JP2001281199A - Measuring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the handleability of a biosensor and a biosensor measuring apparatus capable of rapidly and easily determining a specific constituent in a variety of biological samples with high accuracy. SOLUTION: This measuring system, which takes measurements by attaching a new biosensor 6 to a measuring unit 45 each time the characteristic of the subject of measurement is measured, has a measuring system body 1 serving as a feeder storing a plurality of biosensors 6. The feeder takes the biosensor 6 out of a wrapping material 5 according to the demand for taking out the biosensor 6 or to the installation of the measuring unit 25 in a predetermined position of the feeder, and the biosensor is attached to the measuring unit 45.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a measurement system, and more particularly, to a biosensor measurement using a biosensor capable of quantifying a specific component in various biological samples with high accuracy, quickly and easily. The present invention relates to an improved device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A biosensor utilizes a specific catalytic action of an enzyme, and can be applied to a clinical field such as a glucose sensor for a diabetic patient.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a conventional biosensor and its measurement unit disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-357449. In the figure, first, when the biosensor 6 is normally inserted into the connector 113 of the measurement unit, a drive power supply 125 is operated by a switch (not shown),
The insertion of the biosensor 6 is detected by the detection circuit 114, and C is detected.
A current / voltage conversion amplifier 116 via PU 115, A / D
Elements such as converter 117 and temperature sensor 118 are turned on.

Next, when a test liquid such as blood is introduced into the biosensor 6, the biosensor 6 detects this and starts measurement. After reacting for a predetermined time, the reaction voltage setting circuit 12
A voltage is applied between the measurement electrode and the counter electrode (neither is shown) via 4.

A current corresponding to the concentration of a specific component (glucose in the case of a glucose sensor) in the test liquid obtained by this measurement flows between the electrodes of the biosensor 6, and this current signal is constituted by the CPU 115 and the like. The signal is converted into a concentration value of the specific component (glucose) via a signal processing unit, and is displayed on the LCD display 127.

Reference numeral 125 denotes a battery which is a driving power source of the measuring unit, and supplies power via a voltage stabilizing circuit 123 while checking a voltage with a battery checker 126. Reference numeral 128 denotes a buzzer for notifying the progress of the measurement operation, reference numeral 119 denotes an oscillation circuit for generating an operation clock of the measurement unit, and reference numeral 122 denotes a circuit for resetting the CPU when the measurement is stopped halfway. Also,
Reference numeral 120 denotes a memory that stores a correction value and the like for each measurement unit and each biosensor.

In a biosensor measuring apparatus using such a biosensor, conventionally, as shown in FIG.
A biosensor that examines the sample (or blood if blood sugar)
Alternatively, as an operation of loading the biosensor 6 before the test into the measurement unit 45 for automatically measuring the measured value, a packaging material (film) 5 packaging the biosensor is used.
Then, as shown in FIG. 15, the biosensor is inserted while aiming at a predetermined sensor insertion position (fitting member) as the sensor insertion port 45a of the test and measurement instrument body as shown in FIG.

[0008]

However, according to this conventional biosensor measuring apparatus, since the sensor packaging material is peeled off by hand, the operation is complicated, and a large force is required for the peeling. In addition, it is difficult to position the fitted biosensor at the fitting position when the biosensor is loaded into the measuring device, and the operation is complicated particularly for elderly people. In addition, although the correction of the variation in the characteristics of the individual biosensors is performed by the calibration sensor, the operation is cumbersome like the biosensor.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and it is possible to reliably and easily attach a biosensor to a measurement unit.
Simplification of work related to measurement, equipment related to measurement,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a measurement system in which the function of the system is improved, such as the performance and the usability of the instrument.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a measuring apparatus for mounting a new sensor every time a measurement is performed and measuring characteristics of a sample supplied to the sensor. A supply device for storing a sensor and discharging one of the stored plurality of sensors so that a new sensor can be attached to the measurement device in response to a removal request; By setting the sensor to a predetermined position of the supply device, so that the sensor discharged from the supply device is configured to be mounted on the measurement device. Handling during insertion can be ensured.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the measurement system according to the first aspect, the supply device includes a slot capable of receiving the measurement device. It is characterized by the fact that the sensor is passed to the measuring device, which can eliminate the complexity of the work when setting the sensor to the measuring device and improve the workability at the time of passing the sensor can do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the second aspect, a new sensor is connected from the supply device to the operation of inserting the measurement device into the slot of the supply device. The measuring system is characterized in that the sensor is discharged, and it is possible to easily perform the operation of taking out the sensor set at a fixed position of the supply device from the supply device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the second aspect, by inserting the measuring device into the slot of the supply device, the sensor previously discharged from the supply device can be used. The measurement system is characterized in that it is set in the measurement device, and the reliability of the operation when guiding the sensor to the sensor insertion port of the measurement device can be improved. Simple pre-measurement steps can be performed easily.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the first aspect, a sensor stored in the supply device is kept in a dry state. This makes it possible to make the sensor more durable.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the first aspect, the sensors are individually laminated in two flakes with two films. Therefore, the sensor can be stored for a long time, and deterioration of the sensor due to storage can be prevented.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the measurement system according to the first aspect, the supply device takes out a sensor from the laminated film every time there is a request to take out the sensor. The measuring system is characterized in that the sensor is discharged from the supply device, and the sensor is taken out from the packaging material of the sensor every time there is a request for taking out, and the handleability when inserting the sensor into the measuring device is ensured. be able to.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the seventh aspect, the film after the sensor has been taken out can be taken out from the supply device at a time. The film is ejected from the measuring device every time the sensor is inserted, the film ejected to the supply device is temporarily stored, and the films are collectively taken out from the temporary storage location. This saves time and effort for operation.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the measurement system according to the first aspect, the number of sensors in the supply device can be displayed on the supply device. It is a system, and it is possible to know the time of replenishing the sensor, such as when the stock is almost exhausted, without opening the sensor installation portion in the supply device and seeing it by displaying the stock quantity.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the first aspect, the sensors are supplied to the supply device in accordance with the stock number of the sensors stored in the supply device. This is a measurement system characterized by notifying the user, and it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to supply the stock sensor and running out of stock.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the measurement system according to the first aspect, wherein the sensor is a disposable sensor for measuring blood glucose. By disposing of, disposable cleaning is easy, hygiene is good, and measurement accuracy is not reduced.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the measurement system according to the first aspect, a switch for requesting discharge of a new sensor is provided in the supply device. In addition to the automatic ejection of the sensor by inserting the measuring device into the slot of the supply device, the system is provided with a switch so that the sensor can be manually ejected.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the second aspect, a switch for requesting the supply of a sensor is provided in the slot. By inserting a measuring device into the slot, a sensor supply request can be automatically issued to the supply device.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the second aspect, the slot is covered with a transparent cover, and the sensor discharged from the supply device is connected to the measuring device. This is a measuring system characterized in that the mounting is configured to be visually confirmed. The mounting of the sensor to the measuring device can be visually confirmed, and the reliability of the operation can be improved.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the first aspect, the supply device includes:
It is provided with a calibration chip for calibrating the measurement device, the calibration chip discharged from the supply device,
The measurement system is characterized in that calibration is performed by being set at the sensor mounting position of the measurement device, and the accuracy of the measurement device is improved by performing calibration with a calibration chip. By setting the mounting position to be the same as the sensor mounting position, confusion at the mounting stage can be prevented.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the fifteenth aspect, the calibration chip is fixed to the supply device without being removed from the supply device. It is a measurement system characterized by the fact that unlike a disposable sensor, one sensor is not always required for one measurement, so by fixing it, it can be handled incorrectly as a sensor. Can be eliminated.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the fifteenth aspect, the measuring device is set on a calibration chip separately from the sensor slot for calibrating the measuring device. The calibration system is further provided with a calibration slot for performing the calibration chip introduction to the calibration chip insertion port of the measurement device, and can improve the reliability of the operation. The conventional complicated processes can be easily performed.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the seventeenth aspect, the calibration slot is covered with a transparent cover so that the mounting of the measuring device and the calibration chip can be confirmed. This makes it possible to visually confirm the mounting of the calibration chip on the measuring device, thereby improving the reliability of the operation.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the fifteenth aspect, the value of the calibration chip is varied according to the calibration value corresponding to each sensor stored in the supply device. This is a measurement system characterized by doing so, and the measurement accuracy can be improved by using a calibration chip corresponding to the sensor.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the nineteenth aspect, the supply device reads a calibration value displayed on a film wrapping the sensor, and based on the read calibration value. This is a measurement system characterized in that the value of the calibration chip is made variable, and the calibration value of the sensor can be read in a film-wrapped state. It is possible to easily check whether the sensors stored in the device are compatible.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the nineteenth aspect, a display unit for displaying to a user is further provided so that the calibration value can be displayed on the display unit. Thus, the calibration value of the currently stored sensor can be visually confirmed, so that it is easy to confirm whether the corresponding calibration chip is installed in the supply device.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the fifteenth aspect, when a sensor is supplied from the supply device to the measuring device, a calibration value to be set in the measuring device is set to a previous value. If the value is different from the measurement value, the calibration system requests the calibration of the measurement device, stops supplying the sensor, and terminates the calibration to enable the supply of the sensor. Only when the corresponding calibration value is set in the measuring device, it is possible to proceed to the measuring step.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the twentieth aspect, if the calibration value displayed on the film of the sensor cannot be read, supply of the sensor is stopped. It is possible to reliably perform a series of measurement procedures.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the first aspect, the supply device is provided with a space for accommodating measurement-related devices such as a blood collecting device, insulin, and a syringe. It is a measurement system characterized by the fact that the equipment related to the measurement can be organized and stored together in one place, reducing the trouble of searching for the necessary thing when needed, and the usability as a measurement system Is improved.

[0034]

(Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1
With a plurality of biosensors placed in the packaging material at the sensor installation position of the supply device and the measurement device set at a predetermined position of the supply device, the biosensor is fitted from the supply device to the connector of the measurement device. It is configured to match. Then, in this fitted state, the detecting means operates to operate the drive power supply.

The measuring system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which corresponds to claims 1 to 14 and 24, will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show a measurement system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a sensor storage case 3 for storing a plurality of sensor packages 2 and a storage unit 44 for storing related devices 43 such as an insulin, a syringe, and a blood sampler are provided on an upper surface of a housing of the measurement system main body 1. Are provided, and devices related to the measurement can be arranged, and since the devices related to the measurement are collectively stored in one place, the trouble of searching for a necessary object when required is reduced, and the measurement system is easy to use.

As shown in FIG. 3, inside the measuring system main body 1, a sensor sending means 4 for sending out the sensor package 2 from the sensor storage case 3, and a packaging material of the sensor package 2 sent out from the sensor storage case 3. 5, a packaging material cutting unit 7 for taking out the biosensor 6 and taking out the biosensor 6, a sensor discharging means 8 for further sending out the taken out biosensor 6 and discharging it at a predetermined sensor discharging position, and discharging after the biosensor 6 is taken out. A packaging material collection box 9 for collectively removing the packaging material is provided.
The packaging material collection box 9 can secure a place for temporarily storing the packaging material 5 discharged to the measurement system main body,
By taking out the wrapping material in a lump, it is possible to save labor for operation. In the first embodiment, the supply device in the claims corresponds to the sensor sending means 4 and the sensor discharging means 8. The measuring device in the claims corresponds to the measuring unit 45.

The measuring system body 1 includes a measuring unit 4
A slot 10 for inserting the biosensor 5 into the main body 1 is provided, so that it is possible to reduce the complexity of the operation when setting the biosensor in the measurement unit, and to improve the workability when transferring the sensor. it can.

A switch 51 for detecting the insertion of the measuring unit 45 into the slot 10 and a sensor outlet 11 are provided at the end of the inside of the slot 10 of the measuring system body 1 and the measuring unit is connected to the slot. , A sensor supply request can be automatically issued to the measurement system body. In addition, the reliability of the operation when guiding the biosensor to the sensor insertion port of the measurement unit can be improved, and the pre-measurement process can be easily performed.

Further, the upper surface of the slot 10 and the upper surface of the housing of the main body 1 of the system main body 1 are formed of a transparent member 50a, so that the mounting of the biosensor on the measuring unit can be visually confirmed, and the reliability of the operation can be improved. Can be improved.

As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, a control device 12 having a switch section 12a, an input section 12b, a display section 12c, and a storage operation section 12d is provided on the front of the main body 1. By operating the unit 12a, a series of operations of the sensor sending means 4, the packaging material cutting unit 7, and the sensor discharging means 8 can be operated, and the sensor can be discharged manually.

Further, by inputting the number of sensor packages 2 as an initial value from the input section 12b when the sensor storage case 3 is mounted, the number is automatically subtracted from the initial value each time a sensor is supplied. Alternatively, the result of the subtraction can be displayed on the display unit 12c as the number of stocks, and when the stock is almost exhausted, it is possible to know when to replenish the sensors without opening the sensor installation portion in the measurement system main body 1 and looking at them. It is possible to prevent the sensor from being forgotten to be replenished and out of stock.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sensor storage case 3 is provided with an elastic body such as a spring 13 for pressing the sensor package 2 inside the case downward on a lid 3b covering the upper loading port 3a. Side wall 3 facing material cutting unit 7
A sensor outlet 3d is formed at the bottom of c, and a sensor outlet 3e is formed at the bottom. A pair of sensor sending rollers 4a and a sensor sub-roller 4b constituting the sensor sending means 4 are installed so as to be rotatable in the upper and lower stages on the outer side along the sensor outlet 3d and in directions opposite to each other. The delivery roller 4c is installed so as to enter the upper edge of the sensor delivery port 3e. A desiccant box 14 filled with a desiccant (not shown) for maintaining the inside of the case in a dry state is attached to the inner side surface of the sensor storage case 3 to make the sensor more durable. Can be.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor package 2
Two laminated films formed by vapor deposition of aluminum on the surface of the ET are used as a packaging material 5, and a biosensor 6 is provided between the films 5.
And a desiccant (not shown) are separated and stored, and the periphery of these storage portions is fusion-sealed with a predetermined width.
As a result, the sensor can be stored for a long time, and deterioration of the sensor due to storage can be prevented. In addition, by disposing the sensor disposable, it is easy to clean up and sanitary,
There is no loss in measurement accuracy.

In the biosensor 6, the counter electrode 16 and the measurement electrode 17, the leads 18 and 19 connected to them, and the insulating layer 20 are provided on the surface of the substrate 15, and the counter electrode 1 is provided.
A reaction layer (not shown) containing an enzyme and a mediator (electron acceptor) is formed so as to cover 6 and the measurement electrode 17. The biosensor 6 includes a spacer 22 having a U-shaped notch 21 serving as an air hole in a portion corresponding to the measurement electrode 17, and a spacer 22.
And a cover 24 formed with a sample supply hole 23 communicating with the notch 21 of the substrate 15, and the substrate 15, the spacer 22, and the cover 24 are fixed to each other. Reference numeral 25 denotes a mounting end to the measuring device, and reference numeral 25a denotes a protrusion provided to prevent the biosensor 6 from being reversely inserted into the measuring device. When a test liquid (sample) is dropped into the sample supply hole 23 with the mounting end 25 mounted on the measuring device, the test liquid is guided onto the counter electrode 16 and the measurement electrode 17 by capillary action in the notch 21. , Counter electrode 16 and measuring electrode 1
The air above 7 is discharged to the side of the spacer 22 through the notch 21. A calibration value display 46 corresponding to the electrical characteristics of the biosensor 6 is written on the surface of the packaging material 5 by printing or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the packaging material cutting unit 7 includes a stage 26 on which the sensor package 2 sent out by a predetermined distance by the sensor sending means 4 is positioned and mounted. Above the stage 26, a cutter 27 that cuts the packaging material 5 of the sensor package 2, a sensor push-out unit 28 that pushes out the biosensor 6 from the cut packaging material 5, and an extruded material from the packaging material 5. A sensor guide portion 29 for guiding the biosensor 6 toward the sensor outlet 11 is provided, and a cutter top cover 30 is provided so as to cover above these. Stage 26
Is rotatable around the axis of the shaft portion 26a, and the above-described packaging material collection box 9 is disposed below the end of the shaft portion 26a.

The cutter 27 has, at one end, a V-shaped blade 31 (opened at 45 ° on both sides in the sensor movement direction from the sensor storage case 3 to the sensor outlet 11), and at the other end, a cutter top cover. The blade 31 is supported above the stage 26 by an elastic member such as a leaf spring 34 which is rotatably supported around the axis of a shaft 33 inserted through a base 32 fixed to the base 30 and abuts on the lower surface. A certain standby position (indicated by a dashed phantom line) and the blade 31
6 is rotatable over a cut position (shown by a solid line) that fits into a concave portion (not shown) formed on the upper surface of 6.

The sensor pushing means 28 is attached downward to one end of a support member 35 arranged along the sensor movement direction, and the lower portion is inclined at an angle a toward the sensor storage case 3 so that the support member 35 is attached. Slide button 3
6 is a groove-shaped guide portion of the cutter top cover 30 (not shown).
The biosensor 6 moves along with sliding to a predetermined position along the
Push out until you reach. A spacer 37 is attached to the other end of the support member 35 so as to contact the lower surface of the cutter top cover 30 and the upper surface of the cutter 27 to regulate the distance between both members.

The sensor guide section 29 is provided with a sensor pushing means 28.
The sensor receiving side is arranged at an angle of 45 ° with respect to the sensor moving direction, and the sensor receiving side is arranged so as to form a figure of eight, and the sensor discharging side is a gap 29a that allows the biosensor 6 to pass therethrough. Have been. The width W of the frontage of the sensor receiving portion of the sensor guide portion 29 is such that the sensor chamber 5a in which the biosensor 6 is stored can securely guide the biosensor 6 toward the center along the wall surface.
Is set wider than the width W ′. A downwardly projecting portion 38 is formed below the sensor guide portion 29 on the sensor discharge side, and a concave portion (described above) of the stage 26 into which the blade portion 31 is fitted is continued. 5
The non-encapsulated region of FIG. 1 enters and is pressed downward by the projection 38. Pressing amount is packaging material 5
(For example, 0.3 mm) or more.

The sensor discharging means 8 comprises two pairs of sensor discharging rollers 8 arranged at intervals along the sensor movement direction.
a, 8b and 8c, 8d.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. When the insertion of the measurement unit 45 into the slot 10 is detected by pressing the insertion detection switch 51, the storage operation unit 12
In response to the command d, the sensor sending roller 4a, the sensor feeding roller 4b, and the sensor sending roller 4c are driven.
The lowermost sensor package 2 pressed against is sent out by the rotation of the sensor sending roller 4c, and is sent out by the outlet 3d.
To the outside of the case through the sensor feed roller 4
a, the sheet is conveyed by a predetermined distance by the sensor roller 4b and is placed at a predetermined position on the stage 26 of the packaging material cutting unit 7 (at this time, the cutter 27 is at the standby position).

Thereafter, according to a command from the storage operation unit 12d,
The packaging material cutting unit 7 shifts to an operation of cutting the packaging material 5. That is, the slide button 36 slides to the sensor storage case 3 side, and the sensor pushing means 28 and the spacer 37 move to the sensor storage case 3 along with the supporting material 35 that moves, and the spacer 37 that has moved moves from the upper side. The pressed cutter 27 rotates around the axis of the shaft 33 against the urging force of the leaf spring 34, and moves down to the cutting position where the blade 31 of the cutter 27 fits into the recess of the stage 26, and the biosensor 6 on the packaging material 5 around the cutting edge 31
A V-shaped cut line 39 corresponding to the shape is inserted.

Next, the slide button 36 slides toward the sensor outlet 11 side, and the supporting member 35 that moves accordingly.
With the movement of the sensor pushing means 28 and the spacer 37, when the spacer 37 comes off the upper surface of the cutter 27, the cutter 27 is pushed by the urging force of the
, And the blade portion 31 is pushed up above the packaging material 5.

At the same time, the biosensor 6 is pushed by the sensor pushing means 28 and pushed out from the cut line 39 of the packaging material 5 while passing under the cutter 27 as shown in FIG. It is guided to the center side (c, c ′ direction) along the inner peripheral surface of the sensor guide part 29 over the packaging material 5 pressed down by the projection part 38, and passes through the central gap 29 a to the sensor discharge means 8. To the sensor discharge rollers 8a and 8b. After the slide button 36 stops at the predetermined position, the biosensor 6 is turned on by the sensor ejection means 8 driven by a command from the storage operation unit 12d.
Are moved by the sensor discharge rollers 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d, and are guided to the sensor discharge port 11.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the connector section 40 of the measuring unit 45 is guided by the inner peripheral surface of the slot 10 so that the sensor insertion port (not shown) of the connector section 40 faces the sensor discharge port 11. After that, the sensor discharge rollers 8c and 8d are driven for a predetermined time, and the biosensor 6 is mounted on the sensor insertion opening of the connector unit 40. At this time, since the upper surface of the slot 10 and the upper surface of the housing of the main body 1 are formed of the transparent member 50a, the attachment of the biosensor 6 to the connector portion 40 can be visually checked. After the sensor discharge rollers 8c and 8d stop, the slot 10 is stopped.
When the connector section 40 is retracted from the position, the mounting state is as shown in FIG. At this time, the connector 4
A slit 41 is formed in the upper surface of the sensor 0 along the axial direction of the sensor insertion port by a predetermined length, and a stopper means 42 slidably provided in the slit 41 for contacting the end face of the inserted biosensor 6. Therefore, the biosensor 6 is arranged at an appropriate position of the sensor insertion port.

The biosensor 6 is mounted on the measuring unit 45 in this way, the collected blood is dropped on the biosensor 6, the blood glucose level is measured by the measuring unit 45, and this is displayed on the LCD display of the measuring unit. After completing a series of measurement operations, the biosensor 6 is slid in the direction of the arrow d in the slit 41 as shown in FIG.
Discharge outside 0.

On the other hand, the packaging material 5 remaining on the stage 26
Can be slid into the packaging material collection box 9 by rotating and tilting the 26 around the axis of the shaft portion 26a. Packaging material 5 accumulated in the packaging material collection box 9
Can be collectively discharged by removing the packaging material collection box 9 from the main body 1 as appropriate.

As described above, the biosensor 6 enclosed in the packaging material 5 is loaded into the sensor storage case 3 and set at a predetermined position, so that the mounting operation of the biosensor 6 to the measuring device is ensured one by one. This can reduce the trouble and labor required to take out the biosensor 6 from the packaging material 5 as compared with the conventional method.

The stock quantity of the sensor in the storage case 3 is automatically calculated by the storage calculation unit 12d and displayed on the display unit 12c every time the biosensor 6 is mounted on the measuring device. Therefore, it is possible to easily know when to load the sensor storage case 3 and to prevent stock-out.

As described above, according to the measuring system of the first embodiment, the sensor storage case for storing a plurality of sensors, and the sensor sending means for sending out the sensor from the sensor storage case and discharging the sensor at a predetermined sensor discharge position. With the configuration including the sensor discharging means and the sensor discharging means, the mounting operation of the biosensor to the measuring unit can be performed reliably one by one, and the handling of the sensor can be surely performed.

Further, a new biosensor is ejected from the measuring system main body in accordance with the operation of inserting the measuring unit into the slot, so that the biosensor set at a fixed position of the measuring system main body can be used. The work of taking out from the main body can be easily performed.

Further, every time there is a request for taking out the biosensor, the biosensor is taken out of the packaging material and discharged from the measurement system body. Therefore, every time there is a demand for taking out the biosensor, the biosensor is taken out of the packaging material. It is possible to ensure the handling when inserting into the measuring unit.

In addition, by providing a storage unit for storing insulin, a syringe, a blood collection device, and the like in the measurement system, related devices can be collectively managed, and a user-friendly measurement system can be provided.

Further, by providing a slot for inserting the measuring unit in the measuring system, the mounting operation of the sensor to the measuring unit can be performed more reliably and easily.

Further, the upper surface of the slot and the upper surface of the measuring system main body corresponding to the upper surface of the slot are formed of a transparent member, so that the insertion of the sensor into the measuring unit can be visually confirmed.

Further, by providing inside the sensor storage case a roller constituting a part of the sensor discharging means and a spring as an elastic body for pressing the sensor toward the roller, the sensor is provided. You can send out one sheet at a time.

Further, by providing a packaging material cutting unit as a sensor taking-out means for cutting the film-shaped packaging material and taking out the sensor, the packaging material is automatically automatically set even when the sensor individually packaged with the film-shaped packaging material is loaded. The sensor can be taken out and discharged, so that the sensor can be used with its storage state being good, and the trouble and effort to take out the sensor from the packaging material can be reduced as compared with the related art.

Further, by arranging a desiccant in the sensor storage case, it is possible to reliably maintain the performance of the sensor.

Further, by providing a packaging material collection box as the packaging material removing means, it becomes possible to reliably remove the film-like packaging material remaining in the sensor taking out means.
Discharge of the sensor attached to the measurement unit can be performed smoothly one after another.

Further, by providing a storage calculation unit and a display unit for automatically calculating and displaying the stock quantity of the sensors in the sensor storage case, it is possible to easily know the timing of loading the sensors into the sensor storage case. Yes, it can prevent stock-out.

In the first embodiment, when the insertion of the measuring unit 45 into the slot 10 is detected, a series of sensor discharging operations is started, and the biosensor 6 is mounted on the connector section 40. Is the switch unit 12a
, A series of sensor discharging operations may be started, and the biosensor 6 may be attached to the connector section 40.

Further, in the first embodiment, the upper surface of the slot and the upper surface of the measurement system main body corresponding to the upper surface of the slot are formed by transparent members. May be constituted by an integral transparent member, or only the vicinity of the connector when the measuring unit is mounted in the slot may be made transparent.

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 2, the variation of the sensor characteristic of each biosensor from the reference value is calibrated, and the measurement value of the measurement unit can be calibrated. FIGS. 10 to 13 show claims 1 to 2
Fourth, particularly a second embodiment of the present invention corresponding to claims 15 to 23, wherein the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 denote the same components. The measurement system main body 1 is provided with a calibration slot 47 used when calibrating the measurement unit 45, and a calibration chip 48 of the measurement unit 45 is provided.
The reliability of the operation when guiding the calibration chip 48 to the insertion port can be improved, and the conventional complicated steps can be easily performed. The upper portion of the calibration slot 47 and the upper surface of the housing of the measurement system main body 1 are formed of transparent members 50a and 50b, and the mounting of the calibration chip 48 on the measurement unit 45 can be visually confirmed. Further, a calibration chip 48 is provided at an inner front end of the calibration slot 47. Unlike the biosensor which is disposable, the calibration chip 48 does not always need to be one for one measurement. Therefore, by setting the calibration chip 48 fixedly, it is possible to avoid mishandling with the biosensor 6. I'm preventing.

Inside the measuring system body 1, a reading window 3f for reading a calibration value display 46 displayed on the packaging material 5 is provided at the bottom of the sensor storage case 3, and a calibration window is provided below the reading window 3f. As shown in the reading means 49 of the value display 46 and the calibration value read by the reading means 49 in the storage operation section 12d, as shown in the block diagram of FIG.
2d1 and calibration value changing means 12d2 for changing the calibration value of the calibration chip 48 based on the comparison result are provided. As described above, since the calibration value is read in a state where the biosensor 6 is packaged in the packaging material 5, the current measurement unit 45
It is possible to easily check whether or not the calibration value set in the above corresponds to the biosensor stored in the measurement system main body 1. Further, the same sensor sending means 4, the wrapping paper cutting unit 7, and the sensor discharging means 8 as those in the first embodiment are provided.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. When the insertion of the measurement unit 45 into the slot 10 is detected by pressing the insertion detection switch 51, the reading unit 4
9 reads the calibration value display 46 of the packaging material 5 at the bottom of the sensor storage case 3. The calibration value display 46 displays a reference value of a characteristic to be possessed by the biosensor 6 and a calibration value indicating a variation of each sensor from the reference value.
The storage operation unit 12d stores the value after comparing it with the previous stored value of the calibration value display by the calibration comparing unit. Thus, measurement accuracy can be improved by using a calibration chip corresponding to the sensor. Further, the storage operation unit 12d displays the calibration value on the display unit 12c. If the calibration value is the same as the previous one, the storage operation unit 12d drives the sensor sending means 4 to start supplying the sensor package 2. If the calibration value is different from the previous value, the sensor sending means 4 is not driven and the calibration slot 47 remains in the standby state.
The value of the calibration chip 48 is changed according to the calibration value, and a display requesting the calibration of the measurement unit 45 is displayed on the display unit 12c. Thereby, the calibration value of the currently stored biosensor can be visually confirmed, and it can be easily confirmed whether the calibration value of the corresponding calibration chip is set in the measurement system main body. Further, it is possible to proceed to the measurement step only when the calibration value corresponding to the biosensor to be measured is set in the measurement system main body. The user inserts the measurement unit 45 into the calibration slot 47 according to this display, whereby the calibration chip 48 is attached to the sensor insertion port of the connector unit 40 of the measurement unit 45, and the calibration of the measurement unit 45 is performed.

That is, when the calibration chip 48 is normally inserted into the connector of the measuring unit, the drive power supply is operated by a switch (not shown), and the insertion of the calibration chip 48 is detected by the detection circuit. At this time, the storage operation unit 12d of the measurement system main body 1 outputs the calibration value to the calibration chip 48, and the CPU of the measurement unit 45 stores the calibration value in the storage circuit, and stores the calibration value in the subsequent original measurement. Used for calibration.

In order to make it possible to determine whether the calibration chip 48 or the biosensor 6 has been inserted into the connector by the detection circuit of the measurement unit 45, the storage operation unit 12d of the measurement system main unit 1 performs calibration. The value itself is converted into a signal having a signal format different from that at the time of inserting the sensor and output to the calibration chip 48, or a value that cannot be taken at the time of inserting the biosensor is output first, and then the original calibration is performed. It is possible to output a signal different from that at the time of inserting the biosensor, such as outputting a value. The CPU of the measuring unit extracts the original calibration value from such a calibration value signal and stores it in the storage circuit.

At the time of this calibration, the calibration slot 47
Since the upper surface is formed of the transparent member 50b, the mounting of the calibration chip 48 on the connector portion 40 can be visually checked. After the calibration is completed, the user inserts the measuring unit 45 into the original slot 1
0, the storage operation unit 12d outputs the sensor
To start supplying the sensor package 2.

The storage operation section 12d is provided with the reading means 4
If the calibration value display 46 cannot be read in step 9, the sensor sending means 4 is not driven and remains in the standby state. Therefore, a series of measurement procedures can be reliably performed. The operation after driving the sensor sending means 4 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

As described above, the display of the calibration value written on the packaging material 5 of the biosensor 6 is read, and if this is different from the previously stored value, the mounting of the biosensor on the measurement unit 45 is stopped. If the user is prompted to replace the calibration slot 47 and replaces the calibration unit, the calibration value is automatically provided to the measurement unit.
Appropriate calibration can be performed automatically, and troublesome operation can be eliminated.

As described above, according to the measuring system of the second embodiment, the reading means for reading the calibration value display on the packaging material, the comparing and storing means, and the means for changing the value of the calibration chip are provided inside the measuring system. By providing it, the accuracy of the measurement unit can be improved, and by setting the mounting position to be the same as the mounting position of the biosensor, confusion at the mounting stage can be prevented. ,
Appropriate calibration can be performed.

Further, by providing a configuration in which the sensor is not supplied until the measurement unit is calibrated, accurate measurement can be performed. In the second embodiment, the upper surface of the calibration slot and the upper surface of the measurement system main body corresponding to the upper surface of the calibration slot are formed of transparent members. Up to the top surface may be formed of an integral transparent member, or only the vicinity of the connector when the measurement unit is mounted in the calibration slot may be made transparent.

In the second embodiment, the calibration chip is fixedly provided in the calibration slot. However, a plurality of calibration chips having different calibration values are stored, and the biosensor is used. This may be selected according to the required calibration value, discharged from the measurement system main body in the same manner as the biosensor, and set at the sensor mounting position in the calibration slot.

[0083]

As described above, according to the measuring system according to the first aspect of the present invention, a new sensor is mounted every time measurement is performed, and the characteristics of the sample supplied to the sensor are measured. A supply device that stores one of the plurality of stored sensors so that a new sensor can be attached to the measurement device in response to a removal request. By setting the measurement device to a predetermined position of the supply device, the sensor discharged from the supply device is configured to be attached to the measurement device, so that handling when inserting the sensor into the measurement device is performed. There is an effect that the property can be ensured.

According to the measuring system according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the first aspect, the supply device includes a slot capable of receiving the measuring device. Since the delivery of the sensor from the supply device to the measurement device is performed in the slot, the complexity of the operation of setting the sensor to the measurement device can be eliminated, and the operation at the time of sensor delivery can be performed. There is an effect that the property can be improved.

Further, according to the measuring system according to the third aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the second aspect, the operation of inserting the measuring device into the slot of the supply device is performed. In addition, since a new sensor is discharged from the supply device, there is an effect that the operation of taking out the sensor set at a fixed position of the supply device from the supply device can be easily performed.

According to the measuring system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the second aspect, by inserting the measuring device into the slot of the supply device, Since the sensor previously discharged from the supply device is set in the measurement device, the reliability of the operation when guiding the sensor to the sensor insertion opening of the measurement device can be improved, and the conventional complicated There is an effect that the pre-measurement process can be easily performed.

According to the measuring system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the first aspect, the sensor stored in the supply device is kept in a dry state. Since the measurement system is characterized in that the sensor is made as described above, there is an effect that the sensor can be made more durable.

According to the measuring system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the sensors are individually laminated in two flakes with two films. So that
There is an effect that the sensor can be stored for a long time and deterioration of the sensor due to storage can be prevented.

According to the measuring system of the invention described in claim 7 of the present application, in the measuring system according to the invention of claim 1, the supply device includes the laminating device each time the take-out request is issued. Since the sensor is taken out of the supplied film and discharged from the supply device, it is possible to take out the sensor from the packaging material of the sensor every time there is a take-out request, and to ensure the ease of handling when inserting the sensor into the measuring device. effective.

According to the measuring system of the invention described in claim 8 of the present application, in the measuring system according to the invention of claim 7, the film after the sensor is taken out is collectively supplied to the supply system. Since the film can be removed from the device, the film discharged from the measuring device every time the sensor is inserted can be temporarily stored in the supply device, and the film can be collected from the temporary storage location. There is an effect that the trouble of operation can be saved by taking out.

[0091] According to the measuring system according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the first aspect, the number of sensors in the supply device is displayed on the supply device. Since it is possible to display the number of stocks, it is possible to know the time for replenishing the sensors, such as when the stock is almost exhausted, without opening the sensor installation portion in the supply device and without looking at it.

[0092] According to the measuring system according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the first aspect of the present invention, according to the stock number of the sensors stored in the supply device. Thus, the user is notified to supply the sensor to the supply device, so that it is possible to prevent the sensor from being forgotten and the sensor from being out of stock.

[0093] According to the measuring system of the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system of the first aspect, the sensor is a disposable sensor for measuring blood glucose. By disposing it as a disposable device, there is an effect that the measurement system can be easily cleaned up, is hygienic, and does not reduce the measurement accuracy.

According to the measuring system of the invention described in claim 12, in the measuring system described in claim 1, a switch for requesting discharge of a new sensor is provided in the supply device. Since the sensor is automatically ejected by inserting the measuring device into the slot of the supply device, the sensor can be manually ejected.

According to the measuring system of the present invention, a switch for requesting the supply of a sensor is provided in the slot. Therefore, by inserting the measuring device into the slot, it is possible to automatically issue a sensor supply request to the supply device.

According to the measuring system of the present invention, the slot is covered with a transparent cover, and the sensor discharged from the supply device can be visually attached to the measuring device. Thus, the mounting of the sensor on the measuring device can be visually confirmed, and there is an effect that the reliability of the operation can be improved.

[0097] According to the measuring system according to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the first aspect, the supply device is a calibration system for calibrating the measuring device. The chip is provided, and the calibration chip discharged from the supply device is set at the sensor mounting position of the measurement device, so that the calibration is performed. In addition, the accuracy of the measuring device can be improved, and by making the mounting position the same as the sensor mounting position, it is possible to prevent confusion at the mounting stage.

[0098] According to the measuring system according to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the fifteenth aspect, the calibration chip is not removed from the supply device. Since the calibration chip is configured so as to be fixedly provided to the supply device, unlike the disposable sensor, the calibration chip does not necessarily require one chip for one measurement. This has the effect of eliminating errors with the sensor.

Further, according to the measuring system of the present invention described in claim 17, in the measuring system according to claim 15, in order to calibrate the measuring device, the measuring device is attached to a calibration chip. The calibration slot for setting the calibration tip is further provided, so that the reliability of the operation when guiding the calibration tip to the calibration tip insertion port of the measuring device can be improved, and the conventional complicated There is an effect that the process can be easily performed.

According to the measuring system of the invention described in claim 18 of the present application, in the measuring system according to claim 17, the calibration slot is covered by a transparent cover, and the measuring device and the measuring device are connected to each other. Since the attachment with the calibration chip can be confirmed, the attachment of the calibration chip to the measuring device can be visually confirmed, and there is an effect that the reliability of the operation can be improved.

According to the measuring system according to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the fifteenth aspect, a calibration value corresponding to each sensor stored in the supply device is provided. , The value of the calibration chip is made variable, so that the use of the calibration chip corresponding to the sensor has the effect of improving the measurement accuracy.

According to the measuring system according to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the nineteenth aspect, the supply device includes a calibration value written on a film surrounding the sensor. Is read and the value of the calibration chip is changed based on the read calibration value, so that the calibration value can be read in a film wrapped state, and stored in the calibration value currently set for the measuring device and the supply device There is an effect that it can be easily checked whether or not the sensor is compatible.

According to the measuring system of the present invention described in claim 21 of the present application, the measuring system according to claim 19 further comprises a display unit for displaying to a user, Since the calibration value can be displayed in the section, the calibration value of the currently stored sensor can be visually confirmed, so that it is easy to confirm whether the corresponding calibration chip is installed in the supply device. is there.

According to the measuring system of the present invention, when the sensor is supplied from the supply device to the measuring device, the measurement is performed. If the calibration value to be set in the device changes from the previous value, calibration of the measuring device is requested, supply of the sensor is stopped, and sensor supply is enabled by terminating the calibration. There is an effect that the process can be shifted to the measurement process only when the calibration value corresponding to the sensor is set in the measurement device.

According to the measuring system according to the twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the measuring system according to the twentieth aspect, if the calibration value displayed on the film of the sensor cannot be read. Since the measurement system is characterized by stopping the supply of the sensor, there is an effect that a series of measurement procedures can be reliably performed.

According to the measuring system of the invention described in claim 24 of the present application, in the measuring system according to the invention of claim 1, the supply device includes a measuring device such as a blood collecting device, an insulin, and a syringe. A space that can store related equipment is provided, so that items related to measurement can be organized and stored together in one place, reducing the trouble of searching for necessary items when needed, making the measurement system easy to use. The effect is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a measurement system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a measurement system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the measurement system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a sensor package of the measurement system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a packaging material cutting unit of the measurement system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a packaging material cutting unit of the measurement system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a packaging material collection box of the measurement system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a sensor discharging unit of the measurement system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a method for loading a biosensor in the measurement system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a measurement system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a measurement system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a calibration unit of the measurement system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a sensor sending unit of the measurement system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional biosensor measurement device.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing a method for mounting a conventional biosensor on a measurement unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Measurement system main body 2 Sensor package 3 Sensor storage case 3a Loading port 3b Lid 3c Side wall 3d Sensor outlet 3e Sensor outlet 3f Reading window 4 Sensor sending means 4a Sensor sending roller 4b Sensor sub roller 5 Packaging material 5a Sensor storage room Reference Signs List 6 Biosensor 7 Packaging material cutting unit 8 Sensor discharge means 9 Packaging material collection box 10 Slot 11 Sensor discharge port 12 Control means 12a Switch section 12b Input section 12c Display section 13 Spring 14 Desiccant box 15 Substrate 16 Counter electrode 17 Measurement electrode 18 Lead DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 Lead 20 Insulating layer 21 Notch 22 Spacer 23 Sample supply hole 24 Cover 25 Mounting end 26 Stage 27 Cutter 28 Sensor pushing means 29 Sensor guide 30 Cutter top cover 31 Blade 32 Base 33 Shaft 34 Leaf spring 35 Supporting Material 36 Slide Button 37 Spacer 38 Protrusion 39 Cut Line 40 Connector 41 Slit 42 Stopper Means 43 Related Equipment 44 Storage Unit 45 Measurement Unit 46 Calibration Value Display 47 Calibration Slot 48 Calibration Chip 49 Reading Means 50a Slot Transparent Member 50b Calibration slot transparent member 51 Insertion detection switch

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Masashi Watanabe 8-1, Koshinmachi, Takamatsu-shi, Kagawa Prefecture Inside Matsushita Hisashi Denshi Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Miki Hosokawa 1-8, Koshinmachi, Takamatsu-shi, Kagawa Prefecture Hisashi Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Within the company (72) Inventor Akiya Yada 1 Koshinmachi, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture 1 Matsushita Hisashi Electronics Co., Ltd.

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. A measuring device for mounting a new sensor for each measurement, for measuring characteristics of a sample supplied to the sensor, storing the sensor and newly adding to the measuring device in response to a removal request. A supply device that discharges one of the stored plurality of sensors so that a suitable sensor can be mounted. The supply device is provided by setting the measurement device to a predetermined position of the supply device. A sensor discharged from the apparatus is mounted on a measuring device. 2. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the supply device has a slot capable of receiving the measurement device, and a sensor is transferred from the supply device to the measurement device in the slot. A measurement system characterized in that: 3. The measurement system according to claim 2, wherein a new sensor is discharged from the supply device in accordance with an operation of inserting the measurement device into a slot of the supply device. Measuring system. 4. The measurement system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor previously discharged from the supply device is set to the measurement device by inserting the measurement device into a slot of the supply device. A measurement system, characterized in that: 5. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor stored in the supply device is kept in a dry state. 6. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the sensors are individually laminated in two flakes with two films. 7. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the supply device takes out a sensor from the laminated film and discharges the sensor from the supply device every time the take-out request is issued. And measurement system. 8. The measuring system according to claim 7, wherein the film from which the sensor has been taken out can be collectively taken out of the supply device. 9. The measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the number of sensors in the supply device can be displayed on the supply device. 10. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the user is notified to replenish the sensor to the supply device according to the stock number of the sensors stored in the supply device. Characteristic measurement system. 11. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a disposable sensor for measuring blood glucose. 12. The measuring system according to claim 1, wherein a switch for requesting discharge of a new sensor is provided in the supply device. 13. The measuring system according to claim 2, wherein a switch for requesting the supply of a sensor is provided in the slot. 14. The measuring system according to claim 2, wherein the slot is covered with a transparent cover, and the mounting of the sensor discharged from the supply device to the measurement device can be visually confirmed. A measurement system, characterized in that: 15. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the supply device includes a calibration chip for calibrating the measurement device, and wherein the calibration chip discharged from the supply device includes the calibration chip. A measurement system, wherein calibration is performed by being set at a sensor mounting position of a measurement device. 16. The measurement system according to claim 15, wherein the calibration chip is fixed to a supply device without being removed from the supply device. 17. The measurement system according to claim 15, further comprising a calibration slot for setting the measurement device on a calibration chip, separately from the sensor slot, for calibrating the measurement device. Measurement system characterized by the following. 18. The measurement system according to claim 17, wherein the calibration slot is covered with a transparent cover so that the mounting of the measurement device and the calibration chip can be confirmed. 19. The measurement system according to claim 15, wherein the value of the calibration chip is varied according to the calibration value corresponding to each sensor stored in the supply device. . 20. The measurement system according to claim 19, wherein the supply device reads a calibration value displayed on a film surrounding the sensor, and changes a value of the calibration chip based on the read calibration value. A measurement system characterized by: 21. The measurement system according to claim 19, further comprising a display unit for displaying to a user, wherein the calibration value can be displayed on the display unit. 22. The measurement system according to claim 15, wherein when a sensor is supplied from the supply device to the measurement device, a calibration value to be set in the measurement device is different from a previous value. A measurement system, wherein calibration is requested, sensor supply is stopped, and calibration is completed to enable sensor supply. 23. The measurement system according to claim 20, wherein if the calibration value displayed on the film of the sensor cannot be read, the supply of the sensor is stopped. 24. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the supply device is provided with a space capable of storing measurement-related devices such as a blood sampler, insulin, and a syringe.