JP2019045153A - Sensor module - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an improved sensor module.SOLUTION: A sensor module includes a container 20 and a sensor unit. The container 20 has a recess portion 21 for placing fluid therein, and a pushing portion 22 insertable into the recess portion 21. The sensor unit detects a special material in the fluid. The recess portion has a first through hole 21A, a second through hole 21B and a third through hole 21C. The first through hole 21A penetrates a side part of the recess portion 21, and an external fluid is able to flow into the recess portion 21. The second through hole 21B penetrates a side part of the recess portion 21, and the fluid inside the recess portion 21 can flow out. The third through hole 21C penetrates a bottom part of the recess portion 21 and can supply the fluid inside the recess portion 21 to the sensor unit. The pushing portion 22 can extrude the fluid inside the recess portion 21 toward the third through hole 21C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a sensor module.

  Conventionally, a sensor module for detecting a specific substance in exhaled breath is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a gas component detection device provided with a gas introduction unit and a gas detection unit.

JP, 2010-249556, A

  There is room for improvement in such a sensor module.

  A sensor module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a container and a sensor unit. The container has a recess for containing a fluid, and an extrusion portion insertable into the recess. The sensor unit detects a specific substance in the fluid. The recess has a first through hole, a second through hole, and a third through hole. The first through hole penetrates a side of the recess, and an external fluid can flow into the recess. The second through hole penetrates the side of the recess, and the fluid in the recess can flow out. The third through hole penetrates the bottom of the recess and can supply the fluid in the recess to the sensor unit. The extrusion unit can extrude the fluid in the recess toward the third through hole.

  According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an improved sensor module can be provided.

It is a schematic diagram of a sensor module concerning a 1st embodiment of this indication. 1 is a schematic view of a container according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. It is a functional block diagram of a sensor module concerning a 1st embodiment of this indication. 1 is a schematic view of a container according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. 1 is a schematic view of a container according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a container according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a sensor module 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The sensor module 1 includes a housing 10. FIG. 1 shows the inside of the housing 10 with a part of the surface of the housing 10 removed.

  The sensor module 1 can detect a specific substance in the fluid. In the following, the fluid is described as being human exhalation. However, the fluid is not limited to human exhalation. Any fluid may be subject to inspection of the sensor module 1. When the fluid is human breath, the specific substance to be detected is, for example, acetone, ethanol, hydrogen or oxygen monoxide. Moreover, below, the carrier gas supplied to the sensor module 1 is demonstrated as what is air. However, the carrier gas is not limited to air. The carrier gas may be any inert gas. Also, the carrier gas may be, for example, a gas from which noise components such as moisture in the air have been removed by a filter or the like.

  The sensor module 1 includes an inflow portion 11, an inflow portion 12, and an exhaust portion 15 in a housing 10. The sensor module 1 includes the flow path 11A, the flow paths 12A, 12B, and 12C, the flow path 13, the flow path 14, the flow paths 15A and 15B, the container 20, and the detection unit 30 inside the housing 10. And a three-way valve 40, a pump 50, a sensor unit 60, a heater 70, and a circuit board 80.

  The inflow portion 11 is supplied with human exhalation. For example, human exhalation may be supplied to the inflow portion 11 by having a mouth at the inflow portion 11 and blowing breath into the inflow portion 11. The exhalation supplied to the inflow unit 11 is supplied to the container 20 via the detection unit 30 and the flow passage 11A. For example, one end of the inflow portion 11 protrudes to the outside of the housing 10. At one end of the inflow portion 11, a replaceable mouthpiece may be attached. The other end of the inflow unit 11 is connected to, for example, the detection unit 30. The inflow part 11 is comprised by tubular members, such as resin-made tubes or metal or glass piping, for example.

  The flow path 11A supplies the human breath supplied from the inflow portion 11 to the container 20 via the first through hole 21A of the container 20. 11 A of flow paths connect the detection part 30 and the 1st through-hole 21A of the container 20, for example. 11 A of flow paths are comprised by tubular members, such as resin-made tubes or metal or glass piping, for example.

  Air is supplied to the inflow portion 12 as a carrier gas. At the time of detection processing of the sensor module 1, the air supplied to the inflow portion 12 is supplied to (the column 61 of) the sensor unit 60 via the flow path 12A, the pump 50, and the flow path 12B. Further, at the time of the refresh processing of the sensor module 1, the air sucked from the inflow portion 12 is supplied to the container 20 through the flow path 12 C, the three-way valve 40 and the flow path 13 by pulling up the extrusion portion 22. The refresh process is a process of discharging human breath remaining in the container 20 to the outside of the sensor module 1 in order to test new human breath. In the refresh process according to the present embodiment, the air sucked from the inflow portion 12 is used to discharge the breath remaining in the container 20 to the outside of the sensor module 1. One end of the inflow portion 12 protrudes, for example, to the outside of the housing 10. The other end of the inflow portion 12 is connected to, for example, the flow path 12A and the flow path 12C. The inflow part 12 is comprised by tubular members, such as resin-made tubes or metal or glass piping, for example.

  Air is sucked from the inflow portion 12 by the pump 50 and the flow path 12A. The flow path 12A connects, for example, the inflow portion 12 and the pump 50. The flow path 12 B supplies the air supplied from the pump 50 to the sensor unit 60. The flow path 12B connects, for example, the pump 50 and the sensor unit 60. The flow path 12 </ b> C supplies the three-way valve 40 with the air sucked from the inflow portion 12 by pulling up the pushing portion 22. The flow path 12C connects, for example, the inflow portion 12 and the three-way valve 40. The flow channels 12A, 12B, and 12C are formed of, for example, a resin tube or a tubular member such as metal or glass piping.

  During the detection process of the sensor module 1, human breath is supplied to the flow path 13 from the container 20 through the third through hole 21 </ b> C of the container 20. The flow path 13 supplies the supplied human breath to the three-way valve 40. In addition, air is supplied to the flow path 13 from the inflow portion 12 through the three-way valve 40 when the sensor module 1 is refreshed. The flow path 13 supplies the supplied air to the container 20 through the third through hole 21 </ b> C of the container 20. The flow path 13 connects, for example, the third through hole 21 </ b> C of the container 20 and the three-way valve 40. The flow path 13 is formed of, for example, a tubular member such as a resin tube or a pipe made of metal or glass.

  During the detection process of the sensor module 1, human breath is supplied to the flow path 14 from the container 20 via the flow path 13 and the three-way valve 40. The flow path 14 supplies the supplied human exhalation to the sensor unit 60. The flow path 14 connects, for example, the three-way valve 40 and the sensor unit 60. The flow path 14 is formed of, for example, a tubular member such as a resin tube or a metal or glass pipe.

  From the exhaust unit 15, human exhalation flowing out of the second through hole 21B of the container 20 is discharged through the flow path 15A. Further, from the exhaust unit 15, the exhaust gas flowing out of the sensor unit 60 via the flow path 15B is discharged. One end of the exhaust unit 15 protrudes, for example, to the outside of the housing 10. The other end of the exhaust unit 15 is connected to, for example, the flow path 15A and the flow path 15B. The exhaust unit 15 is made of, for example, a tubular member such as a resin tube or a pipe made of metal or glass.

  The container 20 accommodates human exhalation. The container 20 may contain human end exhalation. The terminal exhalation is exhalation immediately before exhaling. The end exhalation may be exhalation that has entered the alveolar area. That is, the end exhalation may be exhalation involved in gas exchange in the alveoli.

  Specifically, the container 20 has a first through hole 21A, a second through hole 21B, and a third through hole 21C. The exhaled air flowing into the inflow portion 11 is supplied to the container 20 via the first through hole 21A. A part of the exhalation supplied to the container 20 through the first through hole 21A is discharged from the second through hole 21B at least until the detection unit 30 detects the inflow of the terminal exhalation from the inflow portion 11. With such a configuration, among the breaths supplied to the container 20 from the first through-hole 21A, the exhalation that is not the end exhalation (for example, the breath in the dead space) is discharged from the second through-hole 21B to the outside of the container 20 It can be done. In other words, with such a configuration, the container 20 can accommodate end exhalation. The terminal exhalation accommodated in the container 20 is supplied to the sensor unit 60 via the third through hole 21C.

  The detection unit 30 includes, for example, a pressure sensor or a flow velocity sensor. The detection unit 30 detects that human exhalation has flowed into the inflow unit 11. The detection unit 30 can also detect that the end expiratory flow has flowed into the inflow unit 11 in the detection of the exhalation from the inflow unit 11. In general, the pressure of the breath decreases and the flow rate of the breath also decreases immediately before the human exhales. Therefore, for example, after detecting the exhalation flowing into the detection unit 30, the detection unit 30 detects that the terminal exhalation flows into the inflow unit 11 when the pressure of the exhalation falls below a predetermined value. Alternatively, after detecting the exhalation flowing into the detection unit 30, the detection unit 30 may detect that the end expiratory flow is flowing into the inflow unit 11 when the flow rate of the exhalation falls below a predetermined speed.

  The three-way valve 40 connects the flow path 13 to the flow path 12C, connects the flow path 13 to the flow path 14, or does not connect the flow path 13 to either the flow path 12C or the flow path 14 Switch. The three-way valve 40 includes, for example, a first connection port connected to the flow channel 12C, a second connection port connected to the flow channel 13, and a third connection port connected to the flow channel 13. The three-way valve 40 is configured by, for example, a valve such as an electromagnetic drive, a piezo drive, or a motor drive.

  The three-way valve 40 connects the flow path 13 to the flow path 14 at the time of detection processing by the sensor unit 60. The three-way valve 40 connects the flow path 13 to the flow path 12C during the refresh process. The three-way valve 40 does not connect the flow path 13 to any of the flow path 12C and the flow path 14 when collecting the end exhalation by the container 20.

  The pump 50 supplies the air supplied via the inflow portion 12 and the flow path 12A to the sensor portion 60 (the column 61 thereof) via the flow path 12B at the time of detection processing by the sensor portion 60. The pump 50 is configured of, for example, a piezo pump or a tube pump.

  The sensor unit 60 detects a specific substance in human exhalation. In the present embodiment, a gas chromatograph is adopted for the sensor unit 60 as an example. However, the sensor unit 60 may adopt other analysis techniques except gas chromatography. The sensor unit 60 includes, for example, a column 61 and a sensor 62.

  Human end exhalation is supplied to the column 61 from the container 20 via the flow path 14 or the like. In addition, air is supplied to the column 61 from the inflow portion 12 through the flow path 12B and the like. In the column 61, the end exhalation is delivered to the sensor 62 together with the carrier gas air.

  The column 61 is filled with, for example, a filler. The filler may be, for example, molecular sieves, silica gel, activated carbon or porous resin beads. In the column 61, the respective components contained in the end tidal breath can be separated by the difference in retention time (retention time) due to the interaction between the filler and the respective components. The separated components are sequentially sent to the sensor 62. In addition, the packing of the column 61 may be an adsorbent that adsorbs noise components.

  The sensor 62 includes a semiconductor gas sensor. The sensor 62 may include a number of semiconductor gas sensors. In this case, each semiconductor gas sensor may exhibit different selectivity to a specific substance. The semiconductor gas sensor outputs, for example, a signal corresponding to a reaction with a specific substance to a control unit 82 described later. This signal is output as, for example, a voltage value.

  The heater 70 has a heater 70A and a heater 70B. The heater 70A is disposed in the vicinity of the portion through which the exhalation passes. Specifically, the heater 70A can heat the flow path 11A, the flow path 15A, the container 20, the flow path 13, the three-way valve 40, the flow path 14 and the like to prevent condensation of water in exhalation.

  The heater 70 B is disposed in the vicinity of the column 61. The heater 70B can maintain the column 61 at a predetermined temperature. Maintaining the column 61 at a predetermined temperature can stabilize the separation of the components contained in the breath in the column 61. Furthermore, the heater 70B may be disposed in the vicinity of the container 20. The heater 70B may maintain the container 20 at a predetermined temperature by heating. By maintaining the container 20 at a predetermined temperature, it can be reduced that water contained in the breath adheres to the inner wall of the container 20 (recess 21 described later).

  The circuit board 80 mounts a storage unit 81 and a control unit 82 described later of the sensor module 1.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a container 20 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The container 20 has a recess 21 and an extrusion part 22.

  The recess 21 accommodates end exhalation. The recess 21 includes, for example, a cylindrical side, a bottom closing one end of the side, and an opening opened at the other end of the side. The recess 21 is made of, for example, a material such as glass or plastic. The recess 21 has a first through hole 21A, a second through hole 21B, and a third through hole 21C.

  The first through holes 21A penetrate the side portions of the recess 21. Fluid from the outside can flow into the recess 21 from the first through hole 21A. That is, the breath supplied to the inflow portion 11 shown in FIG. 1 can flow into the recess 21 from the first through hole 21A.

  The second through hole 21B penetrates the side portion of the recess 21. The fluid in the recess 21 can flow out of the second through hole 21B. That is, the breath in the recess 21 can flow out to the exhaust part 15 shown in FIG. 1 from the second through hole 21B. The position of the second through hole 21B may face the position of the first through hole 21A as shown in FIG.

  The third through holes 21 </ b> C penetrate the bottom of the recess 21. The third through hole 21 </ b> C is connected to the sensor unit 60 via the three-way valve 40 and the flow passage 14. The terminal exhalation accommodated in the recess 21 is supplied to the sensor unit 60 through the third through hole 21C.

  The pushing portion 22 is insertable into the recess 21. The extrusion unit 22 moves inside the recess 21 based on the control of the control unit 82 described later. The push-out part 22 can push the exhalation in the recess 21 toward the third through hole 21C by moving the inside of the recess 21 as described later with reference to FIG. The extrusion unit 22 may include a plug unit 23.

  The plug portion 23 airtightly adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the recess 21. The plug portion 23 is made of, for example, an elastic member such as rubber. When the pushing portion 22 moves in the recess 21, the plug portion 23 also moves in the recess 21. Control of the inflow of fluid from the outside to the recess 21 through the first through hole 21A and the outflow of fluid from the recess 21 to the outside through the second through hole 21B by moving the plug portion 23 in the recess 21 Becomes possible. An example of this control will be described later in <end expiratory collection processing>, <end expiratory supply processing> and <refresh processing>.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the sensor module 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The sensor module 1 includes an extrusion unit 22, a detection unit 30, a three-way valve 40, a pump 50, a sensor 62, a heater 70, a storage unit 81, and a control unit 82.

  The extrusion part 22 is insertable in the recessed part 21 shown in FIG. 2 as mentioned above. The extrusion unit 22 moves in the recess 21 shown in FIG. 2 based on the control of the control unit 82.

  The detection unit 30 detects that human exhalation has flowed into the inflow unit 11 shown in FIG. When detecting the inflow of the exhalation from the inflow unit 11, the detection unit 30 notifies the control unit 82. Furthermore, the detection unit 30 detects that the end expiratory flow has flowed into the inflow portion 11 shown in FIG. When the detection unit 30 detects the inflow of the terminal exhalation from the inflow unit 11, the detection unit 30 notifies the control unit 82.

  The three-way valve 40 connects the flow path 13 shown in FIG. 1 to the flow path 12C, connects the flow path 13 to the flow path 14, or controls the flow path 13 based on the control of the control unit 82. It switches whether it connects with any of 12C and the flow path 14 either.

  The pump 50 supplies air from the inflow portion 12 shown in FIG. 1 to the column 61 via the flow path 12B at a predetermined timing based on the control of the control portion 82.

  The sensor 62 is provided to the sensor unit 60 as described above. The sensor 62 outputs an electrical signal from each semiconductor gas sensor to the control unit 82.

  The heater 70 heats a predetermined area based on the control of the control unit 82. The heater 70A and the heater 70B included in the heater 70 may be separately controlled.

  The storage unit 81 is configured of, for example, a semiconductor memory or a magnetic memory. The storage unit 81 stores various information, a program for operating the sensor module 1, and the like. The storage unit 81 may function as a work memory.

  The control unit 82 is a processor that controls and manages the entire sensor module 1 including the functional blocks of the sensor module 1. The control unit 82 is configured by a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) that executes a program that defines a control procedure. Such a program is stored in an external storage medium or the like connected to the storage unit 81 or the sensor module 1.

  Hereinafter, details of the control of the control unit 82 will be described in <end exhalation collection processing>, <end expiration supply processing>, and <refresh processing>.

<End exhalation collection process>
When the detection unit 30 detects the inflow of the exhalation from the inflow unit 11, the control unit 82 controls the three-way valve 40 so that the flow passage 13 is not connected to either the flow passage 12C or the flow passage 14A.

  Furthermore, the control unit 82 moves the pushing unit 22 so that the plug unit 23 is positioned as shown in FIG. 2. That is, the control unit 82 controls the plugging portion 23 to be positioned closer to the opening of the recess 21 than the positions of both the first through hole 21A and the second through hole 21B shown in FIG. As described above, when the plug portion 23 is positioned, exhaled breath from the outside can flow into the recess 21 from the first through hole 21A. Furthermore, the exhalation in the recess 21 can flow out through the second through hole 21B. The control unit 82 arranges the plug unit 23 at the position shown in FIG. 2 until the detection unit 30 at least detects the inflow of the end exhalation from the inflow unit 11. With such a configuration, among the breaths supplied to the container 20 from the first through hole 21A shown in FIG. 2, the exhalation that is not the end exhalation (for example, the exhalation in the dead space) becomes the container 20 from the second through hole 21B. Out of the By such processing, the end exhale can be accommodated in the recess 21.

  The control unit 82 may arrange the plug unit 23 at the position shown in FIG. 2 until a predetermined time has elapsed after the detection unit 30 detects the inflow of the final exhalation from the inflow unit 11. The predetermined time may be calculated in consideration of the volume of the recess 21 and the flow rate of the end expiratory flow flowing into the inflow portion 11.

<End-tidal supply process>
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a container 20 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. In the constituent elements shown in FIG. 4, the same constituent elements as those shown in FIG. 2 carry the same reference numerals for which duplicate explanations are to be omitted.

  The control unit 82 moves the push-out unit 22 so that the plug unit 23 is positioned as shown in FIG. Control. That is, the control unit 82 controls the plugging portion 23 to be positioned closer to the bottom of the recess 21 than the positions of both the first through hole 21A and the second through hole 21B. As described above, when the plug portion 23 is positioned, the inflow of fluid from the outside to the recess 21 via the first through hole 21A is limited. Furthermore, the outflow of fluid from the recess 21 to the outside through the second through hole 21B is restricted. Thereby, fluid (for example, air) which is not the terminal exhalation from the outside can flow into the recess 21 through the first through hole 21A, and the terminal exhalation in the recess 21 can be prevented from being diluted. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the end exhalation in the recess 21 from flowing out through the second through hole 21B.

  Furthermore, when the detection unit 30 detects the inflow of the terminal exhalation from the inflow unit 11, the control unit 82 controls the push-out unit 22 to push the terminal expiration in the recess 21 toward the third through hole 21C. In addition, the control unit 82 controls the three-way valve 40 to connect the flow path 13 to the flow path 14. By such control, the end exhalation pushed out toward the third through hole 21C is supplied to the sensor unit 60 shown in FIG. 1 through the flow path 13, the three-way valve 40 and the flow path 14. Thereafter, the control unit 82 detects a specific substance in exhalation based on the electrical signal output from the sensor 62.

<Refresh process>
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a container 20 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. Among the constituent elements shown in FIG. 5, the same constituent elements as those shown in FIG. 2 carry the same reference numerals for which duplicate explanations are to be omitted.

  At the time of refresh processing, the control unit 82 controls the three-way valve 40 to connect the flow path 13 to the flow path 12C and pull up the pushing portion 22. By such control, the air from the inflow portion 12 shown in FIG. 1 is delivered to the container 20 via the third through hole 21C. As air is delivered to the container 20 from the third through hole 21C, the exhalation remaining in the container 20 is pushed out to the opening of the container 20.

  The control unit 82 further moves the extrusion unit 22 so that the plug unit 23 is positioned as shown in FIG. 5. That is, the control unit 82 controls the plugging portion 23 to be positioned closer to the opening of the recess 21 than the positions of both the first through hole 21A and the second through hole 21B. Thus, the exhalation pushed out to the opening side of the container 20 can be discharged to the outside from the second through hole 21 </ b> B together with air because the plug portion 23 is positioned.

  As described above, in the container 20 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the first through hole 21A through which exhalation can flow into the recess 21 from the outside, and the second through hole 21B through which exhalation can flow out of the recess 21 to the outside And. With such a configuration, among the breaths supplied to the container 20 from the first through hole 21A, the exhalation which is not the end exhalation can be discharged from the second through hole 21B to the outside of the container 20. In other words, with such a configuration, the container 20 can accommodate end exhalation. Therefore, in the sensor module 1 according to the present embodiment, the end exhalation can be accommodated in the container 20 without using a gas bag or the like. According to this embodiment, the improved sensor module 1 can be provided as described below by not using a gas bag or the like.

  It is assumed that the end exhalation is accommodated in the gas bag. The gas bag is generally made of resin. Therefore, when exhalation is contained in the gas bag, the components of the exhalation may be adsorbed in the gas bag. For this reason, every time the human breath is examined, it is necessary to prepare a new gas bag and to accommodate the end breath in the gas bag. As a result, the cost for the gas bag as a consumable item increases, and it takes time and effort to prepare the gas bag.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the end exhalation can be stored in the container 20 without using a gas bag. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the exhalation remaining in the container 20 can be discharged to the outside of the sensor module 1 by the refresh process. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the increase in cost can be reduced as described above. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to save time and the like for preparing the gas bag as described above. In addition, the container 20 according to the present embodiment can be used any number of times by the refresh process. Thereby, according to this embodiment, the improved sensor module 1 can be provided.

  Furthermore, when the end exhalation is stored in the gas bag, after the end exhalation is stored in the gas bag, it is required to transfer the end exhalation in the gas bag to the gas analyzer using a syringe or the like. That is, two steps are required: a step of containing the end exhalation in the gas bag, and a step of transferring the end exhalation in the gas bag to the gas analyzer using a syringe or the like. These two steps may complicate the work. Furthermore, since the gas bag is generally made of a resin, it is difficult to hold the end exhalation for a long time. Therefore, it is necessary to promptly perform the step of transferring the end exhalation in the gas bag to the gas analyzer using a syringe or the like.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the end exhalation can be accommodated in the container 20 provided inside the sensor module 1. Therefore, the step of transferring the end exhalation in the gas bag to the gas analyzer using a syringe or the like as described above can be omitted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the work from becoming complicated. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to provide the sensor module 1 with a member used to transfer the end exhalation from the gas bag to the sensor module 1. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the sensor module 1 can be miniaturized (for example, handy size or mobile size). In addition, the container 20 can be made of glass, plastic or the like. Therefore, the container 20 can hold the end exhalation for a longer time than the gas bag.

Second Embodiment
Next, a sensor module 1 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the following, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a container 20a according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. In the constituent elements shown in FIG. 6, the same constituent elements as those shown in FIG. 2 carry the same reference numerals for which duplicate explanations are to be omitted.

  The extrusion portion 22 a further includes a tip portion 24. The distal end portion 24 decreases in diameter toward the distal end. The tip 24 is, for example, substantially conical. The distal end 24 may be attached to the plug 23 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the tip 24 may be integrally formed with the plug 23. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, in a state where fluid from the outside can flow into the recess 21 through the first through hole 21A, the position of the tip 24 is the position of the first through hole 21A in the side portion of the recess 21. Opposite the position.

  With such a configuration, the exhaled gas that has flowed into the container 20 from the first through hole 21A comes to hit the side surface of the tip portion 24. When the exhalation strikes the side of the tip 24, the exhalation flow changes and the exhalation mixes in the container 20. The exhalation mixes in the container so that the components in exhalation and the exhalation temperature can be equalized. In addition, exhalation of which components and temperature are equalized may be supplied to the sensor unit 60. Thus, the sensor unit 60 can output a stable detection result.

  Furthermore, the bottom of the recess 21 may be shaped to mate with the tip 24 as shown by arrow A. With such a configuration, when the extruding portion 22a is moved to supply the terminal breath in the container 20 to the sensor unit 60, the terminal breath in the container 20 can be supplied to the sensor unit 60 without waste. .

  The other configurations and effects of the sensor module 1 according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the sensor module 1 according to the first embodiment.

  Although the present disclosure has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various variations and modifications based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these variations and modifications are included in the scope of the present invention. For example, functions included in each functional unit, each unit, and the like can be rearranged so as not to be logically contradictory, and it is possible to combine or divide a plurality of functional units into one. . In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure described above are not limited to be carried out faithfully to the embodiments described above, and may be implemented by combining the features or omitting some of them as appropriate. It can also be done.

  For example, although the example which employ | adopts gas chromatography as the sensor part 60 was demonstrated in embodiment mentioned above, the other analysis technique may be employ | adopted as the sensor part 60. FIG. Another analytical technique may be, for example, a reaction unit that reacts with a specific component. The reaction unit may output a signal corresponding to the specific component to the control unit 82. In this case, the reaction unit may include a plurality of reaction films. The reaction film may be deformed by adsorbing a specific component contained in exhaled air which is a sample.

  Further, for example, although the description is omitted in the above-described embodiment, for example, a filter may be provided in the middle of the flow path 12A separately from the column 61 to remove noise components in the carrier gas.

  Further, for example, although the description is omitted in the above-described embodiment, in order to prevent the backflow of the air supplied from the flow path 12B to the sensor unit 60, the flow path 14 may be provided with a check valve. The check valve 16 may be made of, for example, a member such as resin, metal or glass.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 sensor module 10 case 11, 12 inflow part 11A, 12A, 12B, 12C, 13, 14, 15A, 15B flow path 15 exhaust part 20, 20a container 21, 21a recessed part 21A 1st through-hole 21B 2nd through-hole 21C Third through hole 22, 22a Pushing part 23 Plug part 24 Tip part 30 Detection part 40 Three-way valve 50 Pump 60 Sensor part 61 Column 62 Sensor 70, 70A, 70B Heater 80 Circuit board 81 Storage part 82 Control part

Claims (6)

A container having a recess for containing a fluid, and an extrusion unit insertable into the recess;
A sensor unit for detecting a specific substance in the fluid;
The recess is
A first through hole which penetrates the side of the recess and allows external fluid to flow into the recess;
A second through hole which penetrates the side of the recess and allows the fluid in the recess to flow out;
And a third through hole which penetrates the bottom of the recess and can supply the fluid in the recess to the sensor unit;
The sensor module, wherein the pushing part can push the fluid in the recess toward the third through hole. The sensor module according to claim 1, wherein
The sensor module, wherein the push-out portion includes a plug portion airtightly in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the recess. The sensor module according to claim 2,
By moving the plug portion in the recess, the inflow of fluid from the outside to the recess through the first through hole and the flow of fluid from the recess to the outside through the second through hole are controlled Sensor module. The sensor module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
The extrusion portion includes a tip portion whose diameter decreases toward the tip,
The sensor module, wherein the position of the tip end faces the position of the first through hole in a state where fluid from the outside can flow into the recess through the first through hole. The sensor module according to claim 4,
The sensor module, wherein the bottom is shaped to fit into the tip. The sensor module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
The sensor module, wherein the position of the first through hole and the position of the second through hole face each other.

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