Ultrasonic methods and devices for measurement of body fat
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for acoustically measuring body fat in an anatomical region of a human body, the apparatus comprising:
- a substantially rigid support member designed to contact the anatomical region, the support member having at least a first portion and a second portion in spaced relation with one another and separated from one another by a separation distance;
the first portion geometrically corresponding to an anatomical feature of the anatomical region; and
the second portion geometrically corresponding to an acoustical transducer and permitting acoustic signals to pass between the acoustical transducer and the anatomical region.
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Abstract
The invention provides for methods, compositions, and devices for measuring adipose tissue and lean tissue using ultrasonic methods, compositions and devices, particularly methods, compositions and devices that facilitate placement of ultrasonic probe(s) using external anatomic landmarks such as the umbilicus, and methods, compositions, and devices that improve the reproducibility of ultrasonic measurements of object layer thickness.
37 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for acoustically measuring body fat in an anatomical region of a human body, the apparatus comprising:
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a substantially rigid support member designed to contact the anatomical region, the support member having at least a first portion and a second portion in spaced relation with one another and separated from one another by a separation distance;
the first portion geometrically corresponding to an anatomical feature of the anatomical region; and
the second portion geometrically corresponding to an acoustical transducer and permitting acoustic signals to pass between the acoustical transducer and the anatomical region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for measuring body fat in an anatomical region of a human body, comprising:
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placing a support member on the anatomical region;
selecting an anatomical feature of the anatomical region as a reference point for measuring the body fat;
positioning a first portion of the support member over the anatomical feature of the anatomical region;
positioning an acoustical transducer at a second portion of the support member and in spaced relation with the anatomical feature;
transmitting an acoustic signal from the acoustical transducer into the anatomical region;
receiving a return acoustic signal from the anatomical region; and
making an acoustical determination of the body fat content in the vicinity of the acoustical transducer based on the acoustic signals. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for measuring body fat in an anatomical region of the human body, comprising:
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support means for supporting at least an acoustic transducer assembly, the support means having a first portion and a second portion in spaced relation with one another and separated by a separation distance;
positioning means, proximal to the first portion of the support means, for geometrically locating the first portion of the support means with respect to a reference anatomical feature of the anatomical region; and
an acoustical transducer assembly, proximal to the second portion of the support means, the acoustical transducer adapted for interrogating tissue in the anatomical region to obtain a signal corresponding to body fat in the anatomical region.
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24. A method for providing an adipose tissue control program, comprising:
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placing an umbilicus positioning unit in contact with a subject'"'"'s abdomen, at the subject'"'"'s umbilicus;
placing an ultrasonic transducer proximal to the subject'"'"'s abdomen a pre-determined distance away from the umbilicus positioning unit, using the umbilicus positioning unit as a spatial reference point;
transmitting an ultrasonic signal from the transducer into the adipose tissue of the abdomen;
receiving a return ultrasonic signal from the adipose tissue of the abdomen indicative of an amount of adipose tissue in a region of the subject'"'"'s abdomen;
determining an amount of adipose tissue in the region of the subject'"'"'s abdomen at least based on the returned ultrasonic signal; and
prescribing an adipose tissue control treatment based on the amount of adipose tissue in the region of the subject'"'"'s abdomen. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification