System for measuring a user's percentage of body fat
Inventors
Collins, John • Hill, Colin Kenneth
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8380297-B2
Publication Date
2013-02-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for measuring percentage of body fat for a user. The system has: structure for measuring body hydration and generating a signal representing a measured hydration value; structure for selectively changing the measured hydration value to an adjusted hydration value based upon a first parameter to thereby reflect more accurately an actual hydration value for the user and generating a signal representing the adjusted hydration value; and structure for measuring body fat percentage using the signal representing: a) the measured hydration value; or b) the adjusted hydration value in the event that the structure for selectively changing the measured hydration value changes the measured hydration value based upon the first parameter.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a system for measuring percentage of body fat for a user by measuring body hydration and generating a signal representing a measured hydration value. The system includes means for selectively changing the measured hydration value to an adjusted hydration value based upon a first parameter, and generating a signal representing the adjusted hydration value when the user is determined to be dehydrated based upon the first parameter.
The system further includes means for measuring body fat percentage using the signal representing either the measured hydration value or the adjusted hydration value depending on whether the user is determined to be dehydrated. The disclosed approach addresses the problem that hydration affects bioimpedance resistance readings such that calculated body fat percentage can be artificially inflated, and is intended to reflect more accurately an actual hydration value for the user for the purpose of measuring percentage of body fat.
The system may derive the first parameter from a baseline hydration value using prior hydration measurements, including averaging successive values, and may apply a preset minimum hydration value threshold. In described embodiments, the preset minimum hydration value is on the order of 75%, and the system may include user notification or instruction for inadequate hydration and architecture for displaying and processing body-fat results locally or via conversion at a remote server over a local area network or the internet.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim is clm-00001. It defines a hydration-aware body-fat measurement system with conditional substitution of an adjusted hydration value for dehydrated users, and it governs how the body fat percentage measurement uses either the measured or adjusted hydration signal. Dependent refinements further narrow the first parameter and the body-fat measurement basis, and they add constraints on display and remote conversion architecture.
Conditional hydration adjustment for dehydration detection
A system for measuring percentage of body fat for a user with means for measuring body hydration and generating a signal representing a measured hydration value, means for selectively changing the measured hydration value to an adjusted hydration value based upon a first parameter in the event the user is determined to be dehydrated based upon the first parameter, and generating a signal representing the adjusted hydration value.
Selecting measured vs adjusted hydration signal for body fat percentage
Means for measuring body fat percentage using the signal representing the measured hydration value if the user is determined not to be dehydrated based upon the first parameter or the adjusted hydration value if the user is determined to be dehydrated based upon the first parameter and the means for selectively changing the measured hydration value changes the measured hydration value based upon the first parameter.
Preset minimum hydration threshold
Means for changing the measured hydration value to a preset minimum hydration value when the measured hydration value falls below the preset minimum hydration value as part of the first parameter for dehydration determination.
Baseline hydration from prior hydration measurements
A first parameter that includes a baseline hydration value derived from a plurality of prior hydration measurements, including averaging successive hydration values.
Preset minimum hydration value on the order of 75%
The preset minimum hydration value is on the order of 75% as part of the dehydration-determination first parameter.
Body fat percentage measurement based on electrical resistance
Measuring body fat percentage using a measurement based on electrical resistance.
Remote conversion architecture with display at a first location
A body-fat percentage measuring system with hydration measuring means, body-fat measuring means, and a display located at a first location, where conversion means are located at a second remote location.
Across the independent claim and its refinements, the core claim coverage centers on conditionally changing a measured hydration value to an adjusted hydration value when dehydration is determined, and then computing body fat percentage using either the measured or adjusted hydration signal accordingly. Refinements specify how the dehydration-related hydration parameter is determined and how body-fat measurement may be based on electrical resistance, along with possible local display and remote conversion architecture.
Stated Advantages
Hydration-based adjustment is used to reflect more accurately an actual hydration value for the user when dehydration is detected, to support measurement of percentage of body fat.
Avoidance of artificially inflated calculated body fat percentage caused by hydration affecting bioimpedance resistance readings.
Documented Applications
Measuring a user’s percentage of body fat using body hydration measurement, with dehydration detection and selection of measured versus adjusted hydration for the body-fat percentage calculation.
Providing body-fat percentage results with a display at a first location and conversion means at a second remote location, with results conveyed locally or over a local area network or the internet.
Notifying or instructing a user when hydration is inadequate, tied to dehydration detection for body-fat measurement.
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