Method, system and instrument for monitoring food intake
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring food intake for an individual and providing an indication when the food intake exceeds a predetermined allowable amount, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) monitoring the individual over a predetermined period of time in order to establish an empirical relationship for the individual between a change in at least one physiological variable and a rate and/or amount of food intake,(b) upon starting each meal, measuring the change in said at least one physiological variable and determining from said empirical relationship an estimated rate and/or amount of food intake and calculating therefrom a maximum eating time for the intake of said predetermined allowable amount,(c) measuring an elapsed time from the start of the meal, and(d) when the measured elapsed time is equal to or greater than the calculated maximum eating time, indicating to the individual to stop eating.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for monitoring food intake for an individual and providing an indication when the food intake exceeds a predetermined allowable amount, comprising the steps of monitoring the individual over a predetermined period of time in order to establish an empirical relationship for the individual between a change in at least one physiological variable and a rate and/or amount of food intake. Upon starting each meal, the change in each of the relevant physiological variables is measured so as to determine from the empirical relationship an estimated rate and/or amount of food intake. This permits calculation of a maximum eating time to intake the predetermined allowable amount for the individual, upon expiry of which an indication is given to stop eating. A system operating in accordance with the invention includes a wrist watch having a Doppler ultrasound transducer for placing over the user'"'"'s radial artery and producing an audible alarm when the individual has been eating for sufficient time to consume the predetermined allowable amount of food. The watch can, if desired, also include a self-programming facility for allowing determination of the empirical relationship for the individual.
62 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring food intake for an individual and providing an indication when the food intake exceeds a predetermined allowable amount, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring the individual over a predetermined period of time in order to establish an empirical relationship for the individual between a change in at least one physiological variable and a rate and/or amount of food intake, (b) upon starting each meal, measuring the change in said at least one physiological variable and determining from said empirical relationship an estimated rate and/or amount of food intake and calculating therefrom a maximum eating time for the intake of said predetermined allowable amount, (c) measuring an elapsed time from the start of the meal, and (d) when the measured elapsed time is equal to or greater than the calculated maximum eating time, indicating to the individual to stop eating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for monitoring food intake for an individual and providing an indication when the food intake exceeds a predetermined allowable amount, said system comprising:
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monitoring means for monitoring the individual over a predetermined period of time in order to establish an empirical relationship for the individual between a change in at least one physiological variable and a rate and/or amount of food intake, measuring means for attaching to the individual and for measuring said at least one physiological variable during a meal, computing means coupled to the measuring means for computing a change in said at least one physiological variable and, in accordance with said empirical relationship, computing an estimated rate and/or amount of food intake and a maximum eating time to intake said predetermined allowable amount, timing means for measuring an elapsed time from commencement of the meal, comparing means coupled to the timing means for producing an indication signal when the measured elapsed time exceeds the computed maximum eating time, and indication means coupled to the comparing means and responsive to the indication signal for indicating to the individual to stop eating. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification