Muac z-score device and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed towards an electronic device, method of using a device, and a method of making a device for estimating the nutritional status in an individual of any age or weight. The electronic device measures the circumference of a body part of an individual and determines a standard score value for the individual based upon a designated age and gender to estimate the nutritional status of the individual. The method includes measuring the circumference of a body part of an individual using the electronic device and determining a standard score value from the device to estimate the nutritional status of the individual.

1 . An electronic apparatus for estimating the nutritional status of an individual, said apparatus comprising:
 a measurement device configured to measure a circumference of a body part of an individual and provide a first measurement value;   a user interface configured to receive user input of the age and gender of the individual to be measured;   a memory configured to store a plurality of age- and gender-specific standard score values, each of said plurality of standard score values corresponding to a circumference measurement value of a body part for a designated age and gender and indicating nutritional status ranges at, above, or below a nutritional norm for the designated age and gender; and   a processor operatively connected with said memory and configured to determine a standard score value for the individual, wherein said first measurement value corresponds to a standard score value that estimates the nutritional status of the individual for said designated age and gender when the measurement device is used to measure the circumference of the body part of the individual.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said processor is configured to execute machine readable instructions that cause the processor to:
 store, in the memory, the user input of the age and gender of the individual to be measured;   store, in the memory, the first measurement value of the individual when the measurement device is used to measure the circumference of the body part of the individual; and   compare the first measurement value to the plurality of age- and gender-specific standard score values; and   estimate the nutritional status of the individual.   
     
     
         3 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said user interface is configured to display the nutritional status of the individual for the user. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said processor is configured to execute machine readable instructions that cause the processor to:
 store, in the memory, the user input of the age and gender of the individual to be measured;   store, in the memory, the first measurement value of the individual when the measurement device is used to measure the circumference of the body part of the individual; and   calculate, with reference to the plurality of age- and gender-specific standard score values, a z-score value for said individual,   wherein said z-score value is displayed on said user interface.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 4 , further configured to display a deviation of said z-score value from the nutritional norm. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said z-score is calculated from lambda, mu, and sigma values that derive from population data for designated ages and genders. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the nutritional status of the individual is displayed on said user interface as a number, letter, color, or symbol. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement device electronically measures the circumference of the body part. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a wheel, ball, roller, or laser, wherein said measurement device is configured to record a distance traveled by said wheel, ball, roller, or laser moved about the circumference of the body part to provide said first measurement value. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a measuring tape or cord configured to be wrapped about the circumference of the body part, wherein said measurement device records a length of said measuring tape or cord wrapped around the body part to provide said first measurement value. 
     
     
         11 . A method of estimating the nutritional status of an individual, said method comprising the steps of:
 measuring the circumference of a body part of an individual using an electronic apparatus according to  claim 1  to provide a first measurement value;   entering the age and gender of the individual in the user interface; and   obtaining the nutritional status of the individual from the user interface based upon the first measurement value.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the measurement device electronically measures the circumference of the body part. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a wheel, roller, ball, or laser, wherein said circumference is measured by positioning the wheel, roller, ball, or laser on the skin of the body part and moving it about the circumference of the body part. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a measuring tape or cord configured to be wrapped about the circumference of the body part to be measured, wherein said measurement device records a length of said measuring tape or cord wrapped around the body part to provide said first measurement value. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of positioning the measuring tape or cord up around the body part, and retracting the measuring tape or cord up against the body part to provide the first measurement value. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , said user interface displaying said first measurement value after measuring the circumference of the body party of the individual. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the nutritional status of the individual is displayed on said user interface as a number, letter, color, or symbol. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said processor is configured to execute machine readable instructions that cause the processor to:
 store, in the memory, the first measurement value of the individual after measuring the circumference of the body part of the individual;   store, in the memory, the age and gender of the individual entered into the user interface; and   calculate, with reference to the plurality of age- and gender-specific standard score values, a z-score value for said individual,   wherein said z-score value is displayed on said user interface.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , said user interface displaying a deviation of said z-score value from the nutritional norm. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said z-score is calculated from lambda, mu, and sigma values that derive from population data for designated ages and genders.