US007251513B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`US 7,251,513 B2
`Kondoh et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`
`(54) METHOD OF MEASURING BIOLOGICAL
`INFORMATION USING LIGHT AND
`APPARATUS OF MEASURING BIOLOGICAL
`INFORMATION USING LIGHT
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Kazuya Kondoh, Osaka (JP); Shinji
`Uchida, Osaka (JP)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,927,264 A *
`5,057,695 A *
`6,016,435 A
`6,026,313 A
`
`5/1990 Shiga et a1.
`10/1991 Hirao et a1.
`1/2000 Maruo et a1.
`2/2000 Kexin
`
`................ 600/322
`................ 600/310
`
`(73) Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,
`Ltd., Osaka (JP)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 404 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`10/473,099
`
`(22) PCT Filed:
`
`Jan. 23, 2003
`
`(86) PCT No.:
`
`PCT/JP03/00586
`
`§ 371 (0X1),
`(2), (4) Date:
`
`Mar. 24, 2004
`
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`
`1 013 219 Al
`
`6/2000
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`International Search Report for PCT/JP03/00586 dated Mar. 18,
`2003.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary ExamineriEric F. Winakur
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiRatnerPrestia
`
`(87) PCT Pub. No.: W003/063704
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`PCT Pub. Date: Aug. 7, 2003
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2004/0152962 A1
`
`Aug. 5, 2004
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Jan. 25, 2002
`Apr. 26, 2002
`Oct. 29, 2002
`
`(JP)
`(JP)
`(JP)
`
`............................. 2002-016548
`............................. 2002-126811
`............................. 2002-314842
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`A6IB 5/00
`(52) US. Cl.
`...................................................... 600/310
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................ 600/310,
`600/316, 335, 344
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`124
`
`A compact apparatus of measuring biological information
`using light capable of measuring biological information with
`high reproducibility and accuracy is provided. The apparatus
`of measuring biological information using light comprises a
`light source part irradiating an organism, a light receiving
`part receiving light propagating from the light source part
`through the inside of the organism and outgoing from the
`surface of the organism, a forming part forming the surface
`of the organism into a predetermined shape by applying a
`pressure thereto, and a calculation part calculating informa-
`tion of the relation between the amount of received light and
`the biological information of the organism previously deter-
`mined based on the amount of light received in the light
`receiving part.
`
`19 Claims, 33 Drawing Sheets
`
`120
`
`
`
`
`PRESSURE
`COMMUNI— I CALCULA-
`DETECTING
`CAT 1 ON
`T ION
`PART
`PART
`PART
`
`
`113
`
`
`\mi'f‘l‘yv- O 1 5
`vv9v
`
`
`hOXQV‘X’IX I" "1.10:0," V.X.A
`“-
`
`
`9:3: .‘
`.
`\
`6'6" I"
`6'6"
`
`7&9”
`
`
`
`
`118
`
`
`
`119
`
`
`125
`
`APPLE 1041
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1041
`
`

`

`US 7,251,513 B2
` Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,078,828 A *
`6,449,500 B1
`6,618,615 B1
`
`6/2000 Yasuda et al.
`9/2002 Asai et a1.
`9/2003 Kimura et al.
`
`.............. 600/310
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`
`2000-237195 A
`2001-029333
`2001_037741
`2001-95806 A
`
`9/2000
`2/2001
`2/2001
`4/2001
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`JP
`JP
`JP
`
`11-070101
`11-123196
`2000-155091
`
`3/1999
`5/1999
`6/2000
`
`Form PCT/ISNZIO English Translation of ISR for PCT/JP03/
`00586 dated Mar. 18, 2003.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 1 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.1
`
`17
`
`1 6
`
`INPUT
`
`14
`
`l 5
`
`, CALCULA-
`COMMUNI-
`TION
`CATION
`PART
`PART
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`PART
`
`11
`
`10
`
`
`
`
`
`“ “\“\\\\-\\ 1
`XOXOX 10"".OXO‘A'OXO'AOXOXOXOXOXO'
`'OXOXOA A/
`
`4
`
`
`
`\“A
`V'V‘VAAV45" 6
`
`
`
`
`\
`
`13
`
`3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 2 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`
`
`AMOUNTOFRECEIVEDLIGHT
`
`THICKNESS OF SUBCUTANEOUS FAT (mm)
`
`4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 3 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.3
`
`17
`
`l 4
`
`INPUT
`
`1 6
`
`C OMMUN I-
`CATION
`
`CALCULA‘
`TION
`
`
`1 5
`
`> DISPLAY
`
`ll
`
`“\\O\L\\V
`
`
`
`a.“
`a
`“0000’0’3'9'9
`1
`”If
`.V".V.\V’.V.V/".V.V. /6
`
`
`
`
`
`13
`
`5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 4 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.4
`
`17
`
`14
`
`1 5
`
`INPUT
`PART
`
`COMMUNI-
`CATTON
`PART
`
`CALCULA—
`TION
`PART
`
`1 5
`
`DISPLAY
`PART
`
`11
`
`
`
`
`
`4
`
`1 2
`
`
`
`“ 5‘ \“‘-m 1
`\ .W\\§§A“ A
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`'V.V\\'VAV}$'
`
`V (.V.V'6
`
`
`
`
`
`13
`
`18
`
`Fig.5
`
`11
`
`10
`
`12
`
`6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 5 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.6
`
`1'7
`
`14
`
`1 6
`
`INPUT
`PART
`
`1 5
`
`11
`
`COMMUNI-
`
`CALCULA-
`
`CATION
`
`PART
`
`TION
`
`PART
`
`gig?”
`
`10
`
`1 2
`
`LOXOY‘V.’IXOXOXOX¢XOIOX’ 'QZOA
`““‘x n‘
`
`/ 5
`
`.‘(9293'5'0'9
`
`\
`
`7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 6 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.8
`
`l7
`
`l4
`
`1 6
`
`INPUT
`PART
`
`COMMUNI-
`CATION
`PART
`
`CALCULA—
`TION
`PART
`
`DESPLAY
`PART
`
`11
`
`1
`‘IiliiIilililiIIII!I!I!II
`KIRIFVEEhX’gifilafifiUhShdhAIIIui“Iii"
`.e‘\\\\:
`.H“VV'VllV.V./6
`,,
`
`-
`
`., v,
`
`.
`
`.
`
`\
`
`\ 1
`
`3
`
`8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 7 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig. 10
`
`17
`
`14
`
`_
`1 5
`
`INPUT
`PART
`
`COMMUNI-
`‘ CATION
`PART
`
`
`
`
`CALCULA7
`TION
`PART
`
`
`
`DISPLAX
`PART
`
`
`
`11
`
`
`/5
`
`
`
`‘21
`
`
`m m“\I‘s‘V5.
`zozozozoxorAVo\zoxxozAVa
`ggvoVA'OV/‘l
`‘:(h
`..\...,
`V .
`v
`“W.“Vié.. 6
`
`
`
`
`
`
`/
`
`
`
`
`
`13
`18
`
`Fig.11
`11
`
`10
`
`12
`
`
`
`18
`
`9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 8 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.12
`
`
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 9 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.13
`
`1 7
`
`l 4
`
`1 6
`
`INPUT
`PART
`
`COMMUNI-
`
`CATION
`
`PART
`
`CALCULA- ‘
`
`TION
`
`PART
`
`gig?“
`
`21
`
`10
`
`\\ V"\\\-\\
`
`1
`
`
`
`A '
`
`
`
`Iili
`
`
`
`
`I":A.V.V.V.V.VQV¥3V.V'HZOXOXV/4
` ’4»\»
`‘Vgxz‘fu
`
`
`
`0'0’0
`V.‘.:.’
`'00'0 A
`
`
`
`
`‘V’
`
`24
`
`
`
`25
`
`18
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 10 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.14
`
`17
`
`14
`
`INPUT
`
`COMMUN I—
`
`CATION
`
`PART
`
`CALCULA-
`
`TION
`
`PART
`
`EEE‘LAY
`
`2 O
`
`2 2
`
`b
`
`10
`
`V v
`
`‘I w 1
`
`B
`
`L '
`
`
`
`
`IO!3ng{\Vszom 4
`
`‘g.\
`,
`III.
`ll, 5
`5.9374102?Kama/~33.
`
`
`
`on, ”3" (W; ,6
`
`
`
`26
`27
`18
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 11 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.15
`
`11:?
`
`120
`
`
`
`PRESSURE
`COMMUNI“
`Tlog
`MEASURING
` CATION
`
`PART
`PART
`
`
`
`ULAr
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`PART
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`\,
`
`m mnmllm “”105
`
`\V‘&‘1‘ / 1 06
`9'07/<\‘ ‘1/0'
`
`
`
`
`
`114
`
`118
`
`113
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 12 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.16
`
`
`
`14
`
`14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 13 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig. 17
`
`115
`
`123
`
`INPUT
`PART
`
`120121
`
`PRESSURE
`MEASURING
`PART
`
`
`
`
`COMMUNI-
`
`CATION
`
`CALCULA-
`TION
`PART
`
`DISPLAY
`PART
`
`
`
`117
`
`15
`
`15
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 14 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.18
`
`110
`
`111
`
`
`
`
`
`116
`
`117
`
`16
`
`16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 15 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.19
`
`.
`
`‘
`o
`
`O O
`
`
`
`o 8.75kPa 01.75kpa
`(2.5kgw)
`(0.5kgw)
`
`40
`
`30
`
`’5
`
`5*
`E
`
`a
`E 20
`
`DU{
`
`I}
`
`DU
`
`10
`
`D
`
`) E
`
`U')
`
`:3
`g
`E
`
`0.E+00
`
`1.E-09
`
`2.E-09
`
`3.E—09
`
`4.E~09
`
`5.E~09
`
`AMOUNT OF RECEIVED LIGHT FOR MEASUREMENT (W)
`
`17
`
`17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 16 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.20
`
`4U
`
`
`
`
`
`THICKNESSOFSUBCUTANEOUSFAT(mm)
`
`‘.
`
`.
`
`O
`
`. O
`r
`
`O
`
`30
`
`r0 0
`
`O .4. C)
`
`O 8. 75kPa
`
`(2 . 5kgw)
`
`0 1.75m (0.5mm
`
` O
`
`0
`
`0.02
`
`0.04
`
`0.06
`
`PARAMETER YZ/Yl
`
`18
`
`18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 17 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.21
`
`1 2 4
`
`1 2 3
`
`INPUT
`PART
`
`1 2 O
`
`1 2 1
`
`
`
`COMMUNI-
`CATION
`
`PART
`
`
`PRESSURE
`
`DETECTING
`PART
`
`gfi‘ggULA—
`PART
`
`DISPLAY
`PART
`
`
`N O
`
`117
`
`C.) O
`
`O
`
`O.E+OO
`
`1.E-09
`
`2.E-09
`
`3.E-09
`
`4.E-09
`
`5.E-09
`
`AMOUNT OF RECEIVED LIGHT FOR MEASUREMENT (W)
`
`19
`
`19
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 18 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.23
`
`40
`
`(mm
`
` 1O THICKNESS0FSUBCUTANEOUSFAT
`
`30
`
`20
`
`
`
`0
`
`0.01
`
`0.02
`
`0.03
`
`0.04
`
`0.05
`
`0.06
`
`PARAMETER Y2/Yl
`
`20
`
`20
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 19 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.24
`
`124
`
`123
`
`120
`
`122
`
`,
`
`INPUT
`PART
`
`121
`
`$113311,
`$221331} I 135%“-
`
`
`pART
`PART
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PART
`
`PART
`
`
`
`I 1 1 31 I l 2 1 0 1
`
`vv¥v\\ wavwg‘vvv/l 05
`
`
`A.A.A..‘
`u‘v“1.‘ ‘5.A.A.A
`
`‘gh . ugfikuhg
`
`
`
`
`LOIOY‘YODZOI’ ‘IQIQXQY’ 7.1.;
`/106
` “- .m n...
`
`\Y"
`
`\“‘ 7Q‘9’j\\f’“ / 1 o 7
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`'
`
`V'r
`
`‘
`
`
`
`
`118
`
`119
`
`125
`
`21
`
`21
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 20 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.25
`
`
`
`22
`
`22
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 21 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.26(a)
`
`Fig.26(b)
`
`110
`
`
`
`23
`
`23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 22 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.27(a)
`
`110
`
`111
`
`Fig.27(b)
`
`110
`
`112
`
`N
`
`G
`
`114
`
`[0;
`
`125
`
`
`
`THICKNESSOFSUBCUTANEOUSFAT(mm
`
`
`
`0.E+OO 1.E*09 2.E-09 3.E-09 4.E-09 5.E-09
`
`AMOUNT OF RECEIVED LIGHT FOR MEASUREMENT (W)
`
`24
`
`24
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 23 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.29
`
`
`
`(mm) THICKNESSOFSUBCUTANEOUSFAT
`
`0
`
`0.02
`
`0.04
`
`0.05
`
`0.08
`
`PARAMETER Y2/Y1
`
`25
`
`25
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 24 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.30
`
`223
`
`220
`
`PRESSURE
`
`
`
`
`DETECTING
`
`PART
`
`ALCULA—
`
`TION
`
`gfiiLAY
`
`
`
`
`
`205
`
`26
`
`26
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 25 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.31
`
`213
`
`
`
`27
`
`27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 26 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.32
`
`223
`
`2 1 5
`
`PART
`
`2 2 O
`
`2 2 1
`
`
`COMMUNI-
`
`PRESSURE
`CATION
`DETECTING
`
`PART
`PART
`PART
`
`
`
`
` 201
`
`L“ m m-“ 2
`
`.
`X I XOXOK‘KOXOXOX I I'OXOXOXOXO‘IYXOXOX '/
`
`\
`
`
`PART
`
`212a
`
`0 5
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`wwomw'o ,2 ,7
`
`219
`
`218
`
`28
`
`28
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 27 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.33
`
`
`
`29
`
`29
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 28 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`(Hun)
`
`
`
`THICKNESSOFSUBCUTANEOUSPART
`
`0
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`A2
`
`()3
`
`ABUTTING FORCE (kg)
`
`30
`
`30
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 29 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.35
`
`A 2.0E—09
`
`E (
`
`\l
`>4
`
`1.5E—09
`
`2
`
`42
`
`‘0'79
`
`H z E
`
`33
`
`D QL
`
`;
`D:
`
`0E
`
`4
`
`O
`
`O
`O
`
`E-i
`
`:9
`a
`
`1.0E—09
`
`O
`
`O
`
`Q[
`
`:1
`:>H
`Lil
`
`Um 9
`
`g
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`THICKNESS OF‘ SUBCUTANEOUS FAT (mm)
`
`31
`
`‘ 5.0E-10
`
`bOH
`
`0.0E+00
`
`EO E
`
`31
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 30 0f 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.36
`
`(W)
`
`
`
`AMOUNTOFRECEIVEDLIGHTFORMEASUREMENTY2
`
`ZOE-09
`
`1.5E—09
`
`1.0E-09
`
`5.0E—1 0
`
`0.0E+00
`
`O
`
`R2 = 0.4173
`
`
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`THICKNESS OF SUBCUTANEOUS FAT
`
`(MI)
`
`32
`
`32
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 31 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.3?
`
`007
`
`006
`
`0.05
`
`0.04
`
`003
`
`002
`
`001
`
`(YZ/Yl)
`
`
`
`CORRECTIONPARAMETER
`
`O
`
`O
`
`2
`R = 0.9788
`
`O
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`THICKNESS OF SUBCUTANEOUS FAT (mm)
`
`33
`
`33
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 32 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig. 38
`
`302
`
`304
`
`303
`
`
`
`34
`
`34
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 31, 2007
`
`Sheet 33 of 33
`
`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`Fig.39
`
`
`
`308
`
`307
`
`35
`
`35
`
`

`

`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`1
`METHOD OF MEASURING BIOLOGICAL
`INFORMATION USING LIGHT AND
`APPARATUS OF MEASURING BIOLOGICAL
`INFORMATION USING LIGHT
`
`This application is a US. national phase application of
`PCT International Application PCT/JP03/00586.
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of
`measuring biological
`information using light capable of
`optically measuring biological
`information including the
`thickness of subcutaneous fat, the percent of body fat, the
`concentration of glucose in an organism and concentration
`of oxygen in an organism.
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`A method has been known in which light enters an
`organism from a light source placed on the surface of the
`organism. The light appears again on the surface of the
`organism after propagating through the inside of the organ-
`ism while being scattered and absorbed. The light received
`on the surface is used to measure the concentration of an
`
`absorbing material in the organism or the thickness of a
`tissue. FIG. 38 shows a positional relation between a light
`source and a light receiving element and an organism in a
`subcutaneous fat thickness measuring apparatus described in
`Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-155091 as one
`example of the method. The disclosure of Japanese Patent
`Laid-Open No. 2000-155091 is incorporated herein by ref-
`erence in its entirety. A light source 302 and a measuring
`light receiving element 303 are placed on the surface of an
`organism 301. Given that the organism has a structure of a
`parallel
`flat plate having three layers of a skin 305, a
`subcutaneous fat 306 and a muscle 307 as shown in FIG. 38,
`light 308 received by the measuring light receiving element
`303 has a correlation with the thickness of the subcutaneous
`
`fat 306 due to a difference in absorption and scattering
`characteristics between organic tissues. However,
`the
`amount of light 308 received by the measuring light receiv-
`ing element 303 varies under significant
`influences of
`changes in blood flows of the skin 305 and the subcutis.
`Therefore, a correcting light receiving element 304 is placed
`near the light source 302 (l to 6 mm from the light source
`302), and light 308 received by the measuring light receiving
`element 303 is corrected by the amount of light 309 received
`by the correcting light receiving element 304, thereby mak-
`ing it possible to measure the thickness of subcutaneous fat
`with high accuracy.
`However, because the organic tissue is not strictly a
`parallel flat plate as shown in FIG. 39, and arms and legs
`have cylindrical shapes as shown in FIG. 40, the measure-
`ment accuracy is compromised by a local change in thick-
`ness.
`
`Also, because the organic tissue is soft and hence highly
`deformable, the shape of the surface of the organism 301
`varies for each measurement even in the same person and the
`same site, and therefore the amount of received light is
`varied to compromise reproducibility.
`Also, in the case where the subcutaneous fat 306 is thick,
`the distance between the light source 302 and the measuring
`light receiving element 303 should be increased for receiv-
`ing light propagated through a deeper part in the organism
`by the measuring light receiving element 303. Therefore,
`there is a disadvantage that the measuring apparatus is
`scaled up.
`
`2
`Also, in the case where the subcutaneous fat 306 is thick,
`the distance between the light source 302 and the measuring
`light receiving element 303 is increased, and therefore the
`amount of light received in the measuring light receiving
`element 303 is reduced to compromise the measurement
`accuracy.
`Also, in the case where the subcutaneous fat 306 is thick,
`the light reception sensitivity in the measuring light receiv-
`ing element 303 should be improved, and therefore the
`accuracy and sensitivity of the measuring light receiving
`element 303 should be enhanced, thus raising a disadvantage
`that expensive parts are required.
`Also, in the case where the subcutaneous fat 306 is thick,
`light incident from sources other than the light source 302
`such as sunlight into the organism is measured even if the
`sensitivity of the measuring light receiving element 303 is
`improved, and therefore the surface of the organism 301
`should be shielded sufficiently.
`thickness
`Also,
`in the conventional subcutaneous fat
`measuring apparatus, the thickness of the subcutaneous fat
`306 is changed in association with the variation in contact
`pressure applied to the organism by the light source 302 and
`the measuring light receiving element 303 on the surface of
`the organism, and therefore the thickness of the subcutane-
`ous fat 306 varies for each measurement to compromise
`measurement reproducibility. This problem is significant
`particularly when the subcutaneous fat is thick.
`In addition, the subcutaneous fat 306 is deformed due to
`the contact pressure, and therefore the amount of blood in
`the subcutaneous fat 306 is changed to cause a variation in
`absorption characteristics by the blood in the subcutaneous
`fat 306. Consequently, the amount of light received in the
`measuring light receiving element 303 fluctuates to com-
`promise measurement reproducibility.
`
`DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
`
`In consideration of the problems described above, the
`present invention provides, as its object, a compact method
`of measuring biological information using light and appa-
`ratus of measuring biological
`information using light
`capable of measuring biological information such as the
`thickness of subcutaneous fat and the percent of body fat
`with high reproducibility and accuracy.
`Also, in consideration of the problems described above,
`the present invention provides, as its object, a method of
`measuring biological information using light and an appa-
`ratus of measuring biological
`information using light
`capable of measuring the thickness of subcutaneous fat with
`high reproducibility and accuracy.
`To solve the above problems, a first aspect of the present
`invention is a method of measuring biological information
`comprising:
`a first step of forming the surface of an organism into a
`predetermined shape by applying a pressure thereto;
`a second step of irradiating said organism with light;
`a third step of receiving said light propagating through the
`inside of said organism and outgoing from the surface
`of said organism; and
`a fourth step of calculating biological information of said
`organism using information of the relation between the
`amount of said received light and the biological infor-
`mation of said organism previously determined based
`on the amount of said light received in said third step.
`A second aspect of the present invention is the method of
`measuring biological
`information according to the first
`aspect of the present invention, wherein in said fourth step,
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`36
`
`36
`
`

`

`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`3
`the biological information of said organism is calculated
`using information of the relation between the amount of said
`received light and the biological information of said organ-
`ism after said pressure reaches a level equal to or greater
`than predefined value, previously determined based on the
`amount of said received light after said pressure reaches a
`level equal to or greater than a predefined value.
`A third aspect of the present invention is the method of
`measuring biological
`information according to the first
`aspect of the present invention, comprising a fifth step of
`measuring said pressure,
`wherein in said fourth step, the biological information of
`said organism is calculated using information of the
`relation between the amount of said received light and
`said pressure and the biological information of said
`organism previously determined based on the amount
`of said light received in said third step and said pressure
`measured in said fifth step.
`A fourth aspect of the present invention is the method of
`measuring biological information according to the second
`aspect of the present invention, wherein the predefined value
`of said pressure is about 7 kPa or greater.
`A fifth aspect of the present invention is the method of
`measuring biological
`information according to the first
`aspect of the present invention, wherein the central wave-
`length of said light applied in said second step is a wave-
`length of about 500 nm to 1000 nm.
`A sixth aspect of the present invention is the method of
`measuring biological
`information according to the first
`aspect of the present invention, wherein in said fourth step,
`the biological information of said organism is calculated at
`a time when a predetermined amount of time passes after
`said pressure reaches a predetermined pressure.
`A seventh aspect of the present invention is the method of
`measuring biological
`information according to the sixth
`aspect of the present invention, comprising a sixth step of
`detecting that said pressure reaches said predefined value,
`wherein in said fourth step, the biological information of
`said organism is calculated based on the amount of said
`light received in said third step at a time when a
`predetermined amount of time passes after it is detected
`that said pressure reaches said predefined value in said
`sixth step.
`An eighth aspect of the present invention is the method of
`measuring biological information according to the seventh
`aspect of the present invention, wherein said predetermined
`amount of time is about 200 ms or greater.
`A ninth aspect of the present invention is the method of
`measuring biological
`information according to the first
`aspect of the present invention, wherein in said fourth step,
`the biological information of said organism is calculated
`after the amount of said received light is stabilized.
`A tenth aspect of the present invention is the method of
`measuring biological
`information according to the ninth
`aspect of the present invention, comprising a sixth step of
`detecting that said pressure reaches said predefined value,
`wherein in said fourth step, variations in the amount of
`said light received in said third step are monitored
`when it
`is detected that said pressure reaches said
`predefined value in said sixth step, and the biological
`information of said organism is calculated based on the
`amount of said received light acquired when the varia-
`tions in said amount of received light are within a
`predetermined value.
`An eleventh aspect of the present invention is the method
`of measuring biological information according to the tenth
`aspect of the present invention, wherein the variations in
`
`4
`
`said amount of received light being within a predetermined
`value means the variations in said amount of received light
`being within about 110%.
`A twelfth aspect of the present invention is an apparatus
`of measuring biological information using light comprising:
`a light source part irradiating an organism;
`a light receiving part receiving light propagating from
`said light source part through the inside of said organ-
`ism and outgoing from the surface of said organism;
`a forming part forming the surface of said organism into
`a predetermined shape by applying a pressure thereto;
`and
`
`a calculation part calculating biological information of
`said organism using information of the relation
`between the amount of said received light and the
`biological
`information of said organism previously
`determined based on the amount of said light received
`in said light receiving part.
`A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the appa-
`ratus of measuring biological
`information using light
`according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention,
`comprising a pressure detecting part detecting that
`the
`pressure applied to the surface of said organism by said
`forming part reaches a level equal to or greater than a
`predefined value,
`wherein said calculation part calculates the biological
`information of said organism based on the amount of
`said received light when it is detected that said pressure
`reaches a level equal to or greater than said predefined
`value.
`
`A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is the appa-
`ratus of measuring biological
`information using light
`according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention,
`comprising a pressure measuring part measuring the pres-
`sure applied to the surface of said organism by said forming
`part,
`wherein the biological information of said organism is
`calculated based on the amount of said light received in
`said receiving part and said pressure measured in said
`pressure measuring part.
`A fifteenth aspect of the present invention is the apparatus
`of measuring biological information using light according to
`the twelfth aspect of the present invention, wherein the face
`of the forming part contacting the surface of the organism is
`substantially flat.
`A sixteenth aspect of the present invention is the appa-
`ratus of measuring biological
`information using light
`according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention,
`wherein a protrusion part is provided on the face of the
`forming part contacting the surface of the organism, and
`the light source part and the light receiving part are
`provided on said protrusion part.
`invention is the
`A seventeenth aspect of the present
`apparatus of measuring biological information using light
`according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention,
`wherein said light source part has a plurality of light sources.
`An eighteenth aspect of the present
`invention is the
`apparatus of measuring biological information using light
`according to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention,
`wherein said light source part has said light source provided
`so that the distance between said light source and said light
`receiving part is a first distance of about 15 mm to 30 mm,
`and said light source provided so that the distance between
`said light source and said light receiving part is a second-
`distance of about 35 mm to 80 mm, and
`if the amount of light received in said light receiving part
`from said light source with said first distance equals Y1,
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`37
`
`37
`
`

`

`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`5
`and the amount of light received in a light receiving
`element from said light source with said second dis-
`tance equals Y2, said calculation part calculates the
`biological information of said organism using the ratio
`between said Y2 and said Y1.
`
`A nineteenth aspect of the present invention is the appa-
`ratus of measuring biological
`information using light
`according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention,
`wherein said light receiving part has a plurality of light
`receiving elements.
`A twentieth aspect of the present invention is the appa-
`ratus of measuring biological
`information using light
`according to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention,
`wherein said light receiving part has said light receiving
`element provided so that the distance between said light
`source part and said light receiving element is a first distance
`of 15 mm to 30 mm, and said light receiving element
`provided so that the distance between said light source part
`and said light receiving element is a second distance of 35
`mm to 80 mm, and
`if the amount of light received in said light receiving
`element with said first distance equals Y1, and the
`amount of light received in said light receiving element
`with said second distance equals Y2, said calculation
`part calculates the biological information of said organ-
`ism using the ratio between said Y2 and said Y1.
`A twenty-first aspect of the present
`invention is the
`apparatus of measuring biological information using light
`according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention,
`comprising:
`a display part displaying said biological information of
`said organism calculated in said calculation part;
`a communication part communicating said biological
`information of said organism to and from external
`apparatuses; and
`an input part for inputting measurement conditions of said
`organism.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus of measuring
`biological information using light in Embodiment 1 of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 2 shows a graph showing a relation between the
`amount of received light and the thickness of subcutaneous
`fat in the apparatus of measuring biological
`information
`using light of Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the apparatus of measuring
`biological information using light having a different shape of
`a forming part in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the apparatus of measuring
`biological information using light in Embodiment 2 of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 5 is a top view showing the forming part of the
`apparatus of measuring biological information using light in
`Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the apparatus of measuring
`biological information using light in Embodiment 3 of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 7 is a top view showing the forming part of the
`apparatus of measuring biological information using light in
`Embodiment 3 of the present invention;
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the apparatus of measuring
`biological information using light in Embodiment 4 of the
`present invention;
`
`6
`FIG. 9 is a top view showing the forming part of the
`apparatus of measuring biological information using light in
`Embodiment 4 of the present invention;
`FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the apparatus of measuring
`biological information using light in Embodiment 5 of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 11 is a top view showing the forming part of the
`apparatus of measuring biological information using light in
`Embodiment 5 of the present invention;
`FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the forming part of
`the apparatus of measuring biological
`information using
`light in Embodiment 6 of the present invention;
`FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the apparatus of measuring
`biological information using light in Embodiment 6 of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a different cross-
`section of the apparatus of measuring biological information
`using light in Embodiment 6 of the present invention;
`FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an apparatus of measuring
`the thickness of subcutaneous fat using light in Embodiment
`7 of the present invention;
`FIG. 16 is a top view of a forming part of the apparatus
`of measuring the thickness of subcutaneous fat using light in
`Embodiment 7 of the present invention, seen from the side
`on which it contacts the surface of the organism;
`FIG. 17 is a block diagram of the apparatus of measuring
`the thickness of subcutaneous fat using light in which a light
`source part is different in configuration from a light receiv-
`ing part in Embodiment 7 of the present invention;
`FIG. 18 is a top view of the forming part of the apparatus
`of measuring the thickness of subcutaneous fat using light in
`Embodiment 7 of the present invention, seen from the side
`on which it contacts the surface of the organism;
`FIG. 19 shows a graph showing a relation between the
`amount of received light for measurement and the thickness
`of subcutaneous fat determined by the apparatus of measur-
`ing the thickness of subcutaneous fat using light in Embodi-
`ment 7 of the present invention;
`FIG. 20 shows a graph showing a relation between a
`parameter Y2/Yl and the thickness of subcutaneous fat
`determined by the apparatus of measuring the thickness of
`subcutaneous fat using light in Embodiment 7 of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 21 is a block diagram of the apparatus of measuring
`the thickness of subcutaneous fat using light in Embodiment
`8 of the present invention;
`FIG. 22 shows a graph showing a relation between the
`amount of received light for measurement and the thickness
`of subcutaneous fat determined by the apparatus of measur-
`ing the thickness of subcutaneous fat using light in Embodi-
`ment 8 of the present invention;
`FIG. 23 shows a graph showing a relation between the
`parameter Y2/Yl and the thickness of subcutaneous fat
`determined by the apparatus of measuring the thickness of
`subcutaneous fat using light in Embodiment 8 of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 24 shows a block diagram of the apparatus of
`measuring the thickness of subcutaneous fat using light in
`Embodiment 9 of the present invention;
`FIG. 25 is a top view of the forming part of the apparatus
`of measuring the thickness of subcutaneous fat using light in
`Embodiment 9 of the present invention, seen from the side
`on which it contacts the surface of the organism;
`FIG. 26(a) is a top view of the forming part of the
`apparatus of measuring the thickness of subcutaneous fat
`using light in which the forming part is different in shape
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`38
`
`38
`
`

`

`US 7,251,513 B2
`
`7
`from a protrusion part in Embodiment 9 of the present
`invention, seen from the side on which it contacts the surface
`of the organism;
`FIG. 26(b) is a side view of the forming part of the
`apparatus of measuring the thickness of subcutaneous fat
`using light in which the forming part is different in shape
`from the protrusion part in Embodiment 9 of the present
`invention, seen from the side on which it contacts the surface
`of the organism;
`FIG. 27(a) is a top view of the forming part of the
`apparatus of measuring the thickness of subcutaneous fat
`using light in which the forming part is different in shape
`from the protrusion part in, Embodiment 9 of the present
`invention, seen from the side on which it contacts the surface
`of the organism;
`FIG. 27(b) is a side view of the forming part of the
`apparatus of measuring the thickness of subcutaneous fat
`using light in which the forming part is different in shape
`from the protrusion part in Embodiment 9 of the present
`invention, seen from the side on which it contacts the surface
`of the organism;
`FIG. 28 shows a graph showing a relation between the
`amount of received light for measurement and the thickness
`of subcutaneous fat determined by the apparatus of measur-
`ing the thickness of subcutaneous fat using light in Embodi-
`ment 9 of the present invention;
`FIG. 29 shows a graph showing a relation between the
`parameter Y2/Yl and the thickness of subcutaneous fat
`determined by the apparatus of measuring the thickness of
`subcutaneous fat using light in Embodiment 9 of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 30 is a block diagram of the apparatus of measuring
`the thickness of subcutaneous fat using light in Embodi-
`ments 10 and 11 of the present invention;
`FIG. 31 is a top view of the forming part of the apparatus
`of measuring the thickness of subcutane