JPH053972Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the invention] (a) Industrial application field This invention relates to a biochemical measuring instrument such as a blood glucose meter that measures blood sugar level, and in particular, the invention relates to a biochemical measuring instrument such as a blood glucose meter that measures blood sugar level. The present invention also relates to a test strip fixing structure for a biochemical measuring instrument that is rotatably arranged in a vertical direction to facilitate insertion and removal of test strips and attachment and detachment of a test strip receiver.

(b) Prior Art Conventionally, test strip holding structures for blood glucose meters, for example, usually include a structure shown in FIG. 9 and a structure shown in FIG. 10.

The test strip holding structure shown in FIG. 9 has a notch 71 formed at one end of the instrument body 7, an operating piece 72 is rotatably supported on this notch 71, and this operating piece includes a receiver and a light emitting part. A reflective sensor 73 is provided, and the receiving and emitting surfaces of the reflective sensor are exposed to a transparent hole 75 provided in a receiving piece 74 at the tip. On the other hand, a test paper holding part 76 is provided on the receiving piece 74 side of the operation piece 72.
is provided, and one end 77 of a torsion spring 78 is attached to the lower end of this test paper piece holding portion 76.

Normally, the tip receiving piece 74 of the operation piece 72 and the test paper holding part 76 are joined with a slight gap. When pushing the operating piece 72 downward when inserting a test strip, the operating piece 72 tilts using the shaft support 79 as a fulcrum. At this time, the test paper holding part 76 is also rotated by the torsion spring 78, and an opening for inserting the test paper is opened between the operating piece 72 and the test paper holding part 76.

The test strip holding structure shown in FIG.
A holder receiving part 82 having a window hole 81 through which the receiving and emitting surfaces of the reflection sensor are exposed is attached to one end, and a test strip holder 83 is provided which is slidably fitted to the holder receiving part 82 in a detachable manner. ing. This test strip holder 83 includes a test strip mounting plate 85 equipped with a transparent hole 84 corresponding to the sensor window hole in the center, and a cross section L biased outward by a spring shaft 86 at the lower end of this mounting plate. It consists of a letter-shaped test paper cover 87, and this test paper cover 87 has a cutout part 89 formed in a bent piece part 88.

When the test strip holder 83 is slid into the holder receiving portion 82, the test strip cover 87
In this case, the spring shaft 86 is pressed by the lower end of the holder receiving part 82 and tilted inward of the instrument body 8, and it slightly fits into the protrusion 90 provided at the upper end of the mounting plate 85 that guides the insertion of the test strip. ing. A test strip insertion opening is formed between the protrusion 90 and the cut portion 89 facing each other. After inserting the test strip, when pushing the test strip cover 87 inward against the spring 86, the engaging claw 91 at the tip (bent end) of the cover 87 engages the opening/closing button 93 provided on the top of the instrument. It engages with the mating claws 94 and firmly presses and fixes the test paper against the mounting plate 85.

(c) Problems to be solved by the invention In both of the test strip holding structures shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 above, the opening insertion path for inserting the test strip is inclined at a certain angle with respect to the vertical, It has a V-shaped cross section that becomes narrower in the direction of entry.

Therefore, when inserting the test strip from the insertion slot,
The inner part of the insertion passage cannot be seen at all, and the test strip is inserted in an oblique manner only by adjusting the grip of the test strip. As a result, the test strip cannot be inserted smoothly and sometimes gets caught on the presser rubber plate in the insertion path, resulting in disadvantages such as performing measurements while the reagent surface is not properly aligned with the receiving and emitting surfaces of the sensor. It was hot.

Moreover, the test strip holding structure shown in FIG. 9 has the drawback that the operating piece and the test strip holding part that come into contact with the reagent surface cannot be removed, and stains such as blood cannot be washed away. Further, in the test strip holding structure shown in FIG. 10, since the test strip holder is removable, there is no drawback that it cannot be washed, but on the other hand, there are drawbacks such as the test strip holding structure being complicated and large.

This idea allows for proper and easy loading and unloading of test strips.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a test strip fixing structure for a biochemical measuring instrument that is easy to clean and satisfies the demand for miniaturization.

(d) Means and action for solving the problem In order to achieve this objective, the test strip fixing structure of the biochemical measuring device of this invention has the following configuration.

The test strip fixing structure is disposed in the meter body and one end of the meter body, and has a top and bottom surface and a front end surface slightly recessed inwardly relative to the top and bottom surfaces and front end surface of the meter body to form a concave part, The upper surface is provided with a plurality of protrusions at regular intervals, the front end surface is provided with a window hole through which the receiving/emitting section emerges, and a reflective sensor section is provided with engaging receiving pieces on both sides of the window hole. , a test strip receiver that is removably fitted into the engagement receiving piece of the reflective sensor section and has a transparent hole corresponding to the window hole; It is composed of an operating piece that surrounds the receiver and a bent piece that is continuous with the operating piece, and the operating piece has a bending piece that extends slightly inward from the light-transmitting hole in correspondence with the light-transmitting hole of the test strip receiver. a test strip insertion port located in the test strip receptacle, and a plate spring section on the lower surface that engages with and disengages from the protrusion and biases the operating section upwards in the instrument body when the bent section detaches from the lower end of the test strip receiver; The test strip holder is spring-biased inward so as to be slidable relative to the meter body.

In a test strip fixing structure having such a configuration,
Typically, the test strip holder fits into the recess and completely surrounds the reflective sensor section and the outer surface of the test strip receiver. In this state, the lower end of the bent piece of the test strip holder wraps around and overlaps the bottom end of the test strip receiver. Further, the insertion opening portion of the test strip holder is slightly displaced toward the inside of the main body from the light-transmitting hole of the test strip receiver.

Now, when the test strip holder is slid (moved) toward the outside of the instrument body against the biasing spring, the plate spring locking portion on the lower surface of the operation piece will cross over the proximal protrusion, and between the opposing protrusions. It locks in the groove and stops the movement of the test strip holder. At this time, the test strip insertion opening portion is positioned corresponding to the test strip receiver and forms a vertical test strip insertion passage. In this state, by vertically inserting the test strip through the insertion opening, the test strip is smoothly inserted and the reagent surface properly faces the transparent hole of the test strip receiver. Thereafter, when the operating piece is pushed inward into the instrument body, the locking part of the leaf spring passes over the proximal protrusion and comes out of the groove, and the test strip holder returns to its current position.

Thus, the test strip is pressed and fixed to the test strip receiver by the presser rubber of the test strip holder.

Furthermore, when the test strip receiver is removed from the reflective sensor and cleaned, the test strip holder is slid toward the outside of the instrument body in the same manner as described above. At this time,
The plate spring is once locked in the groove of the proximal protrusion, and the movement is stopped. However, by further pulling out the operating piece forcefully outward, the locking part passes over the distal protrusion, and the test strip holder moves further outward. At this time, the bent lower end of the bent piece separates from the lower end of the test strip receiver, and the upward biasing force of the leaf spring acts to rotate the test strip holder in a direction perpendicular to the meter body.

At this point, the reflective sensor section and the test strip receiver come out from the meter body. Thus, the test strip receiver can be easily removed from the reflective sensor section by sliding it upward, making it possible to clean it.

(e) Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a specific embodiment of a blood glucose meter in which the test strip fixing structure of the present invention is implemented. An instrument body 1 equipped with a switch 13, and a reflective sensor section 2 disposed at one end 11 of this instrument body 1.
, a test strip receptacle 3 that is removably fitted into the reflective sensor section 2, and a test strip receptacle 3 that surrounds the reflective sensor section and the test strip receptacle and is slidably and vertically rotatably arranged with respect to the instrument body. It consists of a paper holder 4.

The instrument body 1 has a microcomputer inside,
It is a flat case body that houses an IC and other electronic components, and a reflective sensor section 2 is provided at one end of the case body.

The reflective sensor section 2 has a concave portion 29 formed by slightly inwardly recessing the upper and lower surfaces and the front end surface with respect to the upper and lower surfaces and the front end surface of the instrument body 1, respectively.

A sensor consisting of a receiving/emitting element is disposed inside the housing-like sensor section 2, and a window hole 24 through which the receiving/emitting surface is exposed is opened in the front end surface.

Further, on both sides of the window hole 24, engagement receiving pieces 25 are protrudingly provided to face the window hole surface at a constant distance.
A fitting groove 26 into which the test paper receiving body 3 is slidably fitted is formed between the front end surface and the engagement receiving piece 25. Further, on the base end side of the upper surface of the housing sensor 2, two protrusions 21 and 22 are protruded at a constant interval in the longitudinal direction, and an engagement groove 23 is provided between the protrusions 21 and 22. .

The test strip receiver 3 has a recess 31 in the center for inserting the test strip, a transparent hole 32 corresponding to the window hole 24 is opened in the recess 31, and the reflective sensor 2 is provided on both sides. Engagement pieces 33, 33 that fit into the fitting groove 26 (engagement receiving piece 25) are provided in a protruding manner. Then, this engagement piece 33 and the engagement receiving piece 2
5 are respectively provided with protrusions 34 and 28 for firmly holding the engaged state during sliding engagement.

The test strip holder 4 includes an operating piece 41 having a width corresponding to the concave portion 29, and a bent piece 42 in which the tip of the operating piece 41 is bent to have an L-shaped cross section. A bent lower end portion 49 surrounding the reflective sensor portion 2 and the test strip receiver 3 is set to overlap with the bottom surface of the test strip receiver 3 .

The test strip holder 4 is provided with sliding side plates 43 on both sides thereof, which are fitted into guide grooves 27 formed on both sides of the upper surface of the reflective sensor 2.
Moreover, this test strip holder 4 is attached to the meter body 1 with the coil spring 4 in a state that it is fitted in the guide groove.
4, the main body 1 is always spring-biased inward. Furthermore, the horizontal operation piece portion 4 of this test strip holder 4
1, that is, slightly closer to the inside of the main body 1 than the transparent hole of the test strip receiver 3, there is a test strip insertion opening 4.
5 is open. A leaf spring 46 is attached to the inner proximal end of the operating piece 41 to always bias the test strip holder 4 in the vertical direction (upward) with respect to the instrument body 1. is a lock having a V-shaped cross section that locks in the groove 23 between the protrusions and stops the movement of the test strip holder 4 when the test strip holder 4 slides against the coil spring 44. A section 47 is provided.

Further, a presser rubber plate 48 is attached to the inner surface of the bent piece 42 so as to press the reagent surface 51 of the inserted test strip 5 toward the transparent hole 32 .

In the test strip fixing structure having such a configuration,
Normally, the test strip holder 4 fits into the recess 29 and completely surrounds the reflective sensor section 2 and the test strip receiver 3.

Now, when the operation piece part 41 is slid (moved) toward the outside of the instrument body 1 against the coil spring 44, the locking part 47 of the leaf spring 46 crosses the protrusion 21 on the proximal end side, and the opposing protrusion 22 It is locked in the groove 23 between the
The movement of the test strip holder 4 is stopped (see FIG. 2). In this state, the leaf spring 46 urges the operating piece 41 upward, but the tip (lower bent end 49) of the bent piece 47 is locked to the bottom surface of the test strip receiver 3. This biasing force is absorbed. Here, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the test strip insertion opening 45 is connected to the recess 31 of the test strip receiver
The insertion opening portion 45 and the recessed portion 31 are located correspondingly to each other.
The test strip insertion passage consisting of is a rectangular parallelepiped space. In this state, by vertically inserting the test strip 5 from the insertion opening 45, the test strip 5 is smoothly inserted and the reagent surface 51 properly faces the transparent hole 32 of the receiving section 3. Thereafter, when the operating piece 41 is pushed inward to the instrument body 1, the locking part 47 of the leaf spring 46 passes over the protrusion 21 on the proximal end side and comes out of the groove 23, and the test strip holder 4 returns to its current position. do. Thus, the test strip 5 is attached to the presser rubber 48 of the test strip holder 4.
is pressed against the concave portion 31 of the receiver 3, and the reagent surface 51
are fixed corresponding to the transparent holes 32 (see FIGS. 4 and 8).

Further, when removing the test strip receiver 3 from the reflective sensor section 2 and cleaning it, the test strip holder 4 is slid toward the outside of the meter body in the same manner as described above. At this time, the locking part 47 of the leaf spring 46 is once locked in the groove 23 of the protrusion 21, and the movement is stopped, but by further pulling out the operating piece part 41 forcefully outward,
The locking portion 47 passes over the protrusion 22 on the front end side, and the test strip holder 4 moves further outward. At this time, the tip of the bent piece 42 of the test strip holder 4 (the lower bent end 4
9) is detached from the lower end of the test strip receiver 3.
At this point, the upward biasing force of the leaf spring 46 acts,
The test strip holder 4 is rotated in a direction perpendicular to the meter body 1. In this way, the reflective sensor section 2 and the test strip receiver 3 completely emerge from the meter body 1. Here, by sliding the engagement piece 33 of the test strip receiver 3 from the fitting groove 26 of the reflective sensor 2, the two are disengaged and the test strip receiver 3 can be taken out.

(F) Effects of the device In this device, as described above, a reflective sensor section is arranged in a concave shape at one end of the instrument body, a test strip receiver is detachably attached to this reflective sensor section, and a reflective sensor is installed in the concave section. The test strip holder that surrounds the sensor section and the test strip receiver is arranged so that it can slide and rotate upward.

According to this invention, by simply sliding the test strip holder, the insertion opening portion will stop in proper alignment with the test strip receiver, the test strip insertion passage will open in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped space, and the test strip will be inserted upward. It can be inserted vertically while looking into the insertion passage. Therefore, as before,
Disadvantages such as the test strip being inserted by hand being tilted and not properly aligned with the window hole of the reflection sensor during insertion are eliminated.

Moreover, with this invention, the test strip holder can be rotated perpendicularly to the instrument body, the reflective sensor section and the test strip receiver can be exposed completely in an open state, and the test strip receiver can be rotated perpendicularly to the instrument body. Since it is constructed so that it can be easily removed from the test strip, the test strip fixing structure can be made smaller, and the test strip receiver, which gets dirty when the test strip is inserted, can be cleaned. have an effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a blood glucose meter according to the embodiment, and FIG. Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the state in which the test strip has been inserted, Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the state in which the test strip holder with the test strip inserted has been returned to its current position, and Figure 5 is the same as in Figure 1. Line X of the test strip receiving part shown
-X is a sectional view, FIG. 6 is a plan view taken from arrow A shown in FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a conventional example, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing another conventional example. 1... Instrument body, 2... Reflection sensor section, 3...
Test strip receiving section, 4...test strip holder, 41...operating piece section, 42...bending piece section, 44...coil spring, 45...test strip insertion opening section, 46...plate spring.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A recess is provided in the instrument body and one end of the instrument body, and the upper and lower surfaces and the front end surface are slightly recessed inward from the upper and lower surfaces and the front end surface of the instrument body, respectively, to form a concave part, and a concave part is formed at a constant interval on the upper surface. A reflective sensor part is provided with a plurality of protrusions, the front end surface is provided with a window hole through which the receiving/emitting part emerges, and engaging receiving pieces are provided on both sides of the window hole. a test strip receptacle removably fitted to the engagement receptacle and provided with a transparent hole corresponding to the window hole; and a test strip receptacle provided in the recess,
It is composed of an operation piece that surrounds the reflective sensor section and the test strip receiver, and a bent piece that is continuous with the operation piece. A test strip insertion slot is provided slightly inward from the bottom surface, and when the bent piece engages and disengages from the protrusion and the bent piece separates from the lower end of the test strip receiver, the operating piece is spring-biased upwards in the instrument body. A test strip fixing structure for a biochemistry measuring instrument, comprising a test strip holder that is spring-biased inward so as to be slidable relative to the instrument body.