JP3729553B2 - Body fluid analyzer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a body fluid analyzer capable of analyzing a substance to be detected contained in a body fluid such as a blood sugar level, and more particularly to a body fluid analyzer capable of automatically and continuously performing a series of steps.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when measuring blood sugar level, etc., a finger, upper arm, abdomen, buttocks, etc. are injured with a puncture device (lancet), blood droplets are squeezed out from the packaging, taken out from the packaging material, and attached to the sensor This was done by attaching the blood droplets to the electrodes.
However, it is very troublesome to squeeze out the necessary amount of blood droplets for measurement, and if the puncture device and the sensor are separated, there are many operations required by the measurer when performing a series of steps, There was a problem that the measurement was complicated.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to provide a convenient body fluid analyzer that can automatically and continuously perform a series of steps required for measurement and is easy to use.
[0004]
[Means for solving the problems]
As a result of diligent research in view of the above problems, the present inventors have made information on the puncture means, the compression band (cuff) for draining bodily fluid from the punctured finger, the pressurizing means, and information on the drained bodily fluid as electrical signals. Measurement is performed by storing a means for converting, a means for determining a measured value based on the electrical signal, a display for displaying the determined measured value, etc. in one device, controlled by a computer, and provided with a display that can be rotated. Can be performed automatically and continuously, and body fluid analysis can be performed easily and quickly. The present invention has been completed by finding that the indicator can be directed toward the measurer even when the position is punctured, which is very convenient.
[0005]
That is, the present invention provides a puncturing means for puncturing a finger, a compression band (cuff) for compressing the finger, a pressurizing means for supplying air to the cuff, and an exhaust means for exhausting air from the cuff. A means for converting information relating to bodily fluid discharged from a finger into an electrical signal; a means for determining a measurement value based on the electrical signal; and a display for displaying the determined measurement value, wherein the display is the compression A body fluid analyzer characterized in that it is rotatable with respect to a belt.
Moreover, this invention is a body fluid analyzer which added the pressure sensor which detects the pressure of a cuff to the said body fluid analyzer.
[0006]
[Action]
Puncture means for puncturing a finger, cuff for compressing the finger, pressurization means for supplying air to the cuff, exhaust means for exhausting air from the cuff, and information relating to body fluid discharged from the finger Means for converting into an electrical signal; means for determining a measured value based on the electrical signal; and a display for displaying the determined measured value, wherein the display is rotatable with respect to the compression band. According to the body fluid analyzer of the present invention, after a finger is punctured, the finger is pressed with a pressurized cuff to discharge the body fluid, and after discharging, the cuff is loosened by exhaust to open the finger. The necessary information can be converted into electrical signals from the obtained body fluid, and the measurement value can be determined and displayed on the display. Therefore, a series of steps required for measurement can be performed automatically and continuously, and body fluid analysis Can be carried out simply and quickly. In addition, it is possible to turn the display device in a desired direction by rotating the display device regardless of whether the finger of either the left or right hand is punctured or any position around the finger. Is very good.
[0007]
By adding a pressure sensor that detects the cuff pressure to the body fluid analyzer, the upper limit of the cuff pressure can be determined regardless of the thickness of the measurer's finger, giving the measurer an excessive feeling of pressure. An appropriate amount of body fluid can be squeezed out from the finger without any trouble.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Here, the body fluid in the present invention refers to a liquid that can be discharged from a living body by puncturing, and examples thereof include blood and intercellular exudates.
[0009]
A perspective view of a body fluid analyzer according to an example of the present invention is shown in FIG. The body fluid analyzer 1 includes a liquid collection member 11 and a display member 12, and the liquid collection member 11 is provided with a tightening portion 2 and a puncture portion 3. The display member 12 includes a display 4 and a main switch. 51 and puncture switch 52 are provided.
[0010]
The display member 12 is rotatably provided with respect to the liquid collection member 11, and can be fixed at a desired position. In the present embodiment, the display member 12 is rotatable with the central axis in the longitudinal direction of the body fluid analyzer 1 as a rotation axis (see FIG. 2). The rotation and fixing method may be a conventional method. For example, the fixing method may use a notch or may use friction.
[0011]
The tightening portion 2 is cylindrical so that a finger can be inserted therein, and a cuff (compression band) 21 for pressing the finger is provided inside the tightening portion 2. The cuff 21 can press and release the finger by using air injection / exhaust by a cuff driving device (not shown). The cuff driving device has a sensor (pressure sensor) for detecting the pressure of the cuff 21, a solenoid valve, a pump, and a leak valve, and these communicate with the cuff 21 through a rubber tube. This cuff driving device is controlled by a computer (not shown) provided in the body fluid analyzer 1.
[0012]
The puncture unit 3 includes a sleeve 6 and a plate-like base body 7 accommodated in the sleeve 6 as shown in FIG. A puncture blade 71 is provided on one side of the substrate 7 so as to be able to advance and retreat (see FIGS. 4 (a) and (b)), and an electrode tip 72 is installed on the other side. Electrode leads 73a and 73b are disposed so as to be connected to the terminal portion of the electrode chip 72 (see FIG. 4C). Further, leaf springs 74 are installed on both front sides of the base body 7, and the protruding puncture blade 71 can be retracted to the initial position. A perspective view of the base body 7 and the puncture blade 71 viewed from the rear is shown in FIG. 4 (d).
[0013]
The puncture blade 71 is preferably made of stainless steel in consideration of hygiene safety, and a commercially available one such as Blood Lancets manufactured by Feather Safety Razor can be used.
One of the electrodes in the electrode tip 72 is coated with enzyme ink (not shown). Various enzyme inks can be selected according to the substance to be detected in the body fluid. For example, when measuring blood glucose level, an ink composition containing glucose oxidase or the like can be used.
[0014]
If the sleeve 6 that accommodates the base body 7 having the puncture blade 71 and the electrode tip 72 is made into a cartridge type that can be detached from the body fluid analyzer 1, they can be made disposable, which is very advantageous for hygiene. .
[0015]
The puncture blade 71 moves forward through the arm member 8 by driving the puncture blade drive device (solenoid in the present embodiment) 9 (see FIG. 3). The solenoid 9 is driven when the puncture switch 52 is turned on. The distal end portion of the puncture blade 71 that has advanced projects from the base body 7 and reaches a position ahead of the electrode tip 72. The protruding amount of the puncture blade 71 from the electrode tip 72 is such that the finger can be punctured and discharged while the finger is attached to the body fluid analyzer 1, and the discharged body fluid contacts the electrode tip 72. What is necessary is just to set so that it may obtain. The protruding puncture blade 71 is retracted to the initial position by the action of the leaf spring 74 provided on the base body 7. In this embodiment, the solenoid is used as a method for driving the puncture blade, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the puncture blade can be driven by various methods.
[0016]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the body fluid analyzer.
In this body fluid analyzer, the cuff 21 communicates with a pressure sensor, an electromagnetic valve, a pump, and a leak valve through a rubber tube, and these constitute a pneumatic system. The operation of each member in the body fluid analyzer is controlled by a computer. The computer has a function to turn on / off the solenoid valve, leak valve and pump, a function to take in air pressure data detected by a pressure sensor, a function to operate a solenoid, a function to take in an electric signal from an electrode, and calculate an electric signal. A function for determining a measured value and a function for outputting the measured value to a display are provided.
[0017]
This computer is programmed to be initialized by turning on the main switch 51, driving the solenoid 9 by turning on the puncture switch 52, and driving the pump after a predetermined time. In addition, either the pressure of the cuff 21 detected by the pressure sensor or the information that the body fluid has contacted the electrode is taken in, or the pump is turned off and the solenoid valve and the leak valve are opened when a predetermined time has elapsed since the pump was turned on. Command. Electrical signals from the electrodes are also taken into the computer, and the measured values determined by the computer are output to the display 4. Note that this circuit configuration is merely an example, and there may be no pressure sensor in some cases.
[0018]
An example of detailed operation of the body fluid analyzer in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
Before actually starting the measurement, the measurer determines whether the display 4 is in a desired direction, for example, the measurer, depending on whether the finger of the left or right hand is punctured or what position around the finger is punctured. The display member 12 is positioned so as to face (step 1). For example, when puncturing the side of the finger of the left hand, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), and when puncturing the side of the finger of the right hand, the display member 12 is rotated as shown in FIG. 2 (b). Fix it. Further, as shown in FIG. 2C, the display member 12 may be fixed at a position where the surface of the display member 12 and the surface of the liquid collection member 11 are not in the same plane.
[0019]
When the positioning of the display member 12 is completed, the measurer turns on the main switch (step 2) and then turns on the puncture switch (step 3). When the main switch is turned on, the system is initialized, such as clearing memory in the computer. When the puncture switch is turned on, the solenoid is driven, and the puncture blade protrudes from the base via the arm member (step 4). The protruding puncture blade returns to its original position by the action of a leaf spring after damaging the skin of the fingertip. After the puncture blade protrudes, the pump is driven (step 5) to pressurize the cuff. This cuff squeezes the finger and squeezes fluid from the damaged skin.
[0020]
There are three methods for determining when turning off the pump. First, if the apparent blood pressure reaches a predetermined value (P) due to the pressure of the cuff, for example, the determination is YES (FIG. 6: Step 6). The apparent blood pressure refers to a transient blood pressure value displayed from the pressure sensor in the process of pressing the finger with the cuff. That is, the apparent blood pressure that directly reflects the cuff pressure can be detected by the pressure sensor. The value of P is preferably 120 mmHg or more, and about 180 mmHg can obtain the most appropriate liquid discharge. According to the first method, the upper limit of the cuff pressure can be determined regardless of the thickness of the finger of the measurer, and the body fluid can be squeezed out without giving an excessive feeling of pressure to the measurer.
[0021]
Second, if a predetermined time (T) has elapsed since the pump was turned on, the determination is YES (FIG. 7: step 6 ′). The value of T is desirably about 5 to 60 seconds, and about 20 seconds can obtain the most appropriate amount of liquid discharge.
Third, if the squeezed body fluid comes into contact with the electrode, the determination is YES (FIG. 8: Step 6 "). According to the third method, a necessary and sufficient amount of body fluid can be secured, and an excess amount is obtained. In this step, when the second method and the third method are applied, the pressure sensor is not necessary.
[0022]
When the drive of the pump is stopped according to the determination by any one of the first to third methods (FIG. 6: Step 7), the solenoid valve and the leak valve are immediately opened, and the air in the cuff is quickly exhausted (Step 8). ). Although the number of valves may be one, the air in the cuff can be quickly exhausted by using the electromagnetic valve and the leak valve together, and the finger of the measurer can be released from the compressed state.
[0023]
The squeezed body fluid comes into contact with the electrode in the electrode chip, and information relating to the body fluid is sent to the computer as an electrical signal, and calculation is started (step 9). When t time has elapsed from the start of calculation (step 10), the calculation is terminated (step 11). Since a certain time is required for the measurement value to stabilize, the value of t greatly depends on the performance of the electrode, but generally requires about 5 to 60 seconds. When the measured value is determined by calculation by the computer, the measured value is displayed on the display (step 12).
[0024]
According to the body fluid analyzer of the present invention described above, a series of operation processes can be reduced and the inspection can be completed very easily. In addition, since this apparatus includes all of the puncturing means, the pressurizing means, the means for converting information related to body fluids into electrical signals, the means for determining the measured values, and the display for displaying the measured values, the general user is skilled. Can be used easily and quickly. Further, the display member in the present apparatus is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the liquid collection member, and the display device can be directed in a desired direction according to the use situation, so that the usability is very good. Yes. Furthermore, the body fluid analyzer of the present invention can analyze not only blood glucose levels but also various substances in body fluids by changing the type of enzyme ink used.
[0025]
As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated in detail using drawing, this invention is not limited to this, A various change can be given unless it deviates from the thought of this invention. For example, the present invention may be applied to a device intended for a wrist, an arm, etc. without being limited to a finger. In addition, an audio guide is provided for blind people, and it is possible to change to a series of systems until the measurement results are heard with a single switch.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
According to the apparatus of the present invention, since a series of steps required for measurement can be performed automatically and continuously, analysis of body fluids can be performed easily and quickly, and the display can be directed in a desired direction. It is extremely convenient because it can be directed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a body fluid analyzer of the present invention.
FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a state in which the finger of the left hand is worn on the body fluid analyzer of the present invention, FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a state in which the finger of the right hand is worn, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the display member 12 is fixed at a position where the surface of the member 12 and the surface of the liquid collection member 11 are not in the same plane.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sleeve, a substrate, a puncture blade, and a puncture blade driving device (solenoid) in the body fluid analyzer of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a substrate, a puncture blade, and an electrode tip in the body fluid analyzer of the present invention. (a) is a view seen from the puncture blade side, (b) is a view showing a state in which the puncture blade protrudes, (c) is a view seen from the electrode tip installation side, and (d) is a rear view. It is the figure seen from.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration of the body fluid analyzer of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the body fluid analyzer in FIG. 1. FIG.
7 is a diagram showing another example of step 3 in the flowchart of FIG. 6. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of step 3 in the flowchart of FIG. 6;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Body fluid analyzer
11 ... Liquid collection material
12 ... Display member 2 ... Fastening part
21 ... Cuff 3 ... Puncture part 4 ... Indicator
51 ... Main switch
52 ... Puncture switch 6 ... Sleeve 7 ... Substrate
71 ... Puncture blade
72 ... Electrode tip
73a, 73b ... Electrode leads
74 ... leaf spring 8 ... arm member 9 ... solenoid

Claims (2)

Puncturing means for puncturing a finger, a compression band for compressing the finger, a pressurizing means for supplying air to the compression band, an exhaust means for exhausting air from the compression band, and a pressure of the compression band A pressure sensor for detecting, means for converting information relating to body fluid discharged from a finger into an electrical signal, means for determining a measured value by the electrical signal, and a display for displaying the determined measured value, A body fluid analyzer characterized in that a display is rotatable with respect to the compression band. Puncturing means for puncturing a finger, a compression band for compressing the finger, a pressurizing means for supplying air to the compression band, an exhaust means for exhausting air from the compression band, and a body fluid discharged from the finger A means for converting information on an electrical signal, a means for determining a measured value by the electrical signal, and a display for displaying the determined measured value, the display being rotatable with respect to the compression band A body fluid analyzer characterized by that.

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