WRIST-TYPE BODY COMPONENT MEASURING APPARATUS AND BODY COMPONENT MEASURING METHOD USING THE SAME

• US 20160128604A1
• Filed: 07/21/2015
• Published: 05/12/2016
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,238,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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 contact 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;

a sensor configured to be sensing whether the band is worn on a left wrist or on a right wrist; 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 a left wrist or a 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 convert terminals of the first and second output electrodes and the first and second input electrodes connected to both terminals of the voltage detector and the current provider.

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 and the first output electrode and the second output electrode are disposed on a body side based on a result of the determination by the sensor.

7. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed to face a radial artery of the user and configured to determine whether the band is worn on the left wrist or the right wrist by using a biometric signal received from the radial artery

8. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sensor comprises a light sensor configured to detect an electrocardiography (ECG) signal, a galvanic skin reflex (GSR) signal, a photoplethysmography (PPG) signal, or a pulse wave.

9. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality sensors arranged in a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the apparatus with a predetermined distance therebetween,

wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to sense whether the band is worn on the left wrist or on the right wrist by using a signal received according to a movement of the user.

10. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise acceleration sensors.

11. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an input unit configured to input information about whether the band is worn on the left wrist or on the right wrist.

12. 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.

13. 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.

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

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 contact 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;

a memory configured to store a first measurement value when the band is worn on a left wrist or a right wrist of the user; and

an electrode converter configured to compare the first measurement value stored in the memory and a second measurement value measured by the measuring unit and 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.

15. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 14, 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 impedance of the user from the current and the voltage.

16. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 15, wherein the electrode converter comprises a plurality of switches configured to convert terminals of the first and second output electrodes and the first and second input electrodes connected to both terminals of the voltage detector and the current provider.

17. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 14, 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.

18. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 17, 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.

19. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 18, wherein, according to whether the band is worn on the left wrist or on the right wrist, the electrode disposition is converted such that the first input electrode and the second input electrode are disposed on a hand side and the first output electrode and the second output electrode are disposed on a body side.

20. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 14, 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, muscle strength, and edema.

21. The wrist-type body component measuring apparatus of claim 14, wherein the memory is configured to store an impedance of an end body part of the user that is to contact the second input electrode and the second output electrode, for body impedance measurement.

22. A method of measuring a body component of a user by a body component measuring apparatus including first and second input electrodes and first and second output electrodes, the method comprising:

determining whether the first and second input electrodes are disposed farther from the center of the body of the user than the first and second output electrodes;

providing a current between the first input electrode and the second input electrode;

measuring a voltage between the first output electrode and the second output electrode; and

determining a body impedance of the user based on the measured voltage.

23. The body component measuring method of claim 22, further comprising converting an electrode disposition of the first and second input electrodes and the first and second output electrodes in response to the first and second input electrodes being disposed farther from the center of the body than of the first and second output electrodes.