JPH056964Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a measuring tool for measuring either or both of the fat layer and the muscle layer in a predetermined region of a limb such as an upper arm, a thigh, or a calf.

BACKGROUND TECHNIQUES AND PROBLEMS THEREOF Measuring the fat layer of an extremity has mainly been carried out by pinching the measurement site with fingers or a clamp, and measuring the thickness of the pinched portion with a caliper or the like. However, this has the problem that the measured values vary depending on the way the finger is pinched and even depending on the measurer, making it impossible to obtain accurate values and making it impossible to measure the deep fat layer. In addition, a simple method for measuring the muscle layer is to measure the circumference of the upper arm and use this value to calculate the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer (for example, the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer in the triceps area).
There is a method called calculating by subtracting the value of TSF), but
Since the measurement of the subcutaneous fat layer thickness is inaccurate as described above, a highly accurate measurement value could not be obtained.

On the other hand, a method for measuring fat and muscle layers using ultrasound is known. This is based on the fact that the frequency of ultrasound that passes through the fat layer and is reflected by the muscle layer and periosteum is different from the frequency of the ultrasound that passes through the muscle layer and is reflected by the periosteum. A measurement probe is placed on the measurement site to obtain an ultrasonic image of the measurement site, from which the thickness of the fat layer and muscle layer is determined. This method has the advantage that it is possible to measure deep fat layers and muscle layers, and that accurate measurements can be made because no external pressure is applied to the measurement site. However, in this method, it is necessary to direct the ultrasonic wave emitting direction from the probe exactly perpendicular to the surface of the measurement site, and the angular error greatly affects the measured value. In addition, the thickness of the fat and muscle layers differs greatly depending on the location of the limb, such as the inside and outside, front and back, so it is desirable to measure the fat and muscle layers at multiple locations around the limb. ,
It is difficult to repeatedly position the probe at such a predetermined location around the circumference with uniformity, and there is a problem in that the dispersion between measurements becomes large.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a measurement tool for fat and muscle layers that enables easy and accurate orientation and positioning of a measurement probe in such a measurement method using ultrasound. .

Means for Solving the Problems The object of the present invention is to provide a main body that is equipped with a main body that is attached to a limb measurement site, and a guide that holds an ultrasonic measurement probe and positions the probe toward the measurement site. A plurality of arcuate support members are provided in parallel to each other in pairs, each pair forming a ring surrounding the limb measurement site when combined with each other.
An ultrasonic-transmissive soft member is disposed and held between each pair of the support members so as to be concentric with the circular arc and protrude radially inward, and the guide is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the support member. This is achieved by a measuring tool for measuring the fat layer and muscle layer of a limb, which is characterized by having a holding part that holds the ultrasonic measuring probe toward the center of the soft member.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of a fat layer/muscle layer measurement tool for the upper arm. This measuring tool has a semicircular shape formed by arranging a pair of arcuate supporting members 10 corresponding to semicircles in parallel with each other, placing an ultrasonic transparent soft member between them, and connecting and fixing them to each other. It includes a main body 1 formed by combining two members to form an annular shape, and a guide 2 applied to the circumferential surface of a support member 10. The supporting members 10 combined to form one ring are mutually connected at one end of the outer circumference by a hinge 16,
A connecting portion 12 is provided on the side surface on the other end side.
The connecting portion 12 includes a small hole 13 provided on the side surface of one support member 10 and a locking member 14 attached to the side surface of the other support member 10 . The locking member 14 has its proximal end fixed to the side surface of the support member, and has a small hole 1 at its distal end via a flexible intermediate part.
3, and the two supporting members 10 are connected by inserting the protrusion 15 into the small hole 13. In FIG. 1, the connecting portion 12 on the left side is shown in a connected state, and the connecting portion 12 on the right side is shown in a disconnected state. It is desirable that the ultrasound-transparent soft member has appropriate elasticity, and may be made of, for example, a gel-like resin (such as "Kiteco" manufactured by 3M Yakuhin Co., Ltd.). The inner diameter of the soft member 11 is set to approximately match the average thickness of the upper arm to be measured. Support member 10
The inner diameter of the soft member 11 is made slightly larger than the inner diameter of the soft member 11 so that the soft member 11 protrudes inward. The outer diameter of the soft member 11 is determined so that the soft member has a thickness necessary to have appropriate strength. That is, the strength in the radial direction and the support members 10, 10
so as to have both the necessary axial strength to connect the The outer diameter of the support member 10 is determined so that the measurement probe can reach the outer circumference of the soft member 11 when the guide 2 is applied to the outer circumference of the support member. On the outer peripheral surface of the support member 10,
A hole 17 for a guide 2, which will be described later, is provided. The holes are provided at positions corresponding to the measurement sites, or at appropriate pitches in cases where the entire circumference is to be measured.

The guide 2 is made up of a pair of contact members 21 having a curvature along the outer peripheral surface of the support member 10 and coupled by an intermediate member 22 . Convex portions 23 are provided at both ends of the lower surface of the abutment member 21, and are inserted into holes 17 on the outer peripheral surface of the support member 10 to position the guide 2. A through hole extending toward the center of the arc of the abutting member 21 is provided in the center of the intermediate member 22, and the through hole receives the ultrasonic measurement probe and holds it toward the center of the arc.

In this example, the case where the annular supporting member and the soft member are each divided into two parts is shown.
It is also possible to divide it into three or more sections, in which case they can be successively connected by hinge members, and the sections at both ends can be connected and disconnected by the connecting parts.

If the soft member 11 does not have sufficient strength to connect the two support members 10, connect the support members 10, 10 with a thin rod 3 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. You can. This rod 3
may be provided outside the soft member 11 as shown in FIG. 1, or may be provided outside the soft member 11 as shown in FIG.
1, but in either case it is provided at a position that does not interfere with measurement by the probe.

The measuring tool shown in FIG. 1 is used in the following manner. First, the connecting part 12 is disconnected to open the two semicircular members, and the measurement site on the upper arm is coated with jelly to improve adhesion.
11, and the two semicircular members are closed and connected by a connecting portion 12. If the upper arm is thicker than the inner diameter of the soft member 11, the soft member deforms to surround the upper arm. The soft member 11 is desirably made of a highly flexible material so as not to press strongly against the upper arm due to this deformation. Experiments have shown that even when a pressure of approximately 10 mmHg is applied, there is no discernible change in the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer in ultrasound images. If the upper arm is thinner than the inner diameter of the soft member 11, or if there is a gap between the upper arm and the inner surface of the soft member 11, the gap is filled with jelly or the like. The guide 2 holds the ultrasonic measurement probe A through the hole of the intermediate member 22, and the convex portion 23 is inserted into the predetermined hole 17. Thereby, the probe A is accurately positioned toward the center of the upper arm at the predetermined measurement site. Probe A is connected to an ultrasound oscillator and a display device. The ultrasonic oscillator and display device used here are those used for normal ultrasonic measurements. By transmitting ultrasonic waves in this state, an image of the measurement area is obtained on the display device, and by measuring the portion of the image corresponding to the fat layer and muscle layer, the thickness of the fat layer or muscle layer, or both can be adjusted. The thickness of the layer can be determined. Thereafter, by moving the convex portion 23 to another hole 17 of the support member 10, the entire circumference of the upper arm can be measured at a predetermined pitch.

3 to 5 show other examples of measuring tools. This measuring tool basically has the same structure as the one shown in Figure 1, but the two support members are firmly fixed and the probe can be moved continuously to perform measurements. It is composed of For this purpose, a connecting portion 3 is provided for the two support members. The connecting portion 3 includes four rods 30 that are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the support member in the assembled state, and an arc-shaped member 31 that connects these rods 30 in an annular shape.
The arc-shaped member 31 is separated at two portions corresponding to the circular ring in correspondence with the support member 10 being divided into two, and a projection 36 and a recess 37 for positioning are provided in the separated portion. are placed facing each other.
Further, in order to enable the separation and connection, a connecting portion 38 (similar to the connecting portion 12) is provided in one of the separated arc-shaped members, and a hole 39 is provided in the other.
A block 33 is fixed to one of the unseparated arc members 31, and a hole 34 is provided through the block and the arc member for passing a measuring probe. Small gears 35 are provided at both ends of each rod 30.
is fixed. As clearly seen in FIG. 5, the support member 10 has a cavity in which the pinion 35 is housed, and teeth 41 that mesh with the pinion 35 are formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof. The inner surface of the support member 10 is provided with a circumferentially extending groove 40 along which the rod 30 moves. The guide 2 is similar to that shown in FIG. 1, except that the lower surface of the abutment member 21 is provided with a protrusion 24 extending in an arc shape. A groove 18 for receiving the protrusion 24 is continuously provided on the circumferential surface of the support member 10 .

When using this measuring tool, basically
It is used in the same way as the example shown. In the separated state of the two semicircular members, the separated portion of the arc-shaped member 31 is made substantially coincident with the separated portion of the support member 10. The measurement tool is placed at a predetermined measurement site, and together with the support member 10, the arcuate members 31 are also connected to each other and fixed by the connecting portions 12 and 38. Probe A is attached to guide 2, and probe A is attached to block 33.
Insert the protrusion 24 into the groove 18 while passing it through the hole 34. In this state, the probe A can be continuously moved in the circumferential direction based on the protrusion 24 of the guide 2 being guided by the groove 18. Here, the two support members 10 are fixed to each other in the radial and axial directions of the support members based on the engagement between the rod 30 and the groove 40 and the engagement between the pinion 35 and the side wall of the cavity of the support member 10. be done. Furthermore, the teeth 41 of the two support members 10 are
Since they each mesh with pinions 35 fixed to the rod 30, these support members are also fixed to each other in the circumferential direction. Therefore, based on these fixations, the probe A can be moved while being reliably guided in the circumferential direction. In this case, the measurement position in the circumferential direction can be determined by a scale provided on the outer circumference of the support member 10.

Note that measurement at multiple locations or measurement by continuous movement can also be performed by rotating the upper arm within the soft member 11. In this case, the filling jelly should be moved together with the upper arm so that there is no gap between the soft member 11 and the upper arm, or
Alternatively, it is desirable to replenish the jelly as appropriate. Therefore, small holes for jelly injection can be provided in the soft member 11 at appropriate locations.

It is desirable to prepare measuring tools of various diameters so that they can fit upper arms of various thicknesses. In addition to the upper arm, it is also possible to measure other parts of the extremities such as the thigh and calf in the same way, and in this case, the measurement tool is sized according to the diameter of the measurement part.

Effects of the invention According to the invention, it is possible to provide a measuring tool for measuring the fat layer and muscle layer of an extremity, which has the following effects.
The ultrasonic measurement probe is held toward the center of the annular ring via a guide based on the annular support member surrounding the measurement site of the limb, so that accurate orientation toward the center of the measurement site is achieved. Further, since the guide is positioned at a predetermined position on the outer circumferential surface of the support member or can be moved at a predetermined pitch or continuously, measurements can be made at multiple locations at correct positions. Therefore, fat and muscle layers can be measured accurately. Furthermore, by calculating the average value based on measurements over the entire circumference, the effects of differences in fat and muscle layer thickness depending on the front and back, inner and outer parts of the limb can be avoided, and more appropriate fat and muscle layer thickness can be determined. can be easily understood. Calorie balance can be evaluated from the measurement results of the fat layer, and protein nutrition can be evaluated from the measurement results of the muscle layer.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures show an embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an example of the measuring tool, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional front view thereof, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another example of the measuring tool, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an example of the measuring tool. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal side view partially cut away in an exploded state of the measuring tool, and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal front view showing a part of the measuring tool. 1... Measuring tool body, 2... Guide, 10...
Supporting member, 11... Soft member, 12... Connection portion,
A...Probe for ultrasonic measurement.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The device includes a main body that is attached to a limb measurement site, and a guide that holds an ultrasonic measurement probe and positions the probe toward the measurement site, and the main bodies surround the limb measurement site when combined with each other. A plurality of circular arc-shaped support members forming a circular ring are provided in pairs in parallel to each other, and an ultrasound-transparent soft member is protruded concentrically with the circular arc and radially inward between each pair of the support members. The guide includes a holding part that has an arcuate surface that comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the support member and holds the ultrasonic measurement probe toward the center of the soft member. An instrument for measuring the fat layer and muscle layer of the extremities.