Predicting the amount of fat in the human body is the focus of new research from UK scientists and engineers who are working on a prototype scanner.
Scientists at the Institute of Food Research in the UK have linked up with engineers at Lancaster University to develop a 'quick, safe and noninvasive scanner' to estimate 'regional variations incomposition such as fat distribution', funded as part of an EU project, BodyLife.
The researchers report that the system could be used eventually to measure changes through diet and exercise regimes. "In addition to clinical applications, our system could also become a feature of leisure centres, allowing clients to see how their shape and compositionchanges through exercise," said Henri Tapp.
Presenting their findings so far at the third world congress on industrial process tomography in Banff, Canada earlier this month, scientists Henri Tapp from the IFR and Tony Peyton at Lancaster university, explained that the specially designed scanning cubicle is fitted with digital cameras and light projectors to map the surface contours of the body, to give body volume.
An array of coils isused to map the internal electrical conductivity, to give water content. The camera and coils are fitted to a sliding sensor ring, designed to scan the whole body as a series of horizontal 'slices'.
Although the initial aim is to predict percentage fat content, the system could potentially also provide regional information, said the researchers. This includes estimates for individual body segments, or differentiating between surface and internal fat within the torso.
"Our prototype has demonstrated the feasibility of adopting this approach. The next stage would be to develop a prototype system leading to clinical trials and validation of the technology, which we hope to pursue with commercialpartners," said Tony Peyton.