Development of a Segmental Bioelectrical Impedance Spectroscopy Device for Body Composition Measurement

The measurement of individual segments, instead of the body as a whole, with BIA has not been fully explored. The prototype device is capable of directly measuring multiple body segments (arm, trunk, and leg) simultaneously, and the final version will be able to provide composition about each segment and the body as a whole. Current devices on the market are not capable of this.

The reference devices will be used to measure segments as well, and the raw measurements will be compared. The Multiscan 5000 provides segmental body composition for the arm or leg, but requires measuring it separately. The SFB7 is designed only for measuring the whole body, but the raw impedance measurement data from the SFB7 can be used for comparison, as the impedance magnitudes of individual segments will be within its measurement range. The Seca 514 doesn't directly measure segments, but it can provide segmental data by measuring from hand to foot, then from hand to hand, and finally from foot to foot. It then uses these measurements, and assumptions about the subject to provide segmental composition data.