Portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument

• US 6,526,315 B1
• Filed: 08/04/2000
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tanita
• Original Assignee: Tanita Corporation (Tanita)
• Inventors: Inagawa, Hideaki, Ito, Yusuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MALLARI, PATRICIA C
• Application Number:
  US09/631,626
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 600/547
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02125 of pulse wave propagation time
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4872 Body fat

Abstract

A multi-function portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument is provided that is easily held in the hand, and has its electrodes and its controls arranged to be easily manipulated. Embodiments include an instrument wherein a pair of electrodes is arranged on the back of a main body of the instrument such that they are both contacted by a user'"'"'s palm when the main body is held in the palm of the hand. Another pair of electrodes, a set of operating switches, and a display are located on the face (i.e., the front) of the main body such that two fingers of the other hand of the user can touch the electrodes simultaneously and operate the instrument to obtain a body fat occupancy ratio and/or pulse rate based on the impedance measured by the electrodes. A photoelectric detector is also provided on the face of the main body to produce a signal to provide a blood pressure reading or pulse rate. Since the electrodes can be firmly held in contact with the user'"'"'s skin due to their ergonomic arrangement, the instrument is easily operated and produces accurate monitoring of body fat occupancy ratio, pulse rate, blood pressure, and the like.

Claims

1. A portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument comprising:

a main body, substantially parallelepiped shaped and comprising an insulating material, said main body comprising a back side, at least a portion of the back side having a curved shape;

a first pair of electrodes, spaced apart from each other, on a face of said main body;

a second pair of electrodes, spaced apart from each other, on the curved portion of the back side of the main body opposite the face;

a display unit on the face of said main body; and

an operator unit on the face of said main body;

wherein the first and second pairs of electrodes are disposed such that, when a user holds the main body with one hand, a palm of the one hand can contact the second pair of electrodes and the user'"'"'s other hand can contact the first pair of electrodes.

4. A portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument is for measuring a body fat occupancy ratio.

5. A portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument is for measuring a pulse rate.

6. A portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument is for measuring a blood pressure.

2. A portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument comprising:

a main body, substantially parallelepiped shaped and comprising an insulating material, said main body comprising a face, a back side, and opposing sides connecting the face and the back side, at least a portion of the opposing sides having a curved shape;

a first pair of electrodes, spaced apart from each other, on a face of said main body;

a second pair of electrodes spaced apart from each other, on curved portions of opposing sides of the main body;

a display unit on the face of said main body; and

an operator unit on the face of said main body;

wherein the first and second pairs of electrodes are disposed such that, when a user holds the main body with one hand, a palm of the one hand can contact the second pair of electrodes and the user'"'"'s other hand can contact the first pair of electrodes.

3. A portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument comprising:

a main body, substantially parallelepiped shaped and comprising an insulating material, the main body having a face, a back surface opposite the face, and a pair of opposing side surfaces at least a portion of said opposing side surfaces being curved;

two pairs of electrodes, spaced apart from each other, on the curved portions of the pair of opposing sides of said main body;

a display unit on the face of said main body; and

an operator unit on the face of said main body;

wherein the two pairs of electrodes are disposed such that a user can contact the electrodes on one of the opposing sides of the main body with only the palm of one hand while simultaneously contacting the electrodes on the other opposing side of the main body with only the palm of the other hand.

7. A portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument comprising:

a main body, substantially parallelepiped shaped and comprising an insulating material, the main body having a face, a back surface opposite the face, and a pair of opposing side surfaces;

two pairs of electrodes, spaced apart from each other, on the pair of opposing sides of said main body;

a display unit on the face of said main body;

an operator unit on the face of said main body; and

a reflective photoelectric detecting means in said main body,

wherein the two pairs of electrodes are disposed such that a user can contact the electrodes on one of the opposing sides of the main body with only the palm of one hand while simultaneously contacting the electrodes on the other opposing side of the main body with only the palm of the other hand.

8. A portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument comprising:

a main body having a back side defining a curved outer surface over at least a portion thereof;

a first pair of electrodes on a face of the main body;

a second pair of electrodes on the curved portion of a back side of the main body opposite the face; and

an operator unit on the face;

wherein the first and second pairs of electrodes are disposed such that, when a user holds the main body with one hand, a palm of the one hand can contact the second pair of electrodes and the user'"'"'s other hand can contact the first pair of electrodes.

9. The instrument of claim 8, wherein the main body is substantially shaped as a parallelepiped, cylinder or elliptic cylinder.

10. The instrument of claim 8, wherein the main body comprises an insulating material.

11. The instrument of claim 8, further comprising a processor for calculating a body fat occupancy ratio or a pulse rate based on signals from the electrodes.

12. The instrument of claim 11, wherein the second pair of electrodes is located such that both electrodes of the second pair can simultaneously contact a palm of a user when the user holds the instrument in one of the user'"'"'s hands.

13. The instrument of claim 8, further comprising a display unit on the face of the main body.

14. The instrument of claim 8, wherein the operator unit comprises a plurality of electrical switches.

15. A portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument comprising:

a main body, substantially parallelepiped shaped and comprising an insulating material;

a first pair of electrodes, spaced apart from each other, on a face of said main body;

a second pair of electrodes, spaced apart from each other, on a back side of the main body opposite the face;

a display unit on the face of said main body;

an operator unit on the face of said main body; and

a reflective photoelectric detecting means in said main body,

wherein the first and second pairs of electrodes are disposed such that, when a user holds the main body with one hand, a palm of the one hand can contact the second pair of electrodes and the user'"'"'s other hand can contact the first pair of electrodes.

16. A portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument comprising:

a main body;

a first pair of electrodes on a face of the main body;

a second pair of electrodes on a back side of the main body opposite the face;

an operator unit on the face; and

a reflective photoelectric detector on the face of the main body,

wherein the first and second pairs of electrodes are disposed such that, when a user holds the main body with one hand, a palm of the one hand can contact the second pair of electrodes and the user'"'"'s other hand can contact the first pair of electrodes.

17. The instrument of claim 16, further comprising a processor for calculating a blood pressure based on signals from the electrodes and the photoelectric detector.

18. The instrument of claim 16, further comprising a processor for calculating a pulse rate based on a signal from the photoelectric detector.

19. A portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument comprising:

a main body having a face, a back surface opposite the face, and opposing side surfaces connecting the face to the back surface, at least a portion of said back surface and said opposing side surfaces being curved,

a first pair of electrodes on a face of the main body;

a second pair of electrodes on curved portions of opposing sides of the main body; and

an operator unit on the face;

wherein the first and second pairs of electrodes are disposed such that, when a user holds the main body with one hand, a palm of the one hand can contact the second pair of electrodes and the user'"'"'s other hand can contact the first pair of electrodes.

20. The instrument of claim 19, wherein the main body is substantially shaped as a parallelepiped, cylinder or elliptic cylinder.

21. The instrument of claim 19, wherein the main body comprises an insulating material.

22. The instrument of claim 21, wherein the electrodes of each of the first and second pairs of electrodes are spaced apart from each other.

23. The instrument of claim 22, wherein the second pair of electrodes is located such that both electrodes of the second pair can simultaneously contact a palm of a user when the user holds the instrument in one of the user'"'"'s hands.

24. The instrument of claim 23, wherein each of the electrodes of the second pair of electrodes extends onto the face of the main body.

25. The instrument of claim 23, wherein each of the electrodes of the second pair of electrodes extends onto a back side of the main body opposite the face.

26. The instrument of claim 19, further comprising a display unit on the face of the main body.

27. The instrument of claim 19, wherein the operator unit comprises a plurality of electrical switches.

28. The instrument of claim 19, further comprising a processor for calculating a body fat occupancy ratio or a pulse rate based on signals from the electrodes.

29. A portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument comprising:

a main body;

a first pair of electrodes on a face of the main body;

a second pair of electrodes on a back side of the main body opposite the face;

an operator unit on the face; and

a reflective photoelectric detector on the face of the main body,

wherein the first and second pairs of electrodes are disposed such that, when a user holds the main body with one hand, a palm of the one hand can contact the second pair of electrodes and the user'"'"'s other hand can contact the first pair of electrodes.

30. The instrument of claim 29, further comprising a processor for calculating a blood pressure based on signals from the electrodes and the photoelectric detector.

31. The instrument of claim 29, further comprising a processor for calculating a pulse rate based on a signal from the photoelectric detector.

32. A portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument comprising:

a main body having a face, a back surface opposite the face, at least a portion of said back surface being curved, and a pair of opposing side surfaces, at least a portion of said opposing sides being curved;

two pairs of electrodes on the curved portions of said pair of opposing sides of the main body; and

an operator unit on the face of the main body;

wherein the two pairs of electrodes are disposed on curved portions of opposing sides of the main body to extend from the face of the main body to a curved portion of the back surface opposite the face such that a user can contact the electrodes on one of the opposing sides of the main body with only the palm of one hand while simultaneously contacting the electrodes on the other opposing side of the main body with only the palm of the other hand.

33. The instrument of claim 32, wherein the main body is substantially shaped as a parallelepiped, cylinder or elliptic cylinder.

34. The instrument of claim 32, wherein the main body comprises an insulating material.

35. The instrument of claim 34, wherein the electrodes of each of the two pairs of electrodes are spaced apart from each other.

36. The instrument of claim 35, wherein the pairs of electrodes are located such that all the electrodes can simultaneously contact a palm of a user when the user holds the instrument in one of the user'"'"'s hands.

37. The instrument of claim 36, wherein each of the electrodes of the pairs of electrodes extends onto the face of the main body.

38. The instrument of claim 36, wherein each of the electrodes of the pairs of electrodes extends onto a back side of the main body opposite the face.

39. The instrument of claim 32, further comprising a display unit on the face of the main body.

40. The instrument of claim 32, wherein the operator unit comprises a plurality of electrical switches.

41. The instrument of claim 32, further comprising a processor for calculating a body fat occupancy ratio or a pulse rate based on signals from the electrodes.

42. A portable bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument comprising:

a main body, substantially parallelepiped shaped and comprising an insulating material;

a first pair of electrodes, spaced apart from each other, on a face of said main body;

a second pair of electrodes spaced apart from each other, on opposing sides of the main body;

a display unit on the face of said main body;

an operator unit on the face of said main body; and

a reflective photoelectric detecting means in said main body,

wherein the first and second pairs of electrodes are disposed such that, when a user holds the main body with one hand, a palm of the one hand can contact the second pair of electrodes and the user'"'"'s other hand can contact the first pair of electrodes.

43. A method of measuring bioelectrical impedance using a handheld bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument comprising:

placing a handheld bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument comprising a main body having a front surface, a back surface, at least a portion of which is curved, and side surfaces, said main body bearing a first pair of electrodes on the front surface and bearing a second pair of electrodes on the curved portion of the back surface in the palm of a user with the back surface facing the user'"'"'s palm and with the second pair of electrodes in contact with the user'"'"'s palm;

touching the first pair of electrodes with an opposite hand to measure an impedance between the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes.

44. A method of measuring bioelectrical impedance using a handheld bioelectrical impedance measuring instrument according to claim 43, wherein said step of touching the first pair of electrodes with an opposite hand comprises touching said first pair of electrodes with fingers of the opposite hand.