Cover sheet for a body measuring apparatus and an automatic sheet dispenser therfor

Abstract

A cover sheet ( 1 ) used in a body measuring apparatus having electrodes for supplying current to a human body or for measuring a difference in electrical potential between two sites of the body. The cover sheet has electric conductive area portions ( 2 ) corresponding to the electrodes of the body measuring apparatus and having a electric conductivity in thickness direction, and insulation area portions ( 3 ) spacing adjacent electric conductive area portions ( 2 ) and having electrically insulating property at least along a plane direction. The cover sheet is used to prevent cross-infection and can be used safely without slip and prepared cheaply without affecting to impedance, with assuring completely insulation between adjacent electrodes. Conductivity is created with conductive solid (“dry type”) or conductive liquid (“wet type”). The cover sheet is fed automatically by a sheet dispenser.

1 . A disposable cover sheet detachably used in a body composition measuring apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes on a platform thereof where feet bottoms of an examinee contact, for supplying an electric current to a human body and for measuring a difference in electrical potential between two sites of the body in order to measure a body composition using a body impedance technique, said disposable cover sheet being adapted to cover said platform, wherein said disposable cover sheet ( 1 ) comprises electric conductive area portions ( 2 ) corresponding to said plurality of electrodes on said on a platform and having an electric conductivity through a thickness direction from a surface to an opposite surface of the cover sheet, and insulation area portions ( 3 ) spacing said electric conductive area portions ( 2 ) and having electrically insulating property at least along a plane direction. 
     
     
         2 . The disposable cover sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein said electric conductivity in the thickness direction of said electric conductive area portions ( 2 ) is created by dispersing, applying or adding electro-conductive solid material into and/or onto a sheet material. 
     
     
         3 . The disposable cover sheet according to  claim 2 , wherein said electro-conductive solid material is in a form of particles, powder or fibers. 
     
     
         4 . The disposable cover sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein said disposable cover sheet ( 1 ) is made of non-woven web or fabric, fiber web, felt, textile, knitting or film. 
     
     
         5 . The disposable cover sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein said disposable cover sheet ( 1 ) possesses an anti-slip property at least on a part of said disposable cover sheet ( 1 ). 
     
     
         6 . The disposable cover sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein said body measuring apparatus comprises a body composition measuring apparatus comprising four electrodes in order to measure a body composition using the body impedance technique, and said disposable cover sheet ( 1 ) including four electric conductive area portions ( 2 ) corresponding to said four electrodes of said body composition measuring apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The disposable cover sheet according to  claim 6 , wherein said body composition measuring apparatus comprises said four electrodes on a platform ( 11 ) thereof, where feet bottoms of an examinee contact, and said disposable cover sheet ( 1 ) is configured to be placed on said platform ( 11 ) in such a manner that said four electric conductive area portions ( 2 ) are positioned on said four electrodes of said body composition measuring apparatus, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The disposable cover sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein said body measuring apparatus comprises a body composition measuring apparatus comprising four electrodes in order to measure a body composition using the body impedance technique, at least two electrodes of said four electrodes of said body composition measuring apparatus are hand electrodes ( 15 ) with which hands of an examinee contact, said disposable cover sheet ( 1 ) is configured to cover said hand electrodes ( 15 ) in such a manner that said electric conductive area portions ( 2 ) are positioned on said at least two electrodes, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . The disposable cover sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein said electric conductive area portions ( 2 ) and/or said insulation area portions ( 3 ) are prepared from non-woven web. 
     
     
         10 . The disposable cover sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein said electric conductive area portions ( 2 ) and/or said insulation area portions ( 3 ) are prepared from a laminated material. 
     
     
         11 . A stock of the disposable cover sheet ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said stock comprises a plurality of unit cover sheets ( 1 ′) connected in series. 
     
     
         12 . The stock according to  claim 11  in a form of a roll. 
     
     
         13 . A stock of the disposable cover sheet ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said stock comprises a plurality of unit cover sheets ( 1 ′) stacked one over other in partly nested manner. 
     
     
         14 . A set of the stock of the disposable cover sheet ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , and an openable container ( 70 ,  71 ) packing said stock inside. 
     
     
         15 . The set according to  claim 14 , wherein said disposable cover sheet ( 1 ) is made of wet type cover sheet in which said electric conductivity in the thickness direction is created by impregnating, adhering or applying electro-conductive liquid into and/or onto a non-woven web or textile, fiber web or film. 
     
     
         16 . An automatic cover-sheet dispenser of the disposable cover sheet ( 1 ) defined in  claim 1 , comprising a feeding unit (A) of said disposable cover sheet ( 1 ) arranged at a side of the electrodes of said body measuring apparatus, and a collecting unit (B) of said disposable cover sheet ( 1 ). 
     
     
         17 . The automatic cover-sheet dispenser according to  claim 16 , wherein said disposable cover sheet ( 1 ) is stocked in a form of a roll or a stack in said feeding unit (A). 
     
     
         18 . The automatic cover-sheet dispenser according to  claim 16 , wherein said feeding unit (A) has further means ( 77 - 79 ,  80 - 84 ) for feeding electro-conductive liquid. 
     
     
         19 . A method of preventing fouling of a body composition measuring apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes on a platform ( 11 ) thereof, where feet bottoms of an examinee contact, in order to measure a body composition using a body impedance technique, comprising:
 covering said platform ( 11 ) of said body composition measuring apparatus with a disposable cover sheet comprising a plurality of electric conductive area portions ( 2 ) corresponding to said plurality of electrodes of said platform ( 11 ) of said body composition measuring apparatus and having an electric conductivity in a thickness direction, and insulation area portions ( 3 ) spacing said plurality of electric conductive area portions ( 2 ) from one another and having an electrically insulating property at least along a plane direction, said disposable cover sheet comprising anti-slip treatment arranged on at least part of an upper surface and/or a lower face thereof.   
     
     
         20 . The disposable cover sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein removal of the cover sheet does not affect operation of the body measuring apparatus.