JP2008292197A - Device for test strip - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for a test strip with its price lowered by reducing the width size of the test strip and a visual check facilitated on a test result. <P>SOLUTION: This device 1 for a test strip comprises a housing 3 in a practically hermetic state with the test strip 2 housed therein, an inlet port 5a formed so as to face on a specimen liquid inlet part 2a of the housing 3 for the test strip 2, and a read window 5b formed so as to face on an analysis display part 2b of the housing 3 for the test strip 2. A magnifying lens 5g is provided on the read window 5b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a test strip device which detects a biological substance by an immunochromatographic test method.

  Immunochromatography testing using a test strip device is widely used in the medical field because it allows easy clinical diagnosis.

  This type of device generally has a housing in which a test strip is accommodated, in which an injection port for injecting a test sample solution and a reading window for confirming an analyte are formed (for example, Patent Documents). 1 and 2).

Then, an appropriate amount of test liquid such as blood or saliva is injected into the test strip from the above inlet, and after leaving for a certain period of time, the analysis display part of the test strip is visually checked through a reading window to perform inspection and diagnosis. ing.
JP 2000-356638 A JP 2005-37384 A

  By the way, the above-mentioned test strip is manufactured by including various reaction reagents necessary for analyzing a sample in a water-absorbing pad formed by laminating a plurality of water-absorbing sheets, and is quite expensive. .

  Here, it is conceivable to reduce the width of the test strip in order to reduce the price. However, in order to visually confirm the test result, it is necessary to make the test strip have a visible width dimension, and thus there is a limit to narrowing the width. Moreover, since the injection amount of the test sample solution to be injected into the test strip increases, improvements in these points are demanded.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional situation, and provides a test strip device that can reduce the width of the test strip to reduce the price and can easily confirm the test result visually. The challenge is to do.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substantially sealed housing in which a test strip is accommodated, an injection port formed so as to face a sample liquid injection portion of the test strip of the housing, and an analysis of the test strip of the housing. A test strip device having a reading window formed so as to face a display unit, wherein the reading window is provided with a magnifying lens.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the magnification lens has a magnification of 1.1 times or more.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the magnifying lens is a convex lens.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the magnifying lens is a Fresnel lens.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the magnifying lens is formed integrally with a reading window of the housing.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the magnifying lens closes a reading window of the housing.

  A seventh aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, a vent hole is formed on the opposite side of the injection port across the reading window of the housing.

  The invention of claim 8 is the housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing is fitted in a substantially airtight manner with a bottom on which the test strip is positioned and fixed at a predetermined measurement position, and a cover on which the inlet and the reading window are formed. It is characterized by being fixed.

  According to the device of the first aspect of the present invention, since the magnifying lens is provided in the reading window of the housing, the analyte in the test strip can be easily visually observed through the magnifying lens even when the width dimension of the test strip is reduced. Can be confirmed. As a result, the cost of the test strip can be reduced, the amount of the sample liquid to be injected can be reduced, and the housing for accommodating the test strip can be reduced in size. Cost can be reduced.

  In the second aspect of the invention, since the magnification of the magnifying lens is 1.1 times or more, visual confirmation can be easily performed by setting the magnification according to the width dimension of the test strip.

  In the invention of claim 3, since the magnifying lens is formed of a convex lens, it is easy to set and manufacture the magnification, and it is possible to suppress an increase in cost due to the provision of the magnifying lens.

  In the invention of claim 4, since the magnifying lens is formed of a Fresnel lens, the magnifying lens can be made substantially flush with the housing, and there is no bulge from the housing, so there is no damage when handling or bulking when packing Can be prevented.

  In the invention of claim 5, since the magnifying lens is integrally formed with the housing, an increase in manufacturing cost due to the provision of the magnifying lens can be suppressed.

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the reading window is closed by the magnifying lens, it is possible to prevent the moisture and the like of the test strip from evaporating from the reading window, and to prevent the backflow of the water spreading the test strip.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the vent hole is formed on the opposite side of the injection port across the reading window of the housing, so that the test sample solution absorbed by the test strip can be rapidly moved and the test time can be shortened. It becomes.

  In the invention of claim 8, since the bottom on which the test strip is positioned and fixed and the cover on which the inlet and the reading window are formed are fixedly fitted, the device can be manufactured with a simple structure and at low cost. it can.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  1 to 4 are views for explaining a test strip device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cover of the device, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a bottom of the device, and FIGS. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III and a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 1) of the device in which the test strip is accommodated.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a test strip device, which has a rectangular housing 3 in which the test strip 2 is accommodated, and an inlet 5a and a reading window 5b formed in the housing 3. .

  The test strip 2 includes various reaction reagents contained in a water-absorbing pad formed by laminating a plurality of water-absorbing sheets, has a length that extends over substantially the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the housing 3, and has a width dimension. Is about 0.3 to 1 mm.

  The test strip 2 mainly includes a sample liquid injection part 2a, an analysis display part 2b arranged on the development movement side of the sample liquid injection part 2a, and a development absorption arranged on the development movement side of the analysis display part 2b. Part 2c. The test sample liquid supplied to the sample liquid injecting section 2a reacts with the reagent in the analysis display section 2b while developing and moving to the development / absorption section 2c side, and the test sample liquid contains an antigen as the test substance. If it is, the analysis display unit 2b is colored.

  Here, the substance to be measured includes cells, proteins, viruses, DNA, etc. In short, any substance can be included as long as it can be detected by an immunochromatography test. Further, the test sample liquid includes body fluids such as blood, saliva, urine, nasal discharge, etc. In short, any liquid can be used as long as it can be measured by an immunochromatographic test.

  The housing 3 is formed by fitting and fixing a bottom 4 on which the test strip 2 is positioned and fixed at a predetermined measurement position, and a cover 5 on which the inlet 5a and the reading window 5b are formed, in a substantially airtight manner. The details are as follows.

  The bottom 4 is made of resin, has a flange portion 4b protruding upward at the outer periphery of the bottom plate portion 4a, and a pair of positioning pieces 4c, 4c and 4d. 4d is formed, and stopper portions 4e and 4e are formed.

  The test strip 2 is positioned and fixed to the bottom 4 by inserting the test strip 2 between the positioning pieces 4c and 4d and bringing the end surface of the test strip 2 into contact with the stopper portion 4e.

  Further, support portions 4f and 4g that are in contact with the lower surface of the test strip 2 are formed in a protruding manner at portions corresponding to the inlet 5a and the reading window 5b of the bottom plate portion 4a. The test strip 2 is supported by the support portions 4f and 4g in a state of slightly floating from the bottom plate portion 4a.

  The cover 5 is made of resin, and has a structure in which an engaging portion 5d that is airtightly engaged with the flange portion 4b is formed in a stepped shape on the outer peripheral edge of the cover body 5c that covers the top of the bottom 4. Have.

  The injection port 5a and the reading window 5b are formed in the cover body 5a of the cover 5, and the injection port 5a is formed at a part facing the sample liquid injection part 2a of the test strip 2, and the reading window 5a The test strip 2 is formed at a portion facing the analysis display portion 2b.

  A vent hole 5e is formed on the side of the cover 5 opposite to the injection port 5a across the reading window 5b, and the vent hole 5e is formed at a portion facing the development absorbing portion 2c of the test strip 2. .

  The injection port 5a is formed in a taper shape so as to become narrower in the downward direction, thereby setting the injection amount of the test sample liquid necessary for one measurement. Further, the reading window 5b is formed to have a substantially rectangular shape, and its longitudinal dimension is substantially the entire length of the analysis display unit 2b, and its width dimension is about 10 times the width dimension of the test strip 2. Is set.

  The reading window 5b of the cover 5 is provided with a magnifying lens 5g. The magnifying lens 5g is a convex lens, and the magnification is set to about 1.1 to 5 times corresponding to the width dimension of the test strip 2.

  The magnifying lens 5 g is formed integrally with the reading window 5 b of the cover 5. The reading window 5b is closed by the magnifying lens 5g. The portion of the cover 5 excluding the magnifying lens 5g and the bottom 4 are colored so as not to be transparent, and the magnifying lens 5g is transparent so as to be transparent.

  In order to perform an immunochromatographic test using the device 1 of the present embodiment, a predetermined amount of a test sample solution is injected into the injection port 5a. The test sample solution is absorbed from the injection port 5a into the sample solution injection unit 2a of the test strip 2, and expands and moves from the injection unit 2a to the analysis display unit 2b. When the substance to be measured exists in the test sample solution in the analysis display part 2b, the analysis display part 2b is colored. In this case, the analysis display unit 2b of the test strip 2 is magnified several times through the magnifying lens 5g, and the enlarged analysis display unit 2b is visually confirmed.

  As described above, according to the device 1 of the present embodiment, since the magnifying lens 5g is provided in the reading window 5b of the cover 5, even if the test strip 2 becomes extremely fine that cannot be visually confirmed, the test is performed through the magnifying lens 5g. The analysis display part 2b of the strip 2 can be easily confirmed. Thereby, the price of the test strip 2 can be reduced. Further, as the test strip 2 is made extremely thin, the amount of the sample liquid to be inspected can be reduced, and further, the housing 3 that accommodates the test strip 2 can be reduced in size, so that the entire device can be reduced in size and cost. It becomes possible.

  In this embodiment, since the reading window 5b of the cover 5 is closed by the magnifying lens 5g, the test sample liquid does not leak to the outside from the reading window 5b, and problems such as contamination and infection can be prevented. In addition, the injection port 5a can be made smaller as the amount of the test sample solution injected is reduced, and from this point, problems such as contamination due to leakage of the test sample solution from the injection port 5a to the outside can be prevented. it can.

  Since the magnification of the magnifying lens 5g is set to 1.1 to 5 times, the magnification can be freely set according to the width dimension of the test strip 2, and visual confirmation can be easily performed even with the extremely thin test strip 2. be able to.

  Since the magnifying lens 5g is formed of a convex lens, the magnification can be easily set and manufactured, and an increase in cost due to the provision of the magnifying lens 5g on the cover 5 can be suppressed.

  Moreover, since the magnifying lens 5g is integrally formed with the reading window 5b of the cover 5, an increase in manufacturing cost due to the provision of the magnifying lens 5g can be suppressed. The magnifying lens of the present invention may be formed separately.

  Since the reading window 5b is closed by the magnifying lens 5g, it is possible to prevent the moisture and the like of the test strip 2 from evaporating from the reading window 5b, and to prevent the water developing the test strip 2 from flowing backward.

  In the present embodiment, since the vent hole 5e is formed on the opposite side of the inlet 5a across the reading window 5b of the cover 5, the development movement of the sample liquid absorbed by the test strip 2 is accelerated, and the inspection time is reduced. Shortening is possible.

  In the present embodiment, the housing 3 is configured such that the bottom 4 on which the test strip 2 is positioned and fixed and the cover 5 on which the injection port 5a and the reading window 5b are formed are fitted and fixed. The structure can be manufactured at a low cost.

  In the above embodiment, the magnifying lens 5g is a convex lens. However, in the present invention, the magnifying lens may be formed of a Fresnel lens. In this case, the magnifying lens can be made substantially flush with the housing, and scratches during handling and bulkiness during packaging can be prevented as much as there is no protrusion from the housing.

1 is a plan view of a test strip device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a top view of the bottom of the said device. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the device (a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1). It is sectional drawing (IV-IV sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 1) of the said device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Device 2 Test strip 2a Sample liquid injection | pouring part 2b Analysis display part 3 Housing 4 Bottom 5 Cover 5a Inlet 5b Reading window 5e Vent hole 5g Magnifying lens

Claims (8)

A substantially sealed housing in which a test strip is accommodated, an inlet formed so as to face the sample liquid injection portion of the test strip of the housing, and an analysis display portion of the test strip of the housing. A test strip device having a reading window, wherein the reading window is provided with a magnifying lens. 2. The test strip device according to claim 1, wherein the magnification lens has a magnification of 1.1 times or more. 2. The test strip device according to claim 1, wherein the magnifying lens is a convex lens. 2. The test strip device according to claim 1, wherein the magnifying lens is a Fresnel lens. 5. The test strip device according to claim 1, wherein the magnifying lens is formed integrally with a reading window of the housing. 6. The test strip device according to claim 1, wherein the magnifying lens closes a reading window of the housing. The test strip device according to claim 1, wherein a vent hole is formed on the opposite side of the injection port across the reading window of the housing. 2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a bottom in which the test strip is positioned and fixed at a predetermined measurement position and a cover in which the inlet and the reading window are formed are fitted and fixed in a substantially airtight manner. A featured test strip device.

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