Method and apparatus for measuring heat flow
First Claim
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1. A method of determining caloric expenditure by measuring substantially total heat flow from a measured surface through the use of a heat flow sensor comprising:
- (a) placing said heat flow sensor on said measured surface and allowing a fluid to migrate from said measured surface to a sensing region of said heat flow sensor, wherein the step of allowing said fluid to migrate is accomplished with a material capable of transporting said fluid from said measured surface to said sensing region and allowing evaporation of said transported fluid from said sensing region; and
(b) measuring heat flow at said sensing region of said heat flow sensor.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for determining caloric expenditure of a subject. The apparatus includes a modified heat flow sensor having an overlay and/or conductive layer for measuring the evaporative heat loss component, in addition to substantially total heat loss, for the subject.
39 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of determining caloric expenditure by measuring substantially total heat flow from a measured surface through the use of a heat flow sensor comprising:
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(a) placing said heat flow sensor on said measured surface and allowing a fluid to migrate from said measured surface to a sensing region of said heat flow sensor, wherein the step of allowing said fluid to migrate is accomplished with a material capable of transporting said fluid from said measured surface to said sensing region and allowing evaporation of said transported fluid from said sensing region; and (b) measuring heat flow at said sensing region of said heat flow sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of determining caloric expenditure of a subject by measuring substantially total heat loss from a measured surface on said subject through the use of heat flow sensor means having a center surface area and a fringe area about the perimeter of the center surface area, comprising:
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(a) allowing a fluid to migrate from said measured surface to a sensing region of said heat flow sensor means, wherein the step of allowing said fluid to migrate is accomplished with an overlay material capable of wicking said fluid from said measured surface to said sensing region; (b) withdrawing heat from said center surface area of said heat flow sensor means to said fringe area of said heat flow sensor means to create a substantially uniform heat flow across said heat flow sensor means; and (c) maintaining an evaporative rate of said fluid from said sensing region of said heat flow sensor means similar to that of said fluid at said measured surface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of measuring evaporative heat loss from a measured surface through the use of heat flow sensor means having a surface comprising a center surface area and a fringe area about the perimeter of said center surface area, comprising:
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(a) allowing a fluid to migrate from said measured surface to said surface of said heat flow sensor means, wherein the step of allowing said fluid to migrate is accomplished with an overlay material capable of wicking said fluid from said measured surface to said heat flow sensor means; (b) withdrawing heat form said center surface area of said heat flow sensor to said fringe area of said heat flow sensor, thereby creating a substantially uniform heat flow across said surface of said heat flow sensor means; and (c) maintaining an evaporative rate of said fluid from said surface of said heat flow sensor substantially similar to an evaporative rate of said fluid from said measured surface. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of determining caloric expenditure of a subject by measuring substantially total heat loss from a measured surface on said subject through the use of heat flow sensor means having a surface comprising a center surface area and a fringe area about the perimeter of said center surface area, comprising:
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(a) causing a fluid to migrate from said measured surface to said surface of said heat flow sensor means, wherein the step of causing said fluid to migrate is accomplished with an overlay material capable of wicking said fluid from said measured surface to an outer surface of said heat flow sensor means, said overlay material contacting said measured surface and outer surface of said heat flow sensor means; (b) maintaining an evaporative rate of said fluid at said surface of said heat flow sensor means substantially similar to an evaporative rate of said fluid from said measured surface. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of measuring evaporative heat loss from a measured surface through the use of a heat flow sensor means having a surface comprising a center surface area and a fringe area about the perimeter of said center surface area, comprising:
(a) withdrawing heat from said center surface area of said heat flow sensor to said fringe area of said heat flow sensor, thereby creating a substantially uniform heat flow across said surface of said heat flow sensor means, wherein the step of withdrawing heat is accomplished with a thermally conductive material located on said heat flow sensor and contacting said measured surface. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of determining caloric expenditure of a subject by measuring substantially total heat flow from a measured surface on the subject, comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing a plurality of heat flow sensing means capable of measuring total heat flow at a plurality of locations on the subject, each said heat flow sensing means including a sensing region and an overlay material, said overlay material causing fluid present on said subject to migrate from said subject to said sensing region; and (b) measuring total heat loss for said subject by measuring heat flow at each location on which a said heat flow sensing means is positioned. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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Specification