US4928014A — Near-infrared apparatus and method for determinin…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 217 words

A method for determining percent fat in a body, comprising: (a) providing a near-infrared quantitative instrument comprising (i) at least one point source of near-infrared radiation; (ii) a near-infrared radiation detector capable of providing an electrical signal upon detection of near-infrared radiation; (iii) means for preventing near-infrared radiation from said at least one point source from impinging directly on said detector; (iv) locating means for placing said at least one point source against a body to be tested so as to introduce near-infrared radiation into said body, wherein said locating means positions said detector for receiving near-infrared radiation from said at least one point source that interacts with said body and for providing an electrical signal corresponding to the fat content of said body; and (v) means for converting the electrical signal corresponding to the fat content of the body into a readout indicative of the percent fat of the body; (b) placing the at least one point source against a body to be tested with the detector or positioned for receiving near-infrared radiation that interacts with said body; (c) transmitting near-infrared radiation into said body; (d) detecting near-infrared radiation which interacted with said body; and (e) providing a readout of percent body fat corresponding to an electrical signal indicative of near-infrared absorption provided by said detector.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 217 words

A method for determining percent fat in a body, comprising: (a) providing a near-infrared quantitative instrument comprising (i) at least one point source of near-infrared radiation; (ii) a near-infrared radiation detector capable of providing an electrical signal upon detection of near-infrared radiation; (iii) means for preventing near-infrared radiation from said at least one point source from impinging directly on said detector; (iv) locating means for placing said at least one point source against a body to be tested so as to introduce near-infrared radiation into said body, wherein said locating means positions said detector for receiving near-infrared radiation from said at least one point source that interacts with said body and for providing an electrical signal corresponding to the fat content of said body; and (v) means for converting the electrical signal corresponding to the fat content of the body into a readout indicative of the percent fat of the body; (b) placing the at least one point source against a body to be tested with the detector or positioned for receiving near-infrared radiation that interacts with said body; (c) transmitting near-infrared radiation into said body; (d) detecting near-infrared radiation which interacted with said body; and (e) providing a readout of percent body fat corresponding to an electrical signal indicative of near-infrared absorption provided by said detector.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method of claim 1, wherein said near-infrared radiation is within the range of about 740-1100 nanometers.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 13 words

A method of claim 1, wherein said near-infrared radiation is about 950 nanometers.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

A method of claim 1, wherein data on a plurality of physical parameters of the body are utilized along with said absorption to quantitatively determine the fat content of the body.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method of claim 4, wherein said physical parameters are selected from the group consisting of height, weight, exercise level, sex, race, waist-to-hip measurement, arm circumference and combinations thereof.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

A method of claim 5 wherein said physical parameters are height and weight.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 149 words

A near-infrared quantitative instrument for measuring fat content of a body to be tested, comprising: (a) at least one point source of near-infrared radiation; (b) a near-infrared radiation detector capable of providing an electrical signal upon detection of near-infrared radiation; (c) means for preventing near-infrared radiation from said at least one point source from impinging directly on said detector; (d) locating means for placing said at least one point source against a body to be tested so as to introduce near-infrared radiation into said body, wherein said locating means positions said detector for receiving near-infrared radiation from said at least one point source that interacts with said body and for providing an electrical signal corresponding to the fat content of said body; and (e) means for converting the electrical signal corresponding to the fat content of the body into a readout indicative of the percent fat of the body.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 149 words

A near-infrared quantitative instrument for measuring fat content of a body to be tested, comprising: (a) at least one point source of near-infrared radiation; (b) a near-infrared radiation detector capable of providing an electrical signal upon detection of near-infrared radiation; (c) means for preventing near-infrared radiation from said at least one point source from impinging directly on said detector; (d) locating means for placing said at least one point source against a body to be tested so as to introduce near-infrared radiation into said body, wherein said locating means positions said detector for receiving near-infrared radiation from said at least one point source that interacts with said body and for providing an electrical signal corresponding to the fat content of said body; and (e) means for converting the electrical signal corresponding to the fat content of the body into a readout indicative of the percent fat of the body.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

An instrument of claim 7 wherein said at least one point source of near-infrared radiation comprises an IRED.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 33 words

An instrument of claim 7 wherein said at least one point source comprises an IRED and a near-infrared-transparent window covering means, for placement against a body to be tested, disposed adjacent said IRED.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 19 words

An instrument of claim 7 wherein said near-infrared radiation is within the range of about 740 to 1100 nanometers.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 19 words

An instrument of claim 7 wherein said near-infrared radiation is within the range of about 945 to 955 nanometers.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 30 words

An instrument of claim 7 further comprising a case, said locating means comprising a portion of said case having said at least one point source and said detector disposed therein.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 177 words

A near-infrared quantitative instrument for measuring fat content of a body to be tested, comprising: (a) a case; (b) at least one near-infrared radiation-producing point source means, disposed in one end of said case, for transmitting near-infrared radiation into the body, said one end of said case comprising locating means for positioning said at least one point source means against a body to be tested; (c) a near-infrared radiation detector positioned adjacent said at least one point source means in said one end of said case, the detector being capable of providing an electrical signal upon detection of near-infrared radiation; (d) means for preventing near-infrared energy from said at least one point source means from impinging directly on said detector; (e) means connected to the detector for amplifying an electrical signal provided by said detector; and (f) means for data processing and readout, connected to the amplifying means and being capable of processing the amplified signal so as to provide a readout indicative of the percent fat in the body based on detection of said near-infrared radiation.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 177 words

A near-infrared quantitative instrument for measuring fat content of a body to be tested, comprising: (a) a case; (b) at least one near-infrared radiation-producing point source means, disposed in one end of said case, for transmitting near-infrared radiation into the body, said one end of said case comprising locating means for positioning said at least one point source means against a body to be tested; (c) a near-infrared radiation detector positioned adjacent said at least one point source means in said one end of said case, the detector being capable of providing an electrical signal upon detection of near-infrared radiation; (d) means for preventing near-infrared energy from said at least one point source means from impinging directly on said detector; (e) means connected to the detector for amplifying an electrical signal provided by said detector; and (f) means for data processing and readout, connected to the amplifying means and being capable of processing the amplified signal so as to provide a readout indicative of the percent fat in the body based on detection of said near-infrared radiation.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 19 words

An instrument of claim 13 wherein said near-infrared radiation is within the range of about 740 to 1100 nanometers.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 16 words

An instrument of claim 13 wherein said near-infrared radiation is of about 945 to 955 nanometers.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

An instrument of claim 13 wherein said near-infrared radiation is centered on about 950 nanometers.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 34 words

An instrument of claim 13, wherein the data processing and readout means further utilizes data on a plurality of physical parameters of the body, in conjunction with said amplified signal, to provide said readout.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 29 words

An instrument of claim 17, wherein said physical parameters are selected from the group consisting of height, weight, exercise level, sex, race, waist-to-hip measurement, arm circumference and combinations thereof.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 221 words

In combination, a near-infrared quantitative instrument for measuring fat content of a body to be tested and a reflective standard, comprising: (a) a case; (b) a single pair of closely matched, near-infrared radiation-producing point source means, disposed in one end of said case, for transmitting near-infrared radiation into the body, said one end of said case comprising locating means for positioning said pair of point source means against a body to be tested; (c) a near-infrared radiation detector positioned between each of said point source means in said one end of said case, the detector being capable of providing an electrical signal upon detection of near-infrared radiation; (d) means for preventing near-infrared energy from each of said point source means from impinging directly on said detector; (e) means connected to the detector for amplifying an electrical signal provided by said detector, and (f) means for data processing and readout, connected to the amplifying means and being capable of processing the amplifying signal so as to provide a readout indicative of the percent fat in the body based on detection of said near-infrared radiation, wherein said near-infrared radiation is within the range of about 740 to 1100 nanometers; and a reflector standard sleeve means for positioning over said one end, said sleeve means comprising a reflective surface of a known, predetermined reflectance.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 221 words

In combination, a near-infrared quantitative instrument for measuring fat content of a body to be tested and a reflective standard, comprising: (a) a case; (b) a single pair of closely matched, near-infrared radiation-producing point source means, disposed in one end of said case, for transmitting near-infrared radiation into the body, said one end of said case comprising locating means for positioning said pair of point source means against a body to be tested; (c) a near-infrared radiation detector positioned between each of said point source means in said one end of said case, the detector being capable of providing an electrical signal upon detection of near-infrared radiation; (d) means for preventing near-infrared energy from each of said point source means from impinging directly on said detector; (e) means connected to the detector for amplifying an electrical signal provided by said detector, and (f) means for data processing and readout, connected to the amplifying means and being capable of processing the amplifying signal so as to provide a readout indicative of the percent fat in the body based on detection of said near-infrared radiation, wherein said near-infrared radiation is within the range of about 740 to 1100 nanometers; and a reflector standard sleeve means for positioning over said one end, said sleeve means comprising a reflective surface of a known, predetermined reflectance.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 36 words

A combination of claim 19 wherein said reflective surface reflects near-infrared energy in an amount substantially equal to an amount of near-infrared energy transmitted during near-infrared interactance from a body of about 24% body fat content.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-05-21	1993-11-20	1994-05-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-05-21	1997-11-20	1998-05-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-05-21	2001-11-20	2002-05-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Near-infrared apparatus and method for determining percent fat in a body

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