Method of determining center of gravity and body weight

• US 4,817,610 A
• Filed: 07/15/1987
• Issued: 04/04/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arnold St. J. Lee
• Original Assignee: Arnold St. J. Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Arnold St. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Citrin, Randy
• Application Number:
  US07/073,632
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 128/134, 128/135, 128/630, D10/83, D10/87, D10/88, D10/89, D10/90, D10/91, D10/92, D10/93, 73/65, 73/172, 73/862.04, 177/25.14, 177/144, 364/567, 269/328
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/08 Elderly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1102 Ballistocardiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/704 Tables

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the subject'"'"'s body is placed in the body mold by first laying the subject on a thin, flexible sheet, and then lowering the sheet bearing the subject into the impression.

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:

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.