JP2004245730A - Urine sugar examination apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an examination apparatus for easily examining urine for sugar at home or likewise. <P>SOLUTION: The examination apparatus comprises a sensor unit 1 for sensing the glucose component contained in urine, a signal processing unit 3 for converting the glucose component detected by the sensor unit 1 into an electric signal, a comparison/determination unit 4 for comparing the electric signal proportional to the glucose component obtained by the signal processing unit 3 with a threshold value set in advance and determining urine sugar to be high/low according to a plurality of divisions, a display unit 6 for receiving an output signal from the comparison/determination unit 4 and visually displaying the urine sugar according to the divisions and a power source 7 for supplying drive power to the units. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a urine sugar testing device capable of easily testing a sugar component such as glucose contained in urine at home or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Diabetes is increasing year by year due to environmental factors such as overeating, drinking and lack of exercise. The number of patients, including suspected reserves, is said to be close to 14 million. In addition, one out of every five people over 40 years of age is affected or may be concerned.
[0003]
Diabetes has almost no subjective symptoms at an early stage, and therefore it often progresses without being noticed.
If such diabetes is left unchecked, vascular disorders and neuropathy will eventually occur, causing terrible diseases such as diabetic osteopathy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic gangrene, and myocardial infarction. It is important.
[0004]
By the way, in the case of diabetes, the insulin in the body does not function sufficiently, and the excess sugar overflows into the blood and eventually falls into the urine.Therefore, the sugar such as glucose contained in the urine is easily examined at home or the like. Conventionally, there are test instruments and devices which are useful for early detection and early treatment of diabetes.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, conventional urinary sugar testing devices are large and unsuitable for installation in toilets in homes, have complicated circuit configurations, and measure the degree of urinary sugar detected by the sensor. In order to make a visual judgment based on the change in coloration, there is a lack of objectivity to the test results, and there is still a problem to be solved.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and is a small and inexpensive circuit configuration that can be provided relatively inexpensively. The purpose is to obtain.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The urine sugar test device according to claim 1, wherein a sensor unit that detects a glucose component contained in urine,
A signal processing unit that converts the glucose component detected by the sensor unit into an electrical signal,
A comparison / determination unit that compares an electrical signal proportional to the glucose component obtained by the signal processing unit with a predetermined threshold value and determines the amount of urine sugar according to a plurality of categories,
A display unit that receives the output signal of the comparison / determination unit and displays the amount of urine sugar so that it can be visually observed according to a plurality of categories;
A power supply unit for supplying a driving power supply to each unit;
At least.
[0008]
The sensor unit in the urine sugar testing device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor unit samples urine as a sample, receives light irradiation from a light source, and detects a light refractive index proportional to a glucose component contained in the urine as an electric signal. It is characterized by doing.
[0009]
4. The urine sugar test apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sensor unit irradiates a sample containing urine with light from a light emitting element, and reflects a reflected light proportional to a glucose component contained in the urine from the sample as an electrical signal. It is characterized by detecting as
[0010]
The display unit of the urine sugar test apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display unit has a panel display unit divided into a plurality of segments, and a color-coded display and characters / symbols are displayed according to the amount of urine sugar. To do.
[0011]
6. The processing in the signal processing unit and the comparison / judgment unit in the urine sugar test device according to claim 5, which is processed by a microcomputer, and the microcomputer has an operation switch for instructing start of operation of the urine sugar test device. A reset circuit for instructing the urine sugar testing device to return to zero; a timer circuit for instructing the operation time of the urine sugar testing device; a memory for storing a urine sugar value output of the comparing / determining unit; And a modem for connection.
[0012]
[Action]
In the urine sugar test apparatus according to the first aspect, first, a glucose component is detected as a difference in the refractive index of light from urine sampled by the sensor unit.
Next, the detected signal is converted to a current value, and if necessary, amplified and sent to a signal processing unit. The signal processing unit converts the current value to a voltage value, performs necessary processing such as digitization (A / D conversion), and sends the result to the next comparison / determination unit. The comparison / determination unit compares the reference value of the sugar concentration previously input as the voltage value with the input voltage value, and determines the amount of the sugar concentration. Then, the result of the determination is sent to the next display unit, and is displayed on the liquid crystal panel so as to be visible according to the result of the determination.
The power supply unit supplies drive power to the sensor unit, the signal processing unit, the comparison / judgment unit, and the display unit, and the power source is a solar battery, a dry battery, a direct commercial DC power source, or the like.
With the above configuration, unlike the case of visually observing the change in color of the sample paper or the like, the sugar concentration can be objectively and highly accurately inspected, thereby contributing to early detection and early treatment of diabetes at home.
[0013]
In the urine sugar testing device according to claim 2, urine as a sample is sampled at the sensor unit, light is irradiated from a light source, and a light refractive index proportional to a glucose component contained in the urine is converted into an electric signal. Detected. For this reason, there is an advantage that the urine sugar testing device can be configured with high detection accuracy and at low cost.
[0014]
The sensor unit in the urine sugar test apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sensor unit irradiates the sample containing urine with light from the light emitting element, and electrically reflects reflected light proportional to the glucose component contained in the urine from the sample. It was detected as a signal. For this reason, although the configuration is different from that of the third aspect, the effect is that, similarly to the third aspect, there is an advantage that the detection accuracy is high and the urine sugar testing apparatus can be configured at low cost.
[0015]
The display unit in the urine sugar test apparatus according to the fourth aspect has a panel display unit divided into a plurality of segments, and a color-coded display and characters / symbols are displayed according to the amount of urine sugar. Therefore, the subject can visually check the display on the panel display unit, and can objectively determine the amount of urinary sugar by its color coding and characters / symbols, and can contribute to early detection and early treatment of diabetes. .
[0016]
6. The processing in the signal processing unit and the comparison / judgment unit in the urine sugar test device according to claim 5, which is processed by a microcomputer, and the microcomputer has an operation switch for instructing start of operation of the urine sugar test device. A reset circuit for instructing the urine sugar testing device to return to zero; a timer circuit for instructing the operation time of the urine sugar testing device; a memory for storing a urine sugar value output of the comparing / determining unit; To connect to a modem for use.
[0017]
Therefore, power is supplied from the power supply unit to each unit by operating the operation switch, and the operation is started. The timer circuit sets the time from the start to the end of the test in the microcomputer, and the reset circuit resets the display on the display unit to zero and resets the setting of each unit to zero.
Since a memory is connected to the microcomputer having the signal processing unit and the comparison / judgment unit, it is possible to store a signal as a test result from the comparison / judgment unit. And display it on the display unit to compare with past data.
It is needless to say that the memory may be provided in the microcomputer.
[0018]
Further, since the comparison / judgment unit of the microcomputer is connected to the external communication modem, the data from the comparison / judgment unit is transmitted to the specialized medical institution via the modem, and undergoes diagnosis and treatment by a specialist. You can also do so.
[0019]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the entire urine sugar test apparatus of the present invention.
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a sensor unit for detecting a sugar component such as glucose from urine. Reference numeral 2 denotes a microcomputer, which includes a signal processing unit 3 and a comparison / judgment unit 4. The signal processing unit 3 digitally processes a signal proportional to the sugar component detected by the sensor unit 1 and sends the signal to the next comparison / judgment unit 4.
[0020]
The comparison / judgment unit 4 receives the signal processed by the signal processing unit 3 as an input, compares the signal with a reference value input via the threshold value input unit 5, and judges the amount of sugar concentration.
For example, in the Japanese Diabetes Association, the fasting blood glucose level (mg / dl) is less than 110, the 2-hour meal glucose level is less than 140 in the normal range, the fasting blood glucose level is less than 110 to 126, and the 2-hour meal glucose level is 140 to less. Since the diabetic area is defined as a boundary area of less than 200, a fasting blood glucose level of 126 or more, and a two-hour meal glucose level of 200 or more, a urinary sugar level corresponding to these is determined, and a threshold based on this is determined. , Is input in advance to the comparison / determination unit 4 via the threshold value input means 5.
It is preferable that the input of the threshold is not performed individually by the subject, but is performed by the manufacturer at the time of shipment in order to avoid complexity.
[0021]
Reference numeral 6 denotes a display unit which receives a signal from the comparison / judgment unit 4 so as to allow a user to visually see a segmented display corresponding to the sugar concentration.
A specific example of the display unit 6 will be described later.
[0022]
Reference numeral 7 denotes a power supply unit that supplies necessary power to the sensor unit 1, the microcomputer 2, and the display unit 6. The power source is a solar battery, a dry battery, a DC power obtained by converting a normal commercial power supply, or the like.
[0023]
An operation switch 8, a reset circuit 9, and a timer circuit 10 are connected to the microcomputer 2. The operation switch 8 is for turning on and off the circuit constituting the urinary sugar testing device. When the operation switch 8 is turned on / off, predetermined power is supplied from the power supply unit 7 to each unit. ing.
The reset circuit 9 has a function of returning to zero, and is for erasing the storage of a temporary storage area (not shown) of the display unit 6, the signal processing unit 3 in the microcomputer 2, and the comparison / judgment unit 4 to return to zero. .
Further, the timer circuit 10 is for making the time from the detection of urine sugar by the sensor unit 1 to the display of the sugar concentration on the display unit 6 constant and uniform measurement conditions.
[0024]
Further, a memory 11 and a communication modem 12 are connected to the microcomputer 2, and the memory 11 stores a sugar concentration signal indicating a test result from the comparison / determination unit 4.
Although not shown in FIG. 1, past measurement data may be read from the memory 11 by a program operation in the microcomputer 2 and displayed on the display unit 6 in comparison with the present data.
Further, the provision of the communication modem 12 makes it possible to send measurement data to an external specialized organization for diagnosis and treatment.
[0025]
Next, FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the sensor unit, wherein (a) is a plan view and (b) is a side view.
In the figure, a sensor unit 20 includes a sampling carrier layer 21 having an ultrafine membrane surface for receiving urine as a sample, a deflecting prism layer 22 for transmitting only light of a certain range of wavelengths, and a deflecting prism layer 22. And a deflection receiving layer 23 for receiving the transmitted light.
Then, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 3, light (including natural light) received from a light source 24 composed of a light emitting element such as a photodiode is applied to the urine of the sampling support layer 21, and the concentration of glucose in the urine. , And reaches the deflection receiving layer 23 via the deflection prism layer 22. This optical signal is extracted through an output terminal 25 connected to the deflection receiving layer 23 and sent to the signal processing unit 3.
[0026]
Next, FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the sensor unit.
In this embodiment, an LED (LCD) driver 26 is driven in response to an output signal of the microcomputer 2, and the LED (LCD) driver 26 causes a light-emitting element 27 to emit light. I am trying to do it.
The light reflected by the sample 29 has a refractive index proportional to the concentration of glucose contained in urine, is received by the light receiving element 28, and converted into a current through a light-current conversion element (not shown). The signal is further input to the signal processing unit 3 of the microcomputer 2 via the I / V converter 30 and the A / D converter 31.
In any of the above embodiments, unlike the color reaction of the test paper, the detection accuracy is high, and there is an advantage that it can be manufactured at a low cost unlike the urine sugar testing apparatus having other complicated sensor units.
[0027]
Next, FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the display unit, in which (a) is a plan view and (b) is a side view, both of which are schematically drawn.
In the figure, the display unit main body 60 has a liquid crystal layer 61, and includes, for example, divided liquid crystal layers 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, and 61e divided into five segments. Each of the divided liquid crystal layers 61a to 61e is provided with a level display drive terminal 62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 62e for receiving a signal from the comparison / determination unit 4.
The display unit main body 60 includes power supply terminals 63 and 64 so that it can be driven by receiving power from the power supply unit 7 shown in FIG. 1. The display unit main body itself has a solar cell layer in a sandwich structure. It may be provided.
[0028]
In addition, the divided liquid crystal layers 61a to 61e can perform color display according to the sugar concentration, and further display the degree of the sugar concentration indicated by the color division together with characters and symbols. good.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above, urine sugar can be easily detected at home or the like, which is useful for early detection and early treatment of diabetes. In addition, the configuration of the device is relatively simple and can be manufactured at low cost, and the sensitivity of the sensor unit is good, and excellent effects such as accurate and objective judgment can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an entire configuration of a urine sugar testing device of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B show an embodiment of a sensor unit in the urine sugar testing device, wherein FIG. 2A is a plan view and FIG. 2B is a side view.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the sensor unit.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the sensor unit.
FIGS. 5A and 5B show an embodiment of a display unit in the urine sugar test apparatus, wherein FIG. 5A is a plan view and FIG. 5B is a side view.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sensor part 2 Microcomputer 3 Signal processing part 4 Comparison / judgment part 5 Threshold input means 6 Display part 7 Power supply part 8 Operation switch 9 Reset circuit 10 Timer circuit 11 Memory 12 Communication modem 20 Sensor part 21 Sampling support layer 22 Deflection prism Layer 23 Deflection receiving layer 24 Light source 25 Output terminal 26 LED (LCD) driver 27 Light emitting element 28 Light receiving element 29 Sample 30 I / V converter 31 A / D converter 60 Display main body 61 Liquid crystal layers 61a to 61e Liquid crystal layer 62a ~ 62e Level display drive terminals 63, 64 Power supply terminals

Claims (5)

A sensor unit for detecting a glucose component contained in urine,
A signal processing unit that converts the glucose component detected by the sensor unit into an electrical signal, and compares the electrical signal proportional to the glucose component obtained by the signal processing unit with a predetermined threshold, and according to a plurality of categories. A comparison / determination unit for determining the amount of urine sugar;
A display unit that receives the output signal of the comparison / determination unit and displays the amount of urine sugar so that it can be visually observed according to a plurality of categories;
A power supply unit for supplying a driving power supply to each unit;
A urine sugar testing device comprising at least: The said sensor part samples the urine as a sample, receives the light irradiation from a light source, and detects the light refractive index proportional to the glucose component contained in urine as an electrical signal, The claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Urine sugar analyzer. The said sensor part irradiates the sample containing urine with the light from a light emitting element, and detects the reflected light proportional to the glucose component contained in the urine from the sample as an electrical signal, The said sensor part is characterized by the above-mentioned. A urine sugar test apparatus according to claim 1. 2. The urine sugar inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit has a panel display unit divided into a plurality of segments, and is color-coded and characters / symbols are displayed according to the amount of urine sugar. . The processing in the signal processing unit and the comparison / judgment unit is processed by a microcomputer. The microcomputer has an operation switch for instructing the operation of the urine sugar testing device to start, and a reset operation of the urine sugar testing device to zero. A reset circuit for instructing, a timer circuit for instructing an operation time of the urine sugar testing device, a memory for storing a urine sugar value output of the comparing / determining unit, and an external communication modem are connected. The urine sugar test device according to claim 1.

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