JPH1133009A - Layout structure of electrode for measuring impedance of body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable accurate impedance measurements by enabling the interval between right and left electrodes to be freely widened or narrowed for adjustments according to the physique of a subject to be measured. SOLUTION: A slide plate 3 is freely slidably inserted into a stool 1 for the left leg and a stool 2 for the right leg, so that the interval between the stools 1, 2 can be increased or decreased for adjustments. If the thighs of both legs of the subject for measurement make contact with each other on their insides, the interval between the stools 1, 2, can be adjusted to the appropriate interval at which the thighs do not make contact by widening the interval, so that accurate impedance can be measured. In the case of an infant, the interval between the stools 1, 2 should be narrowed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure around an electrode for accurately measuring the body impedance required for measuring the proportion and weight of body fat contained in the body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a technique for measuring body fat weight, the impedance between the ends of the body is measured by a four-terminal electrode method, and the measured impedance is compared with the weight of the subject.
A method of calculating body fat weight from personal data such as height, gender, age, and the like is known. (See, for example,
Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-490 discloses a method for measuring the weight of a subject at the same time as measuring the impedance.
No. 50 has disclosed.

[0003] This is provided with a measuring table for measuring the weight and a weight measuring section for converting an electric signal from the measuring table into a weight signal, electrically connected to the impedance measuring section, and the back of both feet of the subject. The body fat scale is characterized in that two foot electrodes electrically insulated from each other are integrally incorporated into the measuring table, and the measuring table is integrated with each other. In this method, the electrodes are integrated with the surface of a measuring table for measuring the weight, so that the impedance can be measured simultaneously with the measurement of the weight simply by riding on the measuring table with bare feet.

[0004] Personal information such as age and gender necessary for more accurately calculating body fat weight from body weight and body impedance is separately input from a key input unit.

[0005]

However, in the fat meter described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-49050 as described above, the distance between the electrodes is fixed because the electrodes are fixedly integrated with the measuring table. Cannot be adjusted. Therefore, depending on the physique of the person to be measured, the inside of the thighs of both feet may come into contact as shown in FIG. In such a state, in addition to the original circuit indicated by the arrow A, a short circuit indicated by the arrow B occurs, so that there is a problem that the measured value of the impedance is significantly reduced.

If the left and right electrodes are set wide in order to solve the above problems, in the case of a small child or the like, the measurement must be performed with both legs spread, resulting in an unstable posture and inconvenience. It will be.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a structure capable of adjusting the distance between left and right electrodes in a wide and narrow manner according to the physique and the like of a person to be measured so as to enable accurate impedance measurement. It is a thing.

[0008]

According to claim 1 of the present invention,
In order to measure the impedance of the subject, a total of four electrodes, two electrodes for the right foot and two electrodes for the left foot, which are in electrical contact with the sole of the subject, are formed on the surface. In the arrangement structure of the electrodes, the distance between the two electrodes for the left foot and the two electrodes for the right foot is configured to be freely adjustable in width.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to measure the impedance of the subject, two electrodes for the right foot and two electrodes for the left foot, which can be in electrical contact with the sole of the subject, have a total of four.
In the electrode arrangement structure in which one electrode is formed on the surface, the distance between the two electrodes for the left foot and the distance between the two electrodes for the right foot are arranged so as to be freely adjustable.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to measure the impedance of the subject, two electrodes for the right foot and two electrodes for the left foot that can electrically contact the sole of the subject are used.
In the electrode arrangement structure in which one electrode is formed on the surface, the angle formed by the line connecting the two electrodes for the left foot and the line connecting the two electrodes for the right foot is arranged to be freely adjustable in size. And

The electrode for the left foot and the electrode for the right foot may be completely independent of each other, or may be connected via a slide plate or the like so as to be adjustable in width and width. Note that weight measurement means may be provided below the left and right electrodes so that weight can be measured simultaneously with impedance measurement. At this time, each electrode may be provided integrally on the surface of the weight measuring means, or may be provided separately and separately.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an arrangement structure of electrodes for measuring body impedance according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an arrangement of electrodes for measuring body impedance according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front sectional view, and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view. Is a step for the left foot, and an electrode 1 is provided on its surface.
1, 12 are provided. Reference numeral 2 denotes a step for the right foot, on the surface of which electrodes 21 and 22 are provided.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a slide plate, the tip of the arm portion C of which is slidably inserted into through holes D provided in the left and right steps 1, 2. As shown in the detailed view shown in FIG. 4, a small projection is formed on the ceiling surface of the through hole D, and a small recess is formed on the upper surface of the arm portion ΔC of the slide plate 3, and When a load is applied on the subject to be measured, the ceiling surface is pressed and curved downward, so that the small projections and the small recesses mesh with each other to prevent the stepping plate from sliding carelessly. Have been.

The two steps may be connected by using a rod-shaped member or the like instead of the slide plate. The electrodes 11, 12, 21, and 22 are connected to an impedance measuring circuit 4 having a configuration as shown in FIG.

According to the arrangement structure of the impedance measuring electrodes provided with the steps 1 and 2 having the above-described structure, when the body of the subject is in contact with the inside of the thighs of both legs like an obese body. , Widen the gap between the steps 1 and 2. Also, if it is painful and unstable to mount the step on both feet as a child, as in a child, the distance between the steps 1 and 2 is reduced.

In this way, as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to adjust the interval so that the thighs do not come into contact with each other in accordance with the physique of the subject. The impedance can be measured accurately, comfortably, and in a stable posture.

In the above embodiment, since the size of the foot of the subject is not constant, the shape of the electrodes 11 and 21 is oval, but as shown in FIG. The distance between the electrodes 11 and 12 and the distance between the electrodes 21 and 22 may be adjusted according to the length. With such a configuration, the impedance of the subject of various sizes can be accurately measured, and all the electrodes can be made circular, so that the number of types of components can be reduced and efficient component management becomes possible.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a configuration may be provided in which the opening angle θ of the left and right steps can be adjusted in magnitude. Since the measured value of the impedance differs depending on the size of the opening angle of the toe of the subject, the optimum opening angle of the toe is determined by examining the correlation with the fat percentage obtained by the reference underwater body weight method. It becomes possible. By adjusting the opening angle θ of the left and right steps to an angle corresponding to the angle, more accurate impedance measurement becomes possible. In addition, even if the subject has a habit of opening his toes or has a habit of inward thighs, it is possible to measure at a desired opening angle, and since the inside of the thigh is hard to contact by opening his feet, Accurate impedance measurement becomes possible.

If the steps 1 and 2 having the above configuration are mounted on a weight measuring unit having a built-in load cell for measuring weight, the weight can be measured simultaneously with the impedance measurement. By adding the weight calculation function, based on the measured impedance and weight, and personal data such as gender, height, age, etc. input from the input unit, the body fat percentage of the subject, body fat weight,
It is also possible to calculate an obesity rate or the like and display it on the display unit. Further, a load cell may be incorporated in each of the steps 1, 2 and the weight signal of the subject may be obtained by adding and combining.

Next, the configuration of the impedance measuring circuit 4 of FIG. 8 will be described below. This impedance measuring circuit 4
The weight signal of the subject detected by the load cell of the weight measuring unit 5 is input to the
12, 21, 22 are connected. Further, an input unit 43 for inputting personal data such as the sex, age, and height of the subject.
And a calculation unit 44 for calculating the body fat percentage and body fat weight in the body of the subject, and a display unit 45 for displaying the calculated body fat percentage, body fat weight, body weight, and the like in the body. .

The weight signal input from the weight measuring unit 5 is
It is input to the switch 47 of the impedance measuring circuit 4. The weight signal input to the switch 47 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 48, input to the arithmetic unit 44 by the microcomputer, converted into weight display data, and displayed on the display unit 45. At this time, the weight data is stored in the memory of the arithmetic unit 44.

The sine wave signal generated by the sine wave generator 41 is applied as constant current sine wave signals in the constant current circuit 42 via the application electrodes 11 and 21 to the soles of both feet of the subject. The sine wave signals detected from the detection electrodes 12 and 22 are amplified by a differential amplifier 43, converted into a DC signal by a rectification / smoothing circuit 44, and input to a switch 47 of the impedance measurement circuit 4.

The DC signal from the rectifying / smoothing circuit 44 input to the switch 47 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 48 and input to the arithmetic unit 44 by the microcomputer.

In the calculating section 44, first, the impedance of the human body between the detecting electrodes 12 and 22 is calculated by the four-terminal electrode method.
The body fat percentage, body fat weight, and obesity degree are calculated based on the following conversion formulas using the weight signal from the personal computer and the personal data such as gender and height input by the input unit 43. All or specified data of body weight, body fat percentage, body fat weight, and obesity degree are displayed. The body fat percentage and the degree of obesity are displayed graphically for better visibility.

In the body fat meter mode, the measurement of the impedance and the measurement of the weight may be performed first, or may be performed in a time-division manner.

Conversion equation: Let BD be the body density. BD = ab × W × Z / H 2 where a and b are coefficients W is weight (Kg) of subject H is height (cm) Z is measurement impedance (Ω) When the body fat percentage is% F,% F = (c / BD−d) × 100 where c and d are coefficients. When the body fat weight is BF (Kg), BF = W ×% F / 100

If the function of storing the personal data of the person to be measured is provided by increasing the capacity of the memory provided in the arithmetic unit 44 and using a non-volatile memory, the trouble of inputting each time of measurement can be omitted. In addition, by providing the calculator 44 with the calendar function, changes in the weight and body fat of the subject can be stored together with the date data, and the changes can be displayed in a graph.

In the above description, the subjects are not distinguished. However, when a plurality of subjects use,
Memorize personal data and measurement data of each subject individually,
It is preferable to use a call key to easily call and use it for calculation and display. Note that the input unit and the display unit may be provided on the surface of the slide plate 3 in FIG.

As described above, since the distance between the electrodes can be adjusted, a stable contact state between the soles of the feet and the electrodes can be obtained, and the impedance of the subject of various sizes can be measured accurately and in a stable posture. It is possible to do. Also,
The operation unit including at least the input unit and the display unit may be separated from the platform and the weight measurement unit, so that the operation unit can be installed in a place that is easy to see and has good operability.

[0031]

According to the present invention, the distance between the electrodes can be adjusted widely and narrowly according to the physique of the subject, so that the impedance of the subject of various physiques can be measured accurately and in a stable posture. The effect that it can be obtained is obtained. In particular, in claim 1, in the case of a subject having a physique such that the inside of the thigh contacts, the measurement can be performed with both feet widened by increasing the interval between the two steps, so that the inside of the thigh can be measured. Accurate impedance can be measured without contact.

According to the second aspect, the distance between the two electrodes for the left foot and the distance between the two electrodes for the right foot can be adjusted in accordance with the size of the length of the foot. Regardless, accurate impedance measurement can be performed. According to the third aspect, by adjusting the angle between the line connecting the two electrodes for the left foot and the line connecting the two electrodes for the right foot, the impedance can be measured at the optimum opening angle of the toes.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of an arrangement structure of electrodes for impedance measurement according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged sectional view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a use state of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a measurement circuit used in the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a use state of a conventional stepping board.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 step for left foot 11,12 electrode for left foot 2 step for right foot 21,22 electrode for right foot

Claims (3)

[Claims] In order to measure the impedance of a subject, two electrodes for the right foot and two electrodes for the left foot, which can be in electrical contact with the sole of the subject, have a total of four electrodes. Wherein the distance between the two electrodes for the left foot and the two electrodes for the right foot is arranged so as to be adjustable in a wide and narrow manner. Arrangement structure. 2. In order to measure the impedance of a subject, two electrodes for the right foot and two electrodes for the left foot, which are in electrical contact with the sole of the subject, have a total of four electrodes. In the electrode arrangement structure formed in the above, the distance between the two electrodes for the left foot and the distance between the two electrodes for the right foot are respectively arranged so as to be adjustable in width and width. Arrangement structure of measurement electrodes. 3. In order to measure the impedance of the subject, two electrodes for the right foot and two electrodes for the left foot, which are in electrical contact with the sole of the subject, have a total of four electrodes. In the electrode arrangement structure formed in the above, the angle formed by the line connecting the two electrodes for the left foot and the line connecting the two electrodes for the right foot is arranged to be freely adjustable in size. Arrangement structure of electrodes for measuring body impedance.