JP2011232170A - Measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure which prevents trouble of a device by reducing the possibility that blood which leaks from a biosensor enters inside the device.SOLUTION: The measuring device comprises: a biosensor 11 which has a space into which a liquid biological sample is introduced through a sample introduction port 41; a device body 12 into which the biosensor 11 is inserted through an opening 14 so that the biosensor 11 can be attached with the sample introduction port 41 exposed outside; a switch 58 which slides at the inside of the device body 12 by being pushed by the inserted biosensor 11; and a pair of doors 81 and 82 which project into the opening 14 and can change their postures in conjunction with the sliding of the switch 58, between a first posture where a space 87 to which the biosensor 11 can be inserted is formed between the pair and a second posture where each front edge of the pair comes in contact with the biosensor 11 inserted into the opening 14 so that the opening 14 is liquid-tightly blocked.

Description

  The present invention relates to a measurement apparatus in which a biosensor having a sample space into which a liquid biological sample is introduced via an introduction port can be attached via the opening.

  In recent years, the number of diabetic patients is increasing in each country. As a treatment for diabetes, for example, there is insulin therapy. Insulin is known as a drug that controls blood glucose levels and is administered to diabetic patients as a therapeutic agent for diabetes. The need to administer insulin is determined based on the blood glucose level of the diabetic patient. For this reason, it is important for a diabetic patient to grasp a blood glucose level. The blood glucose level is the glucose concentration in the blood. A simple blood glucose measuring device has been developed for the purpose of allowing a diabetic patient to easily measure his blood glucose level.

  As the blood glucose measurement device described above, one using a biosensor is known (Patent Documents 1 to 4). The biosensor has an electrode on which an enzyme that reacts with blood sugar is fixed. Glucose oxidase (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “GOD”) and glucose dehydrogenase (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “GDH”) are known as enzymes used for blood glucose level measurement. . In a biosensor, an electrode on which an enzyme is immobilized is called a working electrode, and an electrode that supplies electrons into a sample is called a counter electrode.

  When blood as a sample is introduced into the biosensor and GOD of the working electrode reacts with glucose in the blood, glucose is decomposed into gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide, and the hydrogen peroxide is decomposed into water and electrons. The electrons generated in this way are transmitted to the working electrode. On the other hand, electrons are supplied from the counter electrode into the blood. In this way, a current flows between the working electrode and the counter electrode due to the reaction between GOD and glucose. Then, based on the flowing current value, the glucose concentration in the blood, that is, the blood glucose level is calculated. In addition, a substance that transmits electrons may be fixed to the working electrode. This material is referred to as an electron mediator. Examples of the electron mediator include organic compounds such as potassium ferricyanide, hexaammineruthenium and quinone derivatives, or organic-metal complexes.

  In the biosensor described above, a space for introducing blood as a sample and a sample introduction port are formed between the working electrode and the counter electrode. In addition, the biosensor having such a configuration is a so-called disposable that is disposable every time a blood glucose level is measured. Therefore, the biosensor is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body, and the biosensor is replaced every time it is used. The attachment / detachment is performed by inserting / removing the biosensor into / from an opening provided in the blood glucose measurement device. In addition, in order to allow blood to be introduced while the biosensor is attached to the blood glucose measurement device, the sample introduction port of the biosensor is provided at a position exposed to the outside when the biosensor is attached to the blood glucose measurement device. It has been.

JP 2009-97877 A JP 2005-43280 A JP-A-2005-37335 JP 2002-107325 A

  However, if more blood than necessary is introduced into the space, excess blood may leak from the space. Further, when blood is introduced into the space, a user of the biosensor may make a mistake in the introduction operation, so that part or all of the blood to be introduced into the space may flow down outside the biosensor.

  In the state where the biosensor is attached to the blood glucose measurement device, when blood leaks or flows down from the space, the blood enters the blood glucose measurement device through a gap with the biosensor at the opening of the blood glucose measurement device. There is a fear. Here, a plurality of electrodes (device-side electrodes) connected to a plurality of electrodes (sensor-side electrodes) provided on the attached biosensor are provided inside the blood glucose measurement device. If blood that has entered the blood glucose measuring device adheres to these sensor-side electrodes and device-side electrodes, the electrodes may be short-circuited, causing the blood glucose measuring device to fail.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a structure capable of avoiding the failure of the device by reducing the possibility that blood leaked from the biosensor enters the inside of the device. There is to do.

  (1) The measurement apparatus according to the present invention includes a biosensor having a sample space into which a liquid biological sample is introduced through an introduction port, and the introduction port is inserted by inserting the biosensor through an opening. An apparatus main body to which the biosensor can be mounted in a state exposed to the outside, a first position that is provided inside the apparatus main body and is close to the opening, and a mounting direction of the biosensor from the opening A pair of slide members that move from the first position to the second position in conjunction with the insertion of the biosensor into the opening, and a pair to the opening. A first posture in which a gap into which the biosensor can be inserted is formed between the pair, and the pair of tips is in contact with the biosensor inserted into the opening so that the opening is liquid. Close occlusion A pair of doors whose posture can be changed to the second posture, and the slide member and the pair of doors are connected, and the pair of doors are in the first posture when the slide member is in the first position. And an interlocking mechanism that sets the pair of doors to the second posture when the slide member is in the second position.

  When the biosensor is attached to the main body of the measurement apparatus, the slide member moves from the first position to the second position. When the slide member moves to the second position, the pair of doors connected to the slide member change in posture from the first posture to the second posture via the interlocking mechanism. Thereby, the opening of the apparatus main body is liquid-tightly closed.

  In a state where the biosensor is mounted on the apparatus main body, when the measurement apparatus is in a posture in which the introduction port of the biosensor is on the upper side of the apparatus main body, if the biological sample leaks from the sample space, the biological sample is Along the main body. However, in this configuration, since the biosensor and the apparatus main body are in contact with each other and the opening is liquid-tightly closed, the biological sample is less likely to enter the apparatus main body.

  (2) The pair of doors is configured to be rotatable along a mounting direction of the biosensor around a rotation shaft provided at an end opposite to the tip. The pivot shaft moves so that the gap is constant in a process in which the pair of doors changes in posture between the first posture and the second posture.

  In this configuration, the pair of doors rotate about the rotation axis. Here, in the configuration in which the opening is liquid-tightly closed in the second posture, when the rotation shaft is fixed, the gap becomes small in the rotation process, and the biosensor cannot be inserted into the apparatus main body. . However, in this configuration, the rotation shaft moves so that the gap is constant. Thereby, even if it is a case where a measuring device is constituted so that a pair of doors may rotate, a biosensor can be inserted in a device main part.

  (3) The pair of doors has an arcuate surface on the side exposed to the outside of the apparatus body, and the arc is centered on a center position of a circle having the arc as a part of the outer periphery. You may move in a different direction.

  Also in this configuration, the pair of doors forms a gap into which the sensor can be inserted in the first posture, and can contact the biosensor in the second posture.

  (4) The measuring apparatus according to the present invention further includes a deformable portion at each end of the pair of doors that can be elastically deformed in a direction away from the biosensor by contact with the biosensor.

  In this configuration, in a state where the biosensor is mounted on the apparatus main body, a place where the biosensor and the apparatus main body are in contact with each other is in a pressure contact state. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the possibility that a biological sample leaking from the sample space enters the inside of the apparatus main body as compared with the case (1).

  (5) The measuring apparatus according to the present invention further includes a liquid reservoir capable of storing the biological sample at the end opposite to the front ends of the pair of doors.

  In this configuration, since the liquid reservoir receives and stores the biological sample flowing along the pair of doors, the biological sample enters the inside of the apparatus main body from the end opposite to the front ends of the pair of doors. The possibility can be reduced.

  (6) The measurement apparatus according to the present invention may further include a power switch that switches the power of the apparatus from off to on in conjunction with the movement of the slide member from the first position to the second position. Good. That is, the measuring device may be configured to automatically turn on when the biosensor is attached.

  According to the present invention, since the biosensor and the apparatus main body come into contact with each other and the opening is liquid-tightly closed, the possibility that a biological sample leaking from the biosensor enters the inside of the apparatus main body is reduced. Therefore, the failure of the apparatus due to the short circuit of the electrode due to the attachment of the biological sample to the electrode can be avoided.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a blood glucose measurement device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the biosensor 11. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the apparatus main body 12. 4A and 4B are schematic views showing the internal structure of the blood glucose measurement device 10, wherein FIG. 4A shows a longitudinal sectional view, and FIG. 4B shows a plan view. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the blood glucose measurement device 10 in the process of mounting the biosensor 11, wherein (A) shows a longitudinal sectional view and (B) shows a plan view. Has been. 6A and 6B are schematic views showing the internal structure of the blood glucose measurement device 10 with the biosensor 11 attached, where FIG. 6A shows a longitudinal sectional view and FIG. 6B shows a plan view. Has been. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the blood glucose measurement device 10 in Modification 1. FIG. 7A shows a longitudinal sectional view, and FIG. 7B shows a plan view. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the internal structure of the blood glucose measurement device 10 in the process of mounting the biosensor 11 in Modification Example 1. FIG. 8A is a longitudinal sectional view, and FIG. A plan view is shown. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the blood glucose measurement device 10 with the biosensor 11 in the modified example 1, with (A) showing a longitudinal sectional view and (B) showing A plan view is shown.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. Each embodiment described below is only an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the embodiment of the present invention can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the following description, the vertical direction (thickness direction) 103 is defined with reference to the state in which the blood glucose measurement device 10 has the display 51 on the upper side (the state shown in FIG. 1), and the side on which the opening 14 is provided is the front side. A front-rear direction (longitudinal direction) 101 (corresponding to the mounting direction of the present invention) is defined as (front), and a left-right direction (width direction) 102 is defined when the blood glucose measuring device 10 is viewed from the front side (front).

[Blood glucose measuring device 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the blood glucose measurement device 10 includes a biosensor 11 and a device body 12. The biosensor 11 is inserted into an internal space 15 (see FIG. 4) provided at the back of the opening 14 through an opening 14 (corresponding to the opening of the present invention) provided on the surface of the apparatus body 12. A connection part 13 (see FIG. 3) is provided in the inner part of the internal space 15, and the biosensor 11 and the apparatus main body 12 are electrically connected by inserting the biosensor 11 into the connection part 13. . The biosensor 11 is replaced for each blood glucose measurement. The blood glucose measurement device 10 corresponds to the measurement device according to the present invention. The biosensor 11 corresponds to the biosensor in the present invention.

[Biosensor 11]
As shown in FIG. 1, the biosensor 11 has an elongated sheet shape. The biosensor 11 is attached to the apparatus main body 12 by inserting one end of the biosensor 11 in the front-rear direction 101 into the connection portion 13 through the opening 14 of the apparatus main body 12. Further, when the biosensor 11 is pulled out in the front-rear direction 101, the biosensor 11 is removed from the apparatus main body 10.

  The biosensor 11 has a sheet shape in which the first surface 21 and the second surface 22 are front and back surfaces. Since the front and back of the biosensor 11 are relative, any of them may be front or back. In the present embodiment, the side (first surface 21) that appears in FIG. 1 is referred to as the front, and the side that does not appear in FIG. 1 (second surface 22) is referred to as the back.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the biosensor 11 mainly includes a first substrate 23, a spacer 25, a first electrode 24, a second electrode 26, a third electrode 27, and a second substrate 28. The first substrate 23, the spacer 25, the first electrode 24, the second electrode 26, the third electrode 27, and the second substrate 28 are stacked in this order from the upper side, that is, the front side in FIG. It is configured.

[First substrate 23]
As shown in FIG. 2, the first substrate 23 is a sheet that is substantially the same shape as the biosensor 11 in plan view and is slightly shorter than the second substrate 28 in the front-rear direction 101. The first substrate 23 is made of an electrically insulating material. Examples of the electrically insulating material include polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), fluororesin, polycarbonate, and glass. One surface of the first substrate 23 constitutes a first surface (surface) 21.

[Second substrate 28]
As shown in FIG. 2, the second substrate 28 is a sheet having substantially the same shape as the biosensor 11 in plan view. The second substrate 28 is made of an electrically insulating material. Examples of the electrically insulating material include polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), fluororesin, polycarbonate, and glass.

  One surface of the second substrate 28 constitutes a second surface (back surface) 22. As will be described later, a first electrode 24, a second electrode 26, and a third electrode 27 are provided on a surface 34 opposite to the second surface 22. In the second substrate 28, one end side in the front-rear direction 101 inserted into the connection portion 13 of the apparatus main body 12 is not opposed to the first substrate 23.

[First electrode 24]
As shown in FIG. 2, the first electrode 24 is provided on the surface 34 of the second substrate 28 opposite to the second surface 22. The first electrode 24 extends in the front-rear direction 101 on the surface 34 of the second substrate 28, and has a width of about 1/3 of the second substrate 28 in the left-right direction 102. In the surface 34, the 1st electrode 24 is arrange | positioned in the electrical connection with the 2nd electrode 26 and the 3rd electrode 27 which are mentioned later. Examples of the material for the first electrode 24 include silver / silver chloride, gold, palladium, and platinum. The first electrode 24 is laminated on the surface 34 with respect to the first substrate 23 by a method such as a screen printing method, an ink jet method, sputtering, vacuum deposition, sol-gel method, cluster beam deposition, or PLD. In the first electrode 24, the end corresponding to the connection portion 13 side of the apparatus main body 12 is exposed without facing the first substrate 23. This end is a connection terminal 33 that is electrically connected to the apparatus main body 12.

[Second electrode 26]
As shown in FIG. 2, the second electrode 26 is provided on the surface 34 of the second substrate 28 opposite to the second surface 22. The second electrode 26 extends in the front-rear direction 101 on the surface 34 of the second substrate 28, and has a width of about 1/3 of the second substrate 28 in the left-right direction 102. On the surface 24, the second electrode 26 is disposed in an electrically unconnected manner with the first electrode 24 and a third electrode 27 described later. An example of the material of the second electrode 26 is carbon. Since carbon is used for the second electrode 26, the resistance value of the first electrode 23 employing silver / silver chloride, gold, palladium, platinum or the like is lower than the resistance value of the second electrode 26 made of carbon. As will be described later, electrons are easily supplied to the blood introduced into the space 40. Of course, the second electrode 26 may be made of a material such as silver / silver chloride, gold, palladium, platinum or the like, like the first electrode 24. In the second electrode 26, an end corresponding to the connection portion 13 side of the apparatus main body 12 is exposed without facing the first substrate 23. This end is a connection terminal 37 that is electrically connected to the apparatus main body 12.

[Third electrode 27]
As shown in FIG. 2, the third electrode 27 is provided on the surface 34 of the second substrate 28 opposite to the second surface 22. The third electrode 27 extends in the front-rear direction 101 on the surface 34 of the second substrate 28, and has a width of about 1/3 of the second substrate 28 in the left-right direction 102. On the surface 24, the third electrode 27 is disposed in an electrically unconnected manner with the first electrode 24 and the second electrode 26. Examples of the material of the third electrode 27 include silver / silver chloride, gold, palladium, platinum, and the like. The third electrode 27 is an electrode for detecting whether blood is introduced into the space 40. In the third electrode 27, the end corresponding to the connection portion 13 side of the apparatus main body 12 is exposed without facing the first substrate 23. This end is a connection terminal 39 that is electrically connected to the apparatus main body 12.

[Spacer 25]
As shown in FIG. 2, the spacer 25 is a sheet having substantially the same shape as the biosensor 11 in plan view. As the spacer 25, a double-sided tape having electrical insulation is preferably used. The spacer 25 has a space 40 extending in the left-right direction 102 at a position near the front end. The space 40 forms a sample space corresponding to the thickness of the spacer 25 between the region 38 and the region 42. That is, the space 40 corresponds to the sample space in the present invention. In the space 40, a part of the first electrode 24, a part of the second electrode 26, and a part of the third electrode 27 are exposed.

  The space 40 is opened in the first surface 21 of the biosensor 11, and this opening serves as the sample introduction port 41. Blood flows into the space 40 via the sample inlet 41. The sample inlet 41 corresponds to the inlet in the present invention. Blood is an example of a biological sample in the present invention.

[Apparatus body 12]
As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus main body 12 (corresponding to the apparatus main body in the present invention) is an electronic apparatus in which an electronic component is accommodated in a casing 50. A liquid crystal display 51 and operation keys 52, 53, and 54 are arranged on the front surface of the housing 50. The operation keys 52, 53, and 54 are for generating corresponding commands based on user operations. The liquid crystal display 51 displays the state of the apparatus main body 12, measurement results, error display, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the connection portion 13 of the apparatus main body 12 is provided with three connection terminals 61 to 63. The connection terminals 61 to 63 correspond to the connection terminal 33 of the first electrode 24, the connection terminal 37 of the second electrode 26, and the connection terminal 39 of the third electrode 27, and the biosensor 11 is attached to the connection portion 13. By doing so, each is electrically connected. By connecting the connection unit 13 and the connection terminals 61 to 63, the biosensor 11 is fixed in a state of being attached to the apparatus main body 12. The fixed biosensor 11 can be extracted from the apparatus main body 12 by sliding a discharge lever 74 described later.

  The apparatus main body 12 is provided with a control unit 55. The control unit 55 is an arithmetic device including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and operates the blood glucose measurement device 10 as described later based on a program stored in the ROM. Thereby, blood glucose measurement is performed. The control unit 55 is connected to the liquid crystal display 51 and the operation keys 52, 53, and 54 so as to be able to transmit and receive electrical signals. The control unit 55 causes the liquid crystal display 51 to display measurement results and error indications, A predetermined command is generated based on the electrical signal.

  The apparatus main body 12 has a power source 56. The power source 56 is, for example, a primary battery or a secondary battery. A relay circuit 57 is provided between the power source 56 and the terminals 61, 62, 63 of the connection unit 13. The control unit 55 controls the relay circuit 57 to selectively supply power from the power source 56 to the terminals 61, 62, 63.

[Switch 58]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a mechanical switch 58 is provided in the internal space 15 of the apparatus main body 12. The switch 58 is configured to be slidable in the front-rear direction 101 in the internal space 15 as will be described later. Specifically, a position close to the opening 14 (first position shown in FIG. 4A, corresponding to the first position in the present invention), and a position spaced from the opening toward the mounting direction of the biosensor 11 (FIG. 6). It is configured to be slidable between the second position shown in (A), which corresponds to the second position in the present invention. The switch 58 corresponds to the slide member in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the switch 58 is linked to the power switch 59 of the blood glucose measurement device 10. Specifically, when the switch 58 slides from the first position to the second position, the power switch 59 is turned on. In other words, the state of the wiring between the power source 56 and the control unit 55 is changed from open to short circuit. As a result, power is supplied from the power source 56 to the control unit 55, and the blood glucose measurement device 10 is in a state where it can execute processing such as blood glucose measurement. The power switch 59 may be a mechanical switch or an electric switch. The power switch 59 corresponds to the power switch in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the switch 58 has a back plate 71 that extends in the left-right direction 102 and the up-down direction 103 in the internal space 15 provided in the back of the opening 14, and forwards from both ends of the back plate 71 in the left-right direction 102. And projecting plates 72 and 73 projecting from the surface.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the rear surface of the back plate 71 and the protruding plate 73 is fixed to the discharge lever 74. The discharge lever 74 passes through a long hole 75 provided in the side surface 16 that extends in the front-rear direction 101 and the vertical direction 103 of the apparatus main body 12. In addition, one end of the discharge lever 74 in the left-right direction 102 is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 12, and the other end is fixed to the switch 58 in the internal space 15. Accordingly, when the user picks a portion exposed to the outside of the discharge lever 74 and slides the discharge lever 74 along the long hole 75, the switch 58 fixed to the discharge lever 74 is slid in the front-rear direction 101. Further, the upper, lower, left and right side surfaces of the back plate 71 are in contact with the inner surface 76 of the internal space 15. As described above, the switch 58 is supported by the discharge lever 74 and the inner surface of the internal space so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction 101.

  In the above description, the configuration in which the top, bottom, left, and right side surfaces of the back plate 71 are in contact with the inner surface 76 is described. However, the configuration is not limited to this configuration as long as the switch 58 can slide in the front-rear direction 101. For example, a guide rail (not shown) along the front-rear direction 101 extends on the inner surface 76, and a convex portion (not shown) along the front-rear direction 101 is provided on the side surface of the switch 58. And the guide rail are engaged, the switch 58 may be configured to move along the guide rail.

  In the vicinity of the protruding end on the left surface of the protruding plate 72, a convex portion 77 protruding leftward is provided. Further, in the vicinity of the protruding end on the right surface of the protruding plate 73, a convex portion 78 protruding rightward is provided. When the biosensor 11 is inserted into the internal space 15 through the opening 14, the convex portions 77 and 78 are arranged in the left-right direction 102 at the distal end on the insertion side of the biosensor 11 as shown in FIG. Abuts both ends. Thereby, the switch 58 is pushed by the biosensor 11 and is slid to the back side (rear side) of the internal space 15.

  The back plate 71 is provided with an opening (not shown) penetrating from the front surface to the rear surface. The opening is provided at a position facing the first electrode 24, the second electrode 26, and the third electrode 27 of the inserted biosensor 11. In addition, when the switch 58 is slidable in the inner space 15 (backmost side), that is, when it is slid to the second position, the three connection terminals 61 to 63 of the apparatus main body 12 are connected to the back through the openings. The position is in front of the front surface of the plate 71. Thereby, when the switch 58 is slid to the 2nd position, the connection terminals 61-63 and the connection part 13 are connected.

[A pair of doors 81 and 82]
As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of doors 81 and 82 are provided in front of the switch 58 in the internal space 15 of the apparatus main body 12. The pair of doors 81 and 82 correspond to a pair of doors in the present invention.

  The door 81 is a generally thin rectangular parallelepiped plate-like member in which the length in the left-right direction 102 and the vertical direction 103 is longer than the length in the front-rear direction 101. A shaft 83 is attached to the upper end of the door 81 along the left-right direction 102. The door 82 is generally a thin rectangular parallelepiped plate like the door 81, and a shaft 84 is attached to the lower end thereof along the left-right direction 102. The length of the shafts 83 and 84 in the left-right direction 102 is longer than the length of the doors 81 and 82 in the left-right direction 102, and the shafts 83 and 84 are attached so as to protrude from the left and right ends of the doors 81 and 82. Each of the shafts 83 and 84 is engaged with a first guide groove 85 and a second guide groove 86 described below.

  The first guide groove 85 extends along the front-rear direction 101 on the top surface of the internal space 15. Further, the first guide groove 85 is curved so that the front end portion and the rear end portion thereof are below the center portion. A support plate (not shown) protrudes in the left-right direction 102 from a portion of the left and right side surfaces of the first guide groove 85 close to the top surface of the internal space 15. The portions of the shaft 83 that protrude from the left and right ends of the door 81 are supported by the support plate.

  The second guide groove 86 extends along the front-rear direction 101 on the bottom surface of the internal space 15. Further, the second guide groove 86 is curved so that the front end portion and the rear end portion thereof are located above the center portion. A support plate (not shown) protrudes in the left-right direction 102 from a portion near the bottom surface of the internal space 15 on the left and right side surfaces of the second guide groove 86. The portions of the shaft 84 that protrude from the left and right ends of the door 82 are supported by the support plate.

  As described above, in the door 81, the shaft 83 is engaged with the first guide groove 85 and extends downward from the first guide groove 85. Further, the door 82 has a shaft 84 engaged with the second guide groove 86 and extends upward from the second guide groove 86. Further, the total length of the pair of doors 81 and 82 in the vertical direction is smaller than the distance between the first guide groove 85 and the second guide groove 86. That is, there is a gap 87 (corresponding to the gap in the present invention, between the tip of the door 81 extending downward from the first guide groove 85 and the tip of the door 82 extending upward from the second guide groove 86, as shown in FIG. (See (A)).

  Further, the pair of doors 81 and 82 are slidable along the guide grooves 85 and 86. Further, the pair of doors 81 and 82 can rotate in the front-rear direction 101 about the shafts 83 and 84. The shafts 83 and 84 correspond to the rotation shaft in the present invention.

[Interlocking mechanism 90]
The interlocking mechanism 90 includes a first interlocking unit 91 that connects the switch 58 and the door 81, and a second interlocking unit 92 that connects the switch 58 and the door 82. The interlocking mechanism 90 corresponds to the interlocking mechanism in the present invention.

  The first interlocking unit 91 includes a first pulley 110, a second pulley 111, a first wire 112 and a second wire 113. As shown in FIG. 4B, the first interlocking portion 91 is provided at both left and right ends of the internal space 15.

  The first pulley 110 is rotatably supported on the inner surface 76 (the right side surface and the left side surface in the present embodiment) of the internal space 15 on the rear side of the switch 58. The second pulley 111 is rotatably supported on the inner surface 76 (the right side surface and the left side surface in this embodiment) of the internal space 15 on the front side of the door 81.

  One end of the first wire 112 is fixed near the center of the rear surface of the back plate 71 in the vertical direction 103, and the other end is fixed to the shaft 83 of the door 81. Specifically, the first wire 112 extending from the rear surface of the back plate 71 of the switch 58 is wound around the circumferential surface of the first pulley 110 and then wound around the circumferential surface of the second pulley 111. Finally, it is fixed to the shaft 83 of the door 81. In addition, the 1st wire 112 is hung on the tensioner in the extended position. Thereby, a predetermined tension is applied to the first wire 112.

  The second wire 113 extends along the front-rear direction 101, one end is fixed to the shaft 83, and the other end is fixed near the upper end of the rear surface of the back plate 71. Here, one end of the second wire 113 is fixed to the peripheral surface of the shaft 83 opposite to the joint surface with the door 81. In addition, the 2nd wire 113 is hung on the tensioner in the extended position. Thereby, a predetermined tension is applied to the second wire 113.

  The second interlocking unit 92 includes a third pulley 120, a fourth pulley 121, a third wire 122, and a fourth wire 123. The second interlocking unit 92 is provided symmetrically with the first interlocking unit 91.

  The third pulley 120 is rotatably supported on the inner surface 76 (the right side surface and the left side surface in this embodiment) of the inner space 15 on the rear side of the switch 58. The fourth pulley 121 is rotatably supported on the inner surface 76 (the right side surface and the left side surface in the present embodiment) of the internal space 15 on the front side of the door 82.

  The third wire 122 has one end fixed to the vicinity of the center in the up-down direction 103 on the rear surface of the back plate 71 and the other end fixed to the shaft 84 of the door 82. Specifically, the third wire 122 extended from the rear surface of the back plate 71 of the switch 58 is wound around the circumferential surface of the third pulley 120 and then wound around the circumferential surface of the fourth pulley 121. Finally, it is fixed to the shaft 84 of the door 82. The third wire 122 is hung on the tensioner at any of the extended positions. Thereby, a predetermined tension is applied to the third wire 122.

  The fourth wire 123 extends along the front-rear direction 101, one end is fixed to the shaft 84, and the other end is fixed near the lower end of the rear surface of the back plate 71. Here, one end of the fourth wire 123 is fixed to the peripheral surface of the shaft 84 opposite to the joint surface with the door 82. In addition, the 4th wire 123 is hung on the tensioner in the extended position. Thereby, a predetermined tension is applied to the fourth wire 123.

[Operation of Blood Glucose Measuring Device 10]
Hereinafter, the operation of the blood glucose measurement device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. A feature of the present invention lies in a process in which the biosensor 10 is attached to the apparatus main body 12. Therefore, in the following, the operation of attaching the biosensor 10 to the apparatus main body 12 will be described in detail, and the operation of measuring the blood glucose level after that will be briefly described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in a state where the biosensor 11 is not attached to the apparatus main body 12, the switch 58 is located at the foremost position among the slidable positions, that is, the first position close to the opening 14. Located in position. Further, the shafts 83 and 84 of the pair of doors 81 and 82 are located at the front end portions of the guide grooves 85 and 86. Further, as shown in FIG. 4A, the pair of doors 81 and 82 are connected to the interlocking mechanism 90 so that their tips (in other words, ends opposite to the shafts 83 and 84) are shafts 83. , 84 are arranged so as to incline in a state of being rearward of the end portion on the 84 side. Further, a gap 87 exists between the pair of doors 81 and 82. Such a posture of the pair of doors 81 and 82 (the posture shown in FIG. 4A) corresponds to the first posture in the present invention.

  When the biosensor 11 is inserted into the apparatus main body 12 from the opening 14 by the user, the insertion tip of the biosensor 11 comes into contact with the convex portions 77 and 78 of the switch 58. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, the switch 58 is pushed by the biosensor 11 and slides backward.

  Then, the shafts 83 and 84 are pulled by the switch 58 via the second wire 113. As a result, the shafts 83 and 84 slide along the guide grooves 85 and 86 toward the rear ends of the guide grooves 85 and 86. Further, as described above, the second wire 113 is fixed to the peripheral surface of the shaft 83 opposite to the joint surface with the door 81, and the fourth wire 123 is a joint surface with the door 82 on the shaft 84. It is being fixed to the peripheral surface on the opposite side. Therefore, when the shafts 83 and 84 are pulled by the switch 58, the shafts 83 and 84 rotate clockwise on the paper surface of FIG. As a result, the pair of doors 81 and 82 rotate about the shafts 83 and 84. In other words, the pair of doors 81 and 82 are rotated while sliding by being pulled by the switch 58, and shift from the state shown in FIG. 4 to the state shown in FIG.

  When the biosensor 11 is further inserted into the apparatus main body 12, as shown in FIG. 6, the switch 58 is located at the rearmost position among the slidable positions, that is, at the second position separated from the opening 14. Located in. By positioning the switch 58 in the second position, the three connection terminals 61 to 63 of the apparatus main body 12 and the three electrodes 24, 26, and 27 of the biosensor 11 are electrically connected.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 6A, the shafts 83 and 84 of the pair of doors 81 and 82 have their tips (in other words, the ends opposite to the shafts 83 and 84) on the shafts 83 and 84 side. It inclines so that it may become the front rather than an edge part. That is, it inclines in the direction which becomes symmetrical with the front-back direction with the case of FIG. Such a posture of the pair of doors 81 and 82 (the posture shown in FIG. 6A) corresponds to the second posture in the present invention.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 4 (A), 5 (A), and 6 (A), the shafts 83 and 84 are positioned between the pair of doors 81 and 82 between the first posture and the second posture. In the changing process, the gap 87 is moved to be constant. The size of the gap 87 is the same as the length of the biosensor 11 in the vertical direction. In order to realize such movement that makes the gap 87 between the shafts 83 and 84 constant and the size of the gap 87, the size of the pair of doors 81 and 82 and the shape of the guide grooves 85 and 86 (for example, the angle of curvature). And the interval between the guide grooves 85 and 86 are determined. Note that the gap 87 may be slightly larger than the length of the biosensor 11 in the vertical direction as long as a biological sample such as blood does not pass (for example, solidifies while passing). In addition, it is preferable that the front-end | tip part contact | abutted with the biosensor 11 in a pair of doors 81 and 82 is comprised by the curved surface. This is because even if the pair of doors 81 and 82 are in contact with the biosensor 11, the posture can be smoothly changed between the first posture and the second posture.

  Since the size of the gap 87 is the same as the length of the biosensor 11 in the vertical direction, the pair of doors 81 and 82 is the upper surface of the biosensor 11 when the pair of doors 81 and 82 are in the second posture. And abuts the lower surface. Thus, even when liquid blood flows from the opening 14 into the apparatus main body 12, it is blocked by the contact portion between the pair of doors 81, 82 and the biosensor 11 and does not adhere to the connection portion 13. That is, in a state where the pair of doors 81 and 82 are in the second posture, blood does not flow around the connection portion 13 in the internal space 15. That is, when the pair of doors 81 and 82 are in the second posture, the opening 14 is liquid-tightly closed.

  As described above, when the biosensor 11 is inserted into the apparatus main body 12 and the switch 58 slides from the first position to the second position, the power switch 58 is turned on. Thereafter, when blood is introduced into the space 40 and the blood contacts the first electrode 24 and the third electrode 27, the conductive state between the first electrode 24 and the third electrode 27 changes. The controller 55 determines that blood has been introduced into the space 40 due to the change in the conductive state. In the space 40, GOD fixed to the second electrode 26 decomposes glucose in blood into gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide, and then decomposes hydrogen peroxide into water and electrons. The electrons are transmitted to the second electrode 26 through the electron mediator. Electrons are supplied from the first electrode 24 into the blood. Based on the current flowing between the first electrode 24 and the second electrode 26 in this way, the control unit 55 calculates the glucose concentration and causes the liquid crystal display 51 to display the result.

[Effects of Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, when the biosensor 11 is attached to the apparatus main body 12, the switch 58 moves from the first position to the second position. As a result, the pair of doors 81 and 82 connected to the switch 58 via the interlocking mechanism 90 changes in posture from the first posture to the second posture. Thereby, the opening 14 of the apparatus main body 12 is liquid-tightly closed. In a state where the biosensor 11 is mounted on the apparatus main body 12, when the posture of the blood glucose measurement device 10 is such that the sample inlet 41 of the biosensor 11 is above the apparatus main body 12, blood leaks from the space 40. Then, the leaked blood flows down to the apparatus main body 12 along the biosensor 11. However, in the present embodiment, when the pair of doors 81 and 82 are in the second posture, the biosensor 11 and the apparatus main body 12 come into contact with each other, and the opening 14 is closed in a liquid-tight manner. The possibility of entering the inside of the apparatus main body 12 is low. Therefore, the possibility of failure of the blood glucose measurement device 10 due to a short circuit of the connection terminals 61 to 63 due to adhesion of blood to the connection part 13 and the electrodes 24, 26 and 27 can be reduced.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the pair of doors 81 and 82 is in the second posture, the pair of doors 81 and 82 has an end portion on the opposite side to the shafts 83 and 84 at the end on the shaft 83 or 84 side. It inclines so that it may become back rather than a part. Accordingly, the leaked blood flows along the pair of inclined doors 81 and 82 to both ends of the apparatus main body 12 in the left-right direction 102, that is, to the side away from the connection portion 13. Therefore, as described above, the possibility of failure of the blood glucose measurement device 10 due to the short circuit of the connection terminals 61 to 63 can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the pair of doors 81 and 82 rotate around the shafts 83 and 84. Here, in the configuration in which the opening 14 is liquid-tightly closed in the second posture as in the present embodiment, if the shafts 83 and 84 are fixed, the gap 87 becomes small in the turning process, and the biosensor 11. Cannot be inserted. However, in the present embodiment, the shafts 83 and 84 move so that the gap 87 is constant. Thereby, even if it is a case where the blood glucose measuring device 10 is comprised so that a pair of doors 81 and 82 may rotate, the biosensor 11 can be inserted in the apparatus main body 12. FIG.

  In addition, the pair of doors 81 and 82 are configured to rotate about the shafts 83 and 84 and the shafts 83 and 84 are moved. Inclined as shown in (A). Thereby, the user can easily attach the biosensor 11 to the apparatus main body 12 visually.

  In the present embodiment, a power switch 59 that switches the power supply of the blood glucose measurement device 10 from OFF to ON in conjunction with the movement of the switch 58 from the first position to the second position is provided. Thereby, the power supply of the blood glucose measuring device 10 can be automatically turned on when the biosensor 11 is attached.

[Modification 1]
Hereinafter, modifications of the above-described embodiment will be described. The configuration of the switch 58, the pair of doors 81 and 82, and the interlocking mechanism 90 is such that the switch 58 can move to the first position and the second position, and the pair of doors 81 and 82 change their positions to the first position and the second position. If possible, the configuration is not limited to that described in the above embodiment. In the first modification, as shown in FIG. 7, the configuration of the switch 58, the pair of doors 81 and 82, and the interlocking mechanism 90 is different from the above-described embodiment. Hereinafter, with respect to each configuration, portions different from the above-described embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the switch 58 includes an upper plate 131 and a lower plate 132 in addition to the back plate 71 and the projecting plates 72 and 73. The upper plate 131 and the lower plate 132 are provided so as to protrude forward in the vertical direction 103 from the positions on both the upper and lower ends than the protruding plates 72 and 73. Further, the upper plate 131 and the lower plate 132 are provided so as to protrude from both the upper and lower ends of a plate (the projecting plate 72 in Modification 1) that is not fixed to the discharge lever 74 among the projecting plates 72 and 73.

  The door 81 includes a shaft 135 extending in the left-right direction 102 and a circular arc plate 136 that is supported by the shaft 135 and is rotatable about the shaft 135. The door 82 includes a shaft 137 extending in the left-right direction 102 and a circular arc plate 138 supported by the shaft 137 and rotatable about the shaft 137. The pair of doors 81 and 82 are provided in front of the back plate 71 of the switch 58 and are provided between the upper plate 131 and the lower plate 132.

  The arc plate 136 has an arc surface 139 formed in an arc shape on the upper side thereof, and the arc plate 138 has an arc surface 140 formed in an arc shape on the lower side thereof. That is, the pair of doors 81 and 82 are formed in an arc shape on the surface exposed to the outside when the second posture is taken.

  The shaft 135 is provided at a position that is the center of a circle having the circular arc surface 139 as a part of the circumference. The axis | shaft 138 is provided in the position used as the center of the circle | round | yen which makes the circular arc surface 140 a part of circumference. The length of the shafts 135, 138 in the left-right direction 102 is longer than the length of the arc plates 136, 138 in the left-right direction 102. Yes. The shafts 135 and 138 are rotatably supported by the inner surface 76 of the internal space 15 at both left and right ends thereof.

  The first interlocking portion 91 includes a first rack gear 143, a first pinion gear 144, and a first gear portion 145, and the second interlocking portion 92 includes a second rack gear 146, a second pinion gear 147, and a second gear portion 148. I have.

  The first rack gear 143 extends along the front-rear direction 101 on the lower surface of the upper plate 131 of the switch 58. The first pinion gear 144 is meshed with the first rack gear 143 and rotates when the first rack gear 143 slides. The first gear portion 145 is a gear provided on the arc plate 136 and meshes with the first pinion gear 144.

  The second rack gear 146 extends along the front-rear direction 101 on the upper surface of the lower plate 132 of the switch 58. The second pinion gear 147 is meshed with the second rack gear 146, and rotates when the second rack gear 146 slides. The second gear portion 148 is a gear provided on the circular arc plate 138 and meshes with the second pinion gear 147.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the blood glucose measurement device 10 in Modification 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9. Hereinafter, the operation of the blood glucose measurement device 10 will be described with respect to portions different from the above-described embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in a state where the pair of doors 81 and 82 are in the first posture, the rack gears 143 and 146 are meshed with the pinion gears 144 and 147 at the rear end portions, and the gear portions 145 and 145 are engaged. 148 meshes with the pinion gears 144 and 147 at the front end. At this time, a gap 87 exists between the pair of doors 81 and 82.

  When the biosensor 11 is inserted into the apparatus main body 12 from the opening 14 by the user, the switch 58 slides backward, so that the rack gears 143 and 146 also slide backward. As a result, the pinion gear 144 rotates clockwise on the paper surface of FIG. 7, and the pinion gear 147 rotates counterclockwise on the paper surface of FIG. The rotation of the pinion gears 144 and 147 causes the door 81 to which the gear portion 145 is attached to rotate counterclockwise on the paper surface of FIG. 7, and the door 82 to which the gear portion 148 is attached corresponds to the paper surface of FIG. 7. Rotate clockwise. As a result, the pair of doors 81 and 82 shifts from the state shown in FIG. 7 to the state shown in FIG.

  When the biosensor 11 is further inserted into the apparatus main body 12, the pair of doors 81 and 82 take the second posture as shown in FIG. At this time, the rack gears 143 and 146 are engaged with the pinion gears 144 and 147 at the front end portion, and the gear portions 145 and 148 are engaged with the pinion gears 144 and 147 at the rear end portion. When the pair of doors 81 and 82 are in the second posture, the front end contacts the upper and lower surfaces of the biosensor 11. That is, when the pair of doors 81 and 82 are in the second posture, the opening 14 is liquid-tightly closed as in the above-described embodiment.

  According to the first modification, the gap 87 into which the biosensor 11 can be inserted can be formed when the pair of doors 81 and 82 take the first posture. Further, when the pair of doors 81 and 82 are in the second posture, the pair of doors 81 and 82 abut against the biosensor 11, so that the opening 14 can be liquid-tightly closed.

[Modification 2]
The pair of doors 81 and 82 may be formed of an elastic member (not shown) such as rubber at a tip portion that contacts the biosensor 11 in the second posture. The elastic member corresponds to the deformed portion in the present invention.

  In the case of the second modification, the gap 87 when the pair of doors 81 and 82 are in the second posture is preferably configured to be slightly smaller than the thickness of the biosensor 11 (the length in the vertical direction 103). . Accordingly, the elastic member is pressed against the upper surface and the lower surface of the biosensor 11 when the pair of doors 81 and 82 are in the second posture. Specifically, when the pair of doors 81 and 82 and the biosensor 11 come into contact with each other in the process of attaching the biosensor 11 to the apparatus main body 12, the elastic member provided at the distal end portion of the door 81 It is elastically deformed upward by being pushed onto the upper surface. On the other hand, the elastic member provided at the front end portion of the door 82 is elastically deformed downward by being pushed by the lower surface of the biosensor 11. Thereby, the elastic member is pressed against the upper surface and the lower surface of the biosensor 11.

  In the second modification, the place where the biosensor 11 and the pair of doors 81 and 82 are in contact with each other is in a state of being pressed by the elastic member. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the possibility that blood leaking from the space 40 enters the inside of the apparatus main body 12 than in the case of the above-described embodiment.

[Modification 3]
The pair of doors 81, 82 has blood in the vicinity of the end on the opposite side to the tip that contacts the biosensor 11 in the second posture, that is, the upper end of the door 81 and the lower end of the door 82. A storable liquid reservoir (not shown) may be provided. The liquid reservoir is, for example, a sponge capable of soaking blood.

  In the third modification, since the sponge as an example of the liquid storage portion stores the blood that has flowed down along the pair of doors 81 and 82 by soaking in, the blood is stored in the upper end portion of the door 81 and the door. The possibility of entering the inside of the apparatus main body 12 from the lower end of 82 can be reduced.

10 ... blood glucose measuring device (measuring device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Biosensor 12 ... Device main body 14 ... Opening 40 ... Space (sample space)
41 ... Sample inlet (inlet)
58 ... Switch (sliding member)
59 ... Power switch 81 ... Door 82 ... Door 83 ... Shaft (rotating shaft)
84 ... axis (rotating axis)
87 ... Gap 90 ... Interlocking mechanism

Claims (6)

A biosensor having a sample space into which a liquid biological sample is introduced through an inlet;
By inserting the biosensor through an opening, an apparatus main body to which the biosensor can be attached with the introduction port exposed to the outside;
It is provided inside the apparatus main body, and is movable to a first position close to the opening and a second position spaced from the opening toward the mounting direction of the biosensor. A slide member that moves from the first position to the second position in conjunction with the insertion of the biosensor;
A pair protrudes into the opening, a first posture in which a gap into which the biosensor can be inserted is formed between the pair, and the pair of tips contact the biosensor inserted into the opening. A pair of doors whose posture can be changed to a second posture in which the opening is closed liquid-tightly;
The slide member and the pair of doors are connected, and the pair of doors is in the first posture when the slide member is in the first position, and the pair of doors is in the second position when the slide member is in the second position. An interlocking mechanism having the door in the second posture. The pair of doors is configured to be rotatable along a mounting direction of the biosensor, with a rotation shaft provided at an end opposite to the tip as a center.
2. The measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation shaft moves so that the gap is constant in a process in which the pair of doors changes in posture between the first posture and the second posture.   In the pair of doors, a surface exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body is formed in an arc shape, and the center position of a circle having the arc as a part of the outer periphery is used as an axis in a direction along the arc. The measuring device according to claim 1 which moves.   The measuring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a deformable portion that is elastically deformable in a direction away from the biosensor by abutting with the biosensor at each tip of the pair of doors.   The measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid reservoir capable of storing the biological sample at an end opposite to the front ends of the pair of doors.   6. The measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power switch that switches the power of the apparatus from OFF to ON in conjunction with the movement of the slide member from the first position to the second position.

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