Method and apparatus for determining body composition using bioelectrical impedance
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of determining the body composition of a subject comprising the steps of:
- selecting a first body segment, the first body segment comprising substantially less than the whole body of the subject, and determining the characteristics of the first body segment utilizing a method comprising the steps of;
causing a current flow through the first body segment;
measuring the impedance to the current flow of the first body segment;
selecting a second body segment, the second body segment comprising substantially less than the whole body of the subject, and determining the characteristics of the second body segment utilizing a method comprising the steps of;
causing a current flow through the second body segment;
measuring the impedance to the current flow of the second body segment; and
determining the total body composition in accordance with measured impedance of the first body segment and the measured impedance of the second body segment.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining body composition of a subject is provided. The composition determinations can include total body fat, lean body mass, total body water, inter-cellular fluid and/or extra-cellular fluid. The subject'"'"'s body is treated as a plurality of segmented conductors, each of the body segments having a relatively uniform cross-sectional area. By determining the composition of one or more exemplary body segments, the total body composition can be determined. The method in accordance with the present invention selects one or more body segments and introduces a uniform current flow through the body segments. The impedance which each of the body segments presents to the current flow is measured by a pair of voltage sensing electrodes positioned at each end of the body segments. Preferred body segments include the subject'"'"'s thigh, trunk, and upper arm. The length of the body segment and its cross sectional area are used, as well as the gender of the subject, in combination with the bioelectrical impedance of the body segment to determine the body composition.
120 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of determining the body composition of a subject comprising the steps of:
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selecting a first body segment, the first body segment comprising substantially less than the whole body of the subject, and determining the characteristics of the first body segment utilizing a method comprising the steps of; causing a current flow through the first body segment; measuring the impedance to the current flow of the first body segment; selecting a second body segment, the second body segment comprising substantially less than the whole body of the subject, and determining the characteristics of the second body segment utilizing a method comprising the steps of; causing a current flow through the second body segment; measuring the impedance to the current flow of the second body segment; and determining the total body composition in accordance with measured impedance of the first body segment and the measured impedance of the second body segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of determining the body composition of a subject, the subject having four extremities, the method comprising the steps of:
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injecting a current into a distal portion of a first extremity of the subject'"'"'s body; injecting a current into a distal portion of a second extremity of the subject'"'"'s body simultaneously with that injected into the first extremity; injecting a current into a distal portion of a third extremity of the subject'"'"'s body simultaneously with that injected into the first and second extremities; injecting a current into a distal portion of a fourth extremity of the subject'"'"'s body simultaneously with that injected into the first, second, and third extremities; selecting a first body segment, the first body segment comprising substantially less than the whole body of the subject; sensing the voltage at a first location on the first body segment; sensing the voltage at a second location on the first body segment to arrive at the bioelectrical impedance of the first body segment, the second location on the first body segment being spaced apart from the first location on the first body segment; selecting a second body segment, the second body segment comprising substantially less than the whole body of the subject; sensing the voltage at a first location on the second body segment; sensing the voltage at a second location on the second body segment to arrive at the bioelectrical impedance of the second body segment, the second location on the second body segment being spaced apart from the first location on the second body segment; and determining the composition of the subject'"'"'s body using the voltages sensed at the first body segment and the second body segment of the subject'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of determining the amount of fat contained in at least a portion of the body of a subject, the subject having two arms and two legs, the method comprising the steps of:
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attaching a first electrode to a distal portion of the subject'"'"'s first arm; providing a current to the first electrode; attaching a second electrode to a distal portion of the subject'"'"'s second arm; providing a current to the second electrode; attaching a third electrode to a distal portion of the subject'"'"'s first leg; providing a current to the third electrode; attaching a fourth electrode to a distal portion of the subject'"'"'s second leg; providing a current to the fourth electrode; selecting a first body segment, the first body segment comprising substantially less than the whole body of the subject; attaching a fifth electrode to a first end of the first body segment; attaching a sixth electrode to a second end of the first body segment; measuring the voltage difference between the fifth electrode and the sixth electrode to determine the bioelectrical impedance of the first body segment; measuring the distance between the fifth electrode and the sixth electrode; measuring the circumference of the first body segment; and calculating the amount of fat in the first body segment based upon the voltage difference and the distance between the fifth and sixth electrodes and the diameter of the first body segment. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of determining the body composition of at least a portion of a subject, the subject having four extremities, the method comprising the steps of:
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injecting a current into a distal portion of a first extremity of the subject'"'"'s body; injecting a current into a distal portion of a second extremity of the subject'"'"'s body simultaneously with that injected into the first extremity; injecting a current into a distal portion of a third extremity of the subject'"'"'s body simultaneously with that injected into the first and second extremities; injecting a current into a distal portion of a fourth extremity of the subject'"'"'s body simultaneously with that injected into the first, second, and third extremities; selecting a first body segment, the first body segment comprising substantially less than the whole body of the subject. sensing the voltage at a first location on the first body segment; sensing the voltage at a second location on the first body segment, the second location being spaced apart from the first location; and determining the composition of at least the first body segment from an impedance derived from the voltage sensed at the first location and the second location of the subject'"'"'s body.
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26. An apparatus for determining the bioelectrical impedance of at least a portion of a subject having four extremities, the apparatus comprising:
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current means for generating a current; means for injecting the current into a distal portion of a first extremity of the subject'"'"'s body; means for injecting the current into a distal portion of a second extremity of the subject'"'"'s body; means for injecting the current into a distal portion of a third extremity of the subject'"'"'s body; means for injecting the current into a distal portion of a fourth extremity of the subject'"'"'s body; voltage means for measuring voltage found on the subject'"'"'s body; means for sensing a first voltage present at a first location on the subject'"'"'s body and conveying the first voltage to the voltage means; means for sensing second voltage present at a second location on the subject'"'"'s body, the second location being spaced apart from the first location, and conveying the second voltage to the voltage means; and means for outputting an impedance of the subject'"'"'s body between the means for sensing a first voltage and the means for sensing a second voltage. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification