Whole body calorimeter
US5040541A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 2, 1986 |
| Grant date | Aug 20, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 2, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N25/4826
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A calorimeter box accommodates a person lying on a cot. The system measures metabolic releases. The person's head extends into a transparent box-shaped duct system. Ambient air flows from the room in which the calorimeter is located into the duct system and past the person's head and neck into the calorimeter box. substantially all convection and evaporative heat losses from the person's head are transported into the calorimeter itself by the air flow. If the air flow were to stop, i.e., failed to exist, the person would have no trouble breathing because in essence his head is in the room. This obviates safety and claustrophobia problems; further the subject can talk to attendants in the room. The calorimeter is of heavy aluminum panel construction for structural strength and for purposes of providing a heat sink. Coil of tubing remove heat from the aluminum panels, and water of constant temperature is circulated through such tubing to maintain the aluminum panels at a substantially constant temperature. Thermopiles are connected electrically in series to measure or indicate all the heat flowing from the interior of the calorimeter box to the heat sink. In another form of the inven…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.