Abstract:
The thermo detector to measure mass includes a housing for holding an infrared sensor for detecting infrared radiation emitted by a patient. The emitted infrared radiation is used to distinguish between fat and muscle of the patient in a selected body part based upon variations in temperature represented by the detected infrared radiation. A laser is further disposed in the housing for projecting a scanning laser beam on the selected body part of the patient, and at least one laser sensor receives a reflected laser beam from the selected part of the patient. From the reflected laser beam, a volume of the fat and a volume of the muscle of the selected body part based on the reflected laser beam are determined. A mass of the fat and a mass of the muscle in the selected body part of the patient are then determined based on the detected volumes thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a system and method for body measurement, and particularly to a thermo detector to measure muscle mass and body fat. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    The connection between muscle gain and weight loss is probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of health and fitness. Adding muscle to a person&#39;s body helps the person to lower their body fat percentage in a variety of ways. However, these effects are often indirect and can be confusing. There is also misunderstanding regarding whether a person is physically fit based on body weight provided by a scale. These scales provide a measure of total weight, but don&#39;t determine the lean-to-fat ratio of that weight. Standing on most scales can tell you only if you weigh more than the average person, but not if that weight is fat or muscle. Based only on scale weight, a 250-pound athlete with 8% body fat may be considered “overweight” by a typical weight chart. Such charts are not good indicators of ideal body weight for general health or for athletic performance. There are other methods of assessing a person&#39;s body fat percent and lean mass to determine general body health. 
         [0005]    A device that provides accurate measurement of muscle mass and body fat would be desirable for monitoring a person&#39;s health and fitness. Thus, a thermo detector to measure mass solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The thermo detector to measure mass includes a housing for holding an infrared sensor, such as a thermographic camera, infrared camera, thermal imaging camera or the like, for detecting infrared radiation emitted by a patient. The emitted infrared radiation is used to distinguish between fat and muscle of the patient in a selected body part based upon variations in temperature represented by the detected infrared radiation. A laser is further disposed in the housing for projecting a scanning laser beam on the selected body part of the patient, and at least one laser sensor, also disposed in the housing, receives a reflected laser beam from the selected part of the patient. From the reflected laser beam, a volume of the fat and a volume of the muscle of the selected body part based on the reflected laser beam are determined. A mass of the fat and a mass of the muscle in the selected body part of the patient may then be determined based on the detected volumes thereof. 
         [0007]    The thermographic camera detects infrared radiation that are emitted by the human body. The laser sensor detects the reflected laser radiation from the laser spot projected onto the patient. Under certain controlled conditions, the infrared radiation will depict the muscle mass and body fat by taking the temperature of a specific body part, for example, the biceps. The temperature of the specified muscle will be analyzed and converted to two parts, i.e., the muscle and fat percentages of the individual&#39;s body. The muscle and fat percentages will be determined by the temperature readings, where the higher temperatures will read as the muscle and the lower temperatures will read as the fat for the specified body part. The laser radiation will take the volume of the muscle and/or fat in three dimensions (3D), e.g., depth, width, and length, in cross sections. The processor in the thermo detector processes the data obtained by the various sensors and cameras. The processor is able to calculate the length, width, and depth of the muscle or specified body part by using a computer program or algorithm that splits the data into a number of cubes, such as cubes the size of 1 mm 3 . The program or algorithm can determine the muscle mass and body fat based on calculating the number of cubes. The calculated data processed by the processor will be produced, such as on a digital display or to a photo printer. The data and images can be also be sent over wireless or hardwire connections to other users or systems. The thermo detector may be disassembled into component parts and adapted for transport. 
         [0008]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are environmental, perspective views of a thermo detector to measure mass according to the present invention, shown in use to detect the mass in a particular body region. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 1C, 1D , and lE are schematic diagrams illustrating sectioning tissue to determine the detected mass in the specified body region using a thermo detector to measure mass according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  is a front view of the thermo detector of  FIG. 1  A. 
           [0012]      FIG. 213  is a detail view of area  2 B of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  is a partial perspective view of a thermo detector to measure mass according to the present invention, showing a remote control for operating the thermo detector. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  is another partial perspective view of the thermo detector of  FIG. 3A , showing the rear of the housing. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of a remote control for operating the thermo detector to measure mass according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a thermo detector according to the present invention, shown disassembled for storage and transport. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a portable carrying case for transporting a thermo detector to measure mass according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the portable carrying case of  FIG. 4B , shown with the front cover open to reveal the disassembled thermo detector of  FIG. 4A  packed inside of the case. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of the portable carrying case of  FIG. 5A  with the front cover closed. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing the steps of a method for operating a thermo detector to measure mass according to the present invention 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a control unit for a thermo detector to measure mass according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    The thermo detector to measure mass may be used to accurately measure a person&#39;s muscle mass and body fat. The thermo detector includes thermographic cameras, such as infrared sensors or laser sensors, a laser for generating a laser spot, a number of power sources, a printing device, an external display connection, a computer processor, a computer memory, and remote control. The remote control is used to operate the system and the various components used to measure mass. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  show the thermo detector  100  to measure mass that uses both infrared radiation and laser beams to detect the mass in a particular body region. The thermo detector  100  of  FIG. 1A  receives infrared radiation  102 , and further includes a laser  115  for generating a laser beam  104 , which is projected to the patient P for scanning the patient P. The laser beam  104  emitted by the laser  115  is reflected back as reflected beam  106  to a laser sensor  114  to determine the volume of the muscle and body fat of patient P.  FIG. 1B  illustrates a detailed view of the laser beams  104  in a comprehensive display where multiple laser beams  104   a,    104   b,  and  104   c  are used to cover a specified body region. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 1C-1E  illustrate a detailed view of the detected mass in the specified body region in sections to calculate the volume of muscle and body fat.  FIG. 1C  illustrates the beam  104 a that will scan the specified body region in a vertical method.  FIG. 1D  illustrates the beam  104 b that will scan the specified body region in a horizontal method.  FIG. 1E  illustrates the beam  104 a that will scan the specified body region in a cross-sectioned method for calculating the volume of muscle and body fat. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a front view of the thermo detector  100  for detecting a person&#39;s body composition.  FIG. 2A  shows the body casing (housing)  110  of the thermo detector  100 , which contains the laser  115 , along with a distance sensor  112 , a laser sensor  114 , an infrared sensor  116 , such as a thermographic camera, infrared camera, thermal imaging camera or the like, a USB port  119 , a handle  118 , an external screen port  120 , a photo printer  122 , and a power supply cord  124 . It should be understood that any suitable type of distance sensor, laser sensor and infrared sensor may be utilized.  FIG. 2A  also illustrates a support pole  126  to support the body casing of the thermo detector  110 . The body casing  110  of the thermo detector  100  and the support pole  126  can be made of any material and is not limited to plastic or metal. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate an elevating spring  128  inside of the support pole  126 , an adapter  130  for the support pole  126 , a power supply cord  132 , a base stand  134  for the thermo detector, and a plurality of wheels  136 . The power supply cords  124  and  132  are ideally used with alternating current (AC) at 240 volts, but the device may also be made for operation on a 120 V AC power main. The infrared and laser sensors are powered by a separate power supply; e.g. the power supply cord  124 , than the power source of the thermo detector, such as the power supply cord  132 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a partial perspective view of a thermo detector  100  to measure mass, including a remote control  138  for operating the thermo detector  100 .  FIG. 3A  illustrates the body casing (housing)  110  of the thermo detector  100 , remote control  138 , and a remote control holder  140 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 3B  illustrates another partial perspective view of a thermo detector  100  to measure mass.  FIG. 3B  illustrates the body casing (housing)  110  of the thermo detector  100 , a battery cover  142 , a battery cover release  146 , and a mounting slot  144 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 3C  illustrates a perspective view of the remote control  138  for operating the thermo detector  100 .  FIG. 3C  illustrates the remote control  138  and various buttons used to operate the thermo detector  100 . The various buttons on the remote control  138  include a power button  160  to turn the thermo detector  100  on or off, a down button  162 , an up button  164 , a button  170  for clarifying the infrared image, a button  172  for turning the laser on or off, laser adjustment buttons  174 ,  176 , and  178 , a shutter control button  180 , a battery cover  182 , and an LED  184 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4A  illustrates the thermo detector  100  of  FIG. 2  disassembled into several components. The body casing  110  of the thermo detector  100  is no longer affixed to the support pole  126 . The adapter  130  for the support pole  126  is no longer affixed to the base stand  134  for the thermo detector  100 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a traveling case  400  for the thermo detector  100 . The traveling case  400  can be made of any suitable material, such as cloth, fabric, plastic, or a combination thereof and is not limited in this regard. The traveling case  400  has a latch  402  to open the traveling case  400  for storing the disassembled components of the thermo detector  100 . The placement of the latch  402  can be in any location on the traveling case  400  and is not limited in this regard. The latch  402  can also be made of any suitable material, such as plastic or metal, but is not limited in this regard. Furthermore, access to the interior of the traveling case  400  can be accomplished by other fastening means, such as a zipper, clasp, or button, and is not limited in this regard. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5A  illustrates the traveling case  400  with the latch  402  opened to contain the disassembled components of the thermo detector  100 , such as the thermo detector body casing  110  and the base stand  134 , placed inside of the traveling case  400 .  FIG. 5B  illustrates disassembled components of the thermo detector  100  inside of the traveling case  400  with the latch  402  closed. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a flowchart of a method for operating the thermo detector  100  is shown. At step  602 , the user turns on the thermo detector  100 . Prior to operating the thermo detector  100 , it is optimal for the subject to be nude for approximately twenty minutes to allow the body to equilibrate to room temperature without affect from clothing, water, perspiration, lotion, or liquid. Additionally, the subject should not engage in any workout or physical exertion prior to the examination, as physical effort can change the temperature, length, mass and weight of muscle. This physical effort can distort the readings of the thermo detector  100 . It is also ideal to conduct the examination with the thermo detector in a room with dimmed lighting and a temperature approximately 20° C.-25° C. Furthermore, the room should not contain any objects or devices that generate heat that could interfere with the camera receptor in the thermo detector  100 . 
         [0035]    Continuing at step  604 , the user inputs the subject&#39;s background information, such as gender, age, height, and weight. At step  606 , the thermo detector detects the distance between the person being measured and the thermographic camera inside of the thermo detector. The distance between the thermo detector and the subject should ideally be thirty centimeters to avoid side effects of infrared radiation, yet still also provide quality images. At step  608 , a processor, such as the controller/processor  706  of  FIG. 7 , checks whether the subject is the correct distance away from the thermo detector, e.g.  30  centimeters. If the subject is not the correct distance away, the thermo detector can notify the user of the incorrect distance at step  609 , and the process returns to step  606 . If the subject is the appropriate distance at step  608 , the process proceeds and the sensors in the thermo detector scan the subject at step  610 . 
         [0036]    Continuing at step  612 , the processor  706  in the thermo detector  100  distinguishes the muscle mass from the body fat. The differentiating between the muscle and fat can be done by a number of methods, but generally requires a thermographic camera or the like that is able to distinguish different wavelengths of infrared radiation, such as infrared or laser radiation. In addition to distinguishing the muscle and fat, the sensors can simultaneously and independently measure a person&#39;s muscle mass and body fat. The thermodetector camera, which is preferably a 640×480 pixel camera, can detect the radiation, such as infrared radiation, to a wavelength of 3-5 micrometers to measure muscle temperature. 
         [0037]    The thermographic camera in the thermo detector  100  has one setting button that is used to modify and obtain the person&#39;s body composition. The button determines the body heat temperature of a specific area, such as a muscle. Under controlled conditions, the laser radiation obtained by the various zoom buttons will be used to take the volume of muscle and/or fat in three dimension (3D), e.g., depth, width, and length, in cross sections. The infrared and laser radiations will also depict the muscle mass and body fat by taking the temperature of a specific muscle, for example, the biceps. The infrared and laser radiations will be used to display images of the scanned area, such as a 3D image and thermographic image. 
         [0038]    Once the user&#39;s muscle mass and body fat has been differentiated, the processor  706  in the thermo detector  100  calculates the data of the user&#39;s muscle mass and body fat at step  614 . The processor  706  in the thermo detector  100  is the component in the thermo detector  100  that processes and calculates the data obtained by the various sensors and cameras. The processor  706  displays the image and uses a color pixel counter program to count the pixels. The processor  706  is able calculate the volume of the muscle and the body composition. The processor  706  determines the muscle mass and body fat based upon these calculations. Finally, the processor  706  produces the user&#39;s body composition at step  616 . The processor  706  can send the calculations of the person&#39;s muscle mass and body fat percentage to be displayed on to a digital display, such as through the external screen port  120  or to the photo printer  122 . 
         [0039]    The type of thermographic camera used in the thermo detector is preferably a cooled thermo graphic camera, but can be any type of thermographic camera adapted for use in thermal imaging and infrared radiation use and can include various types of infrared image detectors, such as cooled and uncooled detector. The optimal frequency to use the thermo detector  100  to detect muscle mass and body fat is 60 Hz, the optimal range is 3-5 micrometers, but is not limited to this, and can include other ranges and frequencies, and the image resolution is preferably 640×480 pixels. Once the thermo detector  100  has obtained the measurements, the measurements are calculated to determine the exact percentage of muscle to fat ratio in the scanned region. The muscle mass and body fat can be calculated through an algorithm or program that is adapted for use to calculate the muscle mass and body fat based on the information obtained by the sensors, thermographic camera, and the information entered by the user, such as a color pixel counter program. 
         [0040]    In  FIG. 7 , the generalized system  700  includes an interface  702 , a memory  704 , and a controller/processor  706 , for example. Information, such as body mass information from the sensors, can be acquired by the interface  702  through a number of sensors and stored at  710  in the memory  704 , such as a computer readable memory, which can be any suitable type of non-transitory computer readable and programmable memory. 
         [0041]    Examples of computer readable media as can be used or included in the memory  704  can include a non-transitory computer readable storage memory, a magnetic recording apparatus, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, and/or a semiconductor memory (for example, RAM, ROM, etc.). Examples of magnetic recording apparatus that may be used in addition to memory  704 , or in place of the memory  704 , include a hard disk device (HDD), a flexible disk (FD), and a magnetic tape (MT). Examples of the optical disk include a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a DVD-RAM, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), and a CD-R (Recordable)/RW. 
         [0042]    For example, information or data can be transmitted from or received by the interface  702 , such as received sensor data and information as to a measurement of muscle mass and body fat. Such information or data can be organized in the memory  704  and transmitted to or from the memory  704 , such as a computer readable memory, at  712  to the controller/ processor  706  or at  710  to the interface  702 , The interface  702  can include connection to an external digital display or to the photo printer. The data can also be transferred or obtained by USB connection or any suitable form that allows data transfer. 
         [0043]    Operations are performed by the controller/processor  706 , which can be any suitable type of computer implemented device, such as a computer processor, as discussed. Also, the resulting information, resulting data or resulting determination made by the controller/processor  706  from the information or data processed by the controller/processor  706  can be stored in the memory  704  and can be transmitted through the interface  702 , such through the external screen port  120  to a digital display or to the photo printer  122 . The photo printer  122  or the digital display can show the exact muscle mass measurements, including the volume of the muscle, for example, calculated by the color pixel counter program. The photo printer  122  or the digital display can also show the exact body fat percentage of the body area scanned. 
         [0044]    The information and operations that are transmitted throughout the various embodiments of a thermo detector  100  to measure mass or methods for operating a thermo detector can be in the form of electronic data, wireless signals, or a variation thereof The information and operations that are transmitted throughout the various embodiments can be sent wirelessly, optically, or by any of various types or arrangements of hard-wire connections, or combinations thereof, among the various system components, for example. 
         [0045]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.