JP2010127786A - Analysis apparatus and sensor container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain surely information corresponding to a sensor to be measured. <P>SOLUTION: A recorder 3 to store sensor information to control the operation of an analysis apparatus which measures the concentration of the analytical components is provided integrally in a sensor container 1 to store a plurality of sensors, for instance, biosensors 18, to measure concentration of analytical components in a sample. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an analyzer for a sensor for measuring the level of an analytical component in a sample and a container for the sensor.

  In order to measure the level of an analysis component (for example, glucose or cholesterol in blood) in a biological sample, a disposable sensor (hereinafter also referred to as a biosensor) is loaded, and an electrical signal corresponding to the level of the analysis component is supplied. There is an analysis device that I got. Some analyzers are controlled in operation by data fetched from a removable memory module.

  FIG. 4 shows an analyzer 10 (hereinafter also simply referred to as a meter 10) disclosed in Patent Document 1. It has a display 12, a control button 14, a slot 16 for receiving a biosensor 18, and an electrical outlet 17 for receiving a ROM key 30.

  The biosensor 18 has a recess 20 including a pair of electrodes 24 and 26 and an enzyme-reactive substance layer (not shown) laminated thereon, and an opening 28 through which a terminal conducting to the electrodes 24 and 26 is exposed. It is electrically connected to a terminal in the meter 10 when inserted into the slot 16.

  The ROM key 30 includes a ROM chip that stores data for analysis component measurement processing and a plurality of leads (not shown) extending therefrom, and when inserted into the electrical outlet 17. The lead wires are electrically connected to a plurality of terminals in the meter 10.

  Thereby, the microprocessor in the meter 10 can access the data of the ROM key 30, and the data is read from the ROM key 30 to perform overall control of the operation of the meter 10. That is, a command corresponding to the data from the ROM key 30 is supplied from the microprocessor to the excitation voltage source and the sense amplifier in the meter 10, and in response thereto, the excitation voltage source supplies various levels of excitation voltage to the biosensor 18. The electrode 24 is supplied. The sense amplifier receives a voltage appearing at the electrode 26 of the biosensor 18 due to a reaction of an analysis component (for example, glucose) in the sample attached to the recess 20, and an analog / digital (A / D) converter with a predetermined output. The microprocessor receives the output from the A / D converter, converts it into a component concentration, and displays it on the display 12.

As described above, the operation of the meter 10 is controlled mainly by data included in the ROM key 30. The ROM key 30 is normally made to be adapted to the batch processing of the biosensor 18, and stores data for the meter 10 to adjust measurement parameters and change the procedure according to individual batch processing characteristics. Yes. The meter 10 reads as much data as necessary when the ROM key 30 is replaced into the RAM by the microprocessor, and discards the previous data.
Japanese Patent No. 2702286

  In the above-described conventional analyzer, the ROM key 30 is separate from the main body of the apparatus. Therefore, by replacing the ROM key 30, it is possible to perform measurement according to individual batch processing characteristics. A situation may occur in which the ROM key 30 corresponding to the biosensor 18 is not attached. In that case, information on the biosensor 18 cannot be obtained and analysis becomes impossible. In addition, the biosensor 18 and the ROM key 30 do not correspond one-to-one, and an incorrect ROM key 30 or a different biosensor 18 may be erroneously mounted and measured, which makes analysis impossible.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to ensure that information corresponding to a sensor to be measured is obtained.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides sensor information for controlling the operation of an analyzer for measuring the concentration of an analytical component in a sensor container that houses a sensor for measuring the concentration of the analytical component in a sample. And a readable recording unit storing therein.

  Further, the present invention provides an analysis apparatus that measures the concentration of an analysis component on a sensor, the operation of which is controlled by sensor information acquired from the outside, and a storage section for the sensor in the apparatus main body on which the sensor to be measured is installed. A container holding unit that detachably holds a sensor container having a readable recording unit that stores sensor information relating to the sensor, and optically sensor information of the recording unit of the sensor container held by the container holding unit. And an information reading means for reading the data electrically or electrically.

  According to the sensor container and the analyzer, the sensor information corresponding to the sensor can be obtained by removing the sensor from the sensor container and installing the sensor in the apparatus main body and installing the sensor container in the container holding unit. Can be read from the recording part of the sensor container by the information reading means, and erroneous measurement of the sensor information can be eliminated and reliable measurement can be smoothly performed.

  The recording unit may be an information carrier, a ROM chip, a barcode, or the like. The sensor information includes sensor lot number, expiration date, specification, for example, environmental temperature at the time of measurement, measurement item, algorithm such as measurement program, calibration curve, and the like.

  Preferably, the apparatus main body is turned on by installing the sensor container on the container holding portion. Thereby, the measurement operation interlock | cooperated with installation of a sensor and installation of the container for sensors becomes possible.

  Further, preferably, a warning is issued until the sensor container is removed from the container holding part after the measurement is completed. This prevents users from neglecting to turn off the power by removing the sensor container, and ensure that appropriate measures are taken, such as refrigerated storage when unused sensors remain in the sensor container. Can do.

  According to the sensor container and the analyzer of the present invention, sensor information corresponding to the sensor to be measured can be obtained without error, and reliable measurement can be performed smoothly.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a biosensor analyzed by the analyzer and a sensor container for storing the biosensor. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4 are given to members having the same functions as those of the conventional member described above with reference to FIG.

  The analyzer 10 shown in FIG. 1 is configured to measure the concentration of the analysis component on the biosensor 18 by controlling the operation according to sensor information taken from outside. The apparatus main body 11 includes a processing apparatus (not shown) having a microprocessor as a main part, a display 12, a control button 14, and a slot 16 for receiving a biosensor 18, and a container holding part 19 described later. Have.

  A biosensor 18 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a disposable sensor for measuring the concentration of an analysis component in a biological sample, and includes a pair of electrodes 24 and 26 and a reagent layer (see FIG. (Not shown) at one end and a terminal conducting to each electrode 24, 26 at the other end. Although an electrode-type biosensor is shown here, the same applies to an optical sensor that reads a change in the color of the reaction part.

  The sensor container 1 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape capable of accommodating a plurality of biosensors 18, and includes a recording unit 3 and a connector unit 4 in addition to a lid 2 that closes the opening. That is, a readable recording unit 3 and a connector unit 4 that store sensor information for controlling the operation of the analyzer are integrally provided below the sensor container 1. The recording unit 3 only needs to record sensor information so that it can be read electrically or optically in a contact or non-contact manner. In addition to an information carrier (indicated by a square in the figure), a ROM chip, a bar Code etc. are used.

  The sensor information is information that enables measurement processing of the concentration of the analysis component attached to the biosensor 18 taken out from the sensor container 1. For example, the lot number, expiration date, specification, etc. of the biosensor 18 group These are the ambient temperature at the time of measurement, measurement items, algorithms such as measurement programs, calibration curves, etc.

  The container holding part 19 of the analyzer 10 has a bottomed cylindrical shape that detachably holds the sensor container 1. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 3, an optical or electrical information reading unit 19 a that can read the sensor information of the recording unit 3 of the sensor container 1 held by the container holding unit 19 is provided on the container holding unit 19. Is provided. The container holding part 19 is provided with an electrical insertion port 17 for receiving the connector part 4 of the sensor container 1, and the connector part 4 is electrically inserted by installing the sensor container 1 in the container holding part 19. The power source of the apparatus main body 11 is turned on by connecting to a terminal at the port 17.

  For measurement, the biosensor 18 is taken out from the sensor container 1 and inserted into the slot 16 of the analyzer 10, and the sensor container 1 is installed in the container holding unit 19. Thereby, while the terminal of the biosensor 18 is connected to the terminal in the slot 16, the connector portion 4 of the sensor container 1 is connected to the terminal of the electrical outlet 17, and the power supply of the apparatus main body 11 is turned on. The

  Thereby, the microprocessor in the apparatus main body 11 can access the sensor information of the recording unit 3 of the sensor container 1 through the information reading means 19a. Then, the microprocessor reads the sensor information from the recording unit 3 and performs overall control of the operation of the analyzer 10. Briefly describing this operation, a command corresponding to the sensor information from the recording unit 3 is supplied from the microprocessor, and various levels of excitation voltages are supplied to the electrodes 24 and 26 of the biosensor 18 in response thereto. On the other hand, the voltage appearing at the electrodes 24 and 26 of the biosensor 18 is taken out and supplied to the microprocessor, which converts it into a component concentration and displays it on the display 12.

  Thus, an automatic measurement operation linked to the insertion of the biosensor 18 and the installation of the sensor container 1 is performed. At that time, since the sensor information regarding the biosensor 18 is read from the recording unit 3 of the sensor container 1 from which the biosensor 18 is taken out, the biosensor 18 and the sensor information always correspond to each other, that is, an erroneous correspondence occurs. Without fail, reliable measurement can be performed smoothly. It is not necessary to confirm the mounting required in the conventional apparatus, that is, the correspondence between the biosensor and the ROM key, and the ROM key and the sensor container are not lost.

  When the recording unit 3 is rewritable like an information carrier, the temperature sensor 5 is arranged in the sensor container 1 (see FIG. 2), and the detected temperature history is stored in the recording unit 3. Also good. As a result, the component concentration can be displayed on the display 12 after performing temperature correction in consideration of the temperature history. Since the biosensor 18 often requires refrigerated storage, such temperature correction is desirable.

  Further, the apparatus main body 11 of the analyzer may be configured to issue a warning until the sensor container 1 is removed from the container holding part 19 after the measurement is completed. For example, when a predetermined time elapses after the measurement is completed (or biosensor discharge), if any processing such as the next measurement is not performed and the sensor container 1 is not removed, a warning is given to the display 12. You may make it display. Accordingly, the user can take measures to turn off the power of the apparatus main body 11 by removing the sensor container 1 from the container holding unit 19. In addition, when the unused biosensor 18 remains in the sensor container 1, appropriate management such as refrigeration storage can be performed. The warning is not limited to display on the display 12, but a warning buzzer, a warning lamp, or the like may be provided in advance.

  The above is a description of a biosensor that measures the concentration of an analysis component in a biological sample. However, even in the case of a sensor container for a sensor used for water quality testing, etc. The effect of can be obtained.

  The analyzer and the sensor container of the present invention can reliably and smoothly measure the concentration of the analysis component on the sensor, and are useful in the medical field and the like.

The perspective view of the analyzer of one embodiment of the present invention The perspective view which shows the biosensor used with the analyzer and the container for sensors which accommodates it Partially cutaway front view of the analyzer Perspective view of a conventional analyzer

Explanation of symbols

1 Sensor container 3 Recording unit 4 Connector unit
10 Analyzer
11 Main unit
18 Biosensor
19 Container holder
19a Information reading means

Claims (4)

  A sensor container for storing a sensor for measuring the concentration of an analysis component in a sample, and a readable recording unit storing sensor information for controlling the operation of the analysis device for measuring the concentration of the analysis component A container for a sensor, characterized in that it is provided in a container. An analysis device that controls the operation by sensor information taken from outside and measures the concentration of the analysis component on the sensor,
A container holding unit for detachably holding a sensor container having a storage unit for the sensor and a readable recording unit storing sensor information related to the sensor in an apparatus main body in which a sensor to be measured is installed; And an information reading means for optically or electrically reading the sensor information of the recording part of the sensor container held by the container holding part.   The analyzer according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus main body is turned on when the sensor container is installed in the container holding portion.   4. The analyzer according to claim 2, wherein the analyzer is configured to issue a warning until the sensor container is removed from the container holding portion after the measurement is completed.

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