Living body information measuring apparatus, living body information measuring method, body fat measuring apparatus, body fat measuring method, and program recording medium

• US 6,985,767 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Uchida, Shinji, Horiuchi, Motomi
• Primary Examiner(s): Imam, Ali
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jung, William C
• Application Number:
  US10/412,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20040039287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600407-482, 606/1, 607/88, 607/89, 607/94, 356 39- 41, 250/340, 250/358.1
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• 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 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4872 Body fat

Abstract

A body fat measuring apparatus is provided with a light emitting device 1 for projecting light rays to a subject'"'"'s tissue, light receiving devices 3 and 4 for detecting a transmitted light ray having passed through the subject'"'"'s tissue and/or a reflected light ray reflected inside the subject'"'"'s body, and a CPU 6 for calculating the subject'"'"'s subcutaneous fat thickness and/or body fat percentage by performing an operation by use of the detection results of the light receiving devices 3 and 4. The light receiving devices 3 and 4 are situated at different distances from the light emitting device 1.

Claims

1. A body fat measuring apparatus comprising:

a light emitting portion for projecting light rays to a subject'"'"'s tissue;

a light receiving portion for detecting, of the light rays, at least one of a transmitted light ray having passed through the subject'"'"'s tissue and a reflected light ray reflected inside the subject'"'"'s body; and

signal processing operation means for calculating at least one of the subject'"'"'s subcutaneous fat thickness and body fat percentage by performing an operation by use of a detection result of the light receiving portion,

wherein either the number of light emitting portions or the number of light receiving portions is at least two and wherein the at least two light emitting portions or light receiving portions are situated at different distances from corresponding light receiving portions or light emitting portions;

wherein the light receiving portion includes a first light receiving portion situated at a predetermined distance from the light emitting portion, and a second light receiving portion situated farther away from the light emitting portion than the first light receiving portion,

wherein the first light receiving portion detects the transmitted light ray and the reflected light ray having arrived by way of the subject'"'"'s skin or skin and a layer in the vicinity thereof,

wherein the second light receiving portion detects the transmitted light ray and the reflected light ray having arrived by way of the subject'"'"'s skin and subcutaneous layer,

wherein the signal processing operation means corrects a detection result of the second light receiving portion by a detection result of the first light receiving portion and performs an operation by use of a result of the correction to thereby calculate the subject'"'"'s subcutaneous fat thickness or body fat percentage,

wherein the signal processing operation means analyzes all or some light components of wavelengths of substantially 600 to 660 nm, and

wherein the distance between the first light receiving portion and the second light receiving portion is at least 2 mm.

2. A body fat measuring apparatus comprising:

a light emitting portion for projecting light rays to a subject'"'"'s tissue;

a light receiving portion for detecting, of the light rays, at least one of a transmitted light ray having passed through the subject'"'"'s tissue and a reflected light ray reflected inside the subject'"'"'s body; and

signal processing operation means for calculating at least one of the subject'"'"'s subcutaneous fat thickness and body fat percentage by performing an operation by use of a detection result of the light receiving portion,

wherein either the number of light emitting portions or the number of light receiving portions is at least two and wherein the at least two light emitting portions or light receiving portions are situated at different distances from corresponding light receiving portions or light emitting portions;

wherein the light receiving portion includes a first light receiving portion situated at a predetermined distance from the light emitting portion, and a second light receiving portion situated farther away from the light emitting portion than the first light receiving portion,

wherein the first light receiving portion detects the transmitted light ray and the reflected light ray having arrived by way of the subject'"'"'s skin or skin and a layer in the vicinity thereof,

wherein the second light receiving portion detects the transmitted light ray and the reflected light ray having arrived by way of the subject'"'"'s skin and subcutaneous layer, wherein the signal processing operation means corrects a detection result of the second light receiving portion by a detection result of the first light receiving portion and performs an operation by use of a result of the correction to thereby calculate the subject'"'"'s subcutaneous fat thickness or body fat percentage, and

wherein a central wavelength of the light projected from the light emitting portion is 650 nm.

3. A body fat measuring apparatus comprising:

a light emitting portion for projecting light rays to a subject'"'"'s tissue;

a light receiving portion for detecting, of the light rays, at least one of a transmitted light ray having passed through the subject'"'"'s tissue and a reflected light ray reflected inside the subject'"'"'s body; and

signal processing operation means for calculating at least one of the subject'"'"'s subcutaneous fat thickness and body fat percentage by performing an operation by use of a detection result of the light receiving portion,

wherein either the number of light emitting portions or the number of light receiving portions is at least two and wherein the at least two light emitting portions or light receiving portions are situated at different distances from corresponding light receiving portions or light emitting portions;

wherein the light emitting portion includes a first light emitting portion situated at a predetermined distance from the light receiving portion, and a second light emitting portion situated farther away from the light receiving portion than the first light emitting portion,

wherein the light receiving portion detects a light ray projected from the first light emitting portion as at least one of a first transmitted light ray and a reflected ray having passed through the subject'"'"'s skin or skin and a layer in the vicinity thereof, and detects a light ray projected from the second light emitting portion as at least one of a second transmitted light ray and a reflected light ray having passed through the subject'"'"'s skin and subcutaneous fat layer and a reflected light ray,

wherein the signal processing operation means corrects a detection result obtained by the second light emitting portion and the light receiving portion by a detection result obtained by the first light emitting portion and the light receiving portion and performs an operation by use of a result of the correction to thereby calculate the subject'"'"'s subcutaneous fat thickness or body fat percentage,

wherein the signal processing operation means analyzes light components of wavelengths of substantially 600 to 660 nm, and

wherein the distance between the first light emitting portion and the second light emitting portion is at least 2 mm.

4. A body fat measuring apparatus comprising:

a light emitting portion for projecting light rays to a subject'"'"'s tissue;

a light receiving portion for detecting, of the light rays, at least one of a transmitted light ray having passed through the subject'"'"'s tissue and a reflected light ray reflected inside the subject'"'"'s body; and

signal processing operation means for calculating at least one of the subject'"'"'s subcutaneous fat thickness and body fat percentage by performing an operation by use of a detection result of the light receiving portion,

wherein either the number of light emitting portions or the number of light receiving portions is at least two and wherein the at least two light emitting portions or light receiving portions are situated at different distances from corresponding light receiving portions or light emitting portions;

wherein the light emitting portion includes a first light emitting portion situated at a predetermined distance from the light receiving portion, and a second light emitting portion situated farther away from the light receiving portion than the first light emitting portion,

wherein the light receiving portion detects a light ray projected from the first light emitting portion as at least one of a first transmitted light ray and a reflected ray having passed through the subject'"'"'s skin or skin and a layer in the vicinity thereof, and detects a light ray projected from the second light emitting portion as at least one of a second transmitted light ray and a reflected light ray having passed through the subject'"'"'s skin and subcutaneous fat layer and a reflected light ray,

wherein the signal processing operation means corrects a detection result obtained by the second light emitting portion and the light receiving portion by a detection result obtained by the first light emitting portion and the light receiving portion and performs an operation by use of a result of the correction to thereby calculate the subject'"'"'s subcutaneous fat thickness or body fat percentage, and

wherein a central wavelength of the light projected by the first and the second light emitting portions is substantially 650 nm.

5. A living body information measuring apparatus comprising:

a light emitting portion including a light source for projecting light rays to a subject'"'"'s tissue;

a light receiving portion including a photoelectric conversion device for detecting, of the light rays, at least one of a transmitted light ray having passed through the subject'"'"'s tissue and a reflected light ray reflected inside the subject'"'"'s body;

signal processing operation means for calculating the subject'"'"'s living body information by performing an operation by use of a detection result of the light receiving portion; and

moving means for moving one of the light source or the photoelectric conversion device,

wherein either the number of light emitting portions or the number of light receiving portions is at least two and the at least two light emitting portions or light receiving portions are situated at different distances from corresponding light receiving portions or light emitting portions;

wherein the plurality of light emitting portions are realized by moving the light source by the moving means or the plurality of light receiving portions are realized by moving the photoelectric conversion device; and

wherein one output obtained by the light receiving portion and the light emitting portion is corrected by an output obtained by another light receiving portion and the light emitting portion or an output obtained by the light receiving portion and another light emitting portion.

6. A living body information measuring apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein attenuating means is provided for attenuating a quantity of light output from, of the plurality of light emitting portions, a light emitting portion closer to the light receiving portion.

7. A living body information measuring apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the attenuating means has a function of attenuating the quantity of the light to 50 to 5%.

8. A living body information measuring apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the attenuating means is made of a transparent resin substrate and an absorbing member attached thereonto.

9. A program recording medium being readable by computer and recording therein a program and data for causing a computer to perform functions of elements of a living body information measuring apparatus according to claim 5.

10. A living body information measuring method using a living body information measuring apparatus according to claim 5, said method comprising:

projecting light rays to the subject by the light emitting portion;

a first step of detecting a transmitted light ray and/or a reflected light ray having arrived by way of the subject'"'"'s skin and/or skin and a layer in the vicinity thereof;

a second step of detecting a transmitted light ray and/or a reflected light ray having arrived by way of the subject'"'"'s skin and subcutaneous fat layer; and

calculating living body information by the signal processing operation means by correcting a detection result of the second step by a detection result of the first step.

11. A living body information measuring apparatus comprising:

a light emitting portion including a light source for projecting light rays to a subject'"'"'s tissue;

a light receiving portion including a photoelectric conversion device for detecting, of the light rays, at least one of a transmitted light ray having passed through the subject'"'"'s tissue and a reflected light ray reflected inside the subject'"'"'s body;

signal processing operation means for calculating the subject'"'"'s living body information by performing an operation by use of a detection result of the light receiving portion,

a plurality of optical paths provided between the light source and the photoelectric conversion device; and

optical path adjusting means for switching among the optical paths such that either the number of light emitting portions or the number of light receiving portions is at least two, and the at least two light emitting portions or light receiving portions are situated at different distances from corresponding light receiving portions or light emitting portions,

wherein one output obtained by the light receiving portion and the light emitting portion is corrected by an output obtained by another light receiving portion and the light emitting portion or an output obtained by the light receiving portion and another light emitting portion.

12. A living body information measuring apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the optical path adjusting means includes a movable shutter disposed in front of the light source or the photoelectric conversion device and having a hole and a plurality of optical path members derived from the shutter.

13. A living body information measuring apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the optical paths are made of an optical fiber or an acrylic resin.

14. A program recording medium being readable by a computer and recording therein a program and data for causing a computer to perform functions of elements of a living body information measuring apparatus according to claim 11.

15. A living body information measuring method using a living body information measuring apparatus according to claim 11, said living body information measuring method comprising the steps of:

projecting light rays to the subject by the light emitting portion;

a first step of detecting a transmitted light ray and/or a reflected light ray having arrived by way of the subject'"'"'s skin and/or skin and a layer in the vicinity thereof;

a second step of detecting a transmitted light ray and/or a reflected light ray having arrived by way of the subject'"'"'s skin and subcutaneous fat layer; and

calculating living body information by the signal processing operation means by correcting a detection result of the second step by a detection result of the first step.