JP2007151619A - Method and apparatus for measuring amount of visceral fat - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus for measuring the amount of visceral fat, which can improve measurement accuracy of the amount of visceral fat when measuring the amount of visceral fat directly by an impedance method. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus comprises a pair of current impressing electrodes 2 arranged on the circumference of the trunk W on almost opposing positions and on either side of the trunk W, and a pair of voltage measurement electrodes 3 arranged on the circumference of the trunk W on almost the middle of the pair of current impressing electrodes 2. The pair of voltage measurement electrodes 3 is arranged on the circumference of the trunk W so that their positions are deviated in a direction connecting the pair of current impressing electrodes 2. The apparatus further comprises an impedance measuring means 4 for measuring the impedance between the pair of voltage measurement electrodes 3, a subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 for measuring the thickness of the subcutaneous fat, and a visceral fat amount calculating means 5 for calculating the amount of visceral fat on the basis of the impedance measured by the impedance measuring means 4 which corrects the amount of the visceral fat using the thickness of subcutaneous fat measured by the subcutaneous fat measuring means 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring visceral fat mass in a human body.

  Fat accumulated in the living body is roughly classified into subcutaneous fat and visceral fat from the site.

  Recent research has shown that visceral fat accumulation is a trigger for diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, and the importance of managing visceral fat mass has been recognized for health management.

  There are devices such as X-ray CT and MRI for measuring visceral fat mass, but these devices are extremely expensive and large-scale, so they are suitable for daily use by the general public for health care. Not.

  In addition, body fat scales that measure the electrical impedance between both hands and both feet and calculate body fat from information such as height and weight are commercially available, but these estimate the total fat mass of the entire body. The amount of visceral fat is not directly measured, and subcutaneous fat and visceral fat cannot be separated. For this reason, the visceral fat mass is estimated from data such as the total fat mass and body weight / age.

  A technique for directly obtaining the amount of visceral fat of a human body by an impedance method is known from Patent Document 1, for example.

  In the conventional example shown in Patent Document 1, a pair of current application electrodes is arranged at a position substantially opposite to the body on the outer periphery of the body of the measurement subject, and the pair of currents is applied. When a pair of voltage measurement electrodes is placed on the outer circumference of the body corresponding to the approximate middle position between the application electrodes, and a high-frequency current is passed through the pair of current application electrodes, the paired voltage measurement This is a technique for calculating the visceral fat amount from the potential difference generated in the electrode for medical use. This is because the electrical resistance of fat is greater than the electrical resistance of other tissues such as muscles, so the electrical resistance of the abdominal cavity where visceral fat accumulates increases, and as a result, it occurs at the voltage measurement electrode placed in the middle position When the visceral fat accumulation is small and the visceral fat accumulation is small, the voltage generated in the voltage measuring electrode is small, so that the visceral fat mass can be directly measured.

  However, the conventional body fat weight scale described above is a method of estimating the visceral fat mass from the body fat percentage and other information such as weight and age, and does not directly measure the impedance of the abdomen. There is a problem in terms.

  Further, in the conventional example shown in Patent Document 1 described above, the impedance of the measurement subject's abdomen is directly measured, and the measured impedance is also calculated from the potential difference of the flank caused by visceral fat mass. In comparison with the conventional body fat weight scale, the accuracy is good because the impedance caused by visceral fat is directly measured.

However, the actual visceral fat 14 is surrounded by the subcutaneous fat 12 and the muscle 13, and the person around the same trunk W (abdominal circumference) has a lot of subcutaneous fat 12 on the front abdomen as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2B, there are large individual differences such as a person having a lot of subcutaneous fat 12 on the flank, and as a result, when the voltage is measured on the flank, a pair is formed due to the difference in the thickness of the subcutaneous fat on the flank. The voltage generated between the voltage measuring electrodes is different, and even if the amount of visceral fat is the same, the measurement voltage tends to change and the measurement accuracy tends to deteriorate.
Japanese Patent No. 3396672

  The present invention was invented in view of the above-described conventional problems, and in directly measuring visceral fat mass by the impedance method, the visceral fat mass measuring method and visceral fat mass measurement capable of improving the measurement accuracy of visceral fat mass It is an object to provide an apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems, a visceral fat mass measuring apparatus according to the present invention comprises a pair of current application electrodes 2 disposed at substantially opposite positions across the trunk W on the outer circumference of the trunk W of the measurement subject, A pair of voltage measuring electrodes 3 arranged on the outer periphery of the body W corresponding to a substantially intermediate position between the pair of current application electrodes 2, and a pair disposed on the outer periphery of the body W Impedance measuring means 4 for measuring the impedance between the voltage measuring electrodes 3 paired with the pair of current applying electrodes 2 and measuring the impedance between the pair of voltage measuring electrodes 3; Visceral fat mass using the subcutaneous fat thickness measured by the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 when calculating the visceral fat mass based on the impedance measured by the impedance measuring means 4 Visceral fat mass calculation means for correcting It is characterized in the provision of and.

  With such a configuration, the pair of current application electrodes 2 for directly measuring the visceral fat mass by the impedance method, the pair of voltage measurement electrodes 3, and the pair of voltage measurement electrodes 3. Since the impedance measuring means 4 for measuring the impedance is provided, the visceral fat mass can be directly measured by the impedance method. At this time, in the present invention, the subcutaneous fat thickness measurement for measuring the subcutaneous fat thickness is performed. Since the means 1 is provided and the visceral fat amount is corrected by the subcutaneous fat thickness measured by the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 when the visceral fat amount is calculated by the visceral fat amount calculating means 5, the impedance measurement is performed. By correcting the influence of the difference in subcutaneous fat thickness on the value, it is possible to provide a device that can directly measure the visceral fat mass with higher accuracy by the impedance method.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the subcutaneous fat thickness measurement means 1 measures the subcutaneous fat thickness near the impedance measurement cross section by the impedance measurement means 4 of the body W of the measurement subject.

  With such a configuration, the visceral fat mass can be measured with higher accuracy.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 is disposed in the vicinity of the voltage measuring electrode 3 and measures the subcutaneous fat thickness in the vicinity of the voltage measuring electrode 3.

  With such a configuration, the subcutaneous fat thickness can be measured with higher accuracy.

  The subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 is preferably provided integrally with the voltage measuring electrode 3.

  By adopting such a configuration, the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 and the voltage measuring electrode 3 can be arranged at the same location, the number of parts of the visceral fat mass measuring device can be reduced, and handling is facilitated.

  The subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 is preferably an optical one.

  By setting it as such a structure, the apparatus which can measure subcutaneous fat thickness directly with a simple structure can be provided.

  The visceral fat mass measuring method of the present invention is obtained by the impedance method using the subcutaneous fat thickness of the measurement subject obtained by the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 when the visceral fat mass of the measurement subject is obtained by the impedance method. It is characterized by correcting visceral fat mass.

  By adopting such a method, in directly measuring the visceral fat mass by the impedance method, the visceral fat mass measured by the impedance method is corrected using the subcutaneous fat thickness, and individual differences in how the subcutaneous fat is applied are determined. The amount of visceral fat can be obtained with high accuracy by a simple method after correction.

  In the present invention, when the visceral fat mass is directly measured by the impedance method, the visceral fat mass can be obtained with high accuracy by correcting the influence due to the difference in the subcutaneous fat thickness of the impedance measurement unit to the impedance measurement value.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

  The visceral fat mass measuring device of the present invention includes a pair of or more current application electrodes 2, a pair of or more voltage measurement electrodes 3, impedance measurement means 4, subcutaneous fat thickness measurement means 1, and visceral fat mass calculation means 5. The display device 15 is provided.

  The two current application electrodes 2 are a pair, and the pair of current application electrodes 2 is arranged at a position substantially opposite to the body W on the outer periphery of the body W of the measurement subject. Each pair of current application electrodes 2 is connected to a constant current circuit 6. Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which a pair of current application electrodes 2 is provided, two or more pairs may be provided.

  The voltage measurement electrodes 3 are a pair of two, and are arranged on the outer periphery of the body W corresponding to a substantially intermediate position between the pair of current application electrodes 2. The voltage measuring electrode 3 is arranged so as to be shifted in the direction connecting the pair of current applying electrodes 2 (X direction), and the voltage between the paired voltage measuring electrodes 3 is a voltage measuring circuit. 7 to measure.

  The impedance measuring means 4 is for measuring the impedance value between the paired voltage measuring electrodes 3, the paired current applying electrode 2, the constant current circuit 6, and the paired voltage. The impedance is calculated based on the voltage between the voltage measuring electrodes 3 and the current flowing between the current applying electrodes 2, which are composed of the measuring electrode 3, the voltage measuring circuit 7, and the impedance calculating circuit 8. An impedance value between the voltage measuring electrodes 3 is obtained by the circuit 8.

  The subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 is arranged on the outer periphery of the torso W of the subject and measures the subcutaneous fat thickness of the subject. The subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 is optical, ultrasonic, The caliper method can be used. Here, the ultrasonic method is difficult to handle because it is necessary to apply a measurement gel at the time of measurement, and the caliper method performs measurement with the skin sandwiched, so the measured value is measured by the measurer due to the variation in the pinching condition. Easy to vary. For this reason, the optical system is preferable. The optical type includes a light irradiation unit 9 that irradiates light from the surface of the body part W into the tissue of the body part W, a light sensor 10 that receives reflected light from the body part W tissue, and an optical sensor 10. And a subcutaneous fat thickness measurement circuit 11 that measures the subcutaneous fat thickness of the torso W of the measurement subject based on the received light information. As the light irradiation part 9, for example, an infrared light emitting element can be used which emits infrared light. In the embodiment, the optical sensor 10 is positioned beside the light irradiation unit 9.

  The visceral fat mass calculating means 5 is inputted with the impedance value obtained by the impedance measuring means 4 and data concerning the subcutaneous fat thickness obtained by the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring circuit 11 of the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1. An arithmetic circuit for calculating the visceral fat mass based on the impedance obtained by the impedance measuring means 4 is provided, and the subcutaneous fat thickness measured by the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 when the visceral fat mass is calculated by the arithmetic circuit is provided. The amount of visceral fat of the measured person is calculated more accurately by correcting the amount of visceral fat by using it.

  The visceral fat amount of the measurement subject calculated by the visceral fat amount calculating means 5 is displayed on the display device 15.

  The visceral fat mass of the measurement subject is measured using the visceral fat mass measuring apparatus having the above-described configuration, and the visceral fat mass is measured as follows.

  Here, when the cross section of the torso W, which is the measurement target part of the measurement subject, is schematically represented, the subcutaneous fat 12 is present at the outer peripheral portion and the muscle 13 is present inside the subcutaneous fat 12, as shown in FIG. Furthermore, it can be expressed that visceral fat 14 exists inside the muscle 13.

  In order to measure the visceral fat mass with the visceral fat mass measuring apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, a pair of current application electrodes 2 is connected to the torso on the outer circumference of the torso W, which is a measurement target part of the measurement subject. The voltage measuring electrode 3 paired on the outer periphery of the body W corresponding to a substantially intermediate position between the pair of current application electrodes 2 is disposed at substantially opposite positions across the portion W. The electrodes are arranged so as to be shifted in the X direction, which is the direction connecting the pair of current application electrodes 2. In this case, more specifically, the 1 / between the pair of current application electrodes orthogonal to the X direction and on the virtual circular cross section of the trunk W where the pair of current application electrodes 2 is disposed. Two voltage measurement electrodes 3 that are paired are arranged on both sides in the X direction across a point where an imaginary line passing through 2 (indicated by L in FIG. 1) intersects the outer periphery of the body W. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a pair of current application electrodes 2 is arranged before and after the trunk W (that is, before and after the abdomen), and the voltage measuring electrode 3 is shifted back and forth on one side of the trunk W. Are arranged.

  The body W is provided with a light irradiation unit 9 and an optical sensor 10 constituting the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1. The light irradiating unit 9 and the optical sensor 10 are disposed on the outer periphery of the body W in the vicinity of the imaginary circular section of the body W where the pair of current application electrodes 2 is disposed. More preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, on the outer periphery of the body W in the vicinity of the virtual ring-shaped cross section of the body W where the paired current application electrodes 2 are arranged, and in the vicinity of the voltage measuring electrode 3 It is preferable to arrange in the above. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the light irradiation unit 9 and the optical sensor 10 constituting the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 are arranged in the vicinity of the voltage measuring electrode 3 on the flank of the trunk W.

  Here, when a constant current is passed through the pair of current application electrodes 2 arranged at opposing positions via the trunk W, a current flows through the trunk W so as to pass through the visceral fat 14 (see FIG. 1). In the form, a current flows before and after the body W). In this way, the voltage measuring circuit 7 obtains the voltage generated between the pair of voltage measuring electrodes 3 arranged on the flank portion of the torso W due to the current flowing through the torso W of the subject. Based on the voltage thus obtained and the current flowing between the current application electrodes 2, in this case, the constant current, the impedance calculation circuit 8 uses the impedance Z between the voltage measurement electrodes 3 (that is, the amount of visceral fat). Impedance Z) to be calculated.

  In addition, the subcutaneous fat thickness t of the measurement subject 1 is measured by the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1. When the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 is an optical type, the light irradiation unit 9 and the optical sensor 10 are connected as described above. It is made to contact the trunk | drum W which is a measurement object part of a to-be-measured person. Light emitted from the light irradiation unit 9 is scattered by the subcutaneous fat 12 and absorbed by the muscle 13 inside. Accordingly, when the subcutaneous fat 12 is thin, the light emitted from the light irradiation unit 9 is less diffused toward the surface of the skin, and the light returning toward the surface of the skin is less and spreads less. For this reason, the amount of light reaching the optical sensor 10 is reduced. On the other hand, when the subcutaneous fat 12 is thick, scattering of the light emitted from the light irradiation unit 9 increases, and the amount of light returning toward the surface of the skin increases and spreads. For this reason, the amount of light reaching the optical sensor 10 increases.

  The thickness of the subcutaneous fat 12 is calculated by the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 based on the light reception information from the optical sensor 10, and in this way, the subcutaneous fat of the torso W, which is the measurement target portion of the measurement subject. The thickness t can be measured directly.

  The impedance Z corresponding to the visceral fat mass of the torso W, which is the measurement target part of the measurement subject, obtained by direct measurement by the impedance measurement means 4 as described above, and the measurement target part by the subcutaneous fat thickness measurement means 1 The visceral fat mass is calculated by an arithmetic circuit constituting the visceral fat mass calculating means 5 based on the subcutaneous fat thickness t of the trunk W obtained by directly measuring the torso W.

  As an example of calculation of the visceral fat amount, it can be obtained by the following equations, for example.

Visceral fat mass = a × Z + b a = c × t + d
Visceral fat mass = a × Z + b b = e × t + f
Visceral fat mass = a × Z + b a = c × t + d, b = e × t + f
Here, a / b / c / d / e / f is a coefficient, and may be a numerical value obtained from the waist diameter, age, weight, and the like.

  When the visceral fat mass is calculated by the arithmetic circuit constituting the visceral fat mass calculating means 5 based on the impedance Z between the voltage measuring electrodes 3 calculated by the impedance measuring means 4 as described above, the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means. By correcting the influence due to the difference in the subcutaneous fat thickness of the impedance measurement portion using the subcutaneous fat thickness t measured in step 1, a more accurate visceral fat mass can be obtained. The quantity is displayed on the display device 15.

  The measurement of the subcutaneous fat thickness by the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 not only measures the subcutaneous fat thickness in the vicinity of the voltage measurement electrode 3 in the trunk W, but also determines the subcutaneous fat thickness in the vicinity of the current application electrode 2 in the trunk W. The measured data may be used as correction data when calculating the visceral fat mass in the visceral fat mass calculating means 5. In this way, the subcutaneous fat thickness of the flank of the torso W of the subject and the subcutaneous fat thickness of the front abdomen can be used as correction data when calculating visceral fat mass, and for each subject Even if there is an individual difference in how to apply subcutaneous fat in different flank and front abdomen, when calculating visceral fat mass directly by impedance method, it is possible to accurately calculate visceral fat mass by correcting with subcutaneous fat thickness .

  Further, when it is difficult to provide the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 in the vicinity of the voltage measuring electrode 3 due to the configuration of the device, it may be provided in the vicinity of the current applying electrode 2, but the measurement voltage is affected directly below the measuring electrode. Therefore, it is optimal to provide it near the electrode 3 for voltage measurement. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an example in which one subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 is arranged on the outer periphery of the torso W of the person to be measured is shown. Means 1 may be arranged.

  3 and 4 show another embodiment of the present invention.

  Although the basic configuration of the present embodiment is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, the above-described embodiment is an example in which the voltage measuring electrode 3, the photosensor 10 of the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring unit 1, and the light irradiation unit 9 are separated. However, the present embodiment is different in that the voltage measuring electrode 3, the optical sensor 10 of the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1, and the light irradiation unit 9 are integrally configured. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the pair of voltage measuring electrodes 3, the optical sensor 10, and the light irradiation unit 9 are integrally attached to the substrate 16. As described above, the voltage measuring electrode 3, the optical sensor 10 of the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring unit 1, and the light irradiating unit 9 are integrally configured, whereby the voltage measuring electrode 3 and the optical sensor of the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring unit 1 are configured. 10, the positional relationship of the light irradiating unit 9 is always constant, and more accurate measurement is possible. By integrating, the voltage measuring electrode 3, the photosensor 10 of the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1, the light irradiation The part 9 can be easily attached to the body W.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the voltage measuring electrode 3 and the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means 1 are integrated, but the current measuring electrode 2 including the current applying electrode 2 may be attached to a belt-like wearing body. The current application electrode 2, the voltage measurement electrode 3, and the subcutaneous fat thickness measurement means 1 can be simultaneously mounted on the trunk W by simply mounting the body on the trunk W.

  In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the pair of current application electrodes 2 is arranged before and after the trunk W (abdomen), and the voltage measuring electrode 3 is arranged on the side of the trunk W (abdomen). As described above, the current application electrode 2 may be disposed on the left and right flank of the trunk W (abdomen), and the voltage measurement electrode 3 may be disposed on the front of the trunk W.

It is a schematic block diagram of the measurement of the visceral fat mass by the visceral fat mass measuring apparatus of the present invention. (A) is explanatory drawing when there is much subcutaneous fat of the flank part of a trunk | drum, (b) is explanatory drawing when there is little subcutaneous fat of the flank part of a trunk | drum. It is another schematic block diagram of the measurement of the visceral fat mass by the visceral fat mass measuring apparatus of the present invention. (A) and (b) are the front view and top view which show the example which integrated the electrode for voltage measurement same as the above, and subcutaneous fat thickness measurement means.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Subcutaneous fat thickness measurement means 2 Current application electrode 3 Voltage measurement electrode 4 Impedance measurement means 5 Visceral fat mass calculation means W Torso

Claims (6)

  A pair of current application electrodes arranged at substantially opposite positions across the torso on the outer circumference of the to-be-measured person, and arranged on the outer circumference of the torso corresponding to a substantially intermediate position between the pair of current application electrodes A pair of voltage measuring electrodes, and the pair of voltage measuring electrodes arranged on the outer periphery of the body portion is arranged shifted in a direction connecting the pair of current application electrodes, and the pair The impedance measuring means for measuring the impedance between the voltage measuring electrodes, the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means for measuring the subcutaneous fat thickness, and the visceral fat amount when calculating the visceral fat mass based on the impedance measured by the impedance measuring means A visceral fat mass measuring device comprising visceral fat mass calculating means for correcting the visceral fat mass using the subcutaneous fat thickness measured by the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means.   2. The visceral fat mass measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means measures the subcutaneous fat thickness in the vicinity of the impedance measurement cross section by the impedance measuring means of the torso of the subject.   3. Visceral fat mass measurement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means is arranged in the vicinity of the voltage measuring electrode and measures the subcutaneous fat thickness in the vicinity of the voltage measuring electrode. apparatus.   4. The visceral fat mass measuring device according to claim 3, wherein the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means is provided integrally with the voltage measuring electrode.   5. The visceral fat mass measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means is an optical type. In obtaining the visceral fat amount of the subject by the impedance method, the visceral fat amount obtained by the impedance method is corrected using the subcutaneous fat thickness of the subject obtained by the subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means. Fat mass measurement method.

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