Method and apparatus for measuring distribution of body fat

• US 6,487,445 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Tanita Corporation (Tanita)
• Original Assignee: Tanita Corporation (Tanita)
• Inventors: Hosoi, Hideki, Serita, Eiichi, Hasegawa, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US09/590,675
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 600/547, 600/587, 600/595
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1075 for measuring dimensions by non-invasive methods, e.g. for determining thickness of tissue layer A61B8/0858 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4872 Body fat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0858 involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/50 having additional measuring devices, e.g. for height

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for measuring a distribution of body fat for human body. The method comprises the step of measuring a bioelectrical impedance and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on the personal data such as sex, age, height, weight, etc. The method further comprises the step of calculating an area or an amount of abdominal visceral fat or abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on the measurements of the bioelectrical impedance and the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat as well as the girth of abdomen. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises the step of measuring the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat and the girth of abdomen. Thereafter, the area of abdominal visceral fat and the area of abdominal subcutaneous fat are calculated, based upon the measurements of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat and the girth of abdomen.

Claims

1. A method of measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

measuring a bioelectrical impedance and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on personal data including at least one of sex, age, height, or weight; and

calculating an area of abdominal visceral fat, based on the measurements of the bioelectrical impedance and the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat.

9. A method according claim 1 in which said thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat is measured by using an ultrasonic signal.

10. A method according claim 1 in which said thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat is measured by using a skin hold caliper.

2. A method of measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

measuring a bioelectrical impedance and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on personal data including at least one of sex, age, height, or weight; and

calculating an amount of abdominal visceral fat, based on the measurements of the bioelectrical impedance and the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat.

3. A method of measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

measuring a bioelectrical impedance and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on personal data including at least one of sex, age, height, or weight; and

calculating an area of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on the measurements of the bioelectrical impedance and the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat.

4. A method of measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

measuring a bioelectrical impedance and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on personal data including at least one of sex, age, height, or weight; and

calculating an amount of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on measurements of the bioelectrical impedance and the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat.

5. A method of measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

measuring a bioelectrical impedance and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on personal data including at least one of sex, age, height, or weight; and

calculating an area of abdominal visceral fat and an area of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on the measurements of the bioelectrical impedance and the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat.

6. A method of measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

measuring a bioelectrical impedance and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on personal data including at least one of sex, age, height, or weight; and

calculating an amount of abdominal visceral fat and an amount of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on the measurements of the bioelectrical impedance and the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat.

7. A method of measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

measuring a bioelectrical impedance and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on the sex, age, height and weight of a person;

measuring a girth of abdomen; and

calculating an area of abdominal visceral fat, based on the measurements of the bioelectrical impedance, the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat and the girth of abdomen.

8. A method of measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

measuring a bioelectrical impedance and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on the sex, age, height and weight of a person;

measuring a girth of abdomen; and

calculating an amount of abdominal visceral fat, based on the measurements of the bioelectrical impedance, the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat and the girth of abdomen.

11. An apparatus for measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises:

a first input unit that enters personal data including at least one of sex, age, height, or weight;

a measuring unit that measures a bioelectrical impedance;

a second input unit that enters a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat; and

an arithmetic element that calculates an area of abdominal visceral fat, based on the data from said first input unit, said measuring unit and said second input unit.

21. An apparatus according claim 11 in which said second input unit includes an ultrasonic probe.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21 in which the data detected by said ultrasonic probe is transmitted to said arithmetic element via a radio communication means or an optical communication means.

23. An apparatus according claim 11 in which said second input unit includes a skin hold caliper.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23 in which the data detected by said skin hold caliper is transmitted to said arithmetic element via a radio communication means or an optical communication means.

12. An apparatus for measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises:

a first input unit that enters personal data including at least one of sex, age, height, or weight;

a measuring unit that measures a bioelectrical impedance;

a second input unit that enters a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat; and

an arithmetic element that calculates an amount of abdominal visceral fat, based on the data from said first input unit, said measuring unit and said second input unit.

13. An apparatus for measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises:

a first input unit that enters personal data including at least one of sex, age, height, or weight;

a measuring unit that measures a bioelectrical impedance;

a second input unit that enters a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat; and

an arithmetic element that calculates an area of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on the data from said first input unit, said measuring unit and said second input unit.

14. An apparatus for measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises:

a first input unit that enters personal data including at least one of sex, age, height, or weight;

a measuring unit that measures a bioelectrical impedance;

a second input unit that enters a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat; and

an arithmetic element that calculates an amount of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on the data from said first input unit, said measuring unit and said second input unit.

15. An apparatus for measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises:

a first input unit that enters personal data including at least one of sex, age, height, or weight;

a measuring unit that measures a bioelectrical impedance;

a second input unit that enters a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat;

a third input unit that enters a girth of abdomen; and

an arithmetic element that calculates an area of abdominal visceral fat, based on the data from said first input unit, said measuring unit, said second input unit and said third input unit.

16. An apparatus for measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises:

a first input unit that enters personal data including at least one of sex, age, height, or weight;

a measuring unit that measures a bioelectrical impedance;

a second input unit that enters a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat;

a third input unit that enters a girth of abdomen; and

an arithmetic element that calculates an amount of abdominal visceral fat, based on the data from said first input unit, said measuring unit, said second input unit and a third input unit.

17. An apparatus for measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises:

a first input unit that enters personal data including at least one of sex, age, height, or weight;

a measuring unit that measures a bioelectrical impedance;

a second input unit that enters a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat;

a third input unit that enters a girth of abdomen; and

an arithmetic element that calculates an area of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on the data from said first input unit, said measuring unit, said second input unit and said third input unit.

18. An apparatus for measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises:

a first input unit that enters personal data including at least one of sex, age, height, or weight;

a measuring unit that measures a bioelectrical impedance;

a second input unit that enters a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat;

a third input unit that enters a girth of abdomen; and

an arithmetic element that calculates an amount of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on the data from said first input unit, said measuring unit, said second input unit and third input unit.

19. An apparatus for measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises:

a first input unit that enters personal data including at least one of sex, age, height, or weight;

a measuring unit that measures a bioelectrical impedance;

a second input unit that enters a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat; and

an arithmetic element that calculates an area of abdominal visceral fat and an area of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on the data from said first input unit, said measuring unit and said second input unit.

20. An apparatus for measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises:

a first input unit that enters personal data including at least one of sex, age, height, or weight;

a measuring unit that measures a bioelectrical impedance;

a second input unit that enters a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat; and

an arithmetic element that calculates an amount of abdominal visceral fat and an amount of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based on the data from said first input unit, said measuring unit and said second input unit.

25. An apparatus for measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises:

a first arithmetic element that calculates an area of abdominal visceral fat;

a second arithmetic element that calculates an area of abdominal subcutaneous fat; and

a decision unit that determines the type of corpulence by dividing the area of abdominal visceral fat calculated in said first arithmetic element by the area of abdominal subcutaneous fat calculated in said second arithmetic element.

26. A method of measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

measuring a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat and a girth of abdomen; and

calculating an area of abdominal visceral fat, based upon the measurements of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat and the girth of abdomen.

29. A method according to claim 26, in which said thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat is measured by using an ultrasonic signal.

30. A method according to claim 26, in which said thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat is measured by using a skin hold caliper.

31. A method according to any one of claims 26 to 30 in which the step of deriving the area of abdominal visceral fat or the area of abdominal subcutaneous fat further comprises the step of performing a correction process based upon personal data including at least one of sex, age, or height.

27. A method of measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

measuring a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat and a girth of abdomen; and

calculating an area of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based upon the measurements of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat and the girth of abdomen.

28. A method of measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

measuring a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat and a girth of abdomen; and

calculating an area of abdominal visceral fat and an area of abdominal subcutaneous fat, based upon the measurements of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat and the girth of abdomen.

32. An apparatus for measuring a distribution of body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises:

a first input unit that enters a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat;

a second input unit that enters a girth of abdomen; and

an arithmetic element that calculates an area of abdominal visceral fat based upon the data from said first and second input units.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32 in which said first input unit includes an ultrasonic probe.

34. An apparatus according to claim 32 in which said first input unit includes a skin hold caliper.

35. An apparatus according to claim 32, 33 or 34 in which it further comprises a third input unit that enters personal data including at least one of sex, age, or height.

36. A method of measuring body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

measuring a bioelectrical impedance between two parts of a person; and

calculating an area or amount of abdominal visceral fat based on the measurements of said bioelectrical impedance between the two parts of the person and the age, the height, and the weight of the person.

38. A method according to claim 36 or 37 in which said two parts are both feet.

39. A method according to claim 36 or 37 in which said two parts are both hands.

40. A method according to claim 36 or 37 in which said two parts are a hand and a foot.

37. A method of measuring body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

measuring a bioelectrical impedance between two parts of a person;

calculating a total amount of fat based on the measurements of said bioelectrical impedance between the two parts of the person and the age, the height, and the weight of the person; and

calculating an area or amount of abdominal visceral fat based on the calculated total amount of fat.

41. An apparatus for measuring body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises:

an input unit that enters at least one personal data including age, height, and weight;

a measuring unit that measures bioelectrical impedance between two parts of a person; and

an arithmetic element that calculates an area or amount of abdominal visceral fat based on the data from said input unit and said measuring unit.

43. An apparatus according to claim 41 or 42 in which said two parts are both feet.

44. An apparatus according to claim 41 or 42 in which said two parts are both hands.

45. An apparatus according to claim 41 or 42 in which said two parts are a hand and a foot.

42. An apparatus for measuring body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises:

an input unit that enters at least one personal data including age, height, and weight;

a measuring unit that measures a bioelectrical impedance between two parts of a person; and

an arithmetic element that calculates a total amount of fat based on the data from said input unit and said measuring unit, and calculates an area or amount of abdominal visceral fat based on said total amount of fat.

46. A method of measuring body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

inputting a girth of abdomen; and

calculating a total area of fat in abdomen based on the inputted girth of abdomen and personal data including at least a height.

48. A method according to claim 46 or 47 in which the girth of abdomen is inputted by a girth measuring unit.

49. A method according to claim 46 or 47 in which the girth of abdomen is inputted by data input switches.

47. A method of measuring body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

inputting girth of abdomen; and

calculating an area of visceral fat based on the inputted girth of abdomen and personal data including at least height.

50. An apparatus for measuring body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises:

a first input unit that enters a girth of abdomen;

a second input unit that enters a personal data including at least a height; and

an arithmetic element that calculates total area of fat in abdomen based on the data from said first input unit and second input unit.

52. An apparatus according to claim 50 or 51 in which said first input unit is a girth measuring unit.

53. An apparatus according to claim 50 or 51 in which said first input unit is data input switches.

54. An apparatus according to claim 50 or 51 in which said second input unit is data input switches.

55. An apparatus according to claim 50 or 51, further comprising a third input unit that enters the personal data including at least one of sex and age.

51. An apparatus for measuring body fat for human body, characterized in that it comprises:

a first input unit that enters a girth of abdomen;

a second input unit that enters personal data including at least height; and

an arithmetic element that calculates an area of visceral fat based on the data from said first input unit and second input unit.