Female physical condition managing apparatus

• US 6,656,130 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tanita Corporation (Tanita)
• Original Assignee: Tanita Corporation (Tanita)
• Inventors: Sato, Kazue, Baba, Michiko, Takehara, Tomoko, Shoji, Tamaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Szmal, Brian Scott
• Application Number:
  US09/968,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20020040195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 600/551, 600/547, 600/591
• US Class Current: 600/551
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0012 Ovulation-period determination for animals A61D17/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0016 based on measurement of electric currents, e.g. conductivity tests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4869 Determining body composition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed is a female physical condition managing apparatus comprising: a bioelectrical impedance-meter for determining BI values; a memory for storing the so determined BI values; a decision-making unit for making a decision about the monthly physical condition of a woman on the basis of the time series analysis of the variation of the BI values; and a display showing the so made decision on the monthly physical condition of the woman and a BI transition symbolic curve. This permits women to realize quickly what stage has been reached in the monthly physical condition. Presentation of measurement in the display is so dynamic that the viewer may not feel bored while the measurement is being made.

Claims

1. A female physical condition managing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of pairs of electrodes which can be applied to selected points of an outer layer of the skin of a female body;

a bioelectric impedance meter for determining the value of bioelectric impedance (BI) appearing between one of said pairs of electrodes;

a memory for storing the so determined BI value;

a decision-making unit for making a decision about the monthly physical condition of the female on the basis of a time series analysis of the variation of the BI values; and

a display for showing said decision on the monthly physical condition of the female and a BI transition symbolic curve

wherein the display has a given mark moving on the BI transition symbolic curve while the required measurement is being effected or while the required decision is being made.

2. A female physical condition managing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the period of BI transition symbolic curve spans from the menstruation to the next menstruation.

3. A female physical condition managing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the monthly physical condition includes at least the delicate period, dieting period, pre- and post-ovulation, PMS preventing period, PMS period or subsequent delicate period.

4. A female physical condition managing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the display shows at least one of the degree of swell measured, the date of the physical condition decided and the weight measured at the time the required measurement was determined.

5. A female physical condition managing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the display shows, in synchronism with the movement of the mark, the name identifying the period of physical condition and/or a swell-symbolic shape illustrating the degree of swell.

6. A female physical condition managing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of pairs of electrodes which can be applied to selected points of an outer layer of the skin of a female body;

a bioelectrical impedance meter for determining the value of bioelectrical impedance (BI) appearing between one of said pairs of electrodes;

a memory for storing the so determined BI value;

a decision-making unit for making a decision about the monthly physical condition of the female on the basis of a time series analysis of the variation of the BI values; and

a display for displaying a given mark moving on a monthly periodic chart while the required measurement is being effected or while the required decision is being made.

7. A female physical condition managing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the monthly periodic chart is a sinusoidal curve, a circle or a straight line.

8. A female physical condition managing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the mark is a circle or an animal figure.

9. A female physical condition managing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the mark varies every month and/or every day in shape and/or color.

10. A female physical condition managing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the display is capable of retrieving selected data of measurement from an associated memory and of showing such data by means of telop while the required measurement is being effected or while the required decision is being made.

11. A female physical condition managing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of pairs of electrodes which can be applied to selected points of an outer layer of the skin of a female body;

a bioelectrical impledance meter for determining the value of bioelectric impedance (BI) appearing between one of said pairs of electrodes;

a memory for storing the so determined BI value;

a decision-making unit for making a decision about the monthly physical condition of the female on the basis of a time series analysis of the variation of the BI values; and

a display for displaying an animation-like presentation of monthly period while the required measurement is being effected or while the required decision is being made.

12. A female physical condition managing apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the animation-like presentation of monthly period is composed of a series of figures illustrating how a chick appears from an egg.

13. A female physical condition managing apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the animation-like presentation of monthly period is composed of a series of figures illustrating how the moon varies from crescent to full moon.