Underwater Bag for Body Composition Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining body composition are expensive, time-consuming, and require elaborate specialized equipment, such as airtight adiabatic chambers, sensitive airflow and pressure measuring devices, and ionizing radiation, which are not practical for widespread use.
Innovation Solution
A container and method using a translucent or transparent bag with radial demarcations for measuring air pressure and volume, allowing subjects to exhale into the bag while submerged in water, allowing for the calculation of body composition based on buoyant lung volume and underwater weight, utilizing a computing device with sensors for ambient and water characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional methods (Bod Pod, hydrostatic weighing, DEXA scan, body impedance testing) are used to determine body composition, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential measurement function from complex body composition systems. Instead of using complete Bod Pod chambers, hydrostatic weighing tables, or DEXA scanners, the invention uses a simple underwater bag with volume markings to measure only the buoyant lung volume component, which is sufficient for body composition calculation when combined with other standard measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simple, inexpensive underwater bag made of flexible material with printed volume markings. This disposable or reusable bag replaces expensive specialized equipment like Bod Pod chambers and hydrostatic weighing facilities, making the measurement accessible to general populations without requiring costly infrastructure.
2Measurement precision
If traditional methods (Bod Pod, hydrostatic weighing, DEXA scan, body impedance testing) are used to determine body composition, then measurement accuracy is improved, but time required for measurement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential measurement function from complex body composition systems. Instead of using complete Bod Pod chambers, hydrostatic weighing tables, or DEXA scanners, the invention uses a simple underwater bag with volume markings to measure only the buoyant lung volume component, which is sufficient for body composition calculation when combined with other standard measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simple, inexpensive underwater bag made of flexible material with printed volume markings. This disposable or reusable bag replaces expensive specialized equipment like Bod Pod chambers and hydrostatic weighing facilities, making the measurement accessible to general populations without requiring costly infrastructure.
3Measurement precision
If specialized equipment (airtight adiabatic chambers, sensitive measuring equipment, ionizing radiation) is used, then measurement accuracy is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential measurement function from complex body composition systems. Instead of using complete Bod Pod chambers, hydrostatic weighing tables, or DEXA scanners, the invention uses a simple underwater bag with volume markings to measure only the buoyant lung volume component, which is sufficient for body composition calculation when combined with other standard measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simple, inexpensive underwater bag made of flexible material with printed volume markings. This disposable or reusable bag replaces expensive specialized equipment like Bod Pod chambers and hydrostatic weighing facilities, making the measurement accessible to general populations without requiring costly infrastructure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides a cost-effective and efficient method for determining body composition by using a simple, portable container and computational analysis of exhaled air and water characteristics, reducing the need for expensive and complex equipment.
Implementation Method 1
The container may be operative to receive via the open-end water from a pool and air exhaled from a subject when the subject is at least partially submerged in the pool of water
Implementation Method 2
A semi-rigid material may be coupled to the container to indicate when air pressure within the container is between a predetermined range or exceeds a predetermined amount
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus to determine body composition of a subject is disclosed. Physical characteristics of a subject and water in a pool is determined. A body of the subject is completely submerged in the pool of water such that a head of the subject is just below a surface of the water in the pool. The subject completely exhales air into an air measuring device as the body of the subject is submerged just below the surface of the water. A semi-rigid strip or tab portion may be coupled to the air measuring device to indicate when air pressure within the air measuring device is between a predetermined range. The body composition is then determined based on the determined subject characteristics, water characteristics and the amount of air exhaled into the air measuring device when the air pressure is between the predetermined range.