Method and apparatus for taking bioelectrical impedance measurements using proximally positioned electrodes

• US 5,203,344 A
• Filed: 01/31/1991
• Issued: 04/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brigham and Women's Hospital Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Brigham and Women's Hospital Incorporated
• Inventors: Scheltinga, Marc R., Wilmore, Douglas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tucker, Guy V.
• Application Number:
  US07/648,226
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 128/734, 128/639, 128/644, 128/774, 128/741, 128/693, 128/419 N, 128/802, 128/790, 128/795, 128/796
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0535 Impedance plethysmography for measuring blood flow A61B5/0295
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4869 Determining body composition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4872 Body fat

Abstract

First and second pairs of electrodes are connected to a bioelectrical impedance measuring device. The first pair of electrodes are then attached to a subject'"'"'s body to introduce an electrical current in the subject'"'"'s body. The second pair of electrodes are attached to the body in proximity with the elbow and the knee joint of the subject'"'"'s body. The second pair of electrodes detect the impedance in the subject'"'"'s body when the electrical current flows therein by the first pair of electrodes. The bioelectrical impedance measurement device measures the impedance detected by the second pair of electrodes.

Claims

1. A method for measuring bioelectrical impedance of a subject'"'"'s body comprising the steps of:

attaching first and second electrodes to one hand and one foot of the subject'"'"'s body, respectively;

attaching third and fourth electrodes to the body of the subject in proximity with the elbow and the knee joint of the subject'"'"'s body, respectivley, the third electrode positioned about one centimeter from the elbow of the subject, the fourth electrode positioned about one centimeter from the knee joint of the subject;

electrically connecting the first, second, third and fourth electrodes to a bioelectrical impedance measuring device;

generating an electrical current signal from the bioelectrical impedance measuring device;

introducing the electrical signal into the subject'"'"'s body by the first and second electrodes; and

measuring the impedance in the subject'"'"'s body between the third and fourth electrodes by the bioelectrical impedance measuring device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the bioelectrical impedance measuring device is an impedance plethysmograph.

3. A method for measuring bioelectrical impedance of a subject'"'"'s body comprising the steps of:

attaching first and second electrodes to one hand and one foot of the subject'"'"'s body, respectively;

attaching third and fourth electrodes to the body of the subject in proximity with the elbow and the knee joint of the subject'"'"'s body, respectively, the third and fourth electrodes each comprising;

a cylindrical metal rod;

means for securely attaching the rod to the subject'"'"'s body; and

means for attaching an electrical lead to the rod, the electrical lead also being connected to a bioelectrical impedance measuring device;

electrically connecting the first, second, third and fourth electrodes to a bioelectrical impedance measuring device;

generating an electrical current signal from the bioelectrical impedance measuring device;

introducing the electrical signal into the subject'"'"'s body by the first and second electrodes; and

measuring the impedance in the subject'"'"'s body between the third and fourth electrodes by the bioelectrical impedance measuring device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the bioelectrical impedance measuring device is an impedance plethysmograph.

5. A bioelectrical apparatus for measuring impedance of the subject'"'"'s body, comprising:

a bioelectrical impedance measuring device which generates an electrical current signal output;

first and second electrodes connected to the bioelectrical impedance measuring device and adapted to be attached to the subject'"'"'s body for introducing the electrical current signal into the subject'"'"'s body; and

third and fourth electrodes respectively adapted to be attached to the subject'"'"'s body in proximity with the elbow and the knee joint of the subject'"'"'s body, respectively, and electrically connected to the bioelectrical impedance measuring device for detecting the impedance of the subject'"'"'s body between the third and fourth electrodes, the third and fourth electrodes each comprising;

a cylindrical metal rod;

means for securely attaching the rod to the subject'"'"'s body; and

means for attaching an electrical lead to the rod, the electrical lead also being connected to the bioelectrical impedance measuring device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the bioelectrical impedance measuring device is an impedance plethysmograph.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein:

the means for attaching the electrical lead to the rod comprises means for releasably attaching the electrical lead to the rod.