Wrist-type body component measuring apparatus and body component measuring method using the same

• US 10,238,312 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2015
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Eom, Kunsun, Lee, Yeolho, Namkoong, Kak, Jung, Myounghoon, Cho, Seongho
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cardinal, Erin M
• Application Number:
  US14/804,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20160128604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/067 using accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/068 using impedance sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices

Abstract

Provided is a wrist-type body component measuring apparatus. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus includes: a band configured to be worn on a wrist of a user; a first input electrode and a first output electrode disposed on an inside surface of the band and configured to be in contact with the wrist of the user; a second input electrode and a second output electrode disposed on an outside surface of the band; a measuring unit configured to apply a current to the first and second input electrodes and detect a voltage from the first and second output electrodes to measure a body impedance of the user; and an electrode converter configured to convert a disposition of the first and second input electrodes and the first and second output electrodes based on a determination of whether the band is worn on a left wrist or a right wrist of the user.

Claims

1. A wrist-type body component measuring apparatus comprising:

a band configured to be worn on a user;

a first input electrode and a first output electrode which are disposed on an inside surface of the band and configured to contact a wrist of the user;

a second input electrode and a second output electrode which are disposed on an outside surface of the band;

a measuring unit configured to apply a current to the first and second input electrodes and detect a voltage from the first and second output electrodes to measure a body impedance of the user;

an input interface configured to receive, from the user, information about whether the band is worn on a left wrist or a right wrist of the user; and

an electrode converter configured to convert a disposition of the first and second input electrodes and the first and second output electrodes according to the information about whether the band is worn on the left wrist or the right wrist.

2. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the measuring unit comprises:

a current provider configured to apply the current to the first and second input electrodes;

a voltage detector configured to detect the voltage from the first and second output electrodes; and

an impedance calculator configured to calculate the body impedance from the current and the voltage.

3. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 2, wherein the electrode converter comprises a plurality of switches configured to change a first connection between each of the first and second output electrodes and the voltage detector and a second connection between each of the first and second input electrodes and the current provider to a third connection between each of the first and second output electrodes and the current provider and a fourth connection between each of the first and second input electrodes and the voltage detector.

4. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 1, wherein an arrangement direction of the first input electrode and the first output electrode and an arrangement direction of the second input electrode and the second output electrode are different from a lengthwise direction of the band.

5. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 4, wherein the arrangement direction of the first input electrode and the first output electrode and the arrangement direction of the second input electrode and the second output electrode are perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the band.

6. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 5, wherein the electrode disposition is converted such that the first input electrode and the second input electrode are disposed on a hand side of the wrist and the first output electrode and the second output electrode are disposed on a body side of the wrist based on the information about whether the band is worn on the left wrist or on the right wrist.

7. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 1, wherein a body component of the user is analyzed from the body impedance measured by the measuring unit, and

the body component comprises at least one of body fat, body water, skeletal muscle mass, protein, mineral, visceral fat, body cell mass, bone mineral content, muscle strength, and edema.

8. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store an impedance of an end body part of the user that is to be in contact with the second input electrode and the second output electrode, for body impedance measurement.

9. A wrist-type body component measuring apparatus comprising:

a band configured to be worn on a user;

a first input electrode and a first output electrode which are disposed on an inside surface of the band and configured to contact a wrist of the user;

a second input electrode and a second output electrode which are disposed on an outside surface of the band;

a measuring unit configured to apply a current to the first and second input electrodes and detect a voltage from the first and second output electrodes to measure a body impedance of the user;

a plurality of acceleration sensors arranged in a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the apparatus with a predetermined distance therebetween, and configured to sense whether the band is worn on a left wrist or on a right wrist by using a signal received according to a movement of the user; and

an electrode converter configured to convert a disposition of the first and second input electrodes and the first and second output electrodes according to whether the band is worn on the left wrist or the right wrist of the user.

10. A wrist-type body component measuring apparatus comprising:

a band configured to be worn on a user;

a first input electrode and a first output electrode which are disposed on an inside surface of the band and configured to contact a wrist of the user;

a second input electrode and a second output electrode which are disposed on an outside surface of the band;

a measuring unit configured to apply a current to the first and second input electrodes and detect a voltage from the first and second output electrodes to measure a variation of a body impedance of the user when the second input electrode is sequentially touched by different fingers of the user;

a memory configured to store a reference body impedance variation; and

an electrode converter configured to compare the measured variation of the body impedance of the user to the reference body impedance variation that is stored in the memory and convert a disposition of the first and second input electrodes and the first and second output electrodes according to a comparison between the measured variation of the body impedance of the user and the reference body impedance variation.

11. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 10, wherein the measuring unit comprises:

a current provider configured to apply the current to the first and second input electrodes;

a voltage detector configured to detect the voltage from the first and second output electrodes; and

an impedance calculator configured to calculate an impedance of the user from the current and the voltage.

12. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electrode converter comprises a plurality of switches configured to change a first connection between each of the first and second output electrodes and the voltage detector and a second connection between each of the first and second input electrodes and the current provider to a third connection between each of the first and second output electrodes and the current provider and a fourth connection between each of the first and second input electrodes and the voltage detector.

13. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 11, wherein a body component of the user is analyzed from the impedance of the user, and

the body component comprises at least one of body fat, body water, muscle strength, and edema.

14. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 10, wherein an arrangement direction of the first input electrode and the first output electrode and an arrangement direction of the second input electrode and the second output electrode are different from a lengthwise direction of the apparatus.

15. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 14, wherein the arrangement direction of the first input electrode and the first output electrode and the arrangement direction of the second input electrode and the second output electrode are perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the apparatus.

16. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 15, wherein the electrode disposition is converted such that the first input electrode and the second input electrode are disposed on a hand side of the wrist and the first output electrode and the second output electrode are disposed on a body side of the wrist.