MOISTURE METER

• US 20130274566A1
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Koyama, Miyuki, Yoshino, Keisuke
• Granted Patent: US 9,433,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/029 Humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4875 Hydration status, fluid retention of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist

Abstract

Provided is a moisture meter that can easily measure a moisture content of a subject and can be effectively used as means for assisting the subject in appropriately regulating the moisture content. A moisture meter for measuring a moisture content of a subject includes: a moisture measuring unit that is held in an armpit of a subject so as to measure a moisture content of the subject, the moisture measuring unit including measurement current supply electrode portions and voltage measurement electrode portions that make contact with a skin surface of the armpit; and a temperature measuring unit that is held in the armpit of the subject so as to measure the temperature of the subject.

Claims

1. A moisture meter for measuring a moisture content of a subject, comprising:

an impedance-type moisture measuring unit that is held in an armpit of the subject so as to measure a moisture content of the subject, the impedance-type moisture measuring unit including a measurement current supply electrode portion and a voltage measurement electrode portion that make contact with a skin surface of the armpit.

2. The moisture meter according to claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature measuring unit that is held in the armpit of the subject so as to measure temperature of the subject.

3. The moisture meter according to claim 2, further comprising:

a main body;

a measuring unit holder that is disposed at one end of the main body and is sandwiched in the armpit while holding the impedance-type moisture measuring unit and the temperature measuring unit; and

a display unit holder that is disposed at the other end of the main body to hold a display unit that displays the measured moisture content of the subject and the measured temperature of the subject.

4. The moisture meter according to claim 3, wherein

a plurality of the temperature measuring units is held in the measuring unit holder.

5. The moisture meter according to claim 1, wherein

each of the electrode portions of the impedance-type moisture measuring unit includes an electrode terminal for making direct contact with the skin surface of the armpit, and an elastically deformable member for pressing the electrode terminal against the skin surface of the armpit.

6. The moisture meter according to claim 1, wherein

each of the electrode portions of the impedance-type moisture measuring unit includes an electrode terminal for making direct contact with the skin surface of the armpit, and a sticking member for making close contact with the skin surface of the armpit to press the electrode terminal against the skin surface of the armpit.

7. A moisture meter for measuring a moisture content of a subject, comprising:

an electrostatic capacitance-type moisture measuring unit that is held in an armpit of the subject to measure a moisture content in the armpit in order to measure the moisture content of the subject, wherein

the moisture measuring unit detects an electrostatic capacitance using a plurality of electrodes to measure the moisture content based on a variation in permittivity that changes with a moisture content ratio.

8. The moisture meter according to claim 7, further comprising:

a temperature measuring unit that is held in the armpit of the subject so as to measure temperature of the subject.

9. The moisture meter according to claim 8, further comprising:

a main body;

a measuring unit holder that is disposed at one end of the main body and is sandwiched in the armpit while holding the electrostatic capacitance-type moisture measuring unit and the temperature measuring unit; and

a display unit holder that is disposed at the other end of the main body to hold a display unit that displays the measured moisture content of the subject and the measured temperature of the subject.

10. The moisture meter according to claim 9, wherein

a plurality of the temperature measuring units is held in the measuring unit holder.

11. The moisture meter according to claim 7, wherein

each of the electrode portions of the electrostatic capacitance-type moisture measuring unit includes an electrode terminal for making direct contact with the skin surface of the armpit, and an elastically deformable member for pressing the electrode terminal against the skin surface of the armpit.

12. The moisture meter according to claim 7, wherein

each of the electrode portions of the electrostatic capacitance-type moisture measuring unit includes an electrode terminal for making direct contact with the skin surface of the armpit, and a sticking member for making close contact with the skin surface of the armpit to press the electrode terminal against the skin surface of the armpit.