Caloric Intake Measuring System using Spectroscopic and 3D Imaging Analysis

• US 20150168365A1
• Filed: 12/18/2013
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medibotics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Connor
• Inventors: Connor, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,442,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• 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 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4205 Evaluating swallowing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4146 for controlling caloric intake, e.g. diet control
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/56 combined with handles of tools or household implements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/02 Food
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

This invention is a caloric intake measuring system comprising: a spectroscopic sensor that collects data concerning light that is absorbed by or reflected from food, wherein this food is to be consumed by a person, and wherein this data is used to estimate the composition of this food; and an imaging device that takes images of this food from different angles, wherein these images from different angles are used to estimate the quantity of this food. Information concerning the estimated composition of the food and information concerning the estimated quantity of the food can be combined to estimate the person'"'"'s caloric intake.

Claims

1. A caloric intake measuring system comprising:

a spectroscopic sensor that collects data concerning light that is absorbed by or reflected from food, wherein this food is to be consumed by a person, and wherein this data is used to estimate the composition of this food; and

an imaging device that takes images of this food from different angles, wherein these images from different angles are used to estimate the quantity of this food.

2. The system in claim 1 wherein information concerning the estimated composition of the food and information concerning the estimated quantity of the food are combined to estimate the person'"'"'s caloric intake.

3. The system in claim 1 wherein estimation of the composition of the food comprises estimating one or more nutrients or ingredients selected from the group consisting of:

a specific type of carbohydrate, a class of carbohydrates, or all carbohydrates;

a specific type of sugar, a class of sugars, or all sugars;

a specific type of fat, a class of fats, or all fats;

a specific type of cholesterol, a class of cholesterols, or all cholesterols;

a specific type of protein, a class of proteins, or all proteins;

a specific type of fiber, a class of fiber, or all fiber;

a specific sodium compound, a class of sodium compounds, and all sodium compounds;

high-carbohydrate food, high-sugar food, high-fat food, fried food, high-cholesterol food, high-protein food, high-fiber food, and high-sodium food.

4. The system in claim 1 wherein the spectroscopic sensor directs a beam of light toward food and analyzes the spectrum of light reflected from the food.

5. The beam of light in claim 4 wherein this beam of light is coherent.

6. The beam of light in claim 4 wherein this beam of light is infrared.

7. The beam of light in claim 4 wherein this beam of light is ultraviolet.

8. The system in claim 1 wherein the spectroscopic sensor is a part of a food probe.

9. The system in claim 1 wherein the spectroscopic sensor is a part of a food utensil.

10. The system in claim 1 wherein the spectroscopic sensor is a part of a wearable device which is configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s wrist, arm, hand, finger, neck, torso, or head.

11. The system in claim 1 wherein the spectroscopic sensor is a part of an electronically-functional watch, wrist-band, bracelet, ring, arm band, necklace, button, piece of eyewear, ear piece, or headband.

12. The system in claim 1 wherein the imaging device takes images of food before and after food consumption and analyzes differences between these images to better estimate the net quantity of food actually consumed by the person.

13. The system in claim 1 wherein the imaging device takes sequential images of food from different angles.

14. The system in claim 1 wherein the imaging device takes simultaneous images of food from different angles.

15. The system in claim 1 wherein three-dimensional analysis is used to estimate the volume of the food from images of food taken from different angles.

16. The system in claim 1 wherein the imaging device is part of a food probe or utensil.

17. The system in claim 1 wherein the imaging device is part of a phone.

18. The system in claim 1 wherein the imaging device is part of a wearable device which is configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s wrist, arm, hand, finger, neck, torso, or head.

19. A wearable caloric intake measuring device comprising:

a device that is configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s body or clothing to measure the person'"'"'s caloric intake, wherein this device further comprises,

a spectroscopic sensor that collects data concerning light that is absorbed by or reflected from food, wherein this food is to be consumed by a person, and wherein this data is used to estimate the nutritional and/or chemical composition of this food; and

an imaging component that takes simultaneous or sequential images of this food from different angles, wherein these images from different angles are used to estimate the quantity of this food.

20. A portable caloric intake measuring device comprising:

a device that is configured to be held by a person to measure the person'"'"'s caloric intake, wherein this device further comprises,

a spectroscopic sensor that collects data concerning light that is absorbed by or reflected from food, wherein this food is to be consumed by a person, and wherein this data is used to estimate the nutritional and/or chemical composition of this food; and

an imaging component that takes simultaneous or sequential images of this food from different angles, wherein these images from different angles are used to estimate the quantity of this food.