Fat Thickness Estimation Method Using Bio Electrical Property Examination by Gel Phantom Model Test

We examined the relationship between electrical bio-impedance and the ratio of muscle mass and fat mass using gel phantom model. Generally, somatic fat rate of the whole body is measured for the purpose of the health care. In the meantime, it is useful to know the partial ratio of muscle mass and fat mass for carrying out the health care, when exercise capacity and metabolic rate are known. We considered that the measurement of local electrical bio-impedance could calculate ratio of muscle mass and fat mass of each region in the body. Consequently, we examined the method for effectively carrying out measurement of local electrical bio-impedance and interpretation of measurement data. It is effective to conduct the verification experiment using the gel phantom model prior to in vivo experiment, because shape, size, and electrical properties of the gel phantom model can be easily set. In this study, we prepared the gel phantom model of two-layer structure composed of the muscle gel phantom and fat gel phantom. Using this gel phantom model, we examined how the thickness of fat layer on the muscle layer influenced the local electrical bio-impedance. As the result, the change of apparent resistivity calculated from measured value was confirmed by varying the fat thickness of the two-layer model. And, it seemed to be possible to know relative increase and decrease in amount of fat mass of each region by understanding apparent resistivity calculated from resistance value and electrode interval