System and method for measuring and displaying health information

• US 20080270037A1
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tanita Corporation (Tanita)
• Original Assignee: Tanita Corporation (Tanita)
• Inventors: Nakada, Masato
• Application Number:
  US11/797,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20080270037A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4869 Determining body composition

Abstract

A system and method are provided for measuring and displaying health information. The system includes a measurement platform for performing one or more health information measurements, a terminal device for displaying the measurement results, and a portable storage device for storing the measurement information and user data. Push-pull output logic is used to provide for an efficient supply of power and to eliminate the consumption of power by the terminal device at the time of a signal input.

Claims

1. A system for measuring and displaying health information, comprising:

a measurement platform configured to perform one or more health information measurements;

a terminal device for displaying measurement results; and

a portable storage device for storing the measurement information and user data,

wherein at least one of the terminal device and the portable storage device are configured using push-pull output logic.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable storage device receives power from the terminal device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the portable storage device comprises:

a capacitor configured to store an electric charge.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the terminal device comprises one or more health measurement devices.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the health measurement devices include one or more of a body composition analyzer, a pedometer, and a fitness machine.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable storage device is further configured to control the operating state of the terminal device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable storage device is inserted directly into the measurement platform.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable storage device is indirectly connected to the measurement platform.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the terminal device uses the measurement information and user data stored on the portable storage device to compute one or more body composition items.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the measurement platform and the terminal device are integral.

11. A portable storage device for interfacing with health equipment, the portable storage device comprising:

at least one active terminal configured to power the portable storage device and to input and output data to and from one or more external devices;

a common terminal; and

a storage module for storing data received from the one or more external devices,

wherein the active terminal in configured using push-pull output logic.

12. The portable storage device of claim 11, wherein the at least one active terminal receives power from the one or more external devices.

13. The portable storage device of claim 12, further comprising:

a capacitor configured to store an electric charge enabling the storage device to remain operational when power is not supplied from the one or more external devices.

14. The portable storage device of claim 11, wherein the one or more external devices comprise one or more of a body composition analyzer, an activity monitor, a fitness machine, and a personal computer.

15. The portable storage device of claim 11, wherein the storage module stores user information entered by the user into the external device.

16. The portable storage device of claim 11, wherein:

the at least one active terminal comprises a first electrode exposed at a first end of the storage device.

17. The portable storage device of claim 16, wherein

the storage device is cylindrical in shape, and

the ground terminal comprises a second terminal electrode.

18. The portable storage device of claim 17, further comprising:

a protrusion provided at a second end of the storage device having a through hole therein.

19. A method of exchanging data with a health measurement device which includes a measurement platform and a terminal device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a portable storage device, an initialization command from the health measurement device;

upon initialization, receiving a request from the health measurement device for user data;

transmitting the requested user data to the health measurement device; and

receiving one or more body composition data items from the health measurement device, the one or more body composition data items computed by the health measurement device based on the user data,

wherein the health measurement device supplies power to the portable storage device while exchanging data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein transmitting the requested user data requires transmitting a header and one or more of:

a user identification code, user gender, user data of birth, user height, and user name.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the portable storage device is configured to activate and deactivate the health measurement device, and the initialization command is received after the health measurement device has been activated.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the portable storage device and the health measurement device output data using push-pull logic.