JP4904219B2 - Liquid component measuring device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is particularly directed to the liquid component measuring apparatus.

  With the progress of aging in recent years, the importance of preventing and preventing lifestyle-related diseases, which are a group of diseases related to the onset and progression of lifestyle habits including eating habits, has increased.

  The prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes (type 2 diabetes), which is a type of lifestyle-related disease, is increasing. Diabetes, including type 2 diabetes, is a serious disease that causes numerous complications due to abnormal glucose metabolism and excessively high glucose levels in the blood. There are potentially more than 6.8 million patients in Japan.

In order to suppress the early detection of diabetes and progress to complications, there are instruments that measure the sugar content (urine sugar) contained in urine.
For example, referring to Patent Document 1, a urine sugar meter capable of accurately measuring urine sugar using a biosensor that excludes the influence of an interfering substance such as vitamin C is described (hereinafter referred to as Prior Art 1). ).

  Moreover, hypertension exists as another kind of lifestyle-related disease. Hypertension refers to a condition in which the pressure when the heart pumps blood is high. If this pressure is high, there is a high possibility that the blood vessels will be damaged. If blood vessels in important parts such as the brain and heart are damaged, it can be dangerous for life.

One of the causes of this hypertension is to have a meal with a high salt concentration continuously.
Therefore, as part of daily health management, how much salt is eaten can be estimated for the amount of salt in the meal by measuring the amount of salt in the urine.
For example, referring to Patent Document 2, there is described a urinary salinity measuring device that measures urinary salinity, which is salinity contained in urine, by a mechanism fixed to a toilet seat (hereinafter referred to as Prior Art 2). .
JP 2006-153849 A JP 2000-88845 A

However, although the urine sugar meter of Prior Art 1 can accurately measure urine sugar, it cannot measure urinary salt, which is another urine component. For this reason, in the case of a measurer who has both diabetes and hypertension, it is necessary to prepare and measure a urine sugar meter and a urine salinity meter separately, which is troublesome.
In addition, when using a configuration without a liquid junction where a reference electrode made of silver or silver chloride is immersed in an internal solution such as a saturated potassium chloride solution when measuring urine sugar, it may be affected by the urinary chlorine concentration. It was.
Furthermore, the urinary salt content measuring device of the prior art 2 cannot measure urine sugar. For this reason, in order to detect urine sugar, another urine sugar detection device must be prepared, and if a urine sugar meter is built in the same toilet seat, it is necessary to add a pump or the like, which complicates the configuration. There was a problem. Therefore, there are problems in that the mounting is expensive and the failure rate is high.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a condition, and makes it a subject to eliminate the above-mentioned problem.

The liquid component measuring apparatus according to the present invention includes a current measuring unit that measures a current flowing in a liquid using a plurality of electrodes, and a part or all of the plurality of electrodes of the current measuring unit in common to electrically conduct the liquid. e Bei the electric conductivity measuring means for measuring a degree, the current measuring means, a sugar concentration measuring means for measuring the sugar concentration, the electrical conductivity measuring means is a salinity measuring device, wherein the liquid urine Or a reference solution, further comprising a switching means between the sugar concentration measuring means and the salinity measuring means, wherein the sugar concentration measuring means includes a counter electrode and a working electrode as the plurality of electrodes, and measures sugar concentration Concentration measuring means, wherein the salt measuring means is a salinity measuring means for measuring urinary salinity by using the counter electrode and the working electrode in common by the switching means, and the sugar concentration The measuring means includes the compound When the reference electrode is an electrode that does not have a liquid junction where the electrode is immersed in an internal liquid, the sugar concentration is corrected by the measured value of the salinity measuring unit. It is characterized by being a sugar concentration measuring means .
In the liquid component measuring apparatus of the present invention, the salt content measuring unit is a salt content measuring unit that also detects the reference solution of the sugar concentration measuring unit.
In the liquid component measuring apparatus of the present invention, the salinity measuring unit is a salinity measuring unit that detects that the liquid to be measured is the reference liquid by detecting a salinity concentration higher than a predetermined threshold value. .
The liquid component measuring apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the sugar concentration measuring means measures urine sugar with a DC voltage, and the salinity measuring means measures salinity with an AC voltage.
The liquid component measuring apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the reference liquid contains 5 to 10% by weight of salt.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the liquid component detection apparatus which can measure sugar concentration and salt concentration at once can be provided.

<Embodiment>
(Operating principle)
The measuring apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention can measure urinary sugar, which is a concentration of urine sugar (glucose) in urine, and electrolyte concentration in urine.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a measuring device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a sugar concentration measuring means and a salt content measuring means, and a sensor cartridge that electrochemically detects urinary sugar concentration and salt content. 11 and a main body 21 that measures and displays the urinary sugar concentration and the salinity concentration based on detection by the sensor cartridge 11 and holds the same during the measurement. When the measuring apparatus 1 according to the present invention is not used, it can be stored by being inserted into a stand 51 having a magnet 52 as shown in FIG.
First, the operation principle of the measuring apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Measurement of urine sugar)
With reference to FIG. 3, the case where urine sugar is measured is demonstrated first. FIG. 3 is a principle diagram, and shows an actual circuit in a simplified manner. For example, details of the operational amplifier op are omitted.
In order to measure urine sugar, the enzyme reaction and electrode reaction of a sensor, which is a biosensor equivalent to the urine sugar meter of Prior Art 1, are used.
In this reaction, first, when the sensor 13 touches urine, when glucose is contained in urine, glucose is oxidized by the action of an enzyme (glucose oxidase) to generate hydrogen peroxide.

Glucose (C ₆ H ₁₂ O ₆ ) + Oxygen (O ₂ )
→ Gluconolactone (C ₆ H ₁₀ O ₆ ) + Hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ )

When hydrogen peroxide is oxidized on the electrode, electrons are generated.

Hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ )
→ hydrogen ions (2H ⁺⁾ + oxygen (O ₂₎ + electron (2e ^-)

[Electrode reaction]
The concentration of glucose can be measured by measuring the electrons generated by the hydrogen peroxide as a current.
Here, in the electrode reaction of hydrogen peroxide on the working electrode W, there is a relationship between the voltage and the generated current, and an optimum voltage can be selected.
The electrode for detecting hydrogen peroxide is composed of a working electrode W, a counter electrode C, and a reference electrode R. The working electrode W and the counter electrode C are fields for electrode reaction. The counter electrode C and the reference electrode R allow the potential of the solution to be −E. And
When a constant voltage E (for example, E <1.0 V) is applied as the potential of the solution, an oxidation reaction of hydrogen peroxide occurs on the working electrode W, an oxidation current i is generated, and the current i flows from the working electrode W to the counter electrode C. Flowing. At this time, the potential of the counter electrode C is controlled so that the potential (-E) between the working electrode W and the reference electrode R is always kept constant.

Here, the urine sugar meter of the prior art 1 measures the current i using the biosensor using the enzyme as described above.
This biosensor uses an enzyme, which is a protein, and the activity of degrading glucose may gradually decrease after the start of use.
For this reason, in order to measure the relationship between the measured current and the glucose concentration, it is necessary to measure the glucose solution, which is a reference solution having a reference concentration (for example, 500 mg / dL), in a timely manner to obtain a reference current value. (Calibration, reference alignment).
When actually measuring urine sugar, it is possible to perform highly accurate measurement by measuring the glucose concentration based on the current value corresponding to the concentration of the reference solution.
In the reference solution according to the embodiment of the present invention, an amount of salt that cannot be the concentration of human urine is added (for example, 5 wt% NaCl). This will be described later.

(Measurement of urinary salt)
The inventor of the present invention diligently studied and experimented and found that the sensor 13 for measuring urine sugar can measure urinary salt.
Specifically, an AC constant voltage is applied between the working electrode W and the counter electrode C, and the impedance in urine is measured. Since the impedance has a reciprocal relationship with the electrical conductivity, the electrical conductivity can also be measured by measuring the impedance.
From this electrical conductivity, the electrical resistance value can be obtained and the salt concentration can be measured. This is because if a salt such as sodium chloride that is an ion is contained, the electrical resistance of urine is lowered in correlation with the amount of the salt.
In the case of the liquid component measuring apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the structure of the electrode of the urine sugar meter sensor need not be changed from the sensor of the urine sugar meter of the prior art 1 at all by devising the circuit described later. The function of measuring urinary salt can be added to a urine sugar meter at a low cost.

(Configuration of liquid component measuring device)
Next, the detailed configuration of the liquid component measuring apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagrams of FIGS. 1, 2, and 4.
As described above, the measuring apparatus 1 according to the present invention is schematically configured as a whole by the sensor cartridge 11 and the main body 21.

  The sensor cartridge 11 includes a sensor 13, a thermistor 14, a stand / connector detection circuit 15, and a connector 16 in the outer body 12.

The sensor 13 detects the urinary sugar concentration over a wide range of low, medium and high, and the urinary salt content or the salt content of the reference solution, excluding the influence of contaminants in the urine.
The thermistor 14 detects the temperature of urine at the time of measurement and corrects the temperature characteristics of the sensor 13.
The stand / connector detection circuit 15 is composed of an IC chip, a magnetic sensor, and the like. When the measuring device 1 is taken out of the stand 51, the stand / connector detection circuit 15 detects fluctuations in the strength of the magnetic field in the magnet 52, mode setting, reference adjustment, urine Enables measurement of medium salinity and urine sugar concentration.

  The main body 21 includes the input unit 6 including the operation buttons 6 a and 6 b and the display unit 7 in the outer body 22. In addition, a power source 8, a switching device 20, an arithmetic and control unit 25, a connector 26, a voltage application circuit 31, a current detection circuit 32, an AC constant current circuit 40, a differential voltage detection circuit 42, a half-wave rectifier 43, a filter are included therein. 44 and a communication unit 60.

The input unit 6 (6a, 6b) is a button having an electrical contact or the like, and is used to detect that the button has been pressed and to select, register and calibrate a mode and meal content.
The display unit 7 is a dot matrix LCD, an organic EL display device, or the like. Based on a signal from the arithmetic and control unit 25, a measurement state, a reference alignment state, a sensor replacement notification, a battery replacement notification, and a selection mode Displays the status, notice of the next measurement, sugar concentration (urine sugar) measurement result, and salt concentration measurement result.
The power source 8 is a battery and supplies power to each part of the electrical system of the measuring device 1.
The switcher 20 (switching means) is an electronic switch, a relay, or the like, and switches circuits related to urine sugar measurement and salt content measurement according to a command from the I / O 29 of the arithmetic control device 25.
The main body 21 also includes a buzzer (not shown) that can be turned on / off by the I / O 29 of the arithmetic control device 25.

  The arithmetic control unit 25 calculates various urine sugar values, various availability determinations, etc., and controls various types of control and control devices, ROM for storing control and calculation programs, calculation results, programs read from the outside, etc. RAM that temporarily stores data, clock that keeps time for various notifications, flash memory that stores the selected mode, meal content, various calculated urine sugar values, determined determination results, etc. until updated, and battery backup SRAM Storage unit 24, I / O 29 which is an I / O port connected to each part of the electrical system, A / D conversion units 35, 45, etc., and calculation of urine components such as urine sugar and urinary salt, and these calculations・ Processes such as control related to output of judgment results.

The voltage application circuit 31 detects the voltage at the reference electrode R when detecting urine sugar, and the operational amplifier (OP) operates so that the counter electrode C becomes −E, and the optimum voltage is applied to the working electrode W and the counter electrode C. Apply.
The current detection circuit 32 detects a current flowing between the working electrode W and the counter electrode C when detecting urine sugar.
Referring to FIG. 5 which is a conceptual diagram showing details of the current detection circuit 32, a resistor r is connected to the ground of the circuit in the current detection circuit 32, and a current flowing in urine can be detected. However, it is assumed that the resistance r is small enough to be ignored. The current detection circuit 32 includes an amplifier AMP.
The A / D converter 35 converts an analog signal related to urine sugar, which is a current detected by the current detection circuit 32, into a digital signal (urine sugar detection signal) and outputs the digital signal.

The AC constant current circuit 40 applies an AC current having a predetermined frequency to the working electrode W and the counter electrode C of the sensor 13 when detecting urinary salt.
Since an AC voltage is generated between the working electrode W and the counter electrode C according to the AC constant current energized by the AC constant current circuit 40, the operating voltage detection circuit 42 detects this voltage or a voltage proportional thereto.
The half-wave rectifier 43 rectifies the detected voltage so that it can be easily handled, and converts it into a DC voltage.
The filter 44 is a filter such as a low-pass filter, and smoothes and outputs a rectified DC voltage by removing a ripple component and the like.
The A / D converter 45 converts the analog signal related to the liquid component, which is a DC voltage smoothed by the filter 44, into a digital signal (urinary salt detection signal) and outputs the digital signal.

  The communication unit 60 communicates various data (input data from the external device and output data such as urine sugar measurement result / judgment result from the measuring device 1) with an external device such as a personal computer. A terminal such as a bus) or a LAN (local area network) or a connection device such as a wireless LAN, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or wireless USB. When the communication unit 60 is a USB terminal or the like, it is preferable that the communication unit 60 is covered with a cover made of silicone rubber or the like in order to achieve a life waterproof function.

The connectors 16 and 26 are connected so that electrical communication between the sensor cartridge 11 and the main body 21 is possible.
For this electrical communication, the stand connector detection circuit 15 also detects whether the connector 16 and the connector 26 are connected. Thereby, it is possible to detect whether the sensor cartridge 11 is mounted on the main body 21.

(Flow of liquid component measurement process)
Next, handling, operation, and operation of the liquid component measuring apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

(Step S101)
First, in the state of being inserted and installed in the stand 51, the power saving state is such that power is supplied only from the power source 8 to the timepiece and the I / O 29 of the arithmetic and control unit 25.
When the measurer removes the measuring apparatus 1 from the stand 51, the stand / connector detection circuit 15 is activated. When the I / O 29 of the arithmetic control device 25 receives a signal from the stand / connector detection circuit, the arithmetic control device 25 activates the power supply 8. Thereby, the power supply 8 supplies electric power to each part of an electric system, and the measuring apparatus 1 will be in an operation state.

Subsequently, the arithmetic and control unit 25 executes the firmware stored in the ROM of the storage unit 24 and checks whether each unit of the main body 21 is abnormal.
Next, the arithmetic and control unit 25 checks whether or not the sensor cartridge 11 is usable. Specifically, it is checked whether a predetermined number of days has elapsed from the use start date of the sensor cartridge 11 stored in the flash memory, or whether the number of uses has reached a predetermined number. Furthermore, it is also checked whether the sensor was usable according to the previous reference alignment.
If it is determined by the check that the sensor cartridge 11 cannot be used, the arithmetic and control unit 25 displays a message “Please replace the sensor” on the display unit 7.

In addition, the arithmetic and control unit 25 checks whether the sensor cartridge 11 has started to be used and has not been used for reference adjustment, or has been used several times and has reached the number of uses for which reference adjustment is performed.
When it is necessary to perform reference alignment in this check, the arithmetic and control unit 25 displays a message “Please adjust reference” on the display unit 7.

Here, when the measurer puts the reference solution or the measurer's urine on the sensor cartridge 11 or the sensor part is immersed in the container, the sensor 13 captures the change and automatically starts measurement. The measurement may be started by pressing the 6a button of the input unit 6.
The measurement of urine sugar can be performed directly in the toilet by the measurer or can be immersed in the urine placed in a paper cup or the like, but is preferably performed immediately after excretion outside the body.

  When the arithmetic and control unit 25 detects from the input unit 6 (6a, 6b) the input of the measurer that performs the measurement related to the input, the measurement starts. At this time, the measurer can select a mode such as a mode for measuring urine sugar before a meal or a mode for measuring urine sugar after a meal.

(Step S102)
Next, in step S102, the arithmetic and control unit 25 measures the salinity concentration.
Specifically, the AC constant current circuit 40 applies an AC current having a predetermined frequency to the working electrode W and the counter electrode C of the sensor 13 according to an instruction from the arithmetic and control unit 25.
Then, the differential voltage detection circuit 42 detects the AC voltage generated between the working electrode W and the counter electrode C.
Since the detected voltage is alternating current and difficult to handle, the half-wave rectifier 43 rectifies the detected voltage so as to be easy to handle and converts it to a direct voltage.
Further, the filter 44 smoothes and outputs the ripple component of the rectified DC voltage.
The A / D converter 45 converts the analog signal relating to the liquid component, which is a smoothed DC voltage, into a digital signal (urinary salt content detection signal) and outputs the digital signal.
The arithmetic and control unit 25 adds the digital signal to the reference value in the table in the ROM and compares it with the result of the reference adjustment in the flash memory to obtain the salinity concentration.

(Step S103)
Next, in step S103, the arithmetic and control unit 25 determines whether or not the measured solution is a reference matching solution.
Here, as described above, the reference solution according to the embodiment of the present invention is added with an amount of salt that cannot be the concentration of human urine.
Thereby, the arithmetic and control unit 25 determines that it is the reference solution that is measured when the salt concentration measured in step S102 is higher than the predetermined threshold value.
If it is the reference liquid, that is, if “Yes”, the arithmetic and control unit 25 advances the process to step S104.
If it is not the reference solution, that is, if the measurement person's urine is being measured, it is determined as “No”, and the process proceeds to step S106.

(Step S104)
Next, in step S104, the arithmetic and control unit 25 measures the sugar concentration.
Specifically, the voltage application circuit 31 detects a voltage at the reference electrode R, and applies a predetermined voltage for reference adjustment to the working electrode W and the counter electrode C.
The current detection circuit 32 detects a voltage at the reference electrode R and detects a current flowing between the working electrode W and the counter electrode C.
The A / D converter 35 receives the detected current from the current detection circuit 32, converts it into a digital signal (urine sugar detection signal), and outputs it.

(Step S105)
In step S105, the arithmetic and control unit 25 performs a reference matching process.
Specifically, the correction control parameter for correcting how high or low the urine sugar detection signal detected by the arithmetic and control unit 25 is compared with the reference solution by the reference matching program stored in the ROM of the storage unit 24. Perform the required calculation. The parameters obtained by this calculation are stored in the flash memory of the storage unit 24.

Here, for example, when the sensor cartridge 11 has exceeded the number of days or the number of times that is the measurement limit, or when the measurer left the measuring device 1 in direct sunlight and the sensor 13 deteriorated, the sensor cartridge 11 was obtained by matching the reference. If the output exceeds the threshold set in the reference adjustment program and the number of re-adjustment (re-confirmation) of the reference adjustment is less than the specified value, re-confirm and store it in the flash memory. Please display "on the display unit 7.
If the threshold value set in the reference alignment program is exceeded and the number of re-adjustment (reconfirmation) of the reference alignment reaches a predetermined value, the sensor cartridge 11 is stored in the flash memory as being unusable and “this sensor "Cannot be used. Replace the sensor." Is displayed on the display unit 7.

  When the reference adjustment is completed, the arithmetic and control unit 25 displays a message “The reference adjustment has been completed. Please clean and store in the stand” on the display unit 7, and the reference adjustment process ends.

(Step S106)
In step S106, the arithmetic and control unit 25 measures the sugar concentration (urine sugar).
Specifically, the voltage application circuit 31 detects the voltage at the reference electrode R when detecting urine sugar, and the operational amplifier (OP) operates so that the counter electrode C becomes −E, and the working electrode W and the counter electrode C Apply the optimum voltage.
The current detection circuit 32 detects a current flowing between the working electrode W and the counter electrode C when detecting urine sugar.
The A / D converter 35 receives the detected current from the current detection circuit 32, converts it into a digital signal (urine sugar detection signal), and outputs it.
The arithmetic and control unit 25 adds this digital signal to the reference value in the table in the ROM and compares it with the result of the reference adjustment in the flash memory. In this case, the sugar concentration (urine sugar) which is the concentration of urine sugar )

(Step S107)
Next, in step S107, the calculation control device 25 notifies the end of measurement and calculation.
Specifically, a message “Measurement is completed” is displayed on the display unit 7 and a buzzer is sounded.
Further, the measurement value is stored in the flash memory of the storage unit 24.

(Step S108)
Next, in step S108, the arithmetic and control unit 25 displays the measurement result and advice.
Specifically, a warning is displayed on the display unit 7 when the value is a pathological value as compared with the standard values of urine sugar or urinary salt stored in the ROM of the storage unit 24. When both urine sugar and urinary salt are high, a stronger warning is displayed.

In addition, it is possible to display whether the meal is appropriate from the measurement values of the pre-meal urine sugar and the post-meal urine sugar specified by setting the mode at the time of measurement, and comparing and calculating with the values in the ROM. .
Furthermore, the amount of salt that can be ingested per day can be estimated and displayed from the urinary salt.
In addition, the total amount of salt taken in a day can be estimated and displayed from urinary salt and urine.
In addition, it is possible to display the amount of salt added to a dish serving as a guide when reducing the salt content and the amount of intake serving as a guide when reducing the sugar content.

These measurement results and advice can be browsed by the measurement person operating the buttons of the input unit 6 (6a, 6b) according to the menu displayed on the display unit 7 by the arithmetic and control unit 25.
In addition, transmission to another computer can be performed using the communication unit 60. In this case, it is possible to check the measurement result on the screen of another computer.

After the measurement, if the measurement device 1 is not inserted into the stand 51 by the measurer, the calculation control device 25 sounds a buzzer to prevent the sensor from drying, and “display in the stand” is displayed on the display unit 7. Display a warning.
Here, when it is detected that the stand / connector detection circuit 15 is inserted and installed in the stand 51 or a predetermined time has elapsed, the arithmetic and control unit 25 controls the power supply 8 to shift to the power saving state.

(Replacement and mounting of sensor cartridge 11)
Processing that is performed when the sensor cartridge 11 is replaced or mounted will be described.
As described above, when the sensor 13 becomes unusable due to deterioration or the like, or when the stand / connector detection circuit 15 detects that the sensor cartridge is not attached to the main body 21, the arithmetic control device 25 is Then, a message prompting replacement or mounting of the sensor cartridge 11 is displayed on the display unit 7.
Here, a new sensor cartridge 11 stored by means of a laminate pouch or the like is taken out by a measurer or another user, and is attached to the main body 21.

First, the stand / connector detection circuit 15 detects that a new sensor cartridge 11 is mounted.
This detected signal is received by the I / O 29 of the arithmetic and control unit 25. Thereby, the arithmetic and control unit 25 starts from the power saving state and executes the sensor cartridge replacement program stored in the ROM of the storage unit 24.
Here, in order to detect that the attached sensor is not simply removed and replaced, an individual number (ID) or the like is stored in the stand / connector detection circuit 15, and this ID is stored in the arithmetic control unit 25. Can be sent.
If the IDs are different, the arithmetic control device 25 determines that the sensor cartridge 11 has been replaced.

Next, if the IDs are different, the arithmetic and control unit 25 sets the number of times the sensor is used as 0, and stores the replacement date as the use start date. After that, a message “The sensor has been replaced. The usage date is × month × date. It can be used until XX days or ▽ times” is displayed on the display unit 7.
When the measuring device 1 is inserted and installed in the stand 51 by the measurer, the stand / connector detection circuit 15 detects this, and the arithmetic and control unit 25 controls the power supply 8 to shift to the power saving state.
Thus, the process performed at the time of replacement or mounting is completed.

By configuring as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
First, the urine sugar meter of Prior Art 1 could not measure liquid components other than urine sugar. For this reason, it was necessary to prepare a urine sugar meter and a urinary salinity meter as in the prior art 1, and it took time and effort.
On the other hand, in the case of the liquid component measuring device according to the embodiment of the present invention, both the sugar concentration and the salinity concentration (the concentration of urine sugar and urinary salt) can be measured by one measuring device. The effect of improving the usability of is obtained.

Further, the urinary salt content measuring apparatus of the prior art 2 cannot measure urine sugar. Therefore, when a urine sugar meter is built in the same toilet seat, it is necessary to add a pump or the like, so that there is a problem that the mounting is expensive and the failure rate is high.
On the other hand, in the case of the liquid component measuring apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the urinary salt content is measured using the same sensor for measuring urine sugar, the mounting cost is low and a plurality of sensors are mounted. The effect that it becomes possible to suppress the dispersion | variation in the sensitivity by this and the increase in a failure rate is acquired.
In addition, when a urine sugar meter is separately provided in the toilet seat, a necessary pump or the like is not required, so that the size can be reduced. This makes it possible to easily measure urinary salinity data at the time of urine sugar testing, and it is possible to easily obtain a clue as to whether a diabetic patient with many morbidity has hypertension.

Further, the urine sugar meter of the prior art 1 has a problem that the calibration (calibration) is troublesome.
In the urine sugar meter of Prior Art 1, the reference adjustment needs to be performed every week or every 20 measurements. However, when performing the reference adjustment with the urine sugar meter of the prior art 1, it is necessary to apply a reference solution to the sensor after performing a button operation to set a special reference adjustment mode, and is not used to operating the machine. It was particularly bad for the elderly.
However, since the measuring apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention can measure the salinity, the liquid applied to the sensor can be obtained by adding an amount of salt that cannot be human urine to the reference liquid. It is possible to automatically determine whether it is human urine or a reference solution, and to measure urine components or to adjust the reference. Therefore, it is not necessary for an elderly person or a diabetic patient with weak vision to operate the buttons according to the display on the display unit and select the reference matching mode. For this reason, the effect that usability improves is acquired.

  As described above, the liquid component measuring apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is effective in preventing and preventing both progression of diabetes and hypertension, which have a high morbidity in lifestyle-related diseases.・ Useful for improving life.

In the measurement apparatus 1 described above, the measurement of urine sugar and urinary salt has been described. However, the liquid component measurement apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention can be used for blood sugar levels, salt concentrations, and foods that are sugar in blood. It is also possible to measure sugar content, salt content, and the like.
Moreover, you may comprise so that the kind of liquid to measure may be changed by replacing | exchanging sensor cartridges.
In this case, a plurality of IDs may be stored in the storage unit 24, and the replacement may be detected depending on the type of the connected sensor cartridge 11. Furthermore, it is possible to cope by storing the sensor type of the sensor cartridge 11 in the ID and changing the measurement program called from the ROM of the storage unit 24 at the time of measurement for each type.
Further, other values can be measured as long as the sensor cartridge corresponds to the impedance and the current value. For example, it is possible to measure the acidity and the like of fruits.

  The reference electrode generally has a configuration of a reference electrode having a liquid junction part in which an internal liquid such as a saturated potassium chloride solution and an electrode made of silver / silver chloride are sealed in glass or the like. However, there is a simplified reference electrode that does not have such a configuration.

When the sugar concentration (urine sugar) was measured using such a simplified reference electrode, there was a possibility of being affected by the urinary salt concentration.
FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the urinary salt concentration and the sugar concentration (urine sugar) in the liquid component measuring apparatus when the reference electrode having such a configuration is provided and correction is not performed. As shown in FIG. 7, as the urinary salt concentration increases, the sugar concentration (urine sugar) apparently decreases. For example, for a sample with a urinary salt concentration of 1% and a sugar concentration (urine sugar) of 500 mg / dL, if the urinary salt concentration is increased by 1% to 2%, the sugar concentration (urine sugar) is 400 mg / dL. Is displayed.

Therefore, in the liquid component measuring apparatus having the reference electrode having such a configuration, the salinity concentration and the correction coefficient (= the displayed value of the sugar concentration when the salinity concentration of the reference solution is changed / reference) as shown in FIG. And the correction formula represented by the display value of the sugar concentration after correction = 1 / correction coefficient × the display value of the sugar concentration before correction is stored in the storage unit 24 in advance. deep.
Based on the relationship between the salinity concentration and the correction coefficient and the correction formula, the arithmetic control unit 25 displays the salinity concentration and the correction coefficient (= display value of the sugar concentration when the salinity concentration of the reference solution is changed / display of the sugar concentration of the reference solution). Value), apply the measured salinity concentration to the salinity concentration axis, determine the corresponding correction coefficient, and substitute the calculated correction coefficient into the correction formula to display the corrected sugar concentration display value. Is calculated.

Here, referring to FIG. 8, the salinity concentration of the reference solution used for reference adjustment (calibration) and the correction coefficient when the salinity concentration is changed (= display value of the sugar concentration when the salinity concentration of the reference solution is changed) / Sugar concentration display value of the reference solution), for example, as shown in the table of FIG. 7, the sugar concentration display 500 mg / dL of the salt concentration 1% and the sugar concentration 500 mg / dL used for the reference adjustment (calibration) On the other hand, the sugar concentration display of the salt concentration of 0.5%, 2%, 3% and sugar concentration of 500 mg / dL shown in the table of FIG. 7 is 600 mg / dL, 400 mg / dL, and 380 mg / dL. Is the correction coefficient.
In this case, the correction coefficient when the salt concentration is 0.5% is 1.2 (= 600 mg / dL ÷ 500 mg / dL), and the correction coefficient when the salt concentration is 2% is 0.8 (= 400 mg / dL ÷ 500 mg / dL). ), The correction coefficient when the salinity concentration is 3% is 0.76 (= 380 mg / dL ÷ 500 mg / dL), which is the vertical axis and the salinity concentration is the horizontal axis.

  By performing such correction, even in a liquid component measuring apparatus having a reference electrode having a liquid junction portion in which an internal solution such as a saturated potassium chloride solution and a silver / silver chloride electrode is immersed, a highly accurate sugar The result (display value) of the concentration (urine sugar) measurement can be obtained.

  Note that the configuration and operation of the above-described embodiment are examples, and it is needless to say that the configuration and operation can be appropriately changed and executed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the external appearance of the measuring apparatus 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the structure at the time of mounting | wearing the stand 51 with the measuring apparatus 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the urine sugar measurement of the measuring apparatus 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the measuring apparatus 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the circuit which concerns on the electric current detection of the measuring apparatus 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the measurement procedure and operation | movement of the measuring apparatus 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Sugar concentration display value when salinity concentration correction is not performed for a measuring apparatus having a reference electrode having a liquid crystal part in which an electrode made of silver / silver chloride is immersed in an internal solution such as a saturated potassium chloride solution FIG. It is a graph which shows the relationship between salt concentration and a correction coefficient.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Measuring apparatus 6 Input part 6a, 6b Operation button 7 Display part 8 Power supply 11 Sensor cartridge 12, 22 Outer body 13 Sensor 14 Thermistor 15 Stand connector detection circuit 20 Switch 21 Main body 24 Memory | storage part 25 Operation control apparatus 29 I / O
31 Voltage application circuit 32 Current detection circuit 35, 45 A / D conversion unit 40 AC constant current circuit 42 Differential voltage detection circuit 43 Half-wave rectifier 44 Filter 51 Stand 52 Magnet 60 Communication unit C Counter electrode R Reference electrode W Working electrode

Claims (5)

Current measuring means for measuring the current flowing in the liquid using a plurality of electrodes;
E Bei the electric conductivity measuring means for measuring the electrical conductivity of the liquid using a part or all of said plurality of electrodes of said current measuring means in common,
The current measuring means is a sugar concentration measuring means for measuring a sugar concentration,
The electrical conductivity measuring means is a salinity measuring means,
The liquid is urine or a reference liquid;
Further comprising a switching means between the sugar concentration measuring means and the salt content measuring means,
The sugar concentration measuring means is a sugar concentration measuring means for measuring a sugar concentration comprising a counter electrode and a working electrode as the plurality of electrodes,
The salinity measuring means is a salinity measuring means for measuring urinary salinity by using the counter electrode and the working electrode in common by the switching means.
The sugar concentration measuring means includes a reference electrode as the plurality of electrodes,
The sugar concentration measuring means includes
When the reference electrode is an electrode that does not have a liquid junction part in which an electrode is immersed in an internal liquid, the liquid component is a sugar concentration measuring unit that corrects a sugar concentration based on a measured value of the salt content measuring unit measuring device. The liquid component measuring device according to claim 1 , wherein the salinity measuring unit is a salt measuring unit that also detects the reference solution of the sugar concentration measuring unit. The liquid according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the salinity measuring means is a salinity measuring means for detecting that the liquid to be measured is the reference liquid by detecting a salinity concentration higher than a predetermined threshold. Component measuring device. The sugar concentration measuring means measures urine sugar with a DC voltage,
The salinity measuring means, the liquid component measuring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that measuring the salinity at the AC voltage. The reference solution contains 5% to 10% salt by weight.
  The liquid component measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid component measuring device is a liquid component measuring device.

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