JP2010210328A - Instrument of measuring concentration of biocomponent - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an instrument of measuring the concentration of a biocomponent capable of precisely quantifying a sweat sample used for measuring the concentration of the biocomponent from sampled sweat. <P>SOLUTION: The sweat gathered in the sweat gathering tank 11 installed on the skin is sent out to a collecting pipe 12 by sweating action and, when the leading end thereof is detected by a sensor 13, the sweat of the amount up to the position of the sensor 13 is drawn into a flow channel pipe 21 as the sweat sample by opening a valve 23. Thereafter, the sweat sample is extruded in a state that the valve 23 is closed and a valve 24 is opened to move through the flow channel pipe 21 from the position of the valve 24 and passes through the detection part 30 equipped with a biosensor provided ahead of the flow channel pipe 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a biological component concentration measuring apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus that measures the concentration of biological components using sweat.

  As a method of measuring the concentration of biological components in blood such as blood sugar without collecting blood, there is a method of measuring and converting the concentration of the component contained in sweat.

  Since the amount of perspiration of a living body within a certain amount of time is very small, in order to detect the concentration of sweat, a technique for analyzing a small amount of liquid sample is required. Examples of the device that analyzes a minute amount of liquid sample that can be used to measure the concentration of biological components in sweat include a liquid chromatograph analyzer, a gas chromatograph analyzer, and a mass spectrometer.

  As another technique for measuring the concentration of biological components in sweat, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-5296 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1) is a method in which a biosensor is brought into contact with a living body and the living body contained in sweat from the living body. A technology related to a system for detecting the amount of a chemical substance is disclosed. A measurement system using a biosensor can measure a small amount of liquid components with a simple operation. In addition, since a biosensor is small and inexpensive, a measurement system using a biosensor is excellent in terms of trace measurement, operability, selectivity (substrate specificity), and miniaturization.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-5296

WESCOR website, “Biomedical Product Division: Sweet Testing / Cystic Fibrosis”, [online], search January 13, 2009, Internet <URL: http://www.wescor.com/biomedical/cysticfibrosis/index .html # ＞

  In order to measure the density | concentration of a biological component from a trace amount sweat using the above apparatuses, in order to ensure the fixed_quantity | quantitative_assay precision of the sample which is sweat, a special jig | tool and apparatus are needed. For example, as a method for ensuring quantitative accuracy, there is a case where a method of collecting a sample manually using a microsyringe and supplying the sample to a measurement system may be employed. In the case of this method, there is a problem that a dedicated jig and a highly technical operator are required. Further, for example, as a method for ensuring quantitative accuracy, a method of adding a quantitative sampling function to the measurement system of these apparatuses by providing a flow injection function, for example, or providing a separate autosampler may be employed. When such a function is added, there is a problem that expensive equipment is required. Further, when performing analysis with these apparatuses, it is necessary to sample a sample every time it is analyzed, and there is a problem that it is difficult to perform continuous sampling from sweat perspired at a time. Furthermore, since the sample sweat is very small, there is a possibility that the sample may decrease due to evaporation, and the measurement accuracy is affected.

  As a device for collecting sweat, for example, on the website of WESTOR (http://www.wescor.com/biomedical/cysticfibrosis/index.html#), a spiral thin tube is attached to the sweating position. MACRODUCT, a product that collects sweat inside, is introduced. Since the tube is transparent, the amount of sweat collected with this product can be estimated by checking the position of the tip of the sweat in the tube. However, there is a problem that it is necessary to confirm the tip position visually or to use a position confirmation device. In addition, in order to measure the components in sweat, it is necessary to remove the tube from the living body and take out the sample, and there is a problem that the amount of sweat decreases in the process.

  In a system for measuring biological components in sweat using a biosensor, a flow path system having both a function of quantitatively collecting a sample and a function of supplying (feeding) the sample to a sensor unit is required. In this flow path system, maintaining the concentration of a trace amount of sample is an important factor.

  Some measurement systems using current biosensors realize quantitative collection of a small amount of sample by an autosampler and a flow injection function. However, in such a system, it is necessary to prepare an amount of sample (sweat) that exceeds the amount necessary for sensing, and there is a problem that appropriate measurement may not be possible depending on the amount of sweating. Further, since sweat cannot be collected in advance at a time and a predetermined amount cannot be supplied for each measurement, there is a problem that continuous automatic measurement cannot be performed and sweat must be collected for each measurement. Further, in this system, since a fixed amount of sweat is collected and then sent to the sensing unit while being diluted with a buffer solution, the concentration of the sample is lowered and the S / N ratio is lowered. Therefore, this system has a problem that a highly sensitive sensor and a highly accurate measurement circuit are required. In addition, there is a problem that the concentration of the sample is likely to vary due to the influence of the length, the inner diameter, and the speed of the liquid feeding system, and causes a measurement error.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a biological component concentration measuring apparatus capable of measuring the concentration of biological components with high accuracy even when a small amount of a sweat sample is used.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, the biological component concentration measurement apparatus includes a first tube that can receive an inflow of a liquid sample from one end, and a liquid sample that has flowed into the first tube. A first sensor for detecting the presence of the first tube in the first position and outputting a sensor signal; and a component in the liquid sample provided in a tube in which the first tube and the inner space are continuous. A second sensor for outputting a signal corresponding to the concentration, and a liquid sample existing between the first position and the second position of the first pipe among the liquid samples in the first pipe. , Supply means for supplying the second sensor via the first tube and the first tube and a tube in which the inner space is continuous, and a sensor from the second sensor corresponding to the component concentration in the liquid sample First calculating means for calculating the component concentration based on the signal, the first sensor, By continuously flowing in from the end, it is detected that the tip of the liquid sample moving in the first tube toward the other end has reached the first position, and the second position is determined from the first position. The supply means is located on the side close to the one end, and the supply means transfers the liquid sample existing between the first position and the second position according to the sensor signal from the first sensor to the other in the first tube. It is separated from the liquid sample at the position and supplied to the second sensor.

  Preferably, the liquid sample is sweat taken continuously from above the skin. Preferably, the first sensor is an optical sensor.

  Preferably, the biological component concentration measuring apparatus further includes a discharging unit that discharges the liquid sample supplied to the second sensor to the outside of the tube in which the first tube and the inner space are continuous.

  Preferably, the supply means supplies a liquid sample existing between the first position and the second position to the second sensor every time a sensor signal is output from the first sensor.

  More preferably, in the biological component concentration measuring apparatus, the liquid sample is supplied from the first sensor signal from the first sensor to the second sensor by the supply unit according to the first sensor signal. First time measuring means for measuring the time difference from the first sensor to the second sensor signal, the measured time difference, and the capacity from the first position to the second position of the first tube. And a second calculating means for calculating a flow rate of the liquid sample into the first tube.

  Preferably, the supply means is a first sensor next to a liquid sample supplied from the first sensor signal from the first sensor to the second sensor by the supply means in accordance with the first sensor signal. The first time measuring means for measuring the time difference from the first to the second sensor signal, and the output means for outputting a warning when the measured time difference is longer than a predetermined time.

  Preferably, the supply means supplies the liquid sample existing between the first position and the second position to the second sensor at a constant supply speed.

  Preferably, the supply means includes a first pipe and a means for switching a flow path in the pipe where the first pipe and the inner space are continuous, and the supply means receives the first signal in response to a sensor signal from the first sensor. By switching the flow path of the liquid sample moving in one tube to another flow path, the liquid sample existing between the first position and the second position is supplied to the second sensor.

  Preferably, the tube in which the first tube and the inner space are continuous is a second tube joined to the first tube at the second position of the first tube, and the second sensor is in the second tube. The supply means moves the liquid sample from the first position to the second position of the liquid sample in the first tube into the second tube in response to the sensor signal from the first sensor. As a result, the second sensor is supplied.

  More preferably, the other end of the one end of the first tube is opened, and the supply means is configured to start from the first position of the liquid sample in the first tube in response to a sensor signal from the first sensor. By moving the liquid sample up to the second position and a predetermined amount of air flowing in from the opening into the second tube, the liquid sample in the first tube is moved from the first position to the second position. The liquid sample is separated from liquid samples at other positions in the first tube and supplied to the second sensor.

  More preferably, the biological component concentration measuring apparatus further includes a cleaning unit that supplies a cleaning liquid to a tube in which the second sensor is provided to perform cleaning, and the supply unit supplies a liquid sample next to air to the second sensor. . More preferably, the cleaning liquid contains a surfactant.

  Preferably, the second sensor is provided in the first tube on the side farther from the first position to the one end, and the supply means is configured to provide a fluid other than the liquid sample at the second position in the first tube. The supply means supplies a fluid to the second position in response to a sensor signal from the first sensor, thereby supplying the fluid from the first position of the liquid sample in the first tube. The liquid sample up to the second position is separated from the liquid sample at other positions in the first tube and supplied to the second sensor.

  More preferably, the biological component concentration measuring apparatus further includes a cleaning unit that supplies a cleaning liquid to a tube in which the second sensor is provided, and supplies the liquid sample to the second sensor after the fluid. .

  Preferably, the biological component concentration measuring apparatus corrects the first calculation unit based on the biological component concentration stored in advance in the liquid sample and the component concentration calculated by the first calculation unit. Means are further provided.

  Preferably, the biological component concentration measuring device further includes a second time measuring unit that measures a lapse of time from the start of the inflow of the liquid sample into the first tube, and the first calculating unit is connected to the first tube. The component concentration is calculated based on the sensor signal from the second sensor after a lapse of a predetermined time from the inflow of the liquid sample supply.

  According to the present invention, even if the amount of the sweat sample is small, a fixed amount of the sweat sample can be accurately collected, and further, the concentration of the stock solution is transported to the detection unit without diluting. Can be measured.

It is a figure which shows the specific example of a structure of the biological component density | concentration measuring apparatus (henceforth a measuring apparatus) concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the specific example of a function structure of the control apparatus contained in the measuring apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the flow of operation | movement of the measuring apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing a detailed flow of a preparatory operation during the operation of FIG. 3. It is a flowchart showing the detailed flow of the measurement operation | movement in the operation | movement of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the sweat sample which moves a flow path with the measurement operation | movement of FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a detailed flow of a calculation / display operation during the operation of FIG. 3. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the time change of the output value from the biosensor contained in a measuring apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the 1st modification of the function structure of the control apparatus contained in the measuring apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 2nd modification of a structure of the measuring apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 3rd modification of a structure of the measuring apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a structure of the measuring apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the specific example of a function structure of the control apparatus contained in the measuring apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the specific example of a function structure of the control apparatus contained in the measuring apparatus concerning 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the flow of operation | movement of the measuring apparatus concerning 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the other specific example of calculation / display operation in operation | movement of the measuring apparatus concerning 3rd Embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same.

[First Embodiment]
Referring to FIG. 1, a biological component concentration measuring apparatus (hereinafter abbreviated as a measuring apparatus) 100A according to a first embodiment includes a sweat sample collection unit 10, a sweat sample transport unit 20, and a detection unit 30. , A tank 40 for cleaning liquid, and a control device 50.

  The sweat sample collection unit 10 further includes a sweat collection tank 11, a collection tube 12, and a tip detection unit 13.

  The tank 11 has a configuration in which the sweat is collected in the tank 11 by the pressure of the sweat discharged from the sweat glands while being in contact with the skin of the living body. The tank 11 can store a predetermined amount of sweat.

  The sampling tube 12 has a hollow inside, one end is joined to the tank 11, and the other end is opened to form an opening 12A. As a result, when a predetermined amount or more of sweat is collected in the tank 11, the sweat exceeding the predetermined amount is pushed into the sampling tube 12 to which the sweat has been joined. The sweat in the collection tube 12 is used as a sample for detection.

  The tip detection unit 13 includes a sensor, is provided in the middle of the collection tube 12, detects that the tip of the pushed sweat has reached the position, and outputs a sensor signal indicating that fact. As an example of the detection method of the tip detection unit 13, the sampling tube 12 is preferably made of a permeable member, and the tip of sweat has reached this position in accordance with a change in the amount of diffused light or a change in the amount of transmitted light. The method of detecting is mentioned. Other methods include a method using a capacitance sensor that uses a change in dielectric constant, and a detection method that uses a change in temperature.

  The sweat sample transport unit 20 further includes a flow channel tube 21, a feeding / suction unit 22, and valves 23, 24, 25, and 26.

  The channel tube 21 has a hollow inside and a shape with a considerably narrow cross section, for example, a diameter of about 0.25 mm. The channel tube 21 has a plurality of ends by having a plurality of branches. One end of the plurality of ends is joined to the collection tube 12, and fluid can be moved between the collection tube 12 and the flow channel tube 21. The other end of the plurality of ends is joined to the feeding / suction unit 22. The tip detection unit 13 that includes a sensor and detects the tip of the sweat sample is located on the opening 12 </ b> A side of the collection tube 12 with respect to the junction with the flow channel tube 21. As a result, the sweat sample is present at the joint position with the flow channel tube 21 when the tip of the sweat sample is detected by the tip detection unit 13.

  The feeding / suction unit 22 is a mechanism that performs a piston operation as indicated by a double-sided arrow in FIG. 1 and repeatedly moves a member that closes the connected channel pipe 21 (not shown) along the channel pipe 21. .

  The channel tube 21 has three branches between one end joined to the sampling tube 12 and one end joined to the feeding / suction unit 22. One of the three branches is located in the vicinity of one end joined to the collection tube 12. One end of the branch is opened to form an opening 21A. The other two branches out of the three branches are all located closer to the feeding / suction unit 22 than the above branches. Preferably, as shown in FIG. Each of the two branches is opened at one end, and constitutes openings 21B and 21C, respectively. At least the opening 21 </ b> C portion of the flow path pipe 21 beyond the branch having the opening 21 </ b> C of the flow path pipe 21 is disposed in the tank 40.

  The tank 40 is filled with a cleaning liquid used for cleaning the inside of the channel pipe 21 containing the surfactant to a horizontal position higher than the horizontal position of the opening 21 </ b> C of the channel pipe 21.

  For the sake of simplicity in the following description, the flow path composed of one end joined to the feeding / suction part 22 from one end joined to the sampling pipe 12 of the flow pipe 21 is referred to as “first flow path (P1)”, The flow path constituted by the opening 21A through the branch located near the one end joined to the sampling pipe 12 from the inside of the channel pipe 21 is a “second flow path (P2)”, and the opening 21C is provided from the inside of the flow path pipe 21. The flow path constituted by the opening 21C via the branch is referred to as “third flow path (P3)”, and the flow path constituted by the opening 21B via the branch having the opening 21B from the flow path pipe 21 is designated as “fourth flow path. (P4) ”(see FIG. 1).

  The valves 23, 24, 25, and 26 correspond to pinch valves, for example, and are opened to allow fluid movement before and after that, and are closed to disable fluid movement before and after that. The valve 23 is disposed between one end of the flow channel 21 joined to the sampling tube 12 and a branch to the second flow channel. The valve 24 is disposed at a branch position of the second flow path from the first flow path to the second flow path. The valve 25 is disposed at a branch position of the third flow path from the first flow path to the third flow path. The valve 26 is disposed at a branch position of the fourth flow path from the first flow path to the fourth flow path. In the following description, the valves 23, 24, 25, and 26 are also referred to as a first valve (V1), a second valve (B2), a third valve (V3), and a fourth valve (V4), respectively.

  The detection unit 30 is disposed at a position in contact with the sample existing in the flow channel 21 (second flow channel). The detection unit 30 includes a biosensor, and outputs a sensor signal corresponding to the component concentration in the sample.

  A general biosensor can be adopted as the biosensor included in the detection unit 30. Therefore, the configuration is general. For example, in the case of a biosensor using a hydrogen peroxide electrode, as shown in FIG. 1, the separation membrane 31 is sequentially formed from the side in contact with the sample in the channel tube 21. , A configuration including an immobilized enzyme membrane 32, a permeation limiting membrane 33, and an electrode 34.

  The separation membrane 31 is a substance having a relatively large molecular weight (for example, a blood cell in the case of a blood sample, so that a detection target component (for example, glucose) in the sample diffuses and reaches the immobilized enzyme membrane 32 at a certain rate). Protein, etc.) are separated, and these components are prevented from reaching the immobilized enzyme membrane 32. An enzyme is immobilized on the immobilized enzyme membrane 32 so that it does not flow out with a sample or a cleaning solution. As the enzyme, glucose oxidase (GOD) or the like is applicable if the detection target is glucose. Under the environment where GOD is acting, glucose reacts with oxygen and water to generate hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) and gluconic acid. The permeation limiting film 33 has a small hole that allows only hydrogen peroxide to pass therethrough, and restricts the arrival of other low molecular substances (interfering substances) such as ascorbic acid to the electrode 34. At the anode of the electrode 35, hydrogen peroxide is decomposed into hydrogen ions and oxygen to emit electrons. The biosensor outputs a sensor signal corresponding to a current due to movement of electrons generated by electrolysis.

  The control device 50 controls the transport of the sweat sample in the sweat sample transport unit 20, calculates the biological component concentration based on the sensor signal from the detection unit 30, and outputs it. The control device 50 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51 for controlling the entire device, a switch (SW) 52 for instructing the start of measurement, and a display unit (DSP) 53 for displaying measurement results. , A memory (M) 54 for storing a program executed by the CPU, and driving circuits 55-1 to 4 and 56 for driving the valves 23, 24, 25 and 26 and the feeding / suction unit 22, respectively. Including.

  CPU51 is connected to each of the front-end | tip detection part 13 and the detection part 30, and receives a sensor signal from these. The CPU 51 reads out and executes a program from the memory 54 in accordance with an operation signal from the switch 52, and outputs a control signal to the drive circuits 55-1 to 4 and 56 at a necessary timing using the sensor signal.

  The drive circuits 55-1 to 55-4 are connected to the valves 23, 24, 25, and 26, respectively, and open and close the connected valves in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 51.

  The drive circuit 56 is connected to the feed / suction unit 22 and causes the feed / suction unit 22 to perform a piston operation in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 51. Of the piston operations performed by the feed / suction unit 22 by the drive circuit 56, an operation of pushing a member that closes the channel tube 21 (not shown) connected to the feed / suction unit 22 into the channel tube 21 is a “sending operation”, The operation of pulling out the member from the channel tube 21 is referred to as “suction operation”.

  The control device 50 includes an instruction input unit 501, a biosensor input unit 502, a position sensor input unit 503, a determination unit 504, an output unit 505, a concentration calculation unit 506, a timing unit 507, a speed calculation unit 508, which are illustrated in FIG. And a function of the display processing unit 509. These functions are shown in FIG. 2 as being mainly formed in the CPU 51 when the CPU 51 reads out and executes the program from the memory 54. However, at least a part of the functions is a hardware configuration different from that of the CPU 51. May be formed.

  The instruction input unit 501 receives an operation signal from the switch 52. The biosensor input unit 502 receives a sensor signal from the detection unit 30. The position sensor input unit 503 receives a sensor signal from the tip detection unit 13. These signals are input to the determination unit 504. The sensor signal from the detection unit 30 is input to the concentration calculation unit 506, and the sensor signal from the tip detection unit 13 is input to the time measurement unit 507. The determination unit 504 includes a timer A 5041 used to determine the progress of perspiration, and determines the timing for driving the valves 23, 24, 25, 26 and the feeding / suction unit 22 by each drive circuit based on these sensor signals. . The output unit 505 outputs a control signal according to the above determination.

  The concentration calculation unit 506 stores a relational expression between the sensor signal and the concentration in advance, and calculates the concentration of biological components in sweat (referred to as “sweat concentration”) based on the sensor signal from the detection unit 30. Further, a relational expression between the sweat concentration of the component and the blood concentration is stored, and the blood concentration of the component is calculated from the calculated sweat concentration.

  The timer 507 measures the time from the predetermined timing to the timing when the sensor signal from the tip detection unit 13 is input. The speed calculation unit 508 stores the volume from the joining position of the sampling tube 12 and the flow channel tube 21 to the tip detection unit 13 in advance, and calculates the sweat rate using the measured time and the volume. .

  The display processing unit 509 generates display data for displaying the calculated sweat concentration, blood concentration, sweat rate, and the like as measurement results on the display unit 53 and outputs the display data to the display unit 53.

  Although FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which the measurement apparatus 100A includes one detection unit 30 including a biosensor that is a concentration measurement sensor, a plurality of the sensors may be provided.

  An operation flow in the measurement apparatus 100A will be described with reference to FIG. The operation shown in FIG. 3 is started when the switch 52 of the control device 50 is operated and a measurement start is instructed, and the CPU 51 of the control device 50 reads out and executes the program from the memory 54 and realizes each part to operate. .

  Prior to the operation of the measuring apparatus 100A, sweating of the measurement site of the living body is promoted. Sweating is promoted by mounting a device for bringing a perspiration promoting agent such as pilocarpine or acetylcholine into contact with the surface of the measurement site, or applying these drugs to the surface of the measurement site. The method for promoting sweating is not limited to a specific method. After the sweating is promoted, the tank 11 is mounted on the surface of the measurement site using a mounting mechanism (not shown), and the switch 52 is operated. As a result, the following operation is performed to detect the concentration of the target biological component from the sweat.

  Referring to FIG. 3, a preparatory operation is performed in step S10, and then time measurement in timer A 5041 of determination unit 504 is started in step S15. The timer A 5041 stores in advance a time (for example, 15 minutes or 20 minutes) for determining the progress of perspiration. When the tip of the sweat sample is detected by the tip detection unit 13, that is, when a sensor signal from the tip detection unit 13 is received by the position sensor input unit 503 (YES in step S20), a measurement operation is performed in step S30. In step S40, a calculation / display operation is performed. Thereafter, a cleaning operation is performed in step S50.

  On the other hand, if the tip of the sweat sample is not detected even after a predetermined time measured by the timer A 5041 has elapsed since the time measurement by the timer A 5041 is started (NO in step S20 and YES in S60), the sweat cannot be sweated well. As an example, the measurement operation is terminated without performing the operations after step S30. When the control device 50 includes an alarm function (not shown), an alarm may be issued when the tip of the sweat sample is not detected within a predetermined time. Alternatively, a display for prompting perspiration may be performed again.

  Here, the switch 52 is operated and a series of operations are performed from the preparation operation in step S10 when the measurement operation is started. However, only the preparation operation is performed by operating different switches (not shown) at a timing different from the measurement operation. May be.

  The preparation operation in step S10 will be specifically described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. A specific state at each stage of the operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 4, when the preparatory operation starts, determination unit 504 determines that valve 26 is opened and valves 23, 24, and 25 are closed in step S <b> 101, and the drive circuits 55-1 to 4 are operated. Output the necessary control signals. In a state where the opening / closing operation of each valve is controlled in step S101, the determination unit 504 determines in step S103 that the suction / feed unit 22 is to perform a suction operation, and causes the drive circuit 56 to drive the feed / suction unit 22. Control signal for output.

  Since only the valve 26 of the valves 23, 24, 25, and 26 is opened by the operation of step S101, only the opening 21B is opened, and the fourth flow path is formed from the inside of the flow path pipe 21. Is done. Since the operation of step S103 causes the feeding / suction unit 22 to perform a suction operation in that state, the fourth flow path is opened from the opening 21B to the area closed by the valves 23, 24, 25 in the space inside the flow path pipe 21. Air flows in through and fills up.

  After the suction operation in step S103 is performed for a predetermined time, in step S105, the determination unit 504 determines that the valve 23 is opened and the valves 24, 25, and 26 are closed, and the drive circuits 55-1 to 4 are connected. Output the necessary control signals. In a state in which the opening / closing operation of each valve is controlled in step S105, the determination unit 504 determines in step S107 that the feeding / suctioning unit 22 is to perform a feeding operation, and causes the drive circuit 56 to drive the feeding / suctioning unit 22. Control signal for output.

  Since only the valve 23 of the valves 23, 24, 25, and 26 is opened by the operation of step S105, the flow pipe 21 is joined to the sampling pipe 12 and the inner space, and only the opening 12A of the sampling pipe 12 is opened. The Since the feeding / suction unit 22 performs the feeding operation in that state by the operation of step S107, the air filled in the flow channel pipe 21 in the previous operation is joined to the sampling tube in which the inner space is joined by opening the valve 23. The air flows into the opening 12A, and the air is discharged from the opening 12A as it is. Therefore, at this time, the sampling tube 12 is filled with air in the inner space of the flow channel tube 21 except for the portion from the valve 24 to the opening 21A and the portion from the valve 25 to the opening 21C. .

  After the sending operation in step S107 is performed for a predetermined time, in step S109, the determination unit 504 determines that the valve 25 is opened and the valves 23, 24, and 26 are closed, and the drive circuits 55-1 to 4 are connected. Output the necessary control signals. In a state in which the opening / closing operation of each valve is controlled in step S109, in step S111, the determination unit 504 determines that the suction / feed unit 22 is to perform a suction operation, and causes the drive circuit 56 to drive the feed / suction unit 22. Control signal for output.

  Since only the valve 25 of the valves 23, 24, 25, and 26 is opened by the operation of step S109, only the opening 21C is opened, and the third flow path is opened from the inside of the flow path pipe 21. It is formed. The opening 21 </ b> C is disposed at a position lower than the water surface of the cleaning liquid in the tank 40. Since the feeding / suction unit 22 performs a suction operation in this state by the operation of step S111, the third flow path is opened from the opening 21C to the area closed by the valves 23, 24, and 26 in the flow path 21. The cleaning liquid flows in through. Therefore, at this time, the cleaning liquid is filled other than the area closed by the valves 23, 24, and 26 in the inner space of the flow path pipe 21 and the portion on the opening 21 </ b> C side from the valve 25.

  After the suction operation in step S111 is performed for a predetermined time, in step S113, the determination unit 504 determines that the valve 24 is opened and the valves 23, 25, and 26 are closed, and the drive circuits 55-1 to 4 are connected. Output the necessary control signals. In a state in which the opening / closing operation of each valve is controlled in step S113, the determination unit 504 determines in step S115 that the feeding / suctioning unit 22 is to perform the feeding operation, and causes the drive circuit 56 to drive the feeding / suctioning unit 22. Control signal for output.

  Since only the valve 24 of the valves 23, 24, 25, and 26 is opened by the operation of step S113, only the opening 21A is opened, and the second flow path is opened from the inside of the flow path pipe 21. It is formed. Since the feeding / suction unit 22 performs the feeding operation in that state by the operation of step S115, the cleaning liquid filling the region closed by the valves 23 to 26 in the air in the flow channel 21 in the previous operation, When the valve 24 is opened, it flows through the second channel from the valve 24 of the channel tube 21 to the opening 21A side, and the cleaning liquid is discharged from the opening 21A by the feeding operation of the feeding / suction unit 22. Therefore, at this time, the cleaning liquid has passed through all the regions on the openings 21A, 21B, and 21C side from the valve 23 of the flow channel tube 21, and the flow inside the flow channel tubes 21 and particularly the flow included in the detection unit 30. The surface of the biosensor in contact with the inside of the pipe 21 is cleaned.

  After the delivery operation in step S115 has been performed for a time such that the cleaning liquid in the flow path pipe 21 is substantially discharged from the opening 21A, the determination unit 504 determines in step S117 that all the valves are closed, and the drive circuit Necessary control signals are output to 55-1 to 55-4.

  This completes the preparation operation. In addition, said step S109-S115 is also the washing | cleaning operation | movement of said step S50.

  The measurement operation in step S30 will be specifically described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. A specific state in each stage of the operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the sweat sample collected exceeding the capacity of the tank 11 advances in the collection tube 12 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 6A, and the tip of the sweat sample is the tip detection unit 13. In step S20, the position sensor input unit 503 receives the sensor signal input from the tip detection unit 13 to detect that the tip of the sweat sample has reached the position of the tip detection unit 13. (YES in step S20). Then, the measurement operation of FIG. 5 is started. Referring to FIG. 5, in step S301, determination unit 504 determines that valve 23 is opened and valves 24, 25, and 26 are closed, and a necessary control signal is sent to drive circuits 55-1 to 55-4. Output. In a state in which the opening / closing operation of each valve is controlled in step S301, the determination unit 504 determines in step S303 that the suction / feed unit 22 is to perform a suction operation, and causes the drive circuit 56 to drive the feed / suction unit 22. Control signal for output.

  Since only the valve 23 (V1) of the valves 23, 24, 25, and 26 is opened by the operation of step S301, as shown in FIG. The sky is joined, and only the opening 12A of the collection tube 12 is opened in the channel tube 21 with the sweat sample interposed therebetween. Therefore, a first flow path is formed from the collection tube 12. In FIG. 6B, the opened valve is represented by a dotted line, and the closed valve is represented by a solid line. The same applies to FIG. 6C used thereafter. As described above, the tip detection unit 13 is located closer to the opening 12A than the joining position of the flow channel tube 21 and the sampling tube 12, and therefore the valve 23 (V1) is opened, The sweat sample can move to the flow channel 21 side.

  Since the feeding / suction unit 22 performs a suction operation in this state by the operation of step S303, as shown in FIG. 6B, the position of the tip detection unit 13 from the joining position of the sweat sample in the collection tube 12 is determined. A predetermined amount of the sweat sample up to this amount enters the channel tube 21 through the first channel.

  The suction operation in step S303 is as the time required for the predetermined amount of sweat sample and the predetermined amount of air to enter the flow channel 21 from the sampling tube 12 into the flow channel 21 in that order. It is performed for a predetermined time. Thereafter, in step S305, the determination unit 504 determines that the valve 24 is opened and the valves 23, 25, and 26 are closed, and outputs necessary control signals to the drive circuits 55-1 to 55-4. In a state in which the opening / closing operation of each valve is controlled in step S305, the determination unit 504 determines in step S307 that the feeding / suctioning unit 22 is to perform the feeding operation, and causes the drive circuit 56 to drive the feeding / suctioning unit 22. Control signal for output.

  By the operation of step S305, the valve 23 (V1) is closed in a state where the predetermined amount of sweat sample and the predetermined amount of air enter the flow channel 21 from the sampling tube 12 in the first flow channel in that order. Of the valves 23, 24, 25, and 26, only the valve 24 (V2) is opened. Therefore, the channel tube 21 is opened only at the opening 21A with the sweat sample interposed therebetween. As a result, a second flow path is formed from the flow path pipe 21.

  Since the feeding / sucking section 22 performs the feeding operation in that state by the operation in step S307, the predetermined amount of sweat sample and the predetermined amount of air that have entered the flow channel tube 21 in the previous operation are shown in FIG. ), The sweat sample moves to the opening 21A side in the direction of arrow C in the figure in the reverse order of entry, that is, after a predetermined amount of air, through the second flow path. And is discharged from the opening 21A. That is, by the above operation, a predetermined amount of sweat sample moves on the detection unit 30 including the biosensor. Therefore, preferably, in step S307, the determination unit 504 sends and sucks the sweat sample at a speed at which the sweat sample can be sent so that the sweat sample moves on the detection unit 30 at a constant speed suitable for detection by the biosensor. Control is performed so that the sending operation is performed at a predetermined speed stored in advance so that the sending operation is performed with respect to the unit 22.

  This completes the measurement operation. As the sweat sample moves on the detection unit 30 by the operation in step S307, the detection unit 30 detects the target component.

  The calculation / display operation in step S40 will be specifically described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Referring to FIG. 7, the sweat sample moves on the detection unit 30 by the operation of step S <b> 307, so that the target component is detected by the detection unit 30, and the biosensor input unit 502 detects the sensor signal from the detection unit 30. Is received (YES in step S401), the concentration calculation unit 506 calculates the concentration of the target component in sweat by substituting the sensor signal into a conversion formula stored in advance in step S403.

  The timing unit 507 measures the time from when the position sensor input unit 503 receives the sensor signal from the tip detection unit 13 during the previous measurement operation to when the sensor signal is received from the tip detection unit 13 this time. This time corresponds to the time when the sweat sample exceeding the capacity of the tank 11 is pushed out from the joining position of the sampling tube 12 to the flow path tube 21 to the tip detection unit 13 due to the sweating action of the measurement site. The speed calculation unit 508 stores in advance the amount of the sweat sample according to the tube diameter of the sampling tube 12 and the length from the junction position with the flow channel tube 21 to the tip detection unit 13, and in step S405, the amount And the perspiration rate of the measurement site is calculated from the measured time.

  In step S407, the concentration calculation unit 506 calculates the blood concentration from the concentration of the target component in sweat by substituting the concentration of the target component in sweat calculated in step S403 into a conversion formula stored in advance.

  In step S409, the display processing unit 509 generates data for displaying the result of the above calculation on the display unit 53, and displays the sweat component concentration, blood concentration, sweat rate, and the like of the target component as measurement results. Let Further, the CPU 51 stores these results in a predetermined area of the memory 54.

  The calculation / calculation display operation is thus completed. Of the operations shown in FIG. 7, the operation order of steps S403 to S407 is not limited.

  After the above calculation / calculation display operation, in step S50, the cleaning operation represented by steps S109 to S115 in FIG. 4 is performed. Thereafter, the process waits until a new sweat sample reaches the tip detection unit 13, that is, until a predetermined amount of the sweat sample is collected in the collection tube 12. When a predetermined amount of the sweat sample is collected, the above steps are performed again. The operations after S30 are repeated.

  Thereby, after applying the sweat promotion to the measurement site, the sweat sweated after the tank 11 is mounted is continuously collected by the tank 11 and the collection tube 12, and the collected sweat samples are continuously given by a predetermined amount. Can be used to detect the target component. Therefore, it is not necessary to promote perspiration for each measurement.

  It can be said that the measurement operation represented in step S30 is an operation for supplying the sweat collected in the tank 11 to the detection unit 30 by a predetermined amount. As a mechanism for quantifying the collected sweat, each of the drive circuits 55-1 to 4 drives the corresponding valve to open and close according to the control signal from the CPU 51 according to the timing of detection of the tip of the sweat sample in the tip detection unit 13. In addition, the drive circuit 56 operates the feeding / suction unit 22 in accordance with the opening / closing timing. The measurement operation is performed according to the timing of detection of the tip of the sweat sample by the tip detection unit 13, so that the position where the collection tube 12 and the flow channel tube 21 are joined from the sweat sample collected in the tank 11 and the collection tube 12. The amount corresponding to the length from the tip to the tip detector 13 is accurately collected. Therefore, the tip detection unit 13 can be said to be a direct sweat sample quantification mechanism.

  By driving the drive circuits 55-1 to 55-4, the first flow path is formed in the flow path pipe 21 as described above, and then the second flow path is formed. Therefore, the valves 23, 24, 25 and the drive circuits 55-1 to 55-4 can be said to be a flow path switching mechanism in the flow path pipe 21. By driving the drive circuit 56, the sample moves in accordance with the flow path in which the sweat sample in the collection tube 12 is formed, and finally moves to the detection unit 30. Therefore, the feeding / suction unit 22 and the drive circuit 56 can be said to be a mechanism for moving the sweat sample in the collection tube 12 and the flow channel tube 21.

  In a test environment where there is a sufficient amount of sample and the sample and the biosensor are in contact with each other for a long time, the change in the output from the biosensor is, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 8A, diffusion of the sample on the sensor. A flat peak portion determined from the relationship among the speed, the moving speed of the sample, and the concentration of the target component in the sample is formed. Therefore, in this case, the concentration of the target component is calculated by obtaining the height P of the flat portion of the sensor output graph obtained by the dotted line in FIG. In the case of an output change that forms a flat peak value as shown in FIG. 8A, it is a detection output as a result of sufficiently diffusing the sample on the sensor. Therefore, the concentration obtained from the peak value P does not depend on the sample amount.

  However, when a sweat sample is used, the amount of sample is small, so the contact time between the sample and the biosensor is shortened, and the sample is not sufficiently diffused on the sensor within the contact time between the sweat sample and the biosensor. . That is, as represented by the solid line in FIG. 8A, the sweat sample passes over the biosensor before the change in output reaches the peak value P (as in the case of a sufficient amount). In this case, the change in the output from the biosensor forms a peak portion having a value Q smaller than the peak value P, as shown in FIG. In this case, the peak value formed by the output change varies depending on the amount of the sample. It also varies depending on the moving speed of the sample.

  In the above measurement operation, an amount corresponding to the length from the joining position of the collection tube 12 and the flow channel tube 21 to the tip detection unit 13 is accurately collected from the sweat sample collected in the tank 11 and the collection tube 12. A fixed amount of sample is supplied to the detection unit 30 for each measurement. Therefore, in the output change from the detection part 30, the fluctuation | variation of the peak value every time a sweat sample is supplied can be prevented, and the precision of the density | concentration calculated from a peak value can be improved.

  Further, in step S307, the sweat sample is sent out so that the sweat sample moves on the detection unit 30 at a constant speed suitable for detection by the biosensor. By controlling the sending operation, the fluctuation of the peak value can be prevented and the accuracy of the concentration calculated from the peak value can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 3, after the measurement operation is performed in step S30 in a series of measurement operations, a cleaning operation is performed in step S50. In the cleaning operation, the biosensor surface is cleaned by the cleaning liquid moving on the detection unit 30 in the operation of step S115, and then the cleaning liquid is discharged from the opening 21A. At that time, a certain amount of cleaning liquid remains on the inner surface of the flow path tube 21 and the sensor surface. In general, when a liquid sample is suddenly supplied from a dry state, the biosensor tends to become unstable due to the time required for the liquid to diffuse. This is preferable because the sensor surface is not dried. However, when a minute amount of the sweat sample moves in the channel tube 21 in this state, the sweat sample and the cleaning liquid are mixed, and the dilution of the sweat sample proceeds. When a small amount of sweat sample having a low concentration moves on the sensor, the sample is not sufficiently diffused on the sensor within the time when the sweat sample and the biosensor are in contact with each other. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the output from the biosensor rises gently. A large increase in sensor output requires many samples to form a flat peak. Or, if the sample is small, the sweat sample will pass over the biosensor before forming a flat peak. Therefore, when the sweat sample is diluted, the peak value Q is lower than the small amount represented by the solid line in FIG. 8A if the sample amount is the same, and the detection sensitivity of the biosensor is lowered. become.

  However, in the above measurement operation, an amount corresponding to the length from the joining position of the collection tube 12 and the flow channel tube 21 to the tip detection unit 13 is accurately collected from the sweat sample collected in the tank 11 and the collection tube 12. Since a fixed amount of sample is supplied to the detection unit 30 for each measurement, even when the sweat sample is diluted with the cleaning liquid and the detection sensitivity is lowered, the sweat sample is supplied in the output change from the detection unit 30. It is possible to prevent fluctuations in the peak value every time. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the accuracy of the concentration calculated from the peak value.

  As a more preferable configuration, in the measurement operation, the operations of steps S301 and S303 are performed, so that a predetermined amount of the sweat sample in the collection tube 12 once enters the flow channel 21 in the first flow channel. After being moved, it is sent to the detection unit 30 through the second flow path in the operations of steps S305 and S307. At that time, as described above, in step S303, the suction operation is performed for the time required for the predetermined amount of sweat sample and the predetermined amount of air to enter from the collection tube 12 into the flow channel tube 21 through the first flow channel. Done. That is, when a predetermined amount of sweat sample is moved in the first channel in steps S301 and S303, as described above, a predetermined amount of air is also moved in the first channel following the predetermined amount of sweat sample. Let By doing so, when the sweat sample is supplied to the detection unit 30 through the second channel in steps S305 and S307, the air passes through the channel tube 21 through the second channel before the sweat sample. Moving. More preferably, this allows the cleaning liquid adhering to the inner surface of the flow channel tube 21 to be pushed out before the sweat sample passes by the air, thereby suppressing mixing into the sweat sample, that is, dilution of the sweat sample. Therefore, the detection sensitivity of the biosensor can be ensured.

  In addition, the frictional resistance in the channel tube 21 can be suppressed by mixing the surfactant tip with the cleaning liquid. Therefore, even when air is supplied in advance and a sweat sample is subsequently supplied, it is possible to prevent the sample from staying in a portion such as a step in the flow channel 21. Therefore, a predetermined amount of sweat sample can be supplied to the detection unit 30 with high accuracy.

[First Modification]
When the sample is allowed to stay on the biosensor for a sufficient period of time, as shown in FIG. 8 (C), the output value from the biosensor rises rapidly at the start of detection (T1 period), and then the sample diffuses. Along with this, it slowly rises (T2 period). Thereafter, the output value exhibits a peak value P (T3 period), and the dissolved oxygen concentration in the liquid, which is a reactant, decreases as it is consumed by the enzyme reaction, and the output value also decreases as the concentration decreases (T4 period). As shown in FIG. 8C, even if the sample is allowed to stay on the biosensor for a sufficient period of time, a predetermined time is required from the start of detection until the output value exhibits the peak value P. Further, the peak value P is easily changed because it also depends on the oxygen concentration. Therefore, preferably, the concentration calculation unit 506 does not wait until the output value exhibits the peak value P and calculates the concentration using the sensor signal at that time, but does not calculate the concentration in the T1 period that is the rising period such as the rising speed. The concentration is calculated based on information obtained from the sensor signal.

  In this case, the function mainly formed in the CPU 51 of the control device 50 further includes a timer B 5042 in the determination unit 504, as shown in FIG. The determination unit 504 determines the sensor signal in the T1 period using the timer B 5042 among the sensor signals received by the biosensor input unit 502. The concentration calculation unit 506 calculates the sweat concentration in step S403 by using the sensor signal that is determined to be the T1 period by the determination unit 504 when the sensor signal is received in step S401.

  By doing so, the calculation time can be shortened and the accuracy of the calculated density can be improved.

[Second Modification]
In the above example, as shown in FIG. 1, the channel tube 21 includes a branch that forms the second channel, and the sweat sample in the collection tube 12 is once passed through the channel tube 21 in the first channel. After the movement, the air is arranged at the head, and the sweat sample is sent out through the second flow path to the tip of the branch where the detection unit 30 is provided. However, unlike the measuring apparatus 100A ′ shown in FIG. 10, the flow channel 21 does not include a branch forming the second flow channel, and the detection unit 30 is ahead of the tip detection unit 13 of the sampling tube 12. May be arranged.

  In this case, the determination unit 504 of the control device 50 opens the valve 23 at the timing when the tip of the sweat sample reaches the tip detection unit 13 and causes the feeding / suction unit 22 to perform a sending operation. By doing so, the flow channel tube 21 in the first flow channel is located at the joining position of the collection tube 12 and the flow channel tube 21 of the sweat sample in the collection tube 12 as shown by the arrow A in the figure. The air inside is inserted by the feed / suction unit 22 by an amount corresponding to the delivery operation.

  By controlling in this way, the sweat sample can be accurately quantified and supplied to the detection unit 30 as in the configuration of FIG. 1 as a simpler configuration than the configuration of FIG.

[Third Modification]
In the above example, as described above, the switching of the flow path is realized by driving the opening / closing of the valves 23, 24, 25, and 26 by the drive circuits 55-1 to 55-4. Switching may be realized. For example, the measurement apparatus 100A ″ shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B can be configured.

  Specifically, referring to FIG. 11A, a rotary valve having a size including the tip detection unit 13 is provided at the crossing position of the sampling tube 12 and the flow channel tube 21. The rotary valve is controlled to rotate in the direction A in the figure. The flow path pipe 21 is provided at a predetermined angle with respect to the sampling pipe 12, missing from the sampling pipe 12 in the rotary valve at the crossing position with the sampling pipe 12. When the rotary valve rotates in the direction A in the figure at the predetermined angle, both ends of the sampling tube 12 in the rotary valve are joined to the flow channel tube 21, and the fluid flows between the sampling tube 12 and the flow channel tube 21. It can be moved. The channel tube 21 is open at the end farther from the feeding / suction unit 22, and the detection unit 30 is disposed between the rotary valve and the opening.

  In this case, the determination unit 504 of the control device 50 rotates the rotary valve at the predetermined angle as shown by the arrow A in FIG. 11A at the timing when the tip of the sweat sample reaches the tip detection unit 13. After that, the feeding / suction unit 22 is caused to perform the feeding operation. By doing so, as represented by an arrow B in FIG. 11B, the sweat sample in the collection tube 12 in the rotary valve is pushed out to the joined flow channel tube 21 and supplied to the detection unit 30. Is done.

  11A and 11B, the sweat sample can be accurately quantified and supplied to the detector 30 as in the case of the configuration of FIG. it can.

[Second Embodiment]
When the detection unit 30 is configured to detect a target component in a sweat sample using a biosensor, as described above, the detection unit 30 generates a sensor signal corresponding to the current due to the movement of electrons generated by electrolysis. Is output. However, electrolysis is affected not only by concentration but also by environmental conditions such as temperature and light quantity. Therefore, the measuring apparatus 100B according to the second embodiment includes a configuration that corrects a conversion formula (coefficient) for converting the concentration from the sensor output value in consideration of the environment at the time of measurement.

  Specifically, referring to FIG. 12, a measurement apparatus 100B according to the second embodiment includes a sweat sample collection unit 10, a sweat sample transport unit 20, and a detection unit 30 of the measurement apparatus 100A shown in FIG. In addition to the cleaning liquid tank 40 and the control device 50, a calibration liquid tank 60 is further included. Here, the “calibration liquid” is a liquid that is used to correct a conversion equation (coefficient) for converting the concentration from the sensor output value described above, and in which the concentration of the target component is defined in advance. Point to.

  In the measurement apparatus 100B, the sweat sample transport unit 20 further includes a valve 27. The channel tube 21 further includes a branch located closer to the feeding / suction unit 22 than a branch located near one end joined to the sampling tube 12. One end of the branch is opened at the end, and at least the opening portion of the flow path pipe 21 after the branch is disposed in the tank 60. The tank 60 is filled with the calibration solution up to a horizontal position higher than the horizontal position of the opening of the flow path pipe 21. For convenience of the following description, the flow path constituted by the opening of the flow path pipe 21 through the branch having the opening arranged in the tank 60 from the flow path pipe 21 is referred to as “fifth flow path (P5)”. (See FIG. 12). The valve 27 is disposed at a branch position of the fifth flow path from the first flow path to the fifth flow path. In the following description, the valve 27 is also referred to as a fifth valve (V5). Control device 50 further includes a drive circuit 55-5. The drive circuit 55-5 drives the valve 27 to open and close in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 51.

  In the measurement apparatus 100B, the function mainly formed in the CPU 51 of the control apparatus 50 includes a correction unit 510 in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 2 as shown in FIG.

  The control device 50 of the measuring apparatus 100B performs a correction operation in the preparation operation in step S10. Specifically, the control device 50 corrects the calibration solution in the tank 60 by injecting the calibration solution in the tank 60 into the flow channel pipe 21 through the fifth flow channel, and passes through the first flow channel to the detection unit 30 through the second flow channel. The drive circuits 55-1 to 55-5 and 56 are controlled so as to be supplied. As a result, a sensor signal corresponding to the concentration of the target component in the calibration liquid is output from the detection unit 30 to the control device 50 prior to measurement.

  The correction unit 510 stores the concentration of the target component in the calibration solution in advance. The correction unit 510 compares the concentration obtained from the sensor signal received by the biosensor input unit 502 to determine a correction amount for the conversion formula stored in the concentration calculation unit 506, and corrects the conversion formula.

  The above correction operation is not limited to that performed in the preparation operation, and may be performed at a timing instructed by a specific switch operation (not shown) or automatically performed at a predetermined time interval during the measurement operation. Good.

  By performing the correction operation in the measurement apparatus 100B, the influence of environmental conditions on the biosensor can be suppressed, and the measurement accuracy can be improved.

[Third Embodiment]
It is known that there is a correlation between the concentration of a specific biological component (such as sugar) in sweat and the blood concentration, and using this correlation, the concentration calculation unit 506 converts the sweat concentration into a blood concentration. It is converted. However, it is known that biological components in sweat temporarily change in the early stage of sweating. It has also been confirmed by experiments by the inventors of the present application that, for example, the sugar concentration is extremely high as a component in the initial sweat of forced sweating. In addition, it has been confirmed that the sugar concentration in blood and the sugar concentration in sweat are not correlated in the early stage of forced sweating.

  Therefore, in the third embodiment, the initial sweat of forced sweating is not used for detection, but the subsequent sweat is used. The configuration of the measuring apparatus according to the third embodiment can be the same as the configuration of the measuring apparatus 100A according to the first embodiment. Moreover, it is good also as the same as the measuring apparatus 100B concerning 2nd Embodiment.

  In the third embodiment, the function mainly formed in the CPU 51 of the control device 50 is that the determination unit 504 determines the initial state of sweating as shown in FIG. It further includes a timer C5043 to be used. The timer C5043 stores in advance a time (for example, 10 minutes, etc.) for determining the initial stage of sweating. Note that when the configuration of the measurement apparatus is the same as that of the measurement apparatus 100B according to the second embodiment, the above-described correction unit 510 may be further included.

  The flow of the operation according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The operation shown in FIG. 15 is also started when the switch 52 of the control device 50 is operated to start measurement, and the CPU 51 of the control device 50 reads and executes the program from the memory 54 to execute each part. To do. In FIG. 15, different step numbers are assigned to operations different from those in the measurement apparatus 100 </ b> A shown in FIG. 3, and operations having the same step numbers are the same as those in the measurement apparatus 100 </ b> A. is there.

  Referring to FIG. 15, as described above, after the sweating promoting action is applied to the measurement site prior to the series of measurement operations, the tank 11 is mounted on the measurement site surface and the switch 52 is operated. In the third embodiment, in step S5, the determination unit 504 starts timing by the timer C5043 with the time when the switch 52 is operated as the start of sweating prior to the preparation operation in step S10. Thereafter, the preparatory operation in step S10 is performed.

  In the operation according to the third embodiment, the determination unit 504 confirms whether or not the time measurement by the timer C5043 has ended when the tip detection unit 13 detects the tip of the sweat sample. If the timer C5043 has not finished counting (NO in step S25), it is determined that the collected sweat is the initial sweat of sweating, and the subsequent measurement operation in step S30 and the calculation / display operation in step S40. Is skipped and the cleaning operation of step S50 is executed. Thereby, the sweat collected at the beginning of perspiration is not used for the measurement operation, but is discarded (discharged) as it is.

  Since the time measurement by the timer C5043 is started only immediately after the sweating promoting action is performed, in the subsequent measurement operation, once the measurement operation timekeeping of the timer C5043 is finished, from the sweat collected after the second time, Similar to the operation according to the first embodiment, it is used for the measurement operation in step S30.

  By operating as described above in the third embodiment, since the sweat collected in the early stage of sweating is not used for the measurement operation, the blood concentration is calculated when the blood concentration is converted from the sweat concentration. Accuracy can be improved.

  In the above example, the measurement operation in step S30 is not performed when the collected sweat sample is determined as perspiration in the early stage of sweating, that is, the sample is not supplied to the detection unit 30 and is moved from the collection tube 12 to the flow channel tube 21. Has been discarded before. As another example of the operation, as shown in FIG. 16, it may be determined that the sweat is in the initial stage of sweating during the calculation / display operation in step S40. That is, referring to FIG. 16, after the measurement operation is performed using the sweat sample collected in the same manner as in step S30 of the first embodiment and supplied to the detection unit 30, the determination unit 504 in step S40. Is collected at the beginning of sweating when the sensor signal from the detection unit 30 is detected, that is, when the time measurement by the timer C5043 is not completed when the sensor signal is supplied to the detection unit 30 (NO in step S402). The subsequent steps S403 to S409 may be skipped because it is determined that the sweat has occurred.

  Even by operating in this manner, the sweat concentration collected in the early stage of sweating does not give the concentration of the target component in the sweat or blood, so that the accuracy of calculating the blood concentration can be improved. Further, by operating as shown in FIG. 16, the concentration calculation unit 506 and the like can be applied to the sweat sample collected at the beginning of sweating and the sweat sample collected thereafter without changing the flow path. Since only the control needs to be changed, the control can be facilitated.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  10 sweat sample collection unit, 11, 40, 60 tank, 12 collection tube, 12A, 21A to 21C opening, 13 tip detection unit, 20 sweat sample transport unit, 21 flow channel tube, 22 feeding / suction unit, 23, 24, 25 , 26, 27 Valve, 30 detection unit, 31 separation membrane, 32 immobilized enzyme membrane, 33 permeation restriction membrane, 34 electrode, 50 control device, 51 CPU, 52 switch, 53 display unit, 54 memory, 55-1-5 , 56 Drive circuit, 501 Instruction input unit, 502 Biosensor input unit, 503 Position sensor input unit, 504 Judgment unit, 505 Output unit, 506 Concentration calculation unit, 507 Timing unit, 508 Speed calculation unit, 509 Display processing unit, 510 Correction unit, 5041-5043 timer.

Claims (12)

A first tube capable of receiving an inflow of a liquid sample from one end;
A first sensor for detecting that a liquid sample flowing into the first tube is present at a first position of the first tube and outputting a sensor signal;
A second sensor for outputting a signal corresponding to a concentration of a component in the liquid sample, provided in a tube in which the first tube and the inner space are continuous;
Of the liquid sample in the first tube, the liquid sample existing between the first position and the second position of the first tube is used as the first tube and the first tube. Supply means for supplying to the second sensor via a pipe having a continuous inner space;
First calculating means for calculating the component concentration based on a sensor signal from the second sensor corresponding to the component concentration in the liquid sample;
The first sensor continuously flows from the one end to detect that the tip of the liquid sample moving toward the other end in the first tube has reached the first position,
The second position is closer to the one end than the first position;
In accordance with a sensor signal from the first sensor, the supply means converts a liquid sample existing between the first position and the second position into a liquid at another position in the first tube. A biological component concentration measurement apparatus that separates a sample and supplies the second sensor to the second sensor.   The biological component concentration measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid sample is sweat continuously collected from the skin.   The biological component concentration measurement apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a discharge unit that discharges the liquid sample supplied to the second sensor to the outside of the tube in which the first tube and the inner space are continuous.   The supply means supplies a liquid sample existing between the first position and a second position to the second sensor every time a sensor signal is output from the first sensor. The biological component concentration measuring apparatus according to any one of 1 to 3. From the first sensor signal that is supplied from the first sensor to the second sensor by the supplying means in response to the first sensor signal from the first sensor signal. A first time measuring means for measuring a time difference until the second sensor signal;
The biological component concentration measuring apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an output unit that outputs a warning when the time difference is longer than a predetermined time. The supply means has means for switching the flow path in the first pipe and the pipe in which the first pipe and the inner space are continuous,
The supply means switches the flow path of the liquid sample moving in the first tube to another flow path in accordance with a sensor signal from the first sensor, thereby changing the flow path from the first position to the second flow path. The biological component concentration measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a liquid sample existing up to the position of is supplied to the second sensor. The tube in which the first tube and the inner space are continuous is a second tube joined to the first tube at the second position of the first tube,
The second sensor is provided in the second tube;
The supply means supplies the liquid sample from the first position to the second position of the liquid sample in the first tube in response to a sensor signal from the first sensor. The biological component concentration measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the biological component concentration measuring device is supplied to the second sensor by being moved into a tube. The first tube has an opening at the other end of the one end,
In accordance with a sensor signal from the first sensor, the supply means includes a liquid sample from the first position to the second position of the liquid sample in the first tube, and the opening. By moving a predetermined amount of inflowing air into the second tube, the liquid sample from the first position to the second position of the liquid sample in the first tube is moved to the first tube. The biological component concentration measuring device according to claim 7, wherein the biological component concentration measuring device is supplied to the second sensor separately from a liquid sample at another position in the tube. A cleaning means for supplying and cleaning the cleaning liquid in the pipe provided with the second sensor;
The biological component concentration measurement apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the supply unit supplies the liquid sample to the second sensor next to the air. The second sensor is provided in the first pipe and on a side farther from the one end than the one end,
The supply means includes means for supplying a fluid other than the liquid sample to the second position in the first tube;
The supply means supplies the fluid to the second position in accordance with a sensor signal from the first sensor, so that the liquid sample in the first tube is removed from the first position. The biological component concentration according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a liquid sample up to the second position is separated from a liquid sample at another position in the first tube and supplied to the second sensor. measuring device.   Means for supplying a standard liquid having a known component concentration, and the first calculation means is based on the concentration of the component in the standard liquid stored in advance and the second sensor output. The biological component concentration measuring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising correction means for correcting. A second timing means for measuring a time elapsed from the start of the flow of the liquid sample into the first pipe;
The first calculation means calculates the component concentration based on a sensor signal from the second sensor after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of inflow of the liquid sample into the first tube. The biological component density | concentration measuring apparatus in any one of -11.

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