Method of determining center of gravity and body weight
First Claim
1. A method for determining the horizontal component of a subject'"'"'s center of gravity and body weight, the method comprising the steps of:
- placing the subject'"'"'s body horizontally in a substantially rigid body mold having an impression exactly matching the dorsal half of the body, the body mold being supported by supporting members;
attaching a vertical force transducer to each of the supporting members; and
analyzing the amplified outputs of the force transducers to compute the subject'"'"'s body weight and horizontal center of gravity.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a system, apparatus and method for gathering physiological data. Basic to the system of the present invention is a rigid body mold having preferably a negative impression of the dorsal half of the body. By connecting and/or embedding sensors to the body mold at specific locations, e.g., accelerometers, thermistors, and electrocardiogram electrodes, the sensors will be accurately and reproducibly positioned next to a specific body location each time the subject lies in the body mold. The body mold can be used to insulate the body from external motions thereby facilitating the preparation of a ballistocardiogram. The exact re-positioning of the body in the mold allows exact determination of the center of gravity in the horizontal plane of the body.
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Citations
3 Claims
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1. A method for determining the horizontal component of a subject'"'"'s center of gravity and body weight, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing the subject'"'"'s body horizontally in a substantially rigid body mold having an impression exactly matching the dorsal half of the body, the body mold being supported by supporting members; attaching a vertical force transducer to each of the supporting members; and analyzing the amplified outputs of the force transducers to compute the subject'"'"'s body weight and horizontal center of gravity. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for determining the change in the horizontal component of a subject'"'"'s center of gravity and body weight, the method including the steps of:
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placing a body in a substantially rigid body mold having an impression exactly matching the dorsal half of the body, the body mold being supported by supporting members fixed with respect to the body mold; attaching a vertical force transducer to each of the supporting members; analyzing the amplified outputs of the force transducers to compute the subject'"'"'s body weight and horizontal center of gravity; and comparing the computed values with previously known values to determine the change in the body'"'"'s horizontal center of gravity and weight.
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Specification