Project title

LipoWise

Scientific Coordinator's name:

Teresa Restivo (Co-Coord. Proj.: Paulo Abreu)

Scientific Coordinator's e-mail:

trestivo@fe.up.pt

Principal R&D Unit:

System Integration and Process Automation Unit

Other R&D Units involved in the project:

Other R&D units involved in the project

Project keyword(s)

body composition, body fat percentage, adipsmeter, skinfold caliper, skinfold measurement protocol, skinfold compressibility, nutricion assessment, digital sensing, wireless communication, mechanical device, automated process, software application, training tool, non-invasive device.

Short abstract and comments

The present invention consists in a wireless skinfold calliper that can register the profile of tissue compressibility by measuring skinfold thickness leading to evaluate body fat mass and also to estimate the body water, an important connective tissue parameter. This device also evaluate the adductor polliccis. The device comprises a pair of jaws with oriented clamping surfaces, a constant force actuator and a wireless communication system with a software application in a pc or mobile device, for data record and processing. Licensed patent to Metablue Solutions. Patents: National 1: Dispositivo para aquisição e processamento de dados para determinação da massa corporal, INPI nº 103721, Concedida: 26-11-2009 National 2: Dispositivo para Medição de Espessura de Pregas Cutâneas, INPI nº 1051870, Concedida: 02 10 2013 European: Device for measuring skinfold thickness, International Application nº: PCT/IB2010/055701, International Filing Date: 09 12 2010, pending. American: Device for measuring skinfold thickness, Application nº: 13807658, Published: 16-05-2013, granted December 2015.

Potential uses/indications

Professionals in nutrition, medicine and sports. Also in veterinary, livestock industry and forensic studies.