Method and apparatus for measurement of eating speed

• US 5,817,006 A
• Filed: 05/13/1997
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mandometer AB
• Original Assignee: Cecilia Bergh, Per Sodersten
• Inventors: Ekelund, St.ang.le F., Soderstein, Per H., Bergh, Cecilia H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GILBERT, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US08/776,402
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 128/920-924, 434/127
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4146 for controlling caloric intake, e.g. diet control

Abstract

A method and a device for the measurement of rate of eating of an object of measurement ingesting food. The method includes a scale for the measurement of food intake and a computer system, which is signal-connected with the scale and allows storing and computing of signals and visualization of stored and computed signals. Simultaneously, the computer system provides at least one reference standard for the rate of eating and an associated, biologically determined level of satiety, which is used for comparison, visualization and evaluation together with the values of rate of eating recorded by said scale and stored by the computer system. This allows for adjustment of rate of eating. The computer system of the method may be provided as a portable computer with an integrated scale.

Claims

1. A method for measuring the rate of ingestive behavior of a measuring object ingesting food, comprising:

using a scale to measure food intake by the object;

using a computer system connected to the scale for storing and computing signals, and for visualizing stored and computed signals;

said computer system providing at least one reference standard for rate of ingestion, and an associated reference standard of a specific, biologically determined level of satiety, derived from a scale of satiety;

using said rate of ingestion for comparison, visualization and evaluation, together with results from use of said scale to measure food intake by the object, as stored in said computer system; and

adjusting eating behavior of the object, in real time, by;

choosing a reference standard from among those provided by said computer system, for a rate of ingestion having an associated scale of satiety, and using the computer system for visualizing the chosen reference standard, for thereby enabling at least one observer to follow an ongoing sequence of measurements;

placing a food storage article on said scale, and placing an amount of food on said food storage article;

awaiting stabilization of said scale following said placing of said food storage article and quantity of food;

initializing a period of measuring of rate of eating, in which said object takes and east a plurality of successive bits of food from said quantity, from said storage article, and, during said period performing said storing, computing and visualizing by said computer system in relation to each said bit of food;

if, as a result of said eating said food storage article becomes depleted of food during said period, replenishing said food storage article at least once with a further amount of food, for enabling continuation of said period; and

introducing, at a time during said period, a change in the rate of eating by the object as therefore practiced by the object during said period, to a new rate of eating, said new rate of eating being based on a selected one of said at least one referenced standard.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing said at least one reference standard for rate of ingestion, and an associated reference standard of a specific, biologically determined level of satiety, by basing these standards on lengths of period of food deprivation in a text object and patterns of secretion of at least one gastrointestinal hormone by the test object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said establishing comprises depriving the test object of food for various lengths of period, measuring corresponding patterns of secretion of at least on gastrointestinal hormone by the test object, and making corresponding observations as to the perception of satiety in the test object.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

said establishing comprises correlating declines in perception of satiety of the text object with concentration of at least one gastrointestinal hormone in the blood of the test object.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

said establishing comprises repeatedly depriving the test object of food in a succession of tests, between each of which the perception of satiety of the test object is observed, as part of said making corresponding observations, to have returned to a basal value.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said at least one gastrointestinal hormone is the octapeptide of cholecystokinen (CCK-8).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

said change in rate of eating is introduced such as to negatively accelerate rate of eating while positively accelerating perception of satiety.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

performing said visualizing of a selected one of said at least one eating standard, and recorded actual rate of eating by the object simultaneously on a same medium; and

visually comparing said selected eating standard and said actual rate of eating as visualized on said same medium.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

said computer system continuously providing an evaluation of at least one of perception of satiety of the object and actual rate of eating by the object during said period.

10. Apparatus for measuring rate of eating by an object who is ingesting food, comprising:

a scale arranged for measuring food intake by the object;

a signal storing, computing and visualizing device which is signal-connected to said scale and arranged for storing signals including signals received from said scale, for computing signals received by said device, including from said scale, and for visualizing signals stored and computed by said device;

a food storage article arranged to be supported on said scale for storing food to be consumed by said object;

said scale being arranged to register intake of food and to provide signals to said device corresponding to such registering of intake;

said device being arranged to provide said object with at least one reference standard for rate of eating, each said standard being correlated with a biologically determined level of satiety on a scale of satiety;

said device being arranged for comparing, evaluating, and visualizing simultaneously on a same medium actual rate of eating as recorded by said device and said at least one standard; and

said device being arranged for varying rate of eating by said object during a period of measurement.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said device is arranged to provide an evaluation of at least one of level of satiety of the object and rate of eating by the object during said period.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said device is a computer system.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

said scale is integrated with a central unit on said computer system.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

said central unit of said computer system is a portable computer.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

said scale is provided a peripheral part in relation to said computer system.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said article is a household food serving article.