Patent ID: 8352017
Filing Date: 2013-01-08
Classification: A61B,G01G

Abstract:
1. A bone density meter for measuring bone density of a user, the bone density meter comprising: a light emission unit which emits light toward a surface of the body of the user; a light reception unit which receives the light emitted from the light emission unit toward the body surface and propagated through a portion of the body that includes bone; and a bone density calculation unit which determines the bone density based on the amount of light received by the light reception unit; wherein the light emission unit emits light toward the body surface at a portion having a thin subcutis, and the light reception unit receives the light propagated through the portion of the body that has the thin subcutis, the bone density meter further comprising a determination unit which determines whether or not the subcutis at the body surface has a thickness of 10 mm or less, wherein when the determination unit determines that the subcutis at the body surface has the thickness of 10 mm or less, the bone density calculation unit determines the bone density based on the amount of light propagated through the subcutis having the thickness of 10 mm or less and received by the light reception unit.