Abstract:
The invention regards a portable medical apparatus made up of at least two devices ( 30, 32 ) adapted to measure eating rate utilized to teach persons to eat according to a predetermined graphic eating curve ( 10, 24 ) displayed on a screen and a method therefore. In a specific mode the predetermined graphic curve ( 24 ) describes a non linear descending rate of eating behavior. The apparatus comprises a device with cellular capabilities ( 30 ), and a scale ( 32 ), which devices communicate through near field radiation such as Bluetooth or IR.

Description:
PRIOR APPLICATION 
     This US patent application claims priority from Swedish patent application no. 0900352-6, filed 19 Mar. 2009. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention pertains to a portable medical apparatus made up of at least two devices adapted to measure eating rate utilized to teach persons to eat according to a predetermined graphic eating curve displayed on a screen, and a method therefore. 
     INCORPORATION 
     The following documents are hereby incorporated in the following description by reference: 
     “Decelerated and linear eaters: Effect of eating rate on food intake and satiety Modjtaba Zandian, Ioannis Ioakimidis, Cecilia Bergh, Ulf Brodin, Per Södersten, published by Elsevier, Physiology &amp; Behavior, received Mar. 18, 2008, received in revised form 2 Oct. 2, 2008, and accepted Oct. 9, 2008; and 
     “Linear eaters turned decelerated: Reduction of a risk for disordered eating?” to Modjtaba Zandian, Ioannis Ioakimidis, Cecilia Bergh, Per Södersten, published by Elsevier, Physiology &amp; Behavior, received Jul. 4, 2008, revised Nov. 14, 2008, and accepted Nov. 25, 2008. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     An apparatus named “Mandometer®” has been developed at the Section of Applied Neuroendocrinology and Mandometer® Clinic, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. It consists of a scale that is connected to a computer. A plate is placed on the scale, the patient puts a measured portion of food determined by a therapist on the plate and the computer records and stores the weight loss from the plate while the patient eats. 
     The apparatus Mandometer® is patented in several countries for instance in the U.S. under the U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,006 to Bergh et al. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has as one aim to provide a portable medical apparatus measuring eating rate utilized to teach persons to eat in a normal eating rate in order to aid them to feel full after an intake of a meal, and still gaining or losing weight in a controlled scientific environment. Another aim is to make possible for those persons to be able to eat at any location that has cellular phone coverage, thereby being able to connect to a remote main computer at any chosen time to record their eating behavior to be evaluated by experts in that field. 
     Resent scientific studies have shown that a descending rate of eating prevent persons to overeat by eating in a correct manor which has clinical implication for obese to lose weight. 
     As such the present invention sets forth a portable medical apparatus made up of at least two devices adapted to measure eating rate utilized to teach persons to eat according to a predetermined graphic eating curve displayed on a screen. Thus the present invention comprises: 
     a first pocket portable device with a screen that stores the predetermined graphic eating curve in a memory, the first device has cellular phone capability and remote near field radiation capabilities for communication with a related second device; 
     the related second device is a portable scale adapted to communicate with the first device that has cellular phone capability through similar remote near field radiation communication capabilities as the first device; 
     weighing food on the scale in a measurement session of a length of time, and transmitting the food weight to the first device through the near field radiation when food is removed from the scale by a person eating the food, and through means of software residing in the first device to store the amount of food removed during a session in the memory, displaying the weight of food removed as a measurement point on the screen when it is removed from the scale to make up a real time graphic eating curve to be compared with the predetermined eating curve; and 
     a software means utilized to transmit the stored session through the first device cellular phone capabilities to a remote computer for registration from an arbitrary place, which has cellular coverage for the first device at least at one of a predetermined time, at the will of a person utilizing the medical apparatus, at the finishing of at least one session and at an arbitrary time. 
     In one embodiment of the invention the scale has a docking station for the first device, whereby at least the screen is visible to a person eating from the scale. 
     An embodiment comprises that the scale has a docking station for the first device, whereby at least the screen is visible to a person eating from the scale, and wherein the docking station is equipped with a joint/hinge having an adapter to receive the first device with cellular phone capability. The joint/hinge is adapted to move the first device in a predetermined number of degrees around the first device center axes and/or between different elevation levels. 
     A further embodiment comprises that the joint/hinge is utilized to place the first cellular device in a slot/pocket on the back of the scale when not utilized. 
     Another embodiment provides that the scale and the first device are integrated into a single device. 
     A further embodiment provides that the scale has its scale measuring surface formed as a bowl or plate to be served food on. 
     Still one further embodiment provides that the scale is pocket portable. 
     One embodiment comprises that the predetermined graphic curve describes a non linear eating behaviour, which is found through science studies to mimic an eating behaviour that is favourable to human beings. 
     Yet another embodiment comprises that the predetermined graphic curve describes a non linear descending rate of eating behaviour. 
     A still further embodiment comprises that a predetermined graphic curve of satiety is displayed on the screen, to be compared with satiety ratings made during pre-set time intervals by a person utilizing the apparatus. 
     Yet a still further embodiment comprises that a predetermined graphic curve of satiety is displayed on the screen, to be compared with satiety ratings made on the screen during pre-set time intervals by a person utilizing the apparatus. 
     Moreover, the present invention sets forth a portable medical apparatus made up of at least two devices adapted to measure eating rate utilized to teach persons to eat according to a predetermined graphic eating curve displayed on a screen, comprising: 
     a first pocket portable device with a screen storing the predetermined graphic eating curve in a memory, the first device having cellular phone capability and remote near field radiation capabilities for communication with a related second device; 
     the predetermined graphic eating curve describing a non linear descending rate of eating behaviour; 
     the related second device being a portable scale adapted to communicate with the first device having cellular phone capability through similar remote near field radiation communication capabilities as the first device; 
     weighing food on the scale in a measurement session of a length of time, and transmitting the food weight to the first device through the near field radiation when food is removed from the scale by a person eating the food, and through means of software residing in the first device storing the amount of food removed during a session in the memory, displaying the weight of food removed as a measurement point on the screen when it is removed from the scale to make up a real time graphic eating curve to be compared with the predetermined eating curve. 
     Furthermore, the present invention also sets forth a method utilizing a portable medical apparatus made up of at least two devices adapted to measure eating rate utilized to teach persons to eat according to a predetermined graphic eating curve displayed on a screen, comprising: 
     storing the predetermined graphic eating curve in a memory in a first pocket portable device with a screen, the first device having cellular phone capability and remote near field radiation capabilities for communication with a related second device; 
     describing the predetermined graphic eating curve through a non linear descending rate of eating behaviour; 
     the related second device being a portable scale adapted to communicate with the first device having cellular phone capability through similar remote near field radiation communication capabilities as the first device; 
     weighing food on the scale in a measurement session of a length of time, and transmitting the food weight to the first device through the near field radiation when food is removed from the scale by a person eating the food, and through means of software residing in the first device storing the amount of food removed during a session in the memory, displaying the weight of food removed as a measurement point on the screen when it is removed from the scale to make up a real time graphic eating curve to be compared with the predetermined eating curve. 
     The present invention independent apparatus and method also adheres to the attached dependent claims of the above first mentioned invented apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Henceforth reference is had to the attached figures in the accompanying text of the description for a better understanding of the present invention with its embodiments and given examples, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is illustrating graphics for a linear eating behavior of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is illustrating graphics for a descending eating behaviour in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is schematically illustrating an apparatus with cellular radio capabilities in contact with a scale through near field radiation communication in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is schematically illustrating another embodiment of an apparatus with cellular radio capabilities, placed in a docking station of a scale, and in contact with the scale through near field radiation communication in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is schematically illustrating another embodiment of an apparatus with cellular radio capabilities, placed in a docking station of a scale through a joint/hinge, and in contact with the scale through near field radiation communication in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is related to a preferably handheld portable medical measuring apparatus consisting of a first device with cellular phone capabilities such as cellular phones, PDA&#39;s and like devices that are handheld, and a second device in form of a scale for measuring every portion of food eaten by a person from a plate or bowl or the like placed on the scale during a meal. This apparatus is utilized in teaching persons suffering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, obesity, other gastrointestinal problems and persons that would like to have control of their intake of food to keep them fit. 
     Such a portable device with cellular phone capabilities can be helpful in several situations. It can for instance be utilized by a person to keep arbitrary contact with a therapist for receiving e.g. advices, comfort, and to immediately transmit eating patterns or at least at one of a predetermined time, at the will of a person utilizing the medical apparatus, at the finishing of at least one session and at an arbitrary time. This yields a curve of eating rate which is visible to the patient on the computer screen during a meal and can be compared to a pre-set eating curve on screen. At regular intervals, a rating scale appears on the monitor of the computer and the patient rates her/his level of fullness/satiety. The scale has numerical values from 0 (no satiety) to 100 (maximum satiety). As the patients rate their satiety a dot appears on the screen and yields a curve of the development of satiety (fullness). The patients can thus compare their development of fullness to a “normal” fullness curve again pre-set on screen. During “Mandometer®-training” the patient gradually adopts a more normal pattern of eating and satiety by following the training curves, which are displayed on the monitor during the meal. These methods were originally developed for treating eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa: They have been evaluated in a randomized controlled trial with an estimated rate of remission of 75%. It was suggested many years ago that obese people eat at an increased rate and in a pilot study on obese adolescents using Mandometer® this observation was confirmed. 
     A study regarding obesity among children and youth was conducted at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children in England utilizing the “Mandometer®”, which was developed at the Section of Applied Neuroendocrinology and Mandometer® Clinic, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. It consists of a scale that is connected to a computer. A plate is placed on the scale, the patient puts a measured portion of food determined by a therapist on the plate and the computer records and stores the weight loss from the plate while the patient eats. 
     This yields a curve of eating rate which is visible to the patient on the computer screen during their meal and can be compared to a pre-set eating curve on screen. At regular intervals, a rating scale appears on the monitor of the computer and the patient rates her/his level of fullness. The scale has for instance numerical values from 0 (no satiety) to 100 (maximum satiety). As the patient rates their satiety a dot appears on the screen and yields a curve of the development of satiety (fullness). The patient can thus compare their development of fullness to a “normal” fullness curve again pre-set on screen. During “Mandometer®-training” the patient gradually adopts a more normal pattern of eating and satiety by following the training curves, which are displayed on the monitor during the meal. These methods were originally developed for treating eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa. 
     This study came to a further improved possible outcome, namely that Mandometer® curves for practicing eating should probably have a decelerated shape, as this pattern may protect individuals for overeating. Analysis of the average speed of eating, as used here, neglects minute-to-minute changes during the meal, which may explain the absence of a statistically significant effect on this simplified measure of speed of eating. 
     The findings of decelerated eating have been undergoing further scientific tests and analysis emanating in the following scientific papers “Decelerated and linear eaters: Effect of eating rate on food intake and satiety Modjtaba Zandian a, Ioannis Ioakimidis a, Cecilia Bergh a, Ulf Brodin a,b, Per Södersten a, published by Elsevier, Physiology &amp; Behavior, received Mar. 18, 2008, received in revised form 2 Oct. 2, 2008, and accepted Oct. 9, 2008: 
     a) Karolinska Institutet, Section of Applied Neuroendocrinology, NVS, and Mandometer and Mandolean Clinics, AB Mando, Novum, S-141 57 Huddinge, Sweden 
     b) Karolinska Institutet, LIME, Section of Medical Statistics, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. 
     Another published paper is “Linear eaters turned decelerated: Reduction of a risk for disordered eating?” to Modjtaba Zandian, Ioannis Ioakimidis, Cecilia Bergh, Per Södersten, published by Elsevier, Physiology &amp; Behavior, received Jul. 4, 2008, revised Nov. 14, 2008, and accepted Nov. 25, 2008. 
     Henceforth, the apparatus utilized for the descended eating rate scientific findings is described. In  FIG. 1  graphics are illustrated for linear eating, which was the standard for measuring eating rate and satiety utilizing the measuring device or the apparatus of the present invention. Hereby, a predetermined linear eating rate curve  10  is depicted together with an actual real time eating curve  12  recorded from a person utilizing the measuring device, or the measuring device of the present invention. The curve  12  should as much as possible match the linear curve  10  to achieve an acceptable normal eating rate, which can aid the person eating to gain or lose weight depending on the persons physical condition. 
     The dots  14  show how the person eating has rated the satiety during predetermined time periods/intervals, which if connected with a line make up a curve itself illustrating the satiety/fullness of the person eating. Moreover, the  FIG. 1  depicts a predetermined sigmoid curve  16  mimicking a normal satiety rating to be compared with the satiety ratings  14  made by the person eating. Buttons  18  are touch buttons utilized to browse between different stored meals in the device with cellular capabilities in accordance with the present invention. Also shown in  FIG. 1  is an information button  20 , which if pushed for instance shows the amount of food eaten during a session and the duration of the session. Also shown is an icon for the battery charge  22  of the cellular device. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates similar curves and functions as in  FIG. 1 , but with the difference that a curve  24  shows a descended eating rate according to recent scientific research results, which better mimics an average persons eating rate. 
       FIG. 3  schematically depicts an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention by comprising a cellular phone  30  with a display screen of any known constitution such as having a conventional keypad or a touch screen. Moreover the apparatus comprises a scale  32  of preferably a small pocket size. It also shows a plate or bowl  34  utilized to put food on when a person is eating. The cellular device  30  and scale  32  communicate with each other through near field radiation such as for instance Bluetooth or Infrared (IR) or the like, schematically depicted through the double arrow. 
     A communication between the scale and the cellular device  30  transmits data of how much food the person eating removes from the plate  34  in eating intervals, and the eating rate. The person also rates the satiety  14  in predetermined time intervals on the cellular device screen. Hence, the curves for eating rate  12  and satiety  14  according to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are displayed so that a person eating from the plate  34  can adapt its eating rate to the curves  10 ,  24  for a predetermined eating rate and/or compare its satiety to the curves  16  showing satiety. 
       FIG. 4  schematically shows an embodiment of the present invention where the cellular device  30  is docked in a docking station or integrated with the scale  32 , it is also showing a plate or bowl  34 . 
     In  FIG. 5  it is schematically illustrated an embodiment of a cellular device  30  docked in accordance with  FIG. 4  to a scale  32  and folded into a slot  38  in the scale  32  by the aid of a joint/hinge  36 . Hereby, the cellular device  30  and the scale form a compact unit when not in use making it easy to keep for instance in a pocket. When in use the cellular device  30  can be folded in at least somewhere between  270  degrees. The docking joint for the cellular device  30  can also be ball like shaped an attached in a ball bearing (not shown), whereby the cellular device can be rotated  360  degrees around its own axes. 
     The present invention is not restricted to the examples and given embodiments presented above. A person skilled in the art is able to derive further possible embodiments by the attached set of claims.