 9 and the measuring light receiving element 8 are the present invention. The arithmetic unit 10 corresponds to the arithmetic means of the present invention, the forming unit 3 corresponds to the forming unit and the fat measuring contactor of the present invention, and the contact surface 3a corresponds to the first contact surface of the present invention.
[0037]
The operation of the optical fat measuring device according to the first embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration will be described, and an embodiment of the optical fat measuring method according to the present invention will be described.
[0038]
First, the principle of measurement will be described. The light propagation characteristics of the muscle 5 and the subcutaneous fat 2 are significantly different. The muscle 5 has a stronger tendency to absorb and the subcutaneous fat 2 has a stronger tendency to scatter. This difference in characteristics is remarkable for light having a wavelength of 500 nm to 1000 nm. For this reason, light incident from the body surface 1 from the light source unit 6 diffuses in the subcutaneous fat 2 as the subcutaneous fat thickness increases, and spreads not only in the depth direction but also in the lateral direction. Therefore, the light which spreads in the lateral direction and is emitted to the living body surface 1 again increases as the subcutaneous fat 2 becomes thicker.
[0039]
The thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2 can be measured by receiving the light that has spread in the lateral direction and emitted to the living body surface 1 again by the light receiving unit 7.
[0040]
Next, a measurement procedure will be described. As a first operation, in a state where the light source unit 6 is not turned on, the molded unit 3 is pressed against the living body surface 1 so that the contact surface 3a makes surface contact.
[0041]
As a second operation, when the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 7 becomes 100 pW or less, the entire light receiving unit 7 comes into contact with the living body surface 1, it is confirmed that the living body surface 1 is pressed down, and the light source unit 6 is turned on. The light illuminates the living body surface 1.
[0042]
At this time, due to the action of the pressure applied to the living body surface 1 via the contact surface 3a, the thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2 is uniformly reduced until the portion corresponding to the contact surface 3a is further deformed until it is not further deformed. I have. It is preferable that the pressure is substantially 7 kPa or more because the thickness of subcutaneous fat is stabilized.
[0043]
As a third operation, a light receiving amount for correction (light receiving amount Y1 at the first distance) is obtained by measuring the light 14 arriving at the light receiving element 9 for correction, and the light 15 arriving at the light receiving element 8 for measurement is obtained. Is measured, the measurement received light amount (the received light amount Y2 at the second distance) is obtained.
[0044]
Here, since both of the received light amount for correction and the received light amount for measurement fluctuate due to the change in the strength of pressing the molded part 3 against the living body surface 1 and the thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2, the received light amount for correction and the measurement By determining whether the received light amount for use is stable, it is confirmed that the pressing strength and the thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2 are stable. This enables highly accurate measurement.
[0045]
To determine whether the received light amount is stable, measurement is performed for each received light amount of each light receiving element at a sampling cycle of 100 Hz, and the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of each received light amount during a sampling time of 200 ms is 10% of the maximum value. It is performed by judging whether or not it is within. In order to eliminate the influence of the heartbeat and the influence of the body movement of the person, it is preferable that the sampling cycle is faster, and the sampling time is 100 Hz or more, and the sampling time is shorter, and it is preferable that the sampling time is 500 ms or less.
[0046]
Next, a method of calculating the thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2 in the arithmetic unit 10 will be described. FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the amount of received light for measurement and the thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2. In FIG. 3, a white circle indicates the relationship between the amount of received light for measurement and the thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2. The dotted line is the primary regression line.
[0047]
As can be seen from the figure, a plurality of primary regression lines indicating the correlation between the amount of received light for measurement and the thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2 are obtained in advance, and by using the linear regression line and the amount of received light for measurement, the subcutaneous fat is obtained. 2 can be measured with high reproducibility and high accuracy.
[0048]
By the way, the amount of light received for measurement includes the influence of variations in scattering and absorption of the skin 5 as error factors. In order to correct the influence of the skin 5, the light receiving amount for correction is used.
[0049]
FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the parameter Y2 / Y1 obtained by dividing the measured light reception amount (light reception amount Y2 at the second distance) by the correction light reception amount (light reception amount Y1 at the first distance) and the thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2. Shown in In FIG. 4, white circles indicate the relationship between Y2 / Y1 and the thickness of subcutaneous fat 2. The dotted line is the primary regression line.
[0050]
Compared to FIG. 3, it is clear that the variation is reduced, and it can be seen that there is an effect of correction by the amount of received light for correction. By using the linear regression line and Y2 / Y1, the effect of the skin 5 and the effect of the pressure applied to the living body surface can be corrected, so that the subcutaneous fat thickness can be measured with higher reproducibility and higher accuracy. .
[0051]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2 is uniformly crushed by the action of the pressure applied to the living body surface 1 via the contact surface 3a until it is not further deformed, and is stabilized. By performing the measurement after judging that the deformed state is stable, the subcutaneous fat thickness can be measured with high reproducibility and high accuracy.
[0052]
In the above description, the light source unit 6 includes one light source element and the light receiving unit 7 includes the measurement light receiving element 8 and the correction light receiving element 9 as in the configurations of FIGS. As shown in the configuration diagram of FIG. 5 and the top view of the molding unit 3 in FIG. 6, the light receiving unit 7 may be configured of one light receiving element, and the light source unit 6 may be configured of a measurement light source element 16 and a correction light source element 17. In this case, when the correction light source element 17 is turned on and the measurement light source element 16 is turned off, the amount of light 18 received by the light receiving unit 7 becomes the correction light reception amount, and the correction light source element 17 is turned off. When the measurement light source element 16 is turned on, the amount of light 19 received by the light receiving section 7 is the measurement light reception amount. Further, the numbers of the light source elements and the light receiving elements are not limited to the above configuration. Further, as long as two kinds of light reception amounts, that is, a correction light reception amount and a measurement light reception amount, are obtained, each of the light source unit 6 and the light reception unit 7 uses a plurality of light source elements and a plurality of light reception elements. Is also good.
[0053]
Here, as shown in the configuration diagram of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, a projection 20 corresponding to the projection of the present invention may be provided on the contact surface 3a of the molded portion 3. Here, the convex portion 20 has a step with the contact surface 3a and has a contact surface 3b substantially parallel to the contact surface 3a, and the correction light receiving element 9 is arranged on the surface.
[0054]
When the same measurement as described above is performed using the molded part 3 having such a convex part 20, a partial area between the light source part 6 and the light receiving element 8 for measurement on the living body surface 1 by the convex part 20 is obtained. Is pressed down deeper than the portion pressed down by the contact surface 3a, so that the step between the contact surface 3a and the contact surface 3b cuts the light 21 that has propagated through a shallow region in the living body. As a result, the light receiving unit 7 can receive only light that has propagated in a deeper part of the living body, and the measurement accuracy of the thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2 is improved.
[0055]
In addition, as a method of applying pressure via the contact surface 3a, an external force (not shown) may be used, but the own weight of the molded portion 3 may be used. At this time, it is desirable that the weight of the molded portion 3 is 1 kg weight. Although the present embodiment has been described as measuring the body fat thickness, the fat state of the present invention may be a state other than the body fat thickness.
[0056]
For example, the body fat percentage, which indicates the ratio of body fat in a living body, is correlated with the subcutaneous fat thickness in each part of the living body. However, even with the same subcutaneous fat thickness, if the muscle mass is large, the body weight becomes heavy and the body fat percentage becomes low.
[0057]
Therefore, by inputting information such as the measurement site and the weight from the input unit 13 or the communication unit 12, the arithmetic unit 10 can obtain the body fat percentage. For the calculation in the calculation unit 10, a plurality of samples whose body fat percentages are known in advance are prepared, and the relationship between the value obtained by dividing the subcutaneous fat thickness of the predetermined measurement site by the weight of the sample and the known body fat ratio is calculated. Plot it on a graph and use the formula obtained from the struggle for the lump sum. In addition, by inputting height, gender, age, and the like in addition to weight individually, individual formulas under each condition are facilitated, so that the body fat percentage can be calculated with higher accuracy.
[0058]
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of an optical fat measurement device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a top view of a molded portion 3 of the optical fat measurement device as viewed from a contact surface 3a contacting a living body surface 1. It is.
[0059]
The description of the same parts as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and different parts will be described. On the contact surface 3a of the forming part 3 for forming the living body surface 1 in the pressing direction, a convex part 22 for further pressing down locally is provided. The protruding portion 22 is also made of black ABS for shading, similarly to the molded portion 3. The projection 22 has a contact surface 3c having a width of 5 mm and a length of 55 mm, which is parallel to the contact surface 3a, and protrudes from the contact surface 3a with a height difference of 5 mm. The light source unit 6 and the light receiving unit 7 are provided on the contact surface 3c. Note that the contact surface 3c is not necessarily parallel to the contact surface 3a. It is sufficient if there is a step. The light receiving section 7 includes a measurement light receiving element 8 (second light receiving element) and a correction light receiving element 9 (first light receiving element). The distance between the measuring light receiving element 8 and the light source unit 6 is 45 mm, the distance between the correcting light receiving element 9 and the light source unit 6 is 22.5 mm, and the light source unit 6 and each light receiving unit 7 are arranged substantially in a straight line. Have been. In the above configuration, the contact surface 3c corresponds to the second contact surface of the present invention.
[0060]
The difference from the first embodiment is that the convex portion 22 locally deforms the subcutaneous fat 2 more than the portion where the contact surface 3a is in contact. Therefore, when the subcutaneous fat 2 is thick, the subcutaneous fat 2 that is thinner by the height of the convex portion 22 is measured as compared with the case where the convex portion 22 is not provided. When the subcutaneous fat 2 is thin, the subcutaneous fat 2 is not deformed, so that the measured thickness of the subcutaneous fat 2 does not change. Therefore, a thicker subcutaneous fat 2 can be measured by the height of the projection 22.
[0061]
At this time, the relationship between the amount of received light for measurement and the subcutaneous fat thickness is shown in FIG. 11, and the relationship between the skin-corrected parameter Y2 / Y1 and the subcutaneous fat thickness is shown in FIG. 12, respectively. By using the regression line and the received light amount for measurement or the parameter Y2 / Y1, the subcutaneous fat thickness can be locally reduced and measured, and the original subcutaneous fat thickness can be converted from the reduced subcutaneous fat thickness. Therefore, a thicker subcutaneous fat thickness can be measured with high reproducibility and high accuracy, and the measurement range of the subcutaneous fat thickness can be increased.
[0062]
In the above description, the living body is a human body, but may be another animal.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, the state of fat can be measured with good reproducibility and high accuracy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical fat measurement device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top view of a molded part of the optical fat measurement device as viewed from a side in contact with the surface of a living body. FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of measurement light received by the optical fat measuring device and the fat content according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the parameter Y2 / Y1 and the subcutaneous fat thickness obtained by the optical fat measuring device. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an optical fat measurement device having different configurations of a light source unit and a light receiving unit in the embodiment. FIG. FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of an optical fat measuring device provided with a protrusion in the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a view of a molded part of the optical fat measuring device viewed from a side in contact with a living body surface. FIG. 9 is a top view of an optical fat measuring device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a top view of the molded part of the optical fat measuring device as viewed from the side in contact with the surface of a living body. FIG. 11 is a relationship between the amount of light received for measurement obtained by the optical fat measuring device and the thickness of subcutaneous fat. FIG. 12 is a graph showing the relationship between the parameter Y2 / Y1 determined by the optical fat measuring device and the subcutaneous fat thickness. FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a conventional optical fat measuring device.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Biological surface 2 Subcutaneous fat 3 Molding part 4 Skin 5 Muscle 6 Light source part 7 Light receiving part 8 Light receiving element for measurement 9 Light receiving element for correction 10 Operation part 11 Display part 12 Communication part 13 Input part 14 Photon which the light receiving element for correction receives Reference Signs List 15 photon received by measurement light receiving element 16 measurement light source element 17 correction light source element 18 light from correction light source element 19 light from measurement light receiving element 20 convex part 21 light 22 propagating in a shallow part of living body 22 convex part

Claims

On the surface of the living body, pressure applying means for applying pressure to such an extent that the fat under the surface of the living body is not further deformed, one or more light emitting portions arranged on the surface of the living body including a portion where the pressure is applied, And on the body surface including the site where the pressure is applied, a fat measurement contact having one or more light incident parts arranged at a predetermined distance with the light emitting part,
One or more light sources for emitting light from the light emitting unit,
One or more light receiving units for receiving light from the light incident unit,
A calculating means for calculating a fat state of the living body based on an amount of light received by the light receiving section.

The optical fat measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the fat state of the living body is fat thickness or fat percentage.

The optical fat measurement according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit determines whether the amount of received light is stable within a specified range, and performs the calculation based on the amount of received light that is stable within the specified range. apparatus.

The fat measurement contact has a molded part having a first contact surface that makes surface contact with the living body surface,
The optical fat measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting unit and the light incident unit are provided on the first contact surface.

The optical fat measurement device according to claim 4, wherein the first contact surface is a substantially uniform plane.

The optical fat measuring device according to claim 4, wherein the first contact surface has a convex portion provided between at least a pair of the light incident portion and the light emitting portion.

The optical fat measurement device according to claim 6, wherein the light incident portion is provided also on a main surface of the convex portion.

The said molding part is provided in the circumference | surroundings of the said 1st contact surface, and has a 2nd contact surface which contacts the said biological surface which has a level | step difference with the said 1st contact surface. The optical fat measuring device as described in the above.

9. The optical fat measurement device according to claim 8, wherein the second contact surface is parallel to the first contact surface.

The pressure applying means of the fat measuring contact is the fat measuring contact itself,
The optical fat measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure is a weight of the fat measuring contact.

The optical fat measurement device according to claim 4, wherein at least the first contact surface and / or the second contact surface of the fat measurement contact has a light shielding property.

A step of applying a pressure on the surface of the living body such that the fat under the surface of the living body is not further deformed,
A step of emitting light from one or more sites on the biological surface including the site where the pressure is applied,
On the surface of the living body including the site where the pressure is applied, a predetermined distance from the site where the light is emitted, a step of receiving light from one or more sites,
Calculating the fat state of the living body based on the amount of the received light.

The optical fat measurement method according to claim 12, wherein the fat state of the living body is fat thickness or fat percentage.

The optical fat measurement method according to claim 12, wherein the calculating step is performed by determining whether the received light amount is stable within a specified range and based on the received light amount that is stable within the specified range. .

13. The fat measuring method according to claim 12, further comprising a step of shielding at least a position where the light is emitted and a position where the light is received in the light receiving step in the light emitting step.

13. The optical fat measurement method according to claim 12, further comprising a step of deforming at least a portion between a portion where the light is emitted and a portion where the light is incident more deeply than other portions.

13. The optical fat measurement method according to claim 12, further comprising a step of deforming a part including a part where the light is emitted and a part where the light is incident deeper than a part where the pressure is applied.