JP2009047615A - Liquid collection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid collection device capable of being used in a next-step analyzer and collecting surely and simply, liquid such as a sweat component from a subject by removing foreign substances such as dust. <P>SOLUTION: This liquid collection device 1, which is a portable device for collecting a sweat component from a finger skin, has a collection part 11 for collecting the sweat component from a finger by inserting the finger, and a cassette storage part 13 for storing detachably a sensor chip T as a cassette container for recovering the sweat component. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid collecting apparatus, and more particularly to a liquid collecting apparatus for collecting a liquid such as a sweat component.

For example, blood glucose level (blood glucose level) is a very important index in diabetic diseases, and blood is collected using a needle in medical practice. When collecting blood, it is necessary for the subject's finger to be pierced with a needle.
For this reason, a method for obtaining a glucose level in a non-invasive manner without inserting a needle into a subject has been studied. For example, by applying moisture to the finger by spraying, it is proposed to drop the sweat component on the skin surface of the finger into the container and measure the glucose value contained in the sweat component (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-315340 A

  However, in the glucose measurement disclosed in Patent Document 1, the load on the subject can be reduced, but with the finger exposed to the outside air, the finger is sprayed with an aqueous solution from a small sprayer, and water droplets adhering to the finger are removed. It is necessary to drop into a cylindrical container in a state exposed to the outside air. For this reason, when spraying aqueous solution on a finger and dropping the water droplet adhering to a finger, foreign substances, such as dust, may mix. Moreover, this cylindrical container must be placed below the finger. For this reason, there is a possibility that water droplets dripping from the finger may spill out of the container.

In this way, the finger is exposed, and since it is necessary to wait for the water droplet to fall from the finger into the container while the finger is sprayed with the aqueous solution from the sprayer, foreign matters such as dust adhere to the finger or the water droplet. There is a fear. Therefore, with the conventional glucose measurement method, it is difficult to remove the foreign matter and reliably collect the sweat component of the finger in the container. Furthermore, in order to measure the amount of glucose using a small amount of sweat components, the glucose concentration in the sweat components must be increased using, for example, a centrifugal separator. Therefore, there is a need for a cassette container that efficiently stores the collected sweat.
Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention eliminates foreign matters such as dust and can use a liquid such as a sweat component from a subject in an analyzer in the next process, and can reliably collect it easily. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid collecting device that can be used.

In order to solve the above problems, the liquid collecting apparatus of the present invention is a portable liquid collecting apparatus for collecting sweat components from finger skin,
It has a collection part for inserting the finger and collecting the sweat component from the finger, and a cassette housing part for detachably storing a cassette container for collecting the sweat component.

The liquid collecting apparatus of the present invention preferably has a sweat component recovery agent supply unit that supplies a sweat component recovery agent to the sweat component in the insertion portion,
The sweat component recovery agent supply unit
A reservoir for storing the sweat component recovery agent;
And a pump for supplying the sweat component recovery agent in the storage part into the insertion part.

  In the liquid collecting device of the present invention, preferably, the collecting unit has an opening and a bottom, and the opening is elastically deformed to scrape the sweat component from the finger inserted into the collecting unit. A possible scraping member is provided.

The liquid collection device of the present invention is preferably disposed within the collection unit and has an absorbent member having flexibility to absorb the sweat component;
And a pressing member for pressing the absorbing member that has absorbed the sweat component to squeeze the sweat component from the absorbing member into the collecting unit.
The liquid collecting apparatus of the present invention is preferably characterized in that a vibrator that generates vibration is disposed in the vicinity of the collecting section.

The liquid collecting apparatus of the present invention is preferably characterized in that a heater is disposed in the vicinity of the collecting unit.
The liquid collecting apparatus of the present invention is preferably characterized in that the first structural part composed of the collecting part and the cassette housing part is detachable from the second structural part composed of the sweat component recovery agent supply part. To do.
The liquid collecting apparatus of the present invention preferably includes a lid member capable of opening and closing the opening of the collecting unit.

  In the liquid collecting apparatus of the present invention, preferably, the cassette container includes an absorption chamber that absorbs the sweat component from the skin, a reagent that communicates with the absorption chamber and converts the sweat component into an electrical signal, and the electrical signal. It comprises a conversion part having an electrode for output, and the cassette container is detachably arranged with respect to the cassette housing part.

  In the liquid collecting apparatus of the present invention, preferably, the collecting unit is a sac-like sweat collecting unit in which the absorption unit seals and fixes a fingertip, and the cassette container is an opening of the sac-shaped sweat collecting unit. It is attached to the part so that it can be attached and detached.

  According to the present invention, a foreign substance such as dust can be excluded and a liquid such as a sweat component from a subject can be used in an analyzer in the next process, and can be collected easily and reliably.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a view showing a first preferred embodiment of the liquid collecting apparatus of the present invention.
A liquid collecting apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a portable liquid collecting apparatus for collecting, for example, a sweat component from the skin 1001 of a finger 1000 of a subject's hand shown in FIG. 1 as a sample, and the finger is inserted into a collecting unit. Thus, foreign substances such as dust can be excluded, and liquid such as sweat components can be reliably and efficiently collected from the subject and stored in the sensor chip 100. FIG. 1 shows a state before the finger 1000 is inserted into the collecting unit 11, and FIG. 2 shows a state where the finger 1000 is inserted into the collecting unit 11.

The sweat component is composed of water containing sodium chloride, nitride oxide, lactic acid, calcium, urea, ammonia, saccharides and the like. This sweat component is produced from blood, and a liquid component called plasma in blood is used as sweat. Sweat is secreted from sweat glands, and there are about 2 to 5 million sweat glands throughout the body. The densest sweat glands are in the palms, and the next most dense is the soles and foreheads.
Therefore, the liquid collection device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention collects sweat components from the finger easily and efficiently, focusing on the finger or toe of the subject's hand.

  The liquid collecting apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 has a main body 10, and in the main body 10, a collecting unit 11, a sweat component recovery agent supply unit 12, a cassette housing unit 13, a control unit 100, and a battery B Is arranged. The main body 10 is, for example, a plastic rectangular case.

  The liquid collection device 1 has a first structure portion 201 and a second structure portion 202. The first structure portion 201 includes a collection unit 11 for inserting a finger to collect the sweat component from the finger, and a cassette container for collecting the sweat component collected together with the sweat component collection agent in the collection unit 11 As a sensor chip T, a cassette housing portion 13 for detachably housing the sensor chip T is provided. The second structure portion 202 includes a sweat component recovery agent supply unit 12 that supplies a sweat component recovery agent to the sweat component in the collection unit 11.

  The collecting unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 is also called a sweat collecting unit, and is a part for collecting a sweat component of the skin of the finger 1000 by inserting a finger 1000 such as an index finger. The collection unit 11 has a substantially cylindrical internal space 19 that can accommodate, for example, the first joint portion of the finger 1000. The collection unit 11 has an opening 23, a bottom 22, and an inner peripheral part 21. The upper part of the collection part 11 is the opening part 23, and the bottom part 22 is connected to the discharge path 11P. The collecting unit 11 is a sac-shaped sweat collecting unit in which the absorbing member 70 seals and fixes the fingertip, and the sensor chip T as a cassette container is connected to and removed from the opening 23 of the sac-shaped sweat collecting unit. Comes with possible

  Since such a structure of the collecting unit 11 is adopted, the collecting unit 11 can accommodate a finger portion to collect the sweat component so as not to be exposed to the outside air. It is possible to prevent the perspiration component from adhering to the collection site or perspiration component.

  A scraping member 70 is provided in the opening 23 of the collecting unit 11. The scraping member 70 scrapes the sweat component from the skin surface of the finger 1000 inserted into the internal space 19 of the collecting unit 11 into the collecting unit 11.

  In order to scrape the sweat component from the finger 1000 in this way, the scraping member 70 is formed, for example, in a ring shape from elastically deformable shrink rubber, plastic, or the like, and the inner diameter of the hole 71 of the scraping member 70 is It is smaller than the thickness of the finger 1000. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the finger 1000 is inserted into the collecting unit 11 along the Z direction through the hole 71 of the scraping member 70, the inner peripheral surface of the scraping member 70 is radially moved by the finger 1000. When the finger 1000 is compressed outward and the finger 1000 is pulled out from the collecting unit 11 along the Z1 direction, the inner peripheral surface of the scraping member 70 forcibly and surely scrapes sweat components from the skin 1001 of the finger 1000. Thus, it can be dropped to the bottom 22 of the collecting unit 11.

  A lid member 24 is preferably disposed in the opening 23 of the collecting unit 11 in FIG. 1, and the lid member 24 closes the hole 71 of the scraping member 70 by rotating around the rotation center portion 25, for example. be able to. Accordingly, when the finger 1000 is not inserted into the collecting unit 11, the hole 71 of the scraping member 70 can be closed by the lid member 24, so that foreign matters such as dust do not enter the collecting unit 11. ing. In addition, when the finger 1000 is removed from the collection unit 11 after collecting the sweat component of the finger 1000, the hole 71 of the scraping member 70 can be closed by the lid member 24, and foreign matter such as dust is collected in the collection unit 11. It is possible to surely prevent foreign matter such as dust from entering the collected sweat component.

Next, the sweat component recovery agent supply unit 12 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
The sweat component recovery agent supply unit 12 is disposed on the side of the collection unit 11 in the main body 11.
As shown in FIG. 2, the sweat component recovery agent supply unit 12 jets and supplies the sweat component recovery agent 30 to the skin 1001 of the finger 1000 inserted in the collection unit 11. The sweat component recovery agent supply unit 12 includes a pump 40, an electric motor 41, a storage unit 42, valves 43 and 44, and pipes 46, 47 and 48.

The reservoir 42 stores the sweat component recovery agent 30. The sweat component recovery agent 30 stores, for example, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant, specifically, an alcohol liquid. The storage unit 42 is connected to the internal space 19 of the collection unit 11 through a pipe 46 and a pipe 47, and the pump 40 is connected to a middle part of the pipe 46 through a pipe 48.
The valve 43 is disposed between the storage portion 42 and the pipe 48. The valve 44 is disposed on the pipe 47.

By driving the pump 40, the motor 41 can supply the sweat component recovery agent 30 in the storage part 42 into the collection part 11 through the pipes 46 and 47 in a state where the valves 43 and 44 are open.
The control unit 100 shown in FIG. 1 controls the operation of the motor 41 and controls the opening and closing of the valves 43 and 44. The battery B supplies power to the control unit 100.

Next, the cassette housing part 13 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
A sensor chip T as a cassette container can be detachably accommodated in the cassette accommodating portion 13. The cassette housing part 13 is arranged below the collecting part 11 in the main body 11. FIG. 3 shows a structural example of the sensor chip T that is detachably attached to the liquid collecting apparatus 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing how the sensor chip T of FIG. 4 is mounted in the cassette housing portion 13 of the main body 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the cassette housing portion 13 has an opening 50 in the side surface portion of the main body 11, and a rectangular parallelepiped thin sensor chip T is inserted into the cassette housing portion 13 in the S direction. Thus, the cassette housing portion 13 can hold the sensor chip T, and the sensor chip T can be taken out from the cassette housing portion 13 along the S1 direction.

  When the sensor chip T is inserted into the cassette housing portion 13 through the opening 50, the sensor chip T may be positioned by being pushed in and abutted with a finger. In order to make it easy to take out the sensor chip T from the cassette housing part 13, the sensor chip T has a take-out member 51 such as a ribbon for pulling out and taking it out. As a result, the sensor chip T can be taken out from the cassette housing portion 13, and the insertion and removal of the sensor chip T by the subject can be easily performed.

The sensor chip T illustrated in FIG. 3 is an example of a sweat component collection member for collecting the sweat component 1200 collected together with the sweat component collection agent 30 in the collection unit 11 illustrated in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the sensor chip T includes a rectangular parallelepiped thin case 60, an absorption chamber 80, and electrodes 70 and 71. The absorption chamber 80 includes a first absorption member 61 and a second absorption member 62. The case 60 is made of, for example, plastic, and electrodes 70 and 71 are accommodated in the second absorption member 62 of the absorption chamber 80.

The first absorbent member 61 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a material capable of absorbing and collecting a sweat component using a capillary phenomenon, a porous material, for example, a plate-like sponge. The case 60 has an opening 63 at a portion corresponding to the first absorbing member 61. However, the 1st absorption member 61 may be a nonwoven fabric etc. besides a porous material.
On the other hand, the second absorption member 62 has a pipe line structure for separating and adsorbing the sweat component collected by the first absorption member 61 to the electrodes 71 and 72 side by a centrifugal separation action. .

  The sensor chip T as a cassette container includes an absorption chamber 80 that absorbs a sweat component from the skin of a subject, a reagent that communicates with the absorption chamber 80 and converts the sweat component into an electrical signal, and an electrode 70 that outputs the electrical signal. The sensor chip T is detachably arranged with respect to the cassette housing part 13. The absorption chamber 80 includes a first absorption member 61 and a second absorption member 62 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the sensor chip T is positioned in the cassette housing portion 13 in the S direction, the pipe 11 </ b> P of the collecting portion 11 comes on the opening 63. Thereby, the 1st absorption part 61 of sensor chip T can collect | recover by absorbing the sweat component 1200 collected with the sweat component collection | recovery agent 30 in the collection part 11 through the discharge path 11P.

  When the sensor chip T is taken out from the cassette housing portion 13, it is placed on a disk 600 of a centrifugal separator described later in FIG. 14, and a centrifugal force is applied along the R direction shown in FIG. 3, the sweat component in the first absorption member 61 moves from the first absorption member 61 into the second absorption member 62 to separate, for example, glucose to be separated.

  In the first absorption member 61 and the second absorption member 62, a chemical solution that adsorbs glucose is injected in advance. When a liquid containing glucose, such as blood or a sweat component, is injected into the first absorption member 61 and the sensor chip T is continuously rotated to give a centrifugal force, the first absorption member 61 contains glucose from the first absorption member 61 to the second absorption member 62 side. The liquid moves due to the centrifugal force, and glucose adheres to the electrode at the end of the second absorption member 62 due to the difference in specific gravity. Thereby, the measured value of the electrical signal for the amount of glucose can be obtained from this electrode. The electric signal from this electrode is converted by the processing circuit 77 shown in FIG. 3 of the centrifugal separator.

Glucose (blood sugar) is converted into a hydrogen peroxide layer by the enzyme layer (bio layer), electrons are taken out by the platinum electrode, and the sugar concentration in the blood is displayed on the display panel. This measurement method shown as an example is a maximum reaction acceleration analysis method using a GOD (glucose oxidase) immobilized enzyme electrode, and is as follows.
Measurement principle (GOD electrode method)
The amount of oxygen consumed by the GOD reaction is measured by combining an enzyme membrane on which G0D is immobilized, a gold negative electrode, and a silver-silver chloride positive electrode.
(1) The following GOD reaction occurs on the electrode surface by the action of the enzyme.
Glucose + O ₂ + H ₂ O → Gluconic acid + H ₂ O ₂
In this reaction, oxygen in the reaction solution is consumed.

(2) This oxygen consumption is measured as an amount of current with an electrode composed of a gold cathode and a silver-silver chloride anode. The following reaction takes place inside the electrode, and a current flows. This amount of current is proportional to the oxygen partial pressure. Oxygen consumption is proportional to the glucose concentration in the specimen.
Gold cathode: O ₂ + 2H ₂ O + 4e− → 4OH−
Silver-silver chloride anode: 4Ag + 4Cl → 4AgCl + 4e−
Furthermore, in this measurement method, reaction acceleration is obtained by second-order differentiation of the change in oxygen consumption, and the maximum value of this acceleration is detected to measure glucose. Response acceleration is also proportional to the glucose concentration in the specimen.

Next, a sweat component collecting method using the liquid collecting apparatus 1 described above will be described.
A new sensor chip T is inserted and arranged in the cassette housing part 13 shown in FIG. From the state in which the lid member 24 closes the opening 23 of the collecting unit 11, the subject turns the lid member 24 in the J direction to expose the opening 23 of the collecting unit 11 to the outside.

  After the subject's finger 1000 is sterilized, it is inserted into the collection unit 11 along the Z direction through the hole 71 of the scraping member 70 as shown in FIG. At this time, the inner peripheral surface of the scraping member 70 is compressed by the finger 1000, and the inner peripheral surface of the scraping member 70 is in close contact with the skin 1001 of the finger 1000.

  When the subject presses the switch SW, the control unit 100 drives and controls the motor 41 so that the pump 40 generates pressure, and the control unit 100 opens the valves 43 and 44. As a result, the sweat component recovery agent 30 in the storage unit 42 is sprayed and supplied to the skin 1001 of the finger 1000 in the collection unit 11.

  In this manner, the subject's finger 1000 is inserted into the collection unit 11, and the sweat component recovery agent 30 in the storage unit 42 is supplied by being sprayed to the skin 1001 of the finger 1000 in the collection unit 11, The sweat component 1200 on the surface of the skin 1001 of the finger 1000 is washed away from the surface skin 1001 using the sweat component recovery agent 30. Since the sweat component 1200 falls to the first absorption member 61 of the absorption chamber 80 through the discharge path 11P and the opening 63 of the sensor chip T in FIG. 2, the sweat component is absorbed by the first absorption member 61 by capillary action. Is done.

  Then, when a predetermined time elapses after the switch SW is pressed, the control unit 100 stops the operation of the motor 41 and closes the valves 43 and 44. Thereby, the sweat component recovery agent 30 in the storage unit 42 is not sprayed onto the skin 1001 of the finger 1000 in the collection unit 11. Thereafter, when the subject removes the finger 1000 from the collection unit 11 along the Z1 direction shown in FIG. 2, the scraping member 70 scrapes off the sweat component from the skin 1001 of the finger 1000, and the bottom 22 of the collection unit 11. It can be reliably dropped.

  Thereafter, the opening 23 is closed by the lid member 24. As a result, foreign matter such as dust is not mixed into the collecting unit 11, so that foreign matter can be prevented from entering the sensor chip T through the discharge path 11P.

  The subject takes out the sensor chip T from the cassette housing portion 13, and the sensor chip T is attached to the centrifuge and applies a centrifugal force in the R direction in FIG. Thereby, the sweat component in the first absorption member 61 moves from the first absorption member 61 into the second absorption member 62 to separate, for example, glucose to be separated.

  When the sensor chip T shown in FIG. 3 is inserted into the cassette housing portion 13 through the opening 50, the sensor chip T can be easily positioned and arranged in the cassette housing portion 13 by pushing the sensor chip T with a finger and hitting it. can do. In addition, since the sensor chip T has a take-out member 51 such as a ribbon for pulling out the sensor chip T, the sensor chip T can be easily taken out from the cassette housing portion 13.

In the case of using the liquid collecting apparatus 1 again in FIG. 1, the lid member 24 is opened in the J direction, and the collecting unit 11 and the discharge path 11P are washed with the washing liquid to wash the sweat component.
For example, when the control unit 100 drives the motor 41 to drive the pump 40 and opens the valves 43 and 44, the sweat component recovery agent 30 in the storage unit 42 is used in the collection unit 11 and the discharge path 11P. Can be cleaned reliably. In this case, the sensor chip T is not placed in the cassette housing part 13.

  As described above, the liquid collecting device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 can use a sample such as a sweat component from a subject in a next process analyzer by removing foreign matters such as dust, and reliably. It can be easily collected. The pump 40 can automatically supply the sweat component recovery agent to the sweat component by being driven by the motor 41. The storage part of the sweat component recovery agent supply part 12 is an aqueous solution containing a surfactant. Thereby, the sweat component can be easily collected from the collection unit 11 side to the sensor chip T side using this aqueous solution.

In each embodiment described below, the same portions as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the liquid collecting apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The liquid collecting apparatus 1 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is different from the liquid collecting apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 in that a humidifier 125 is an example of another storage unit instead of the storage unit 42 shown in FIG. Is arranged. The humidifier 125 is an example of a mist generator. In the humidifier 125, for example, water or an alcohol liquid 30W is accommodated. Since the control unit 100 opens the valves 43 and 44 and operates the humidifier 125, the humidifier 125 sprays water or alcohol liquid 30W in the form of a mist on the skin 1001 of the finger 100 in the collection unit 11. The sweat component is washed away from the skin 1001 of the finger 1000. Thereby, a sweat component can be collect | recovered easily.
The other components of the liquid collection device 1 in FIG. 5 and the operation and effects thereof are the same as the corresponding components and the operation and effects of the liquid collection device 1 in FIG.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the liquid collecting apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The liquid collection apparatus 1 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is different from the liquid collection apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 in that a valve 49 is added to the discharge path 11P shown in FIG. When the control unit 100 opens the valve 49, the sweat component falls to the absorption member 61 of the first absorption chamber 81 through the opening 63 of the sensor chip T through the pipe 11P of FIG. The sweat component can be prevented from falling to the absorption member 61 of the first absorption chamber 81 through the opening 63 of the sensor chip T through the pipe 11P of FIG.
Further, by closing the valve 49, the inside of the collecting unit 11 can be discharged by opening the valve 49 after washing with the sweat component recovery agent 30 in the storage unit 42.
The other components of the liquid collection device 1 in FIG. 6 and the operational effects thereof are the same as the corresponding components of the liquid collection device 1 in FIG.

Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment of the liquid collecting apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The liquid collecting device 1 of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is different from the liquid collecting device 1 shown in FIG. 1 in that the unit portion 150 that is the first structural portion 201 is different from the main body 10 that is the second structural portion 202. On the other hand, it is detachable.
The unit portion 150 includes a collection unit 11 and a cassette housing unit 13 that houses the sensor chip T, and the unit portion 150 is detachable from the sweat component recovery agent supply unit 12 on the main body 10 side. The end 47D of the pipe 47 can be detachably connected to the end 46F of the pipe 46.

  Thereby, every time the subject's finger 1000 is changed, the used unit portion 150 which is the first structure portion 201 can be easily replaced with a new unit portion 150. The other components of the liquid collection device 1 in FIG. 7 and the operation and effects thereof are the same as the corresponding components and the operation and effects of the liquid collection device 1 in FIG.

Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment of the liquid collecting apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The liquid collecting apparatus 1 of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is different from the liquid collecting apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 in that a cylindrical sponge member 90 is detachably disposed instead of the scraping member 70. That is. The sponge member 90 is an example of an absorbing member, and is disposed on the inner peripheral surface 21 of the collection unit 11. When the finger 1000 is inserted into the collection unit 11 as shown in FIG. Close contact with the skin.

  In use, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 9, the finger 1000 is inserted into the sponge member 90 in the collection unit 11, and the sweat component recovery agent 30 in the storage unit 42 is placed in the sponge part 20 of the collection unit 11. By being sprayed and supplied to the skin 1001 of the finger 1000, the sweat component on the surface of the skin 1001 of the finger 1000 is absorbed into the sponge member 90 together with the sweat component recovery agent 30 from the skin 1001 on the surface.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10, the pressing member 200 is inserted into the sponge member 90 along the Z direction, so that the sponge member 90 is compressed. Through the opening 63 of the sensor chip T, it falls to the absorption member 61 of the first absorption chamber 81, and the sweat component is condensed and absorbed by the absorption member 61.

  Thereby, the liquid collection apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 can reliably collect a sample such as a sweat component from a subject by removing foreign substances. The other components of the liquid collecting apparatus 1 in FIGS. 8 to 10 and the operational effects thereof are the same as the corresponding components of the liquid collecting apparatus 1 in FIG.

Sixth Embodiment Next, a sixth embodiment of the liquid collecting apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The liquid collecting apparatus 1 of the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is different from the liquid collecting apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 in that the heater 300 is arranged in the vicinity of the collecting unit 11. As the heater 300, for example, a ceramic heater can be used.

The heater 300 is controlled to be turned on and off by the control unit 100, and the heater 300 applies heat to the skin of the finger 1000 inserted into the collection unit 11, so that the sweating action can be promoted. Thereby, the collection efficiency of a sweat component can be raised.
The other components of the liquid collecting apparatus 1 in FIG. 11 and their operational effects are the same as the corresponding components of the liquid collecting apparatus 1 in FIG.
In the sixth embodiment, the sweat component recovery agent supply unit 12 may be provided, but the sweat component recovery agent supply unit 12 may be omitted.

Seventh Embodiment Next, a seventh embodiment of the liquid collecting apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The liquid collecting apparatus 1 of the seventh embodiment shown in FIG. 12 is different from the liquid collecting apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 in that the vibrator 400 is disposed in the vicinity of the collecting unit 11.

The vibrator 400 is subjected to on / off control by the control unit 100, and the vibration generated by the vibrator 400 can promote a sweating action on the skin of the finger 1000 inserted into the collection unit 11. Thereby, the collection efficiency of a sweat component can be raised.
As the vibrator 400, for example, an ultrasonic vibrator can be used. The ultrasonic vibrator generates vibrations having a vibration frequency of 20 kHz, for example.

In addition, as the vibrator 400, an ultrasonic vibrator may be used, but a device that generates mechanical vibration may be employed. For example, the vibrator 400 shown in FIG. 13 is an electric motor. The vibrator 400 includes a rotor 401, a stator 500, and a weight 550.
The rotor 401 has a rotor core 402, a magnet 403, and a main shaft 404. The weight 550 is fixed to the rotor core 402. The stator 500 includes a stator core 501, a bearing 502, and a drive coil 503.

  The bearing 502 rotatably supports the main shaft 404. When the control unit 100 energizes the drive coil 503, the rotor 401 continuously rotates about the main shaft 404 with respect to the stator 500 due to the interaction between the magnetic field generated by the drive coil 503 and the magnetic field of the magnet 403 of the rotor 401. Thus, vibration can be generated by the weight 550.

  The other components of the liquid collection device 1 in FIG. 12 and the operation and effects thereof are the same as the corresponding components and the operation and effects of the liquid collection device 1 in FIG. In the sixth embodiment, the sweat component recovery agent supply unit 12 may be provided, but the sweat component recovery agent supply unit 12 may be omitted.

  FIG. 14 simply shows an example of a centrifuge for applying a centrifugal force to the sensor chip T.

  In FIG. 14, the disk 600 is continuously rotated at a high speed in the K direction by the motor 601 about the rotation center axis CL. The drive control of the motor 601 is performed by the control unit 700. After the sensor chip T is put in the vicinity of the center of the disk 600, it is moved to the vicinity of the outer periphery of the disk 600 along the R1 direction. Then, as the disk 600 continuously rotates, the liquid containing glucose moves from the first absorption member 61 shown in FIG. 3 to the second absorption member 62 side in the R direction by centrifugal force, and the end of the second absorption unit 62 is moved. Glucose adheres to the electrode due to the specific gravity difference. Thereby, the measured value of the electrical signal for the amount of glucose can be obtained from this electrode.

The liquid collecting apparatus 1 in FIG. 12 collects the sweat component collected together with the sweat component collecting agent in the collection unit 11 for collecting the sweat component from the finger by inserting a finger. A cassette housing part 13 for detachably storing a sensor chip T as a cassette container is provided. Thereby, a foreign substance such as dust can be excluded and a liquid such as a sweat component from the subject can be used in the analyzer for the next process, and can be collected easily and reliably. The opening 23 includes a scraping member 70 that can be elastically deformed to scrape the sweat component from the inserted finger into the collecting unit 11. Thereby, the sweat component can be scraped off from the finger and transferred into the collecting unit 11.

The liquid collecting device 1 is disposed in the collecting unit 11 and presses the sponge member 90 as a flexible absorbing member that absorbs the sweat component, and the sponge member 90 that absorbs the sweat component, thereby collecting the sweat component in the collecting unit 11. A pressing member 200 for squeezing out is provided. Thereby, the sweat component can be transferred into the collection unit 11 by being squeezed out after being transferred from the finger to the sponge member 90.
In the vicinity of the collection unit 11, a vibrator that generates vibration is disposed. As a result, a sweating action can be promoted on the skin of the finger 1000 inserted into the collection unit 11, and the collection efficiency of the sweat component can be increased.

  A heater is disposed in the vicinity of the collection unit 11. As a result, a sweating action can be promoted on the skin of the finger 1000 inserted into the collection unit 11, and the collection efficiency of the sweat component can be increased.

  The first structural part 201 composed of the collecting part 11 and the cassette housing part 13 is detachable from the second structural part 202 composed of the sweat component recovery agent supply part 12. Thereby, every time the subject's finger 1000 is changed, the used unit portion 150 which is the first structure portion 201 can be easily replaced with a new unit portion 150.

By the way, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various modified example is employable.
The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and the characteristic elements in the above-described embodiments can be combined with each other. For example, the sponge member 90 shown in FIG. 8 can be combined with the heater 300 shown in FIG. 11 and the vibrator 400 shown in FIG. The discharge path 49 shown in FIG. 6 can also be arranged with respect to the discharge path 11P of other embodiments.
The lid member 24 may not be opened and closed by the rotation center portion 25 but may be attached by simply fitting the lid member into the opening portion 23.

Although the battery B is built in the main body 10, power may be supplied from a commercial power source in addition to the battery B. The finger may be a finger of a hand or a toe. The finger is not limited to a human finger, and may be a finger of an animal such as a monkey. The collecting unit 11 may collect not only one finger but also a plurality of fingers so as to collect sweat components from each finger.
In the illustrated liquid collecting apparatus 1, a motor 41 for driving the pump 40 is provided, but a manual handle can be used instead of the motor 41.

1 is a diagram showing a first preferred embodiment of a liquid collecting apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the state which inserted the finger | toe with respect to the collection part of the liquid collection apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the sensor chip with which the liquid collection apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is attached so that attachment or detachment is possible. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that the sensor chip of FIG. 3 is mounted | worn. It is a figure which shows preferable 2nd Embodiment of the liquid collection apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows preferable 3rd Embodiment of the liquid collection apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows preferable 4th Embodiment of the liquid collection apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows preferable 5th Embodiment of the liquid collection apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state which inserted the finger | toe into the collection part of the liquid collection apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode that a finger | toe is removed from the collection part of the liquid collection device of FIG. 9, and the press member 200 is pushed into a collection part. It is a figure which shows preferable 6th Embodiment of the liquid collection apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows preferable 7th Embodiment of the liquid collection apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the vibrator | oscillator used for 7th Embodiment of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example which applies a centrifugal force to the sensor chip used for the liquid collection apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid collection apparatus 10 Main body 11 Collection part 11P Discharge path 12 Sweat component collection | recovery agent supply part 13 Storage part 19 Internal space 20 Sponge part (an example of the absorption member which has flexibility)
23 Opening 24 Lid member 30 Sweat component recovery agent 40 Pump 41 Motor 43, 44, 49 Valve 46, 47, 48 Pipe (an example of a conveyance path)
61 1st absorption member 62 2nd absorption member 80 Absorption chamber 100 Control part 150 Unit part 201 1st structure part 202 2nd structure part 1000 Finger 1001 Skin 1200 Sweat component T Sensor chip (an example of a cassette container)
B battery

Claims (10)

A portable liquid collection device for collecting sweat components from finger skin,
A liquid collecting apparatus comprising: a collecting unit for inserting the finger and collecting the sweat component from the finger; and a cassette housing unit for detachably storing a cassette container for collecting the sweat component. A sweat component recovery agent supply unit that supplies a sweat component recovery agent to the sweat component in the insertion portion,
The sweat component recovery agent supply unit
A reservoir for storing the sweat component recovery agent;
The liquid collecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a pump for supplying the sweat component recovery agent in the storage unit into the insertion unit.   The collection unit has an opening and a bottom, and the opening includes a scraping member that is elastically deformable to scrape the sweat component from the inserted finger into the collection unit. The liquid collecting apparatus according to claim 1. An absorbent member disposed within the collection portion and having flexibility to absorb the sweat component;
The liquid collecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a pressing member that presses the absorbing member that has absorbed the sweat component to squeeze the sweat component from the absorbing member into the collecting unit.   5. The liquid collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a vibrator that generates vibration is disposed in the vicinity of the collecting unit.   The liquid collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a heater is disposed in the vicinity of the collecting unit.   The first structural part comprising the collecting part and the cassette housing part is detachable from the second structural part comprising the sweat component recovery agent supply part. A liquid collecting apparatus according to any one of the preceding paragraphs.   The liquid collecting apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a lid member capable of opening and closing the opening of the collecting unit.   The cassette container comprises an absorption chamber that absorbs the sweat component from the skin, a conversion unit that communicates with the absorption chamber and converts the sweat component into an electrical signal, and an electrode that outputs the electrical signal, The liquid collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cassette container is detachably disposed with respect to the cassette housing portion.   The collecting part is a sac-like sweat collecting part in which the absorbing member seals and fixes a fingertip, and the cassette container is attached to the opening of the sac-like sweat collecting part so as to be detachable. The liquid collecting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the liquid collecting apparatus is a liquid collecting apparatus.

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