JP3409095B2 - Impedance measurement device and health management guideline advice device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an impedance measuring device for measuring the internal impedance of a person to be measured and the body specific information of the person to be measured and the internal impedance measurement information to determine the body fat, lean body mass, body fat percentage, The present invention relates to a health management guideline advice device that calculates water content, basal metabolism, and the like, and presents guideline information for health management based on the calculation results.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, an electrically insulated high-frequency signal applying electrode (constant current electrode) and a measuring electrode (voltage detecting electrode) have been arranged in each of the left and right palm parts to measure the impedance between the left and right palms. An apparatus for measuring body fat percentage using a 4-electrode internal impedance measuring method has already been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-337096).

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional body fat percentage measuring device, a constant current applying electrode and a voltage detecting electrode, which are electrically insulated, are arranged in pairs at each of the left and right palm parts, and the left and right palm parts are separated from each other. Impedance is measured, but poor contact between any of the electrodes and palm skin (especially constant current electrode side contact failure), contact failure due to dirt (especially constant current electrode side contact failure), disconnection of wiring to the electrode When (especially the constant current electrode side wiring is broken) etc., induced noise is induced through the living body between the left and right voltage detection electrodes (or between voltage detection terminals) with high circuit impedance. May be erroneously measured. At this time, even as a measured value,
It seems that there are many cases where the numbers are similar,
It is difficult to determine erroneous measurement only from the measurement result.

Further, when the contact resistance value between the palm and the electrode exceeds the drive load limit of the constant current drive circuit, the drive current value decreases, resulting in a measurement result lower than the true value. This invention has been made by paying attention to the above problems, in-body impedance can be easily measured by the subject himself, small, lightweight, inexpensive and good measurement accuracy,
Furthermore, it is possible to avoid incorrect measurement due to dirt, contact failure, disconnection, etc. by accurately detecting the measurement deficiency status and issuing a simple alarm notification, etc., and an internal impedance measuring device that can be used in general households and this impedance value and body specification information It is an object of the present invention to provide a health management guideline advising device that presents highly reliable guideline information for health management by inputting.

[0005]

The impedance measuring device and the health care guideline advising device of the present invention are a high frequency signal applying electrode for applying a high frequency signal to the body of a subject, and a body resistance potential from the applied signal. First and second electrode portions each having a measuring electrode for measuring
An impedance measuring means for measuring impedance by a signal obtained from the measuring electrodes of the first and second electrode portions, wherein the first and second electric electrodes are provided.
Between the high frequency signal applying electrode and the measuring electrode at the pole
Each is connected with a resistor.

In the impedance measuring device and the health care guideline advising device of the present invention, the constant current loop is secured through the resistor even if contact failure or disconnection occurs, so the influence of inductive noise can be minimized. Therefore, it is possible to easily grasp the trouble situation.

[0007]

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following examples. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a portable health management guideline advice device showing an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus of this embodiment includes a main body 11, a left hand grip (grip) 12 integrally formed with the main body 11 at both left and right ends of the main body 11, and a right hand grip (grip). Thirteen
It consists of and. Also, on the front surface of the main body 11,
Power switch 14, key switch 1 for inputting a start instruction and height, weight, etc., which are the physical characteristics of the subject
5, and a display unit 16 for displaying the measurement result and the advice information is provided. The display portion 16 is arranged so as to be substantially in the center between the left-hand grip portion 12 and the right-hand grip portion 13.

Both the left-handed grip portion 12 and the right-handed grip portion 13 are vertical and substantially cylindrical, and electrodes 17 and 18 for applying a high-frequency signal (for applying a constant current) are provided on the respective surfaces.
And electrodes 19 and 20 for resistance potential measurement (voltage detection) are provided. These electrodes 17, 18 and electrode 19,
Although not shown in FIG. 1, 20 is electrically connected to the circuit section in the main body section 11. Also, the grip part 1
The body portions 2 and 13 are provided with recesses 9 so that the fingers can be fitted and positioned when gripped by the hand.

A resistance 31 is provided inside the grip portion 12, and a resistance 32 is provided inside the grip portion 13, respectively.
The resistor 31 is connected between the electrodes 17 and 19, and the resistor 32 is connected between the electrodes 18 and 20. Left hand grip 1
2, the distance L between the right hand grip portions 13 is as shown in FIG.
As shown in, the shoulder width is set to about the same. When performing the measurement, as shown in FIG.
However, the grip parts 12 and 13 are grasped by both the left and right hands, and both hands are extended straight forward to be horizontal, and the main body part 11 is stopped at the shoulder height.

Further, the electrode 17 for applying a high frequency signal of the left hand grip 12 is in contact with the fingertip side of the palm, and the electrode 19 for potential measurement is in contact with the part of the left hand palm on the arm side. The electrode 18 for applying a high-frequency signal of the right-hand grip 13 has the electrode 2 for measuring the resistance potential on the fingertip side of the right palm.
0 is arranged so that the arm side portions of the palm of the right hand are in contact with each other. Also, the electrodes 17, 18, 19, 2
0 is the grip portion 1 for good contact with the palm.
It is formed so as to project from the non-electrode-formed surfaces 2 and 13.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration inside the main body portion 11 connected to the electrodes 17 and 18 and the electrodes 19 and 20.

The circuit unit of the embodiment apparatus is the data input unit 1.
5, in addition to the display unit 16, a high frequency signal generation unit 21 (10 ≦ f ₀ ≦ 100 that generates a constant current high frequency signal of frequency f ₀
KHZ), a differential amplifier 22 for receiving potential signals from the electrodes 19 and 20, a bandpass filter 23 for cutting signals other than the frequency f ₀ , a demodulation circuit 24 for demodulating high frequency signal components, and an analog signal. A / D converter 25 for converting the signal into a digital signal, ROM 26, and RAM 27
And processing of inputting data from the A / D converter 25 and data such as height, weight, age, sex, date and time from the data input unit 15, measuring impedance calculation processing, and extracting health management guideline advice information. A CPU 28 to execute,
A buzzer 29 for issuing a warning, a measurement result output unit 30 for outputting the measurement result to a printer or the like by communication, a battery 8 for power supply, a resistor 31 connected between the electrodes 17 and 19, an electrode And a resistor 32 connected between 18 and 20.

The resistance values R ₀ of the resistors 31 and 32 need to satisfy the following conditions. The total load resistance value obtained by adding the additional resistance value (R ₀ ) arranged at both measurement sites to the bioimpedance measurement upper limit value (Zmax) is the maximum load resistance value (ZLma) of the constant current drive circuit.
x) or less.

ZLmax> = Zmax + 2 * R ₀ <Example> 1 to 2 KΩ 1 KΩ 2 KΩ Resistance value of the sum of skin contact resistance (Zs) and electrode resistance (Ze) between the constant current applying electrode and the voltage detecting electrode It has a sufficiently high resistance compared to.・ R ₀ >> Zs + Ze <Example> 1 to 2 KΩ 100 to 200 Ω When performing measurement with the apparatus of the above-mentioned embodiment,
Left hand grip 12 and right hand grip 13 respectively
Grab A signal of frequency f ₀ is applied to the electrodes 17 and 18 from the high frequency signal generator 21, and the electrode 17 and the palm of the left hand,
The electrode 19, the living body (impedance), the electrode 20, the palm of the right hand, and the electrode 18 are energized, the potentials of the electrodes 19 and 20 are applied to the differential amplifier 22, and a potential differential signal is obtained.

Next, the measurement operation of the apparatus of the above embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. When the power switch 14 is turned on, measurement preparation processing such as initialization of RAM and checking of each circuit element and display element is performed (step ST [abbreviated as ST below] 1). Next, the subject inputs body characterization information such as height, weight, age, and sex, and measurement date / time data from the data input unit 15 (ST2). Wait until these data are input (ST2, ST
3) When the data input is completed, it waits until the start SW of the data input unit 15 is turned on (ST4). Here, if the determination in ST3 is "READY or not", the instruction display "Please turn on the start SW" may be displayed on the display unit 16 to prompt the examinee to perform a key operation. When the start SW is turned on, a time delay of several seconds is set (ST5), and the notification that the measurement is started is notified by the buzzer 29 or displayed on the display unit 16 (ST6). For the delay time in ST5, the subject turns on the start SW.
After that, use both your left and right hands to completely grip the grips 12, 13.
Set enough time to get an accurate grip.

When the impedance is measured, the impedance measurement value between the two hands is within a normal range in which constant current measurement is possible (for example, the impedance measurement value is 300 to 1000Ω).
Check whether it is stable or not (ST7, ST
8) If it is not stable, the display section 16 displays "Hold the grip firmly" and the buzzer 29 is operated to notify the fact (ST9). ST
In 8, when it is normal and stable, the measurement process and the conversion calculation of body fat are executed (ST10), and the measurement end is notified by the display unit 16 and the buzzer 29 (ST11), and then the measurement result is obtained. Is displayed on the display unit 16, and pointer guidance information is also displayed if necessary (ST12).

FIG. 5 is an external view of a health management guideline adviser according to another embodiment of the present invention. The device of this embodiment is
The basic shape and the circuit device are the same as those shown in FIG. 1, and those having the same reference numerals indicate the same.
The grip part 12 is particularly different from that shown in FIG.
The electrodes 17 and 19 and the electrodes 18 and 20 of the grip portion 13 are arranged in parallel along the grip shaft and are formed in a tubular shape in the circumferential direction of the shaft.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the grip portion 12 of this embodiment has an upper member 12a provided with an electrode 17 on a lower outer peripheral surface and a lower member 12c provided with an electrode 19 on an upper outer peripheral surface. , Are connected by a connecting member 12b.
Reference numeral 12d denotes a screw coupling portion between the inner circumference of the upper member 12a and the outer circumference of the connecting member 12b, and 12e denotes the inner circumference of the lower member 12c and the connecting member 1.
2b is a screw coupling portion on the outer circumference. An upper member 12a, a connecting member 12b, and a lower member 12c that form the grip portion 12
Is a resin molded product such as ABS, PU, PE, etc.
Nos. 7 and 19 are obtained by processing the plates of SUS304 and 306 into a ring shape, or those formed by plating on the surface of the polyurethane molded grip. Electrodes 17, 19
Are provided with screws 17a and 19a, respectively, and the resistor 31 is connected to the inside by using screws 17a and 19a.
The wiring 17b for applying a constant current signal is connected to a, and the screw 19a of the electrode 19 is connected to the wiring 19b for voltage detection signal.
Are internally connected. The grip portion 13 has the same structure.

Next, FIG. 7 shows the effect of inductive noise of the living body.
The equivalent circuit will be described. In FIG. 7, e₁~ E₃
Is bio-induced noise, R₀₁, R₀₂Are resistors 31, 32,
r_i1, R _i2Between the electrodes 17 and 18 for applying a constant current and the skin
Contact resistance, r_e1, R_e2Is the electrodes 19 and 20 for voltage detection
Contact resistance with skin, r_ie1, R_ie2Is electrode 17 and electrode 1
9, bioimpedance between electrodes 18 and 20, Z
_bIs the biometric impedance, R_eIs the newly inserted
With a resistor, lower the impedance between the electrodes for voltage detection,
It is a resistance that makes it less susceptible to the influence of inductive noise.

If R ₀₁ and R ₀₂ are not present, the electrodes 17,
When the electrode 19 is not in contact with the living body, the electrode 17 floats and becomes a high impedance, so that it is affected by the induced noise e ₂ and erroneously measures the induced noise. Also, when the wiring between the measurement circuit unit and the electrode 17 or the electrode 18 is broken, similarly, the measurement is erroneously affected by the induced noise.

On the other hand, when R ₀₁ and R ₀₂ are connected as in the device of this embodiment, when the electrodes 17 and 19 are not in contact with the living body, the electrode 17 is connected via the resistor R _01. Since it is electrically connected to 19, it does not become a high impedance but becomes a pull-up state, and an output value higher than the impedance measurement range output value is measured. Therefore, it can be determined that the contact is defective based on the measurement result outside the preset value range. Further, by arranging R ₀₁ and R ₀₂ on the measurement circuit side, an abnormality due to a disconnection of the wiring up to the electrode can be confirmed as an output outside the measurement range.

The combination of electrode contact failure and measurement result judgment is shown in FIG. Since the electrodes 17 and 19 or the electrodes 18 and 20 of each measurement site are arranged on the skin surface (palm surface) which is almost close to each other, the symptoms such as dirt and poor contact are the same as those of the constant current applying electrode and the voltage detecting electrode. I think it is in a state. FIG. 9 is an equivalent circuit when a plurality of resistors are inserted in parallel. By disposing a resistor in parallel also on the measurement circuit section side, it is possible to detect a disconnection between the electrode section and the measurement circuit section.

Although fixed resistors are used as the resistors 31 and 32 in FIG. 6, instead of these fixed resistors, the fixed resistors shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 0, the grip portion 12 may be a conductive resin molding base and the electrodes 17 and 19 may be metal plated. As the conductive member of the grip portion 12, carbon, SUS fiber, Ag particles or the like is mixed in ABS resin to secure necessary conductivity. The interelectrode resistance is set to about 500Ω to several KΩ. The metal plating of the electrodes 17 and 19 has a thickness t of 1
The thickness is about 30 μm, and the Cu underlayer is plated with Ni (1 layer finish) and then with Cr plating (2 layer finish).

FIG. 11 is a view showing still another resistance connection method, which is an alternative to that shown in FIG. 6, in which the grip portion 12 has an upper portion 12a and a central connecting portion 12 like the one shown in FIG.
b and the lower part 12c, the upper part 12a and the lower part 1
2c is a general-purpose molded resin member having a high resistance such as ABS resin and polyurethane, whereas the joint portion 12b is made of a semiconductive resin molded conductor, and is separated from each other on the outer periphery of the joint portion 12b to form an electrode. 17 and 19 are formed. This electrode 1
7 and 19 are thin plates of SUS304 and 306 (t = 50 to
100 μm) is processed into a ring shape.

FIG. 12 is a view showing still another resistance connection method which is an alternative to FIG. 6, and is an upper portion 12a of the grip portion 12. As shown in FIG.
And the lower portion 12c is formed of a highly conductive resin molding member,
In addition to serving as the electrodes 17 and 19, the coupling portion 12b between the upper portion 12b and the lower portion 12c of the grip portion 12 is formed of a conductive resin molding member to form a resistor 31 connected between the electrodes 17 and 19.

In FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the constant current applying electrode and the voltage detecting electrode, which are made of electrode materials that are physically separated from each other at both measurement sites, are electrically predetermined. By connecting with a conductive resin having a resistance value of, it is expected that the structure is simplified, the manufacturing workability is improved, and the accuracy is improved. In addition, the electrode shape having a good fit on the palm is often a complicated shape, and it may be considerably difficult to process and realize a metal plate having corrosion resistance such as SUS. By adopting an electrode made of a flexible resin forming member, it is possible to realize an electrode structure having a good fit to the palm.

When the main measurement is performed at a low temperature,
Since the metal part of the electrode is cold, the peripheral blood vessel of the palm skin part that comes into contact with the electrode may contract, which may affect impedance measurement. By configuring both electrodes with a foil-shaped metal or plating having a small heat capacity, a conductive resin, or the like, the above influence can be reduced. Further, although the apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 has been described in which the left and right grips are gripped by the palm, the present invention can also be applied to the case of measuring the impedance between both feet and between the limbs.

FIG. 13 is an external view of a health management guideline advising device showing still another embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus of this embodiment includes a main body apparatus 10, a foot electrode section 50,
It is composed of a cable 51 connecting the main body device 10 and the foot electrode portion 50. The main body device 10 is shown in FIG.
There is no particular difference from the device shown in. In the foot electrode section 50, a left foot positioning section 53 and a right foot positioning section 54 are arranged on a substantially rectangular flat sheet member 52, and the both foot positioning sections 53, 54 are respectively for applying high frequency signals. Electrodes 55 and 56 and resistance potential measuring electrodes 57 and 58 are provided. In addition, the sheet member 52
A housing part 59 is provided at the upper end of the front part of the, and a display device 60 for monitoring the measurement state is provided in the housing part 59. Further, a through hole 61 is formed in front of the seat member 52 between both foot positioning portions.

As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 15, the sheet member 52 is composed of a top sheet 62 and a back sheet 63. The material of these sheets 62 and 63 is PV.
C, PET, polyethyl, etc. are used. Further, elastic projections 64 and 65 are formed from the sheet member 52 in regions corresponding to the arch of the foot positioning portions 53 and 54, and the electrodes 5 described above are respectively formed on the projections 64 and 65.
5, 56, 57 and 58 are provided. In FIG.
Although the sectional structure of the positioning portion for the right foot is shown, the sectional structure of the positioning portion for the left foot is similar. In this way, the protrusions 64 and 65 are provided, and the electrodes are formed here when the feet of the subject are placed on the both-foot positioning portions 53 and 54, each electrode is securely held without arching the soles of the feet. This is to bring them into contact. Silicon rubber, for example, is used as the elastic sheet material forming the protrusions 64 and 65. ABS, PVC or the like is used as a material forming the housing 59. Between the electrode 55 and the electrode 57, the resistor 71 and the electrode 5
A resistor 72 is connected between 6 and the electrode 58. The resistors 71 and 72 are connected for the same purpose as the resistors 31 and 32 in FIG.

The cable 51 has connectors 66, 6 at both ends.
7, the main body device 10 and the foot electrode portion 50 are detachably connected. When measuring the bioimpedance of a subject using the apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The subject M places his / her both feet on the foot positioning portions 53 and 54 of the foot electrode portion 50, holds the grip portion 12 of the main body device 10 with the left hand and the grip portion 13 with the right hand,
The measurement is started in a state where both hands are raised horizontally forward and the main body device 10 is held at the shoulder height.

[0030]

According to the impedance measuring device of the present invention, since the resistance is connected between the high frequency signal applying electrode and the measuring electrode in each of the first and second electrode portions, the resistance in each electrode portion is increased. Loops can be formed through
It is possible to avoid the influence of induction noise through the living body and detect that the measurement system is abnormal. Further, according to the health management guideline advising device, it is possible to give advice such as remeasurement, measurement instruction, and repair necessity due to disconnection by alarm notification.

By providing a constant current value monitor function on the substrate on which the measurement circuit is mounted, the same performance as that of the present invention can be realized, but the circuit is complicated and the cost of parts is greatly increased. The present invention is more useful in terms of both stability of circuit performance and circuit cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a health management guideline advice apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a usage state of the health management guideline advice apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional circuit configuration of the health management guideline advice apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a schematic overall operation of the health management guideline advice apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an external view showing a health management guideline advising device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view for explaining a grip portion of the health management guideline advice apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit at the time of a living body device by the impedance measuring device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing comparison between the presence and absence of connection of interelectrode resistance in the apparatus of the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing another explanatory circuit when the impedance measuring apparatus is attached to a living body.

10 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the grip portion used in the device of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing still another example of the grip portion used in the device of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing still another example of the grip portion used in the device of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an external view of a health management guideline advice apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a usage state of the apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the foot portion of the embodiment apparatus of FIG. 13 taken along the line AA.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 Left hand grip 13 Right hand grip 17, 18 Electrodes for applying high frequency signals 19, 20 Electrodes for measuring potential

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-6-304149 (JP, A) JP-A-57-103040 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 5/05

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first electrode and a second electrode each having a high-frequency signal applying electrode for applying a high-frequency signal to the body of the person to be measured and a measuring electrode for measuring a body resistance potential by the applied signal .
And the electrode portions of the first and second signal obtained from the measuring electrode of the electrode unit, the impedance measuring apparatus comprising an impedance measuring means for measuring the impedance, high frequency in the first and second electrode portions impedance measuring device being characterized in that connected by resistors between signal application electrode and the measuring electrode. 2. The impedance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the both electrodes are fixed to a supporting member at a predetermined interval. 3. The resistance value R ₀ of the resistance is Z _Lmax ≧ Z _max + 2R ₀ [Z _max : bioimpedance measurement upper limit value, Z _Lmax : maximum load resistance value of constant current drive circuit], and R ₀ >> ( Z _s + Z _e ) [Z _s : skin contact resistance between electrodes, Z _e : electrode resistance]].
The impedance measuring device described. 4. The both electrodes of the pair of electrode portions are formed in a grip portion, and the grip portion is formed of a conductive resin material,
The impedance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein a grip portion between both electrodes is the resistance. 5. The impedance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein both electrodes of the pair of electrode portions are formed in a grip portion, and at least a space between the both electrodes is formed of a conductive resin. 6. The impedance measuring device according to claim 5, wherein both of the electrode portions are formed of foil-shaped metal or metal plating. 7. The impedance measuring device according to claim 5, wherein both electrodes are made of a conductive resin material. 8. A first and second electrode portion having a high-frequency signal applying electrode for applying a high-frequency signal to the body of a subject, and a measuring electrode for measuring a body resistance potential by the applied signal, and the first and second electrode portions . And impedance measuring means for measuring impedance by a signal obtained from the measurement electrode of the second electrode part, and health management information for calculating information necessary for health management based on the impedance and body specification information of the subject. In a health care guideline advising device comprising a calculation means and a display means for displaying the health care information obtained by the health care information calculation means, comprising : a high frequency signal applying electrode and a measuring electrode in the first and second electrode parts. healthcare guideline advising device, wherein connected by resistors between.