Total body volume meter

• US 4,144,749 A
• Filed: 12/09/1977
• Issued: 03/20/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henry B. Whitmore
• Original Assignee: Henry B. Whitmore
• Inventors: Whitmore, Henry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Watkins, Donald
• Application Number:
  US05/859,083
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 73/149, 73/290 B, 128/2.5
• US Class Current: 73/149
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1073 Measuring volume, e.g. of limbs
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 17/00 Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B

Abstract

The present apparatus shows a device for measuring the total volume displaced by a human body. A tank portion has an enlarged upper opening for an individual to enter the tank therethrough. Thereafter, while the individual is in a sitting position inside of the tank, the enlarged upper opening is closed with the individual'"'"'s head extending upward into an open ended cylinder. A tall cylinder of equal diameter with the open ended cylinder is connected to a control console which pumps the water level inside of the tank up to a predetermined point inside of the open ended cylinder. Thereafter, if the individual lowers his head below the water level by releasing a seat on which the individual is sitting, an accurate reading of the column of water displaced can be obtained on a manometer and compared with a prior reading before entering the tank. By determining the total volume of the columns of water displaced in the tall cylinder and the open ended cylinder, the total volume of water displaced by the individual can be accurately obtained.

Claims

1. A total body volume meter for measuring body volume of an individual comprising:

body tank means for holding a fluid therein, said body tank means having an enlarged upper opening for receiving said individual therethrough;

uniform cross-sectional vertical tank means connected to said body tank means through conduit means;

extension means of said enlarged upper opening, said extension means having a cross section approximately equal to said vertical tank means;

a plurality of manometer means connected to said body tank means and said vertical tank means; and

control means interconnected along said conduit means between said body tank means and said vertical tank means, levels of said fluid to be measured in said vertical tank means and said extension means by said manometer means before and after said individual enters said body tank means being adjusted by said control means.

2. The total body volume meter as given in claim 1 including lid means with said extension means mounted thereon, said lid means being adapted for sealing said enlarged upper opening except said extension means which is open ended.

3. The total body volume meter as given in claim 2 wherein said body tank means is constructed and arranged to receive said individual therein in a seated position on seat means inside said body tank means, said seat means being vertically moveable to lower said individual below said level of said fluid in said extension means.

4. The total body volume meter as given in claim 3 wherein said seat means is attached to one wall of said body tank means, vertical strap means positioned between said seat means and said wall, camming means pivotally carried by said seat means for rotatably engaging said strap means to prevent downward movement of said seat means, lever means carried by said seat means for rotatably releasing said camming means.

5. The total body volume meter as given in claim 2 wherein said control means includes pump means for pumping said fluid from said vertical tank means to said body tank means, valve means in said conduit means maintaining water levels in said body tank means and said vertical tank means during periods of nonuse of said pumping means.

6. The total body volume meter as given in claim 5 wherein said manometer means includes at least a first manometer connected to said vertical tank means and parallel therewith, and a second manometer connected to said body tank means and parallel with said extension means.

7. The total body volume meter as given in claim 6 wherein said extension means is a clear open ended cylinder and vertical tank means is a tall cylinder of equal diameter.

8. A method of measuring total body volume of an individual using a vertical tank of a given cross-sectional area and a body tank with an upper extension of said given cross-sectional area, said method consisting of the following steps:

filling said vertical tank with a substantial amount of a fluid and said body tank with said fluid until level of said fluid begins to raise in said upper extension;

first measuring heights of fluid levels in said vertical tank and said upper extension;

first recording a first sum of said first measured heights;

inserting said individual in said body tank and immersing said individual below said fluid level;

second measuring heights of said fluid levels in said vertical tank and said upper extension;

subtracting said first sum of said first measured heights from a second sum of said second measured heights to give a total height change of fluid levels; and

expressing said cross-sectional area of the vertical tank together with said total height change of fluid levels in terms of total body volume of said individual.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 including after said first recording step an additional step of first pumping some of said fluid of said body tank into said vertical tank so that upon said immersing of said individual said level of said fluid is in said upper extension without spillage of said fluid.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 including a first step of sealing a lid means having said upper extension mounted thereon, after said first pumping step said lid means being unsealed and opened for said insertion of said individual therethrough and resealed.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 including after said resealing step a second pumping of said fluid from said vertical tank into said body tank until said fluid level reaches said upper extension.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 including final steps of removing at least some of said water from said body tank and second unsealing of said lid means for removal of said individual.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said individual is seated on a vertical moveable seat in said body tank, said immersing step including releasing said vertical moveable seat for said immersing of said individual.

14. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said expressing step includes expressing said total body volume of the individual upon gauges.