JP5473862B2 - Analysis equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an analyzer for self-measuring blood glucose level, for example.

  FIG. 16 shows an example of a conventional analyzer (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The analysis apparatus 900 shown in the figure includes a case 901 provided with a display screen and a switch. An insertion port 902 is formed in the case 901. The insertion port 902 is for inserting the sensor 903. The sensor 903 has an electrode 904 and a spotting portion 905. The electrode 904 is a part to be a contact point with the analyzer 900 and is in contact with an electrode (not shown) of a connector (not shown) built in the analyzer 900. The spotting unit 905 is a part where, for example, a wiring conducting to the electrode 904 is exposed, and is a part where, for example, blood as a specimen to be analyzed is spotted. In a state where the sensor 903 is inserted into the analyzer 900 from the insertion port 902, blood is spotted on the spotting portion 903, and a predetermined operation is performed, for example, blood glucose level can be self-measured.

  However, in the self-measurement described above, it is inevitable that the user of the analyzer 900 touches blood as a specimen. For this reason, blood may adhere to the insertion port 902 unintentionally. This blood can be pushed into the depth of the analyzer 900 by inserting the sensor 903. For example, when absorbent cotton or the like containing a liquid such as alcohol or water is used to wipe off the adhering blood, the blood and the liquid are pushed into the depth of the analyzer 900. If the blood or the liquid adheres to the electrode of the connector, for example, there is a problem that it causes a contact failure or a short circuit.

JP 2010-217074 A

  The present invention has been conceived under the circumstances described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an analyzer capable of suppressing unintentional entry of a liquid such as a specimen.

  The analyzer provided by the present invention includes an outer surface on which an insertion port into which an insertion object is inserted is formed, and an accommodation space that is connected inward to the insertion port and that accommodates the insertion object. An inner surface to be defined, and one or more recesses opened in at least one of the outer surface and the inner surface.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the one or more recesses have a depth direction that intersects the outer surface or the inner surface, and a width direction that intersects the insertion direction of the insert. Including a slit.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the slit has a rectangular shape when viewed in the width direction.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the slit has a smaller width in a deeper portion.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the one or more recesses open to the outer surface and the inner surface across the boundary between the outer surface and the inner surface.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the insertion port has a flat shape, and the one or more recesses include a plurality of recesses arranged across the insertion port in a short direction of the insertion port. .

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a case having an outer inner surface connected to the outer surface among the outer surface and the inner surface, and a built-in member having a rear inner surface located inward of the outer inner surface among the inner surfaces And.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the case has an outer end surface connected to the outer inner surface and facing the built-in member, and the one or more recesses are formed on the outer inner surface and the outer end surface. Is open to the outer inner surface and the outer end surface.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the built-in member is formed with one or more recesses that open to the side opposite to the inner surface on the back side.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the case has an outer end surface that is connected to the outer inner surface and faces the built-in member, and the built-in member is connected to the inner inner surface and the case. The one or more recesses include a slit formed by the outer end surface and the rear end surface.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the one or more recesses include one opened on the opposite side to the outer surface or the inner surface, and includes a moisture absorbing member disposed on the opposite side.

  In preferable embodiment of this invention, the electrode exposed to the said inner surface is provided.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, self-measurement can be performed on the specimen spotted on the insert.

  According to such a configuration, for example, even if blood as a sample is unexpectedly attached in the vicinity of the insertion port, it can be expected that the blood is sucked by the concave portion. Thereby, it can suppress that the blood etc. as a sample infiltrate into the depths of the above-mentioned analyzer unexpectedly.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is the perspective view and principal part enlarged front view which show the analyzer based on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing in alignment with the II-II line of FIG. It is the perspective view which shows the modification of the slit of the analyzer of FIG. 1, and a principal part enlarged plan view. It is a principal part enlarged plan view which shows the modification of the slit of the analyzer of FIG. It is a principal part enlarged plan view which shows the modification of the slit of the analyzer of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the analyzer based on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing in alignment with the VII-VII line of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the analyzer based on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing in alignment with the IX-IX line of FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the analyzer based on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing in alignment with the XI-XI line of FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the analyzer based on 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the analyzer based on 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the analyzer based on 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part top view which follows the XV-XV line | wire of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the conventional analyzer.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 show an analyzer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The analysis apparatus 101 of this embodiment includes a case 700 and a connector 710. For example, the analysis apparatus 101 is an apparatus for performing self-measurement of blood glucose level using blood as a specimen, but its application is not limited. For example, a uric acid level or a ketone body may be measured in addition to the blood glucose level. Further, instead of using blood as a specimen, ketone bodies may be measured by using urine.

  The analyzer 101 is formed with an insertion port 200 for inserting the sensor 800. The sensor 800 has a thin strip plate-shaped main body 801, and an electrode 802 and a spotted portion 803 are formed. The electrode 802 is a part that serves as an electrical contact with the analyzer 101 and is connected to the connector 710. The spotted portion 803 is a portion where wiring (not shown) that is electrically connected to the electrode 802 is partially exposed from the main body 801. The spotting unit 803 is spotted with blood as a specimen. Analysis by the analyzer 101 is performed in a state where the sensor 800 is inserted into the insertion port 200. In addition, after the analysis is finished, the used sensor 800 is discarded.

  The case 700 is made of, for example, ABS resin, and houses a CPU, a memory, a power source and the like (all not shown) necessary for analysis in addition to the connector 710. A display screen 701 and a switch 702 are attached to the case 700.

  The connector 710 serves as an electrical contact with the sensor 800 and includes a main body 711 and an electrode 712. The main body 711 is made of an insulating resin and has a flat box shape. The electrode 712 is made of, for example, Cu, Ni, or an alloy thereof, and is disposed in the back of the main body 711. The connector 710 has a back side end surface 520. The back side end surface 520 is a surface facing the case 700. A surface of the case 700 that faces the back end surface 520 is an outer end surface 510.

  Case 700 has an outer surface 300. An insertion port 200 is formed in the outer surface 300. In the present embodiment, corresponding to the sensor 800 being in the shape of a thin strip, the insertion port 200 has a flat rectangular shape when the sensor 800 is viewed in the insertion direction. The size of the insertion opening 200 is about 1 mm in the lateral direction and about 5 to 10 mm in the longitudinal direction.

  The outer surface 300 has an outer part 310 and an inner part 320. The outer portion 310 and the inner portion 320 are spaced apart from each other in the short direction of the insertion port 200 with the insertion port 200 interposed therebetween. The outer part 310 is located outward from the inner part 320 in the insertion direction of the sensor 800. Unlike the present embodiment, the outer surface 300 that surrounds the insertion opening 200 may be configured so as not to have a step as in the configuration shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an accommodation space 210 is formed inside the insertion opening 200. The accommodation space 210 is a space for accommodating the sensor 800 inserted from the insertion port 200. The accommodation space 210 is defined by the inner surface 400. The inner surface 400 is connected to the outer surface 300 and has an outer inner surface 410 and a rear inner surface 420. The outer inner surface 410 is constituted by a part of the surface of the case 700. The back side inner surface 420 is constituted by a part of the surface of the main body 711 of the connector 710.

  In the analyzer 101, a plurality of slits 601 and 602 are formed. The plurality of slits 601 and 602 correspond to an example of a concave portion referred to in the present invention. The slit 601 is open to both the outer portion 310 and the outer inner surface 410 of the outer surface 300, and straddles the outer portion 310 and the outer inner surface 410. In the slit 601 having such a configuration, two directions are defined as the depth direction. The first depth direction is a direction perpendicular to the outer inner surface 410. The second depth direction is a direction perpendicular to the outer portion 310 of the outer surface 300. Further, the width direction of the slit 601 is a direction perpendicular to both one of the two depth directions and the insertion direction of the sensor 800. In the present embodiment, five slits 601 are formed at an equal pitch along the longitudinal direction of the insertion port 200.

  The slits referred to in the present invention are not limited to those having a depth direction perpendicular to the outer surface 300 or the inner surface 400, such as the plurality of slits 601, 602 shown in FIG. This includes the direction intersecting the inner surface 400 as the depth direction.

  The slit 602 opens to both the inner part 320 and the outer inner surface 410 of the outer surface 300, and straddles the inner part 320 and the outer inner surface 410. In the present embodiment, five slits 602 are formed at an equal pitch along the longitudinal direction of the insertion opening 200.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each of the slits 601 and 602 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape when viewed in the width direction. In addition, the slit 601 has a V-shaped cross section whose width decreases as the depth from the outer inner surface 410 increases. In the present embodiment, the slits 601 and 602 have a depth of about 1 to 5 mm from the outer inner surface 410, a depth of about 2 to 10 mm from the outer portion 310 and the inner portion 320 of the outer surface 300, and a width. Is about 1 mm. The arrangement pitch of the plurality of slits 601 and 602 is about 1 to 3 mm.

  Next, the operation of the analyzer 101 will be described.

  According to the present embodiment, even if blood as a specimen or a liquid such as alcohol or moisture used for wiping is unexpectedly attached in the vicinity of the insertion opening 200, the blood or the liquid remains in the plurality of slits 601 and 602. Expect to be absorbed. In particular, the blood and the liquid in contact with the plurality of slits 601 and 602 having the dimensions described above are sucked into the plurality of slits 601 and 602 by capillary action. Therefore, it is possible to prevent blood, the liquid, and the like from unintentionally entering the depth of the analyzer 101. This is suitable, for example, for preventing blood and the liquid from adhering to the electrode 712 of the connector 710 and preventing the occurrence of short circuit or poor contact.

  Since the slits 601 and 602 have a substantially V-shaped cross section, blood or the like can be strongly penetrated into the depths of the slits 601 and 602. Moreover, since the cross-sectional shape of the slits 601 and 602 when viewed in the width direction is a rectangular shape, closed corners exist inside the slits 601 and 602. When blood or the like that has penetrated into the depths of the slits 601 and 602 comes into contact with this corner from one side, it can be expected to rapidly penetrate into the other side. As a measure for promoting penetration into the slits 601 and 602, the inside of the slits 601 and 602 may be more hydrophilic than the outside of the slits 601 and 602. Thus, as a method of making the outside relatively hydrophobic and making the inside relatively hydrophilic, for example, the outside can be made relatively smooth and the inside can be made relatively rough.

  3 to 5 show modified examples of the plurality of slits 601. In the modification shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of slits 601 are arranged such that the interval between the slits 601 decreases from the outside toward the back in the insertion direction of the sensor 800. In the modification shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of slits 601 are arranged such that the distance between the slits 601 increases from the outside toward the back in the insertion direction of the sensor 800. In the modification shown in FIG. 5, all of the plurality of slits 601 are arranged to extend in a direction inclined by the same angle with respect to the insertion direction of the sensor 800. As understood from these modifications, the slit in the present invention is not limited to the one extending along the insertion direction of the sensor 800.

  6 to 15 show other embodiments of the present invention. In these drawings, the same or similar elements as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the above embodiment.

  6 and 7 show an analyzer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The analyzer 102 of this embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that it includes a plurality of slits 603 and 604. The slit 603 is open to both the outer end surface 510 and the outer end surface 510 of the outer inner surface 410 connected to the outer portion 310 of the outer surface 300, and straddles the outer end surface 510 and the outer inner surface 410. In the plurality of slits 603, five slits 603 are formed at an equal pitch along the longitudinal direction of the insertion port 200, similarly to the plurality of slits 601 described above.

Slit 604 is opened to both the portion and the outer end surface 510 leading to the inner side portion 320 of the outer surface 300 of the outer interior surface 410 extends across the outer end surface 510 and an outer interior surface 410. As with the plurality of slits 602 described above, the plurality of slits 604 are formed with five slits 604 at an equal pitch along the longitudinal direction of the insertion opening 200.

  Even in such an embodiment, blood and the like can be prevented from entering unintentionally. In addition, since the plurality of slits 603 and 604 are not opened in the outer surface 300, blood or the like that has permeated the plurality of slits 603 and 604 can be prevented from appearing again on the outer surface 300 side.

  8 and 9 show an analyzer according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The analysis apparatus 103 of this embodiment includes all the plurality of slits 601, 602, 603, and 604 described above. Even in such an embodiment, blood and the like can be prevented from entering unintentionally. In the present embodiment, the positions of the plurality of slits 601 and the plurality of slits 603 are overlapped and the positions of the plurality of slits 602 and the plurality of slits 604 are overlapped when the insertion direction of the sensor 800 is viewed. In addition to such a configuration, the positions of the plurality of slits 601 and the plurality of slits 603 in the insertion direction of the sensor 800 may be staggered, and the positions of the plurality of slits 602 and the plurality of slits 604 are staggered. It may be. Moreover, as understood from the configuration of the analyzers 101 to 103, which of the plurality of slits 601, 602, 603, and 604 can be appropriately selected. For example, one or both of the plurality of slits 601 and 603 may be provided only on the lower side in the drawing with respect to the insertion port 200, and the plurality of slits 602 and 604 may not be provided on the upper side of the insertion port 200 in the drawing. . On the other hand, either or both of the plurality of slits 602 and 604 may be provided only on the upper side in the drawing with respect to the insertion port 200, and the plurality of slits 601 and 603 may not be provided on the lower side of the insertion port in the drawing. Good.

  10 and 11 show an analyzer according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The analyzer 104 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of slits 713, and the other configuration is the same as that of the analyzer 103 described above.

  The plurality of slits 713 are formed in the main body 711 of the connector 710. The slit 713 extends along the insertion direction of the sensor 800, and opens on the back end surface 520 and the surface of the main body 711 opposite to the accommodation space 210. The positions of the plurality of slits 713 in the longitudinal direction of the insertion opening 200 substantially coincide with any of the plurality of slits 604. Note that the slits 713 may be provided only below the main body 711 in the drawing, or may be provided both above and below the main body 711 in the drawing.

  Even in such an embodiment, blood and the like can be prevented from entering unintentionally. Further, blood that cannot be absorbed by the plurality of slits 604 can be absorbed by the plurality of slits 713.

  FIG. 12 shows an analyzer according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The analyzer 105 of this embodiment includes a plurality of slits 605 instead of the plurality of slits 603, and includes a sponge 720. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the analyzer 102 described above. ing.

  The slit 605 opens in three directions, that is, a portion of the outer inner surface 410 connected to the outer portion 310 of the outer surface 300, an outer end surface 510, and a surface facing away from the outer inner surface 410. The arrangement pitch of the plurality of slits 605 is the same as that of the plurality of slits 601 and 603.

  A sponge 720 is disposed below the plurality of slits 605 in the drawing. The sponge 720 corresponds to an example of the moisture absorbing member referred to in the present invention. The sponge 720 is pressed into the case 700 in a slightly compressed state, and is in contact with the plurality of slits 605. Note that the sponge 720 may be disposed only above the connector 710, or may be disposed both below the plurality of slits 605 and above the connector 710.

  Even in such an embodiment, blood and the like can be prevented from entering unintentionally. Further, blood or the like is quickly absorbed by the sponge 720 through the plurality of slits 605. As a result, the plurality of slits 605 can be prevented from being filled with dried blood or the like.

FIG. 13 shows an analyzer according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The analyzer 106 of the present embodiment includes the slit 606 and the sponge 720 described above, and the other configurations are the same as those of the analyzer 101 described above.

  In the present embodiment, the connector 710 is provided at a position slightly separated from the case 700 in the insertion direction of the sensor 800. The distance between the outer end face 510 and the rear end face 520 is, for example, about 1 to 3 mm. The outer end surface 510 and the back side end surface 520 form a slit 606. The above-described sponge 720 is provided below the slit 606 in the drawing. Note that the sponge 720 may be disposed only above the connector 710 (slit 606), or may be disposed both below the plurality of slits 606 and above the connector 710 (slit 606).

  Even in such an embodiment, blood and the like can be prevented from entering unintentionally. Further, by absorbing blood or the like with the sponge 720 through the slit 606, it is possible to prevent blood or the like from staying on the entry side of the connector 710.

  14 and 15 show an analyzer according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. The analyzer 107 of this embodiment includes a plurality of slits 607 in addition to the plurality of slits 604 and slits 606 described above.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the plurality of slits 607 are formed by forming a portion forming the outer inner surface 410 of the case 700 into a comb-teeth shape. The slit 607 is open in three directions, and its width is, for example, about 1 to 10 mm. As shown in FIG. 14, a sponge 720 is provided below the plurality of slits 607 in the drawing. Even in such an embodiment, blood and the like can be prevented from entering unintentionally. Further, the plurality of slits 607 are relatively wide. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately avoid the plurality of slits 607 from being filled with dried blood or the like.

  The analyzer according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The specific configuration of each part of the analyzer according to the present invention can be variously modified.

101-107 Analysis device 200 Insertion port 210 Accommodating space 300 Outer surface 310 Outer part 320 Inner part 400 Inner surface 410 Outer inner surface 420 Back side inner surface 510 Outer end surface 520 Back side end surfaces 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 Slit (concave)
700 Case 701 Display screen 702 Switch 710 Connector (built-in member)
711 Body 712 Electrode 720 Sponge (moisture absorbing member)
800 sensor (insert)
801 Body 802 Electrode 803 Spotted part

Claims (12)

An outer surface on which an insertion port into which an insertion object is inserted is formed;
An inner surface that is inwardly connected to the insertion port and that defines a storage space for storing the insertion object;
Having at least one recess opening in at least one of the outer surface and the inner surface;
The one or more recesses have a depth direction in a direction intersecting the outer surface or the inner surface, a width direction in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the object to be inserted, and a depth direction depth closed. And an analyzer that includes a slit that absorbs liquid by capillary action . The inner surface has a portion facing the insert in the thickness direction of the insert that is plate-shaped,
2. The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein all of the slits included in the one or more concave portions are formed so as to open in a portion of the inner surface facing the insert in the thickness direction.   The analyzer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the slit has a rectangular shape when viewed in the width direction.   The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the slit has a smaller width in a deeper portion.   The analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the one or more recesses are open to the outer surface and the inner surface across a boundary between the outer surface and the inner surface. The insertion port has a flat shape,
The analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the one or more concave portions include a plurality of concave portions arranged with the insertion port interposed therebetween in a short direction of the insertion port. A case having an outer inner surface connected to the outer surface among the outer surface and the inner surface;
The analysis apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a built-in member having a back-side inner surface located inward of the outer inner surface among the inner surfaces. The case has an outer end surface that is connected to the outer inner surface and faces the built-in member,
The analyzer according to claim 7, wherein the one or more recesses are open to the outer inner surface and the outer end surface across a boundary between the outer inner surface and the outer end surface.   The analyzer according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the built-in member is formed with one or more recesses that open to the side opposite to the inner surface on the back side. The case has an outer end surface that is connected to the outer inner surface and faces the built-in member,
The built-in member has a back end face connected to the back inner face and facing the outer end face of the case,
The analyzer according to claim 7, wherein the one or more recesses include a slit constituted by the outer end face and the back end face. The analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , further comprising an electrode exposed on the inner surface. The analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , which is configured to be able to perform self-measurement on a specimen spotted on the insertion object.

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