JP2008259686A - Sample collector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sample collector capable of reducing a load on a user by reliably collecting a small amount of sample. <P>SOLUTION: The sample collector includes: a cylinder 11; a piston 12 to be slid in the inner part 11a of the cylinder 11; a piercing instrument storage part 14 arranged in the front part of the piston 12 in the inner part 11a of the cylinder 11, so as to store a piercing instrument 13; and a driving means 20 for allowing the piercing instrument 13 to be moved forward. When the piston 12 is moved backward, so as to reduce pressure in the inner part 11a of the cylinder 11, the sample R is sucked and collected from the distal end of the cylinder 11. That is, the piercing instrument 13 stored in the piercing instrument storage part 14 performs piercing, the piston 12 is moved backward, the pressure in the inner part 11a of the cylinder 11 is reduced, and then, the sample R is sucked and collected from the distal end of the cylinder 11. Consequently, even the small amount of sample is reliably collected, thereby reducing the load on the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sampler, and more particularly to a sampler that collects a sample to analyze and measure a sample such as blood.

Conventionally, for example, a biosensor chip that collects blood as a sample and detects the concentration of glucose in the blood is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the glucose sensor described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, a glucose sensor 100 that is a biosensor has a counter electrode 101 and a working electrode 102. The counter electrode 101 has a hollow needle shape half cut in the length direction, and a tip portion 103 thereof is obliquely cut into an injection needle shape so as to be easily punctured. In addition, insulating layers 104 and 104 ′ that also serve as adhesive layers, such as epoxy resin adhesives, silicone adhesives, or glass, are generally applied to the cut surfaces that have been cut into half, and these insulating layers 104 and 104 ′ are applied. The working electrode 102 is attached via The working electrode 102 is a flat plate member on which glucose oxidase enzyme (GOD) is immobilized, and is adhered to the counter electrode 101 with the surface on which GOD is immobilized facing inward.
Accordingly, the tip 103 of the needle-like counter electrode 101 is punctured into the subject to collect blood, and the reaction between the collected blood and the immobilized GOD 105 is detected by the working electrode 102 to determine glucose.

In addition, a biosensor that performs puncture and sample collection by integrating a biosensor chip and a lancet is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2).
9A is a perspective view of the sensor described in Patent Document 2, and FIG. 9B is an exploded perspective view of the sensor. As shown in FIG. 9, the lancet-integrated sensor 110 includes a chip body 111, a lancet 113, and a protective cover 115. The chip body 111 has a cover 111a and a substrate 111b that can be opened and closed, and an internal space 112 is formed on the inner surface of the cover 111a. The internal space 112 has a shape capable of movably storing the lancet 113, and the lancet 113 can be exchanged by opening the cover 111a.

  The needle 114 provided at the tip of the lancet 113 can be projected and retracted from an opening 112 a formed at the front end of the internal space 112 of the chip body 111 as the lancet 113 moves. The lancet 113 can be fixed to the chip body 111 by pressing both sides of the chip body 111 with a finger and pressing the projection 113a of the lancet 113, and puncture is performed in this fixed state. The protective cover 115 has a tube portion 115 a into which the needle 114 is inserted, and the tube portion 115 a can be accommodated inside the chip body 111 as the needle 114 moves. Therefore, in a state before use, the protective cover 115 is put on the needle 114 to protect the needle 114 and prevent the user from being accidentally injured. Note that the substrate 111b is provided with a pair of electrode terminals 116 so that the substrate 111b can be electrically connected to a measuring apparatus (not shown).

Therefore, in use, the protective cover 115 is removed, the lancet 113 is pushed, the needle 114 is protruded from the tip body 111, and both sides of the tip body 111 are pressed with fingers to fix the needle 114. After puncturing the subject in this state, the needle 114 is housed inside the chip body 111, the opening 112a provided at the front end of the chip body 111 is brought close to the puncture port, and the outflowed blood is collected.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-120655 (FIG. 1) International Publication No. 02/056769 Pamphlet (Figure 1)

  By the way, in the biosensor as described above, it is desired to reduce the amount of the sample to be collected to reduce the burden on the user, and accordingly, the reaction chamber with the reagent in the biosensor chip, Since the mouth for collecting the sample becomes very small, there is a disadvantage that it is difficult to collect the sample.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sampler that can reduce the burden on the user by reliably collecting a small amount of sample. is there.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a first feature according to the present invention includes a sample collection assisting portion, a puncture device accommodating portion for accommodating a puncture device, and a driving means for driving the puncture device. It has a sampler.

  The sample collector configured as described above has a sample collection assisting unit, a puncture device storage unit for storing the puncture device, and a drive means for driving the puncture device, so that it is accommodated in the puncture device storage unit. Puncture is performed using the puncture device, and the sample collection assisting unit collects the sample, so that a very small amount of sample can be reliably collected and the burden on the user can be reduced.

  The second feature of the present invention is the first feature of the present invention described above, wherein the sample collection assisting portion includes a cylinder and a piston that slides inside the cylinder, and the piston is moved by moving the piston. It is a sampler which makes the instrument accommodation part for puncture reduce pressure.

  In the sampler configured as described above, for example, the inside of the cylinder is decompressed by moving the piston backward, and the sample is sucked and collected from the tip of the cylinder. This can reduce the burden on the user. In addition, since the piston can be moved manually and a simple structure is sufficient, even if the subject is a woman or an elderly person, it is possible to make a sampler with a size that is easy to handle, matching the width of the finger. is there.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sampler according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the driving means is a spring.

  In the sampler configured as described above, the puncture device is moved forward using a spring to perform puncture, so that puncture can be performed in a short time, reducing pain and reducing the burden on the user. can do.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sampler according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, wherein the puncture device is a biosensor cartridge further provided with a biosensor chip.

  In the sampler configured in this way, since the puncture instrument is a biosensor cartridge further provided with a biosensor chip, the operation of bringing the biosensor chip close to the puncture port as in the conventional case is not necessary, and a short Since the sample can be collected in time, the burden on the user can be reduced.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sampler according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, wherein the sample collection auxiliary unit, the puncture device storage unit, and the driving means are integrated. is there.

  In the sample collector configured as described above, the sample collection assisting unit, the puncture device accommodating unit, and the driving means are integrated, and therefore, the sample is punctured and blood is aspirated and collected after puncture. A user can perform a series of operations while holding the sampler with one hand.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sample collection assisting portion having a cylinder and a piston sliding inside the cylinder, a puncture device accommodating portion for accommodating a puncture device, and driving the puncture device. A sampling method using a sampler having a driving means,
The distal end of the puncture device accommodating portion is pressed against the subject, the puncture device is driven by the driving means to puncture the subject, and then the piston is moved backward, whereby the puncture device accommodating portion is decompressed. Thus, the sample collection method collects a sample of the puncture opening.

  In the sample collecting method configured as described above, the tip of the puncture device container is pressed against the subject, and the puncture device is driven by the driving means to puncture the subject. Can be punctured. In addition, by moving the piston backward after puncturing, the puncture device accommodating portion is decompressed and the sample of the puncture port is sucked and collected from the tip of the cylinder, so that a very small amount of sample can be reliably collected, The burden on the user can be reduced.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sample collection assisting portion having a cylinder and a piston that slides inside the cylinder, a puncture device accommodating portion that accommodates a puncture device, and driving the puncture device. A sample collection method using a sampler having a driving means, wherein the tip of the puncture device storage portion is pressed against a subject and the piston is moved rearward, thereby accommodating the puncture device In the sample collection method, after the pressure is reduced, the puncture instrument is driven by the drive means to puncture the subject, and a sample of the puncture port is collected.

  In the sample collection method configured as described above, the tip of the puncture device accommodating portion is pressed against the subject, and the piston is moved rearward to depressurize the puncture device accommodating portion. As a result, the blood sample is easily produced. Since the puncture instrument is driven by the driving means to puncture the subject and the sample of the puncture port is collected, a very small amount of sample can be reliably collected, and the burden on the user can be reduced.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sample collection assisting portion having a cylinder and a piston sliding inside the cylinder, a puncture device accommodating portion for accommodating a puncture device, and driving the puncture device. A sample collection method using a sampler having a driving means, wherein the tip of the puncture device storage portion is pressed against a subject and the piston is moved rearward, thereby accommodating the puncture device This is a sample collection method for collecting a sample of a puncture port by driving the puncture instrument by the driving means and puncturing a subject and moving the piston further rearward after decompressing the part.

  In the sample collection method configured as described above, the tip of the puncture device accommodating portion is pressed against the subject, and the piston is moved rearward to depressurize the puncture device accommodating portion. As a result, the blood sample is easily produced. Then, the puncture device is driven by the driving means to puncture the subject, and the piston is further moved backward to collect the sample of the puncture port, so that a very small amount of sample can be reliably collected. Can be reduced. In addition to moving the piston further rearward, it may be possible to keep the pressure reduced by maintaining the position of the piston.

  According to the present invention, puncturing is performed with a puncture device accommodated in the puncture device accommodating portion, the inside of the cylinder is decompressed by moving the piston backward, and the sample is aspirated and collected from the tip of the cylinder. A small amount of sample can be reliably collected, and the effect that the burden on the user can be reduced is obtained, and the sampler having a size that can be easily handled by the subject can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of the sampler according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a driving means, and FIG. 3A is an example of a biosensor cartridge. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-B, FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3A showing an example of the biosensor cartridge, and FIGS. 4A to 4E are related to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process of the sample collection method which collects a sample using a sample collector.
It should be understood that the embodiment disclosed this time is illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the meanings described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

As shown in FIG. 1, a sample collector 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a sample collector in which a sample collection assisting portion 9, a puncture device accommodating portion 14, and a driving means 20 are integrated. 11 and a piston 12 sliding inside the cylinder 11 and a sample collection assisting portion 9 and a puncture device for receiving a puncture device 13 provided in front of the piston 12 (downward in FIG. 1) in the cylinder 11 inside 11a. It has an instrument housing part 14 and a drive means 20 for moving the puncture instrument 13 forward, and the piston 11 is moved rearward (upward in FIG. 1) to depressurize the inside 11a of the cylinder 11 to thereby reduce the tip 11b of the cylinder 11. The blood R or the like as a sample is aspirated and collected.
In the present invention, the puncture device 13 is a generic term for a needle, a lancet needle, a cannula, and the like, and is preferably made of a biodegradable material.

  The cylinder 11 is a cylindrical member having a circular cross section or a polygonal cross section in which a front end 11b (lower end in FIG. 1) and a rear end 11c (upper end in FIG. 1) are opened. A driving means 20 is provided at the center of the cylinder 11 in the axial direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1). The piston 12 is a columnar member corresponding to the shape of the inside 11 a of the cylinder 11 and is slidable so as to be in close contact with the inside 11 a of the cylinder 11. The front end 12 a of the piston 12 is closed, and the rear end 12 b is wider than the outer diameter of the cylinder 11 so that the piston 12 does not fall into the interior 11 a of the cylinder 11. The length of the piston 12 is a length that does not contact the driving means 20 provided in the cylinder 11.

FIG. 2 shows an example in which a spring 21 is used as the driving means 20. The upper end of the spring 21 is fixed to a convex portion 22 that protrudes from the inside 11a of the cylinder 11, and can extend downward. Further, locking means 23 for locking the tip of the spring 21 in a compressed state is provided, and a puncture button 24 for releasing the locking means 23 and extending the spring 21 is provided. The cylinder 11 is provided with a button cutout 11 d, and the puncture button 24 is accommodated in the button cutout 11 d and the inside 11 a of the cylinder 11 so as not to protrude to the outside of the cylinder 11. Thus, the puncture button 24 is not pushed by an erroneous operation so that the puncture device 13 does not protrude from the tip of the cylinder 11, and the safety of handling is ensured. The surface of the button notch 11d is provided so that the cover 15 does not protrude from the outer surface of the cylinder 11 and can be pushed into the button notch 11d, and the puncture button 24 is operated by pushing the cover 15 with a finger. Is possible. Accordingly, the cover 15 is provided so as to seal the button cutout 11d, and the airtightness of the cylinder 11 inside 11a is maintained.
In this way, by performing puncturing by moving the puncture device 13 forward using the spring 21, puncture can be performed in a short time, so that the burden on the user can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the interior 11 a of the cylinder 11, a puncture device accommodating portion 14 that can accommodate the puncture device 13 is attached in front of the driving means 20. The puncture device accommodating portion 14 can accommodate, for example, a biosensor cartridge 30 having the puncture device 13.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the biosensor cartridge 30 includes a chip body 31 and a puncture device 13 that is fixed to the tip portion 31a of the chip body 31 and protrudes from the tip 13a. . An elastic body 40 is provided at the tip 31 a of the chip body 31.

  The chip body 31 has two substrates 33a and 33b facing each other and a spacer layer 34 sandwiched between the two substrates 33a and 33b. Detection electrodes 35a and 35b are provided on the surface of at least one substrate 33a of the two substrates 33a and 33b on the spacer layer 34 side, and tips (lower ends in FIG. 3A) are mutually connected. It is bent in an L shape in the opposite direction to maintain a predetermined interval. A hollow reaction portion 36 is formed by the two substrates 33 a and 33 b and the spacer layer 34 from the tip 31 a of the chip body 31 to the portion where the two detection electrodes 35 a and 35 b face each other. A sample into which blood R (see FIG. 4D) as a sample collected by puncturing the specimen M (see FIG. 4) with the puncture device 13 is introduced into the hollow reaction portion 36 at the tip of the hollow reaction portion 36 A sampling port 32 is provided. Further, at least one of the substrates 33 a and 33 b is provided with an air vent through hole 38 at a position corresponding to the rear end portion of the hollow reaction portion 36.

  The hollow reaction part 36 is formed of substrates 33a and 33b and detection electrodes 35a and 35b on both upper and lower surfaces, and a rectangular space is formed with a spacer layer 34 cut into a predetermined shape as a side wall. For this reason, in the hollow reaction part 36, the detection electrodes 35a and 35b are exposed, and for example, an enzyme and a mediator are fixed immediately above or in the vicinity of the detection electrodes 35a and 35b in the hollow reaction part 36. A reagent 37 that generates an electric current by reacting with glucose is provided. Therefore, the hollow reaction portion 36 is a portion where the blood R such as blood collected from the sample collection port 32 undergoes a biochemical reaction with the reagent 37.

Examples of the reagent 37 include enzymes such as glucose oxidase (GOD), glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), cholesterol oxidase, uricase, and electron acceptors.
For example, in the case of a glucose biosensor chip that measures the amount of glucose in the blood, this portion includes a glucose oxidase layer, a glucose oxidase-electron acceptor (mediator) mixture layer, a glucose oxidase-albumin mixture layer, or a glucose oxidase-electron. A receptor-albumin mixture layer or the like is formed. These layers may be formed using enzymes other than glucose oxidase, such as glucose dehydrogenase. Moreover, you may include a buffering agent, a hydrophilic polymer, etc. in a chemical | medical agent as an additive.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A and 3B, the elastic body 40 attached to the tip 31a of the chip body 31 has, for example, a circular cross section corresponding to the cross sectional shape of the cylinder 11. The center has a through hole 41 through which the puncture device 13 passes. The inner diameter of the through hole 41 is larger than the outer diameter of the needle 13 because the needle 13 is inserted therethrough. The thickness of the elastic body 40 is a thickness that can reliably cover the tip of the needle 13. Examples of the material of the elastic body 40 include rubbers such as silicone, urethane and acrylic rubber, rubbers or sponges made of polymer or copolymer such as ethylene and styrene, polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate, etc. Polyester, polytetrafluoroethylene, and fluororesin such as PFA which is a copolymer of perfluoroalkoxyethylene and polyfluoroethylene, and spring materials such as spring springs can be suitably used.

The lower end surface 42 of the elastic body 40 is fixed in a position slightly retracted from the tip 11 b of the cylinder 11 while maintaining airtightness, and a space 16 is provided in front of the lower end surface 42 of the elastic body 40. A donut-shaped plate member 43 having a hole corresponding to the through hole 41 is provided at the center below the elastic body 40 and fixed to the inside 11a of the cylinder 11 to support the elastic body 40 so that it does not fall downward. Also good. The inner peripheral surface of the through hole 41 is desirably made of a hydrophilic material, or at least the inner peripheral surface is preferably subjected to a hydrophilic treatment. Thereby, the blood R to be collected can be easily passed, and even a small amount of blood R can be reliably collected.
Therefore, when the biosensor cartridge 30 is moved downward by the spring 21 that is the driving means 20, the elastic body 40 is compressed, and the tip 13a of the puncture device 13 protrudes from the cylinder 11 and can be punctured. Further, after puncturing, the biosensor cartridge 30 is pushed up by the restoring force of the elastic body 40, so that the puncture device 13 is accommodated in the cylinder 11 inside 11a.

  As described above, in the sampler 10 according to the present invention, puncture is performed with the puncture device 13 accommodated in the puncture device accommodating portion 14, and the piston 11 is moved rearward so that the inside 11a of the cylinder 11 is moved. Since the pressure is reduced and the blood R is sucked and collected from the tip 11b of the cylinder 11, a very small amount of blood R can be reliably collected, and the burden on the user can be reduced. In addition, the sampler 10 according to the present invention can have a simple structure and can be easily handled by the subject. Further, since the biosensor cartridge 30 is accommodated in the puncture device accommodating portion 14 and puncture is performed using the puncture device 13 of the biosensor cartridge 30, a very small amount of blood R is reliably collected and the biosensor cartridge 30 is hollow. It can be introduced into the reaction unit 36, and the labor of collecting the blood R by bringing the biosensor chip 31 close to the puncture port as in the conventional manner can be saved, and the blood R can be introduced into the biosensor chip 31 in a short time. In addition, after use, the sampler 10 can be used any number of times by exchanging the biosensor cartridge 30 accommodated in the puncture device accommodating portion 14, thereby reducing the financial burden on the user. Can do.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4E, the puncture method will be described by taking as an example the case of measuring the blood glucose level using the sampler 10.
As shown in FIG. 1, with the piston 12 pushed into the cylinder 11 inside 11a, the biosensor cartridge 30 is attached to the puncture device accommodating portion 14, and the spring 21 of the driving means 20 is contracted and set.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (A), the tip 11b of the cylinder 11 is pressed against the puncture position of the subject M, and as shown in FIG. Aspirate and raise to congest. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4C, the puncture button 24 is pushed from above the cover 15, the biosensor cartridge 30 is moved forward by the spring 21, the elastic body 40 is compressed, and the subject is punctured by the puncture instrument 13. Puncture M.

After the puncture, as shown in FIG. 4D, the biosensor cartridge 30 is pushed up to the original position by the restoring force of the elastic body 40, and the puncture device 13 is removed from the subject M, and blood is inserted into the puncture port. R flows out. At this time, since the congested subject M is punctured, blood R easily flows out from a minute puncture port. Finally, as shown in FIG. 4 (E), when the piston 12 is pulled upward to depressurize the inside 11a of the cylinder 11, the biosensor passes through the through holes 38 (see FIG. 3) provided in the substrates 33a and 33b. The hollow reaction part 36 in the chip 31 is depressurized. Thereby, since outside air is sucked from the sample collection port 32, the blood R is sucked and collected, introduced into the hollow reaction part 36, and reacted with the reagent 37.
The biosensor cartridge 30 from which the blood R has been collected is attached to a measuring instrument (not shown), and analyzes and measures the collected blood R.

  As described above, according to the sample collection method according to the present invention, the tip 11b of the cylinder 11 is pressed against the subject M from which the blood R is collected and sucked once, thereby making the puncture position congested and puncture by the spring 21. Since puncture is performed by moving the instrument 13 forward, it is possible to puncture the desired place reliably and in a short time, and blood R can be easily discharged from the puncture opening. This eliminates the need for the operation of bringing the biosensor chip 31 close to the puncture opening as in the prior art, and allows blood R to be collected in a short time, thereby reducing the burden on the user. In addition, after puncturing, the piston 12 is moved backward to decompress the inside 11a of the cylinder 11 and suck and collect blood R from the tip 11b of the cylinder 11, so that a very small amount of blood R can be reliably collected, The burden on the user can be reduced. Further, since blood R is collected by pulling the piston 12 in one direction instead of reciprocating movement, even a woman or an elderly person can easily operate.

  In the above-described embodiment, the piston 12 is manually pulled out when the pressure inside the cylinder 11 is reduced in order to suck and collect the blood R after puncturing. However, as a modification of this embodiment, a spring bias is applied. The piston 12 can be automatically pulled out by the release means.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B are side views showing an automatic piston pulling mechanism in this case. A compression spring 60 is mounted between the rear end 12 b of the large diameter of the piston 12 and the rear end 11 c of the cylinder 11. Further, a release lever 61 is pivotally supported on the rear side portion of the cylinder 11 via a bracket 62 in the middle thereof. The rear end portion (upper end portion) of the release lever 61 is formed with an engaging claw 61a bent in an L shape, and the other end portion (front end portion) of the lever 61 is a manual pressing operation portion 61b.

  During the puncturing operation, the rear end 12b of the piston 12 is manually pushed against the compression spring 60, and at the same time, the release lever 61 is operated to lock the locking claw 61a to the rear end 12b of the piston 12 (FIG. 5). (A)). In this state, as described above, the biosensor cartridge 30 moves forward via the piston 12 and the driving means 20, and puncture is performed by the puncture device 13 at the tip of the cartridge. After the puncturing, the manual pressing operation portion 61b at the other end of the release lever 61 is pushed in as shown by an arrow A in FIG. 5B, whereby the locking claw 61a at the upper end of the release lever 61 is moved to the rear end 12b of the piston 12. The piston 12 moves rearward, that is, in the direction of pulling out the piston by the spring force of the compression spring 60, whereby the inside 11a of the cylinder 11 is depressurized, and the blood R is sucked and collected. In this modification, since the manual pressing operation portion 61b at the other end of the release lever 61 has only to be pushed by hand when the piston 12 is pulled out, it is very easy to pull out the piston 12 after puncturing.

  A decompression release valve 63 is provided at a predetermined position on the side of the cylinder 11. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5B, the position where the decompression release valve 63 is provided is that the decompression release valve 63 is exposed to the inside 11a of the cylinder 11 when the piston 12 moves rearward. Set to position. When the piston 12 does not reach the rearmost position, the valve opening of the decompression release valve 63 is closed by the side portion of the piston 12 and the decompression release operation is not performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the puncture device 13 is accommodated inside the chip body 31 of the biosensor cartridge 30 has been shown. However, as another modification, the puncture device 13 may be provided outside the chip body 31 of the biosensor cartridge 30. it can. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the puncture device 13 is attached at a position near the through hole 41 on the side of the substrate 33a or the substrate 33b. Other configurations are the same as those described with reference to FIGS. In this example, since the puncture device 13 is provided outside the chip body, the replacement is easy when the puncture device 13 is damaged.

Note that the sampler 10 and the sampler method of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and can be appropriately modified and improved.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B, the piston 12 is lifted by one stage before puncturing and the subject M is aspirated to make blood congested. However, this step can be omitted. is there. That is, when the tip of the cylinder 11 is brought into contact with the subject M, puncture may be performed immediately. Even in this case, blood R can be sucked out from the puncture port and collected by pulling up the piston 12 at the stage shown in FIG.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the spring 21 is used as the driving unit 20 has been described. However, for example, the puncture device 13 and the biosensor cartridge 30 can be moved electrically.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the biosensor cartridge 30 with a puncture device is accommodated in the puncture device accommodating portion 14, puncture is performed using the puncture device 13, and blood R is collected has been described. Alternatively, only the puncture device 13 can be accommodated in the puncture device accommodating portion 14 and used as a puncture device. In this case, since only puncturing is performed, it is necessary to separately collect blood R by bringing the biosensor chip close to the puncture opening.

  Moreover, if a container is accommodated in the puncture instrument accommodating part 14, it is also possible to put blood into the container. There is no problem as long as the shape of the container can be accommodated in the puncture device accommodating portion 14, but it can also be used to obtain a very small amount of blood using filter paper or the like. Further, the puncture device 13 and the biosensor chip may be housed in separate housing portions.

Next, a sampler according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment according to the sampler of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 7, in the sample collector 50 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the sample collection auxiliary portion 59 and the puncture device storage portion 54 are separated from each other, and these are hermetically sealed by the sealed passage 57. It is a sampler connected in a state. That is, the sampler 50 includes a sample collection auxiliary unit 59 including a cylinder 51 and a piston 52 that slides inside the cylinder 51, and the sample collection auxiliary unit 59 and the puncture device storage unit 54 in an airtight state. It has a sealed passage 57 to be connected, a puncture device accommodating portion 54 for accommodating the puncture device 13, and drive means 20 for moving the puncture device 13 forward, and the piston 52 is moved rearward (upward in FIG. 7). Then, by depressurizing the inside 51a of the cylinder, the upper space 54a of the puncture device accommodating portion 54 is depressurized through the sealed passage 57, and the blood R, which is a sample, is sucked and collected from the tip 54b of the puncture device accommodating portion 54 To do.

The sample collector 50 of the second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment described above except that the sample collection assisting portion 59 and the puncture device accommodating portion 54 are connected by a sealed passage 57, Portions common to the respective portions in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
In addition, since the sample collection method using the sample collector 50 according to the second embodiment is the same as the sample collection method in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, the sampler according to the present invention punctures with the puncture device accommodated in the puncture device accommodating portion, and depressurizes the inside of the cylinder by moving the piston rearward, and from the tip of the cylinder. Since the sample is aspirated and collected, a small amount of sample can be reliably collected, the burden on the user can be reduced, and the size can be reduced compared to the conventional sampler, It has an effect that it is easy for a subject to handle, and is useful as a sampler or the like that can collect a sample in order to analyze and measure a sample such as blood.

It is sectional drawing which shows 1st Embodiment which concerns on the sampler of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of a drive means. (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an AA position in FIG. 3 (B) showing an example of a biosensor cartridge. (B) is a cross-sectional view at the BB position in FIG. 3 (A) showing an example of a biosensor cartridge. (A)-(E) are explanatory drawings which show the process of the sample collection method which collects a sample using the sample collector which concerns on this invention. It is the side view which showed the piston automatic drawer mechanism of the sampler which concerns on the modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: The same figure (A) is a side view at the time of the pushing-in lock of a piston, The same figure (B) is It is a side view at the time of piston pushing release (drawing). It is a cross-sectional view of the same position as FIG. 3 (B) of a biosensor cartridge according to another modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows 2nd Embodiment which concerns on the sampler of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the conventional biosensor chip. (A) is a perspective view which shows the conventional biosensor chip. (B) is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional biosensor chip.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 Sample collection assistance part 10, 50 Sample collection device 11, 51 Cylinder 11a, 51a Inside cylinder 11b Cylinder tip 12, 52 Piston 13 Puncture instrument 14, 54 Puncture instrument accommodation part 20 Drive means 21 Spring 30 Biosensor cartridge 54b Puncture Tip of instrument housing part 57 Sealed passage 59 Sampling auxiliary part 60 Compression spring 61 Release lever 61a Locking claw 63 Depressurization release valve R Blood (sample)
M subject

Claims (8)

  A sample collection device comprising: a sample collection auxiliary unit; a puncture device storage unit for storing a puncture device; and drive means for driving the puncture device.   2. The sample collection according to claim 1, wherein the sample collection auxiliary unit includes a cylinder and a piston that slides inside the cylinder, and moves the piston to reduce the pressure of the puncture instrument storage unit. vessel.   The sampler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the driving means is a spring.   4. The sampler according to claim 1, wherein the puncture device is a biosensor cartridge further provided with a biosensor chip.   The sample collector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sample collection auxiliary unit, the puncture device accommodating unit, and the driving means are integrated. A sampler having a sample collection assisting unit including a cylinder and a piston sliding inside the cylinder, a puncture device accommodating unit for accommodating a puncture device, and a driving means for driving the puncture device. A sampling method used,
The distal end of the puncture device accommodating portion is pressed against the subject, the puncture device is driven by the driving means to puncture the subject, and then the piston is moved backward, whereby the puncture device accommodating portion is decompressed. Then, a sample collection method comprising collecting a sample of the puncture opening. A sampler having a sample collection assisting unit including a cylinder and a piston sliding inside the cylinder, a puncture device accommodating unit for accommodating a puncture device, and a driving means for driving the puncture device. A sampling method used,
The distal end of the puncture device housing portion is pressed against the subject, and the piston is moved backward to depressurize the puncture device housing portion, and then the puncture device is driven by the driving means to puncture the subject. And collecting a sample of the puncture opening. A sampler having a sample collection assisting unit including a cylinder and a piston sliding inside the cylinder, a puncture device accommodating unit for accommodating a puncture device, and a driving means for driving the puncture device. A sampling method used,
The distal end of the puncture device housing portion is pressed against the subject, and the piston is moved backward to depressurize the puncture device housing portion, and then the puncture device is driven by the driving means to puncture the subject. Then, the sample of the puncture port is sampled by moving the piston further rearward.

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