JPH0829300A - Heating apparatus for breathing air sampling tube - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a heating apparatus by which the adsorption of a breathing air component and the condensation of moisture are prevented in a breathing air sampling tube and which enhances the reliability of a breathing air analysis. CONSTITUTION:A sampling tube heating part 1 which heats a breathing air sampling tube into which the breathing air is sucked is constituted of a first heat insulation member 2 in which a groove 4 having a shape to which one side in the radial direction of the breathing-air sampling tube is fitted has been formed and of a second heat-insulation member 3 which is mounted on, and attached to, the first heat insulation member 2 so as to be freely detachable via pieces of Velcro 7, 8, 13, 13 and in which a groove 12 having a shape to which the other side in the radial direction of the breathing air sampling tube is fitted. A heater is buried and installed at the inside of the first heat insulation member 2 so as to surround the groove 4, and a heater is buried and installed at the inside of the second heat insulation member 3 so as to surround the groove 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heating device for an exhalation sampling tube, and more particularly to a heating device for an exhalation sampling tube suitable for preventing adsorption of exhaled air components and condensation of water in the exhalation sampling tube.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-63236, inside a predetermined pressure chamber kept at a pressure higher or lower than atmospheric pressure,
An exhalation sampling device has been proposed in which exhaled breath of a subject is collected in an exhalation sampling bag and the collected exhaled breath is supplied to an exhalation analyzer. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the exhalation sampling apparatus described above. Inside the pressure chamber 100, a mouthpiece 101 into which exhaled air is blown from a subject, a flow meter 102 for measuring the flow rate of exhaled air, and exhalation sampling. The bag (Douglas bag) 103-105 is equipped.

Further, outside the pressure chamber 100 are installed solenoid valves (two-position solenoid on-off valves) 106 to 114 that open when the solenoid is energized and close when the solenoid is not energized. Solenoid valve 1
06 is opened only at the time of exhalation collection, and the solenoid valves 107 to 109
Are installed corresponding to the exhalation collection bags 103 to 105, respectively, and are opened at the time of exhalation collection to the corresponding exhalation collection bag.
The solenoid valve 110 is opened when breath is supplied from any of the breath collection bags 103 to 105 to a breath analyzer (not shown),
The solenoid valve 111 is opened when it is necessary to analyze the air in the pressure chamber 100 as a reference sample during the breath analysis. The solenoid valve 112 opens when the pressure in the bag is constant when purging the exhalation collection bags 103 to 105, and closes when the pressure in the purge line decreases to a constant pressure.

Further, a 3-position 3-port directional switching solenoid valve 11
In No. 5, when the upper position is switched, the vacuum pump 120 driven by the motor 125 introduces the exhaled air into the exhalation analyzer, and when the lower position is switched, the decompression valve 122.
The exhalation is introduced into the exhalation analyzer via. Each of the pressure switches 116 to 118 has a purge line (A-
B), the purge line (BC), and the air supply line (D-E) pressures are detected. The solenoid valve 114 has a purge line (BC).
Open when the pressure of is returned to atmospheric pressure. Differential pressure switch 119
Detects the pressure difference between the air supply conduit (D-E) and the conduit opened to the pressure chamber 100. In the figure, reference numeral 121 is a vacuum pump driven by a motor 126, and reference numerals 123 and 124 are pressure gauges.

In the case of collecting the exhaled air with the above-mentioned exhaled air sampling device, when the inspector operates the operation panel outside the pressure chamber and gives a purge start instruction, the exhaled air sampling bag 103 in the pressure chamber 100 is instructed.
~ 105 purge is performed. Next, the inspector takes the pressure chamber 1
After confirming that the mouthpiece 101 is correctly attached to the subject in 00, when the operation panel is operated and a collection start instruction is issued, the breath of the subject is collected through the mouthpiece 101. Collected in a bag. This is repeated for each subject. Next, when the inspector operates the operation panel to give an instruction to start insufflation, the exhalation in the corresponding exhalation collection bag is supplied to the exhalation analyzer.

On the other hand, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a normal exhalation sampling method. As one exhalation sampling method, the subject 130 blows exhalation into the exhalation sampling bag 131 (Tedlar bag or the like) from the exhalation inlet 132. Then, the inspector connects the exhalation inlet 132 of the exhalation collection bag 131 to the introduction pipe 135 connected to the switching valve 134 inside the exhalation analyzer 133. Next, the inspector drives the exhalation introduction pump 137, which is connected to the switching valve 134 via the suction pipe 136, by a predetermined operation, and the exhalation in the exhalation collection bag 131 is connected to the switching valve 134 in the sample loop. 138. After that, the exhaled breath of the sample loop 138 is introduced into an analysis unit (not shown) inside the exhaled breath analysis device 133 and analyzed.

As another exhalation sampling method, when the subject 130 blows exhalation into the exhalation sampling bag 131 through the exhalation inlet 132, the examiner causes the exhalation inlet 132 of the exhalation sampling bag 131 to inject the syringe 139. To collect a fixed amount of exhaled air. After this, the inspector connects the syringe 139 to the injector 141 of the exhalation analyzer 140, and injects a fixed amount of exhaled air collected in the syringe 139 into the injector 141.
Inject inside. After that, the exhaled air inside the injector 141 is introduced into an analysis unit (not shown) inside the exhaled breath analyzer 140 and analyzed.

[0008]

However, in the prior art shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the temperature of the exhaled breath is the temperature of the subject when the exhaled breath is exhaled into the exhalation collection bag. Level to the inspection environment temperature level,
There was a problem that the components in the exhaled breath adhered to the inner surface of the exhaled breath collection bag, and the water contained in the exhaled breath was condensed.
Therefore, when the exhaled breath collected in the exhaled breath collection bag is introduced into the exhaled breath analyzer and the exhaled breath analysis is performed, the adsorption of the exhaled breath component and the condensation of water in the exhaled breath collection bag affect the reliability of the exhaled breath analysis. There was a problem of affecting.

Further, in the prior art shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the exhaled breath collected in the exhaled breath collecting bag is introduced into the exhalation analyzer through the conduit or the syringe, the exhaled breath is collected from the subject as described above. Similar to the case of collecting exhaled air in a bag, there is a problem that adsorption of exhaled breath components and condensation of exhaled breath moisture occur inside the pipeline or syringe. Therefore, similarly to the above, there is a problem in that the reliability of the breath analysis is affected by the adsorption of the exhaled breath component or the condensation of water in the pipeline or the syringe. Furthermore, in order to collect the exhaled breath from the subject under the exhaled breath collection bag, in order to collect the exhaled breath from the next subject, the exhaled breath component adsorbed in the exhaled breath collection bag is washed several times with clean air or the like. There is also a problem that the cleaning work is complicated.

Since the breath collection bag described above causes adsorption of the breath component and condensation of water on the inner surface of the breath collection bag from its structural aspect, the breath collection bag is replaced with the breath collection bag instead of using the breath collection bag. There is also a method of performing exhalation sampling using a bottomed cylindrical exhalation sampling tube having a blowing port.

However, even in the exhalation sampling tube, when the subject blows the exhalation into the exhalation sampling tube, the exhalation component is adsorbed on the inner wall surface of the exhalation sampling tube and the water content in the exhalation is small, even though the amount is small. Since the phenomenon of condensation occurs, like the above,
There was a problem that the reliability of the breath analysis was affected or the cleaning work was complicated.

[0012]

It is an object of the present invention to improve the inconvenience of the above conventional example, and in particular, to improve the reliability of the breath analysis by preventing the adsorption of the exhaled breath component and the condensation of water in the exhaled breath collection tube. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating device for an exhalation sampling tube that achieves the above.

[0013]

According to the present invention, there is provided a heat retaining body having a heat transfer surface which is in close contact with the periphery of an exhalation sampling tube into which exhaled air is blown and which holds the exhalation sampling tube, and the heat transfer body in the heat retaining body. The heating element provided around the heating surface is provided. This aims to achieve the above-mentioned object.

[0014]

According to the present invention, when the exhaled breath of the subject is sampled in the exhaled breath collection tube, first, the exhaled breath collection tube is attached in a state of being in close contact with the heat transfer surface of the heat retaining body. Next, the heating element provided around the heat transfer surface of the heat insulating body is operated. In this case, when the heating element is composed of a heater, it is operated by energizing from a predetermined power source. Accordingly, the heating element heats the exhalation sampling tube mounted in close contact with the heat transfer surface of the heat retaining body to a predetermined temperature. next,
When the subject blows the exhaled air into the exhalation sampling tube heated to a predetermined temperature, the exhaled air blown into the exhalation sampling tube is maintained at the predetermined temperature. As a result, the phenomenon in which the component contained in the exhaled air is adsorbed on the inner wall surface of the exhaled breath collection tube and the phenomenon in which the moisture in the exhaled air is condensed does not occur.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the overall structure of the breath sampling / analyzing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The breath sampling / analyzing apparatus is used, for example, for breath analysis for clinical examination in the medical field, monitoring of a patient's pathological condition, and industrial field. It can be used in various fields such as measurement of working environment, measurement of indoor environment, drunk driving control and drug control in police field, fire cause investigation in fire fighting field, health management in health industry field.

The breath collection / analysis apparatus comprises a sterilized disposable mouthpiece 21 (hereinafter referred to as mouthpiece 2).
(Abbreviated as 1) is detachably attached to the exhalation sampling tube 22 made of, for example, glass, the sampling tube heating section 1, the exhalation introducing tube 24 made of stainless steel, and the introducing tube heating section 25,
The heating controller 26, the pressure sensor 27, the analysis control unit 28, the breath introduction pump 29, and the breath analyzer main body 3
0 and a data processing unit 31. In the breath sampling / analyzing device, the above-mentioned parts and the whole device are miniaturized so that they can be easily transported, for example, inside a hospital.

To explain this in detail, the exhalation sampling tube 22 is for collecting exhaled breath exhaled from the subject H via the mouthpiece 21, and the mouthpiece mounting portion is of the sampling tube heating section 1. The main body portion is arranged inside the sampling tube heating unit 1 while being arranged so as to project to the outside. The exhalation sampling tube 22 includes a cylindrical exhalation introducing section 22a,
A spherical expiratory reservoir 22b and an expiratory expelling portion 22 having a taper formed so that the inner diameter gradually decreases toward the tip.
It is constructed integrally with c.

Further, a pipe mounting hole 22d to which the breath introducing pipe 24 is connected and a pipe mounting hole 22e to which a pipe 34 (described later) for the pressure sensor 27 is connected are formed in the expiratory water reservoir 22b ( (See FIG. 4). The exhalation exhalation portion 22 c of the exhalation sampling tube 22 has a tip end opening to the outside of the sampling tube heating section 1. In this case, in consideration of hygiene, the mouthpiece 21 is attached to the exhalation sampling tube 22.

The exhaled air discharged from the subject H to the exhalation sampling tube 22 passes through the exhalation introducing section 22a and is partially stored in the exhalation storage section 22b, and the exhalation section 22c heats the sampling tube. 1 is discharged to the outside.
In this case, since the exhaled breath exhaled by the subject H to the exhalation exhalation tube 22 is discharged to the outside of the exhalation tube heating part 1 by the exhalation exhalation operation of the next subject, the exhalation exhalation tube 22 need not be purged. Has become. The sampling tube heating unit 1 is kept at a predetermined temperature under the control of the heating controller 26. The detailed structure of the sampling tube heating unit 1 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The exhalation introducing tube 24 is for introducing a part of the exhalation in the exhalation sampling tube 22 into the sample loop 32 of the exhalation analyzer main body 30 as the exhalation introducing pump 29 is driven. And 10 of the breath analyzer main body 30
A directional valve 33 (hereinafter abbreviated as valve 33) is connected for communication. The introduction pipe heating unit 25 is kept at a predetermined temperature under the control of the heating controller 26. The detailed structure of the introduction tube heating unit 25 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The pressure sensor 27 detects the exhalation pressure of the exhalation from the subject H to the exhalation sampling tube 22 and outputs a control start signal to the analysis control unit 28. The exhalation sampling tube 22 is provided with a pipe 34. Connected to each other. Since the pressure sensor 27 can detect a minute discharge pressure of the exhaled air exhaled from the subject H into the exhaled air sampling tube 22,
A high sensitivity (for example, 0.01 [kgf / cm ² ]) is used.

The analysis control section 28 has a predetermined sequence control program built-in, and outputs a drive signal to the exhalation introduction pump 29 when the control start signal is supplied from the pressure sensor 27, so that the exhalation introduction pump 29 is specified. It is designed to be driven only for hours. By driving the breath introduction pump 29, the breath in the breath collection tube 22 is introduced into the sample loop 33 of the breath analyzer main body 30 via the breath introduction tube 24. That is, the pressure sensor 27 is the subject H.
When the exhalation of the exhaled air into the exhaled breath collecting tube 22 due to is detected, the exhaled breath is introduced from the exhaled breath collecting tube 22 to the sample loop 32 of the exhalation analyzer main body 30 automatically.

The analysis control unit 28 also outputs a gas supply signal to the carrier gas supply mechanism 35 of the breath analyzer 30 based on the sequence control program so that the carrier gas supply mechanism 35 supplies the carrier gas to the sample loop 32. It is like this. Furthermore, the analysis control unit 28
Outputs a switching signal to the actuator 36 attached to the breath analyzer main body 30 based on the sequence control program so that the actuator 36 switches the position of the valve 33 to the breath introduction state or the breath analysis state (described later). There is.

The valve 33 of the main body 30 of the breath analyzer is 1
It has zero ports P1 to P10, the port P1 is connected to the exhalation introducing pipe 24, the port P2 is connected to the exhalation introducing pump 29 via a flow path, and the port P3 and the port P10 are connected to each other. Is connected to the sample loop 32. A carrier gas supply mechanism 35 is connected to each of the ports P4 and P7 via a flow path, a port P5 and a port P9 are connected to each other via a flow path, and an exhaled air is connected to the port P6 via a flow path. The analysis unit 37 is connected.

The actuator 36 attached to the exhalation analyzer main body 30 expels the position of the valve 33 when the exhalation is introduced from the exhalation sampling tube 22 to the sample loop 32 based on the switching signal supplied from the analysis control unit 28. The state is changed to an introduction state (see FIG. 6: a state in which exhalation can be introduced from the exhalation sampling tube 22 to the sample loop 32), and during exhalation analysis in the exhalation analysis unit 37, the position of the valve 33 is in the exhalation analysis state (exhalation analysis from the sample loop 32). Part 3
It is designed to switch to a state in which exhalation can be introduced to 7.

The carrier gas supply mechanism 35 of the breath analyzer main body 30 supplies the carrier gas to the sample loop 32 based on the gas supply signal supplied from the analysis controller 28. As a result, the breath analysis unit 37 analyzes the breath supplied from the sample loop 32 as the carrier gas is supplied to the sample loop 32, and outputs a control signal based on the analysis of the breath to the data processing unit 31. It is like this. The inside of the breath analyzer main body 30 is maintained at a predetermined analysis temperature (for example, about 80 ° C.) by a heating mechanism (not shown). The data processing unit 31 is configured to perform predetermined breath analysis data processing based on the control signal output from the breath analysis unit 37.

Next, the structure of the above-mentioned sampling tube heating unit 1 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The sampling tube heating unit 1 can be freely attached and detached via a velcro (registered trademark) described later. The first heat insulating member 2 and the second heat insulating member 3 are provided. The first heat retaining member 2 and the second heat retaining member 3 have the same shape except for the portion where the magic tape described later is provided. The exhalation sampling tube 22 can be replaced by making the first and second heat insulating members 2 and 3 constituting the sampling tube heating unit 1 detachable.

More specifically, the first heat insulating member 2 is, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped heat insulating material covered with a heat resistant cloth. On the surface of the first heat insulating member 2 facing the second heat insulating member 3 (the lower surface in FIG. 1), a groove 4 having a shape in which one side of the exhalation sampling tube 22 in the radial direction is fitted is formed. . Further, heat-resistant cloth-made magic tape attaching members 5 and 6 are sewn on both side surfaces of the first heat retaining member 2, and the magic tape 7 and the magic tape 7 are attached to inner portions of the magic tape attaching members 5 and 6, respectively. 8 are attached respectively.

Further, a heater 9 is embedded inside the first heat insulating member 2 so as to surround the formation portion of the groove 4 (see FIG. 3A). The heater 9 cooperates with a heater 15, which will be described later, to collect a sampling tube heating section 1 including the first and second heat insulating members 2 and 3 and an exhalation sampling tube 22 attached to the sampling tube heating section 1.
For heating. Further, the first heat retaining member 2 is equipped with power cables 10 and 11 to which connectors 10a and 11a are attached, respectively.
Reference numeral 11 is connected to the heater 9.

The second heat insulating member 3 is, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped heat insulating material covered with a cloth having heat resistance. Second
On the surface (upper surface in FIG. 1) of the heat retaining member 3 facing the first heat retaining member 2, a groove 12 having a shape in which the other side in the radial direction of the exhalation sampling tube 22 is fitted is formed. Further, on both side surfaces of the second heat retaining member 3, at positions corresponding to the magic tapes 7 and 8 of the first heat retaining member 2, the magic tapes 13 and 1 that are detachably attached to the magic tapes 7 and 8 concerned.
4 are installed. The surfaces of the groove 4 and the groove 12 described above correspond to the heat transfer surface in the claims.

Further, inside the second heat insulating member 3, the groove 12 is formed.
The heater 15 is embedded so as to surround the formation location of the (see FIG. 3B). The heater 15 is the heater 9 described above.
In order to keep the temperature of the entire sampling tube heating unit 1 composed of the first and second heat insulating members 2 and 3 in cooperation with the above. Also, the second
The heat insulating member 3 is equipped with power cables 16 and 17 to which connectors 16 a and 17 a are respectively attached, and the power cables 16 and 17 are connected to the heater 15.

Further, in the second heat insulating member 3, the power source cables 18 and 19 connected to the power source 40 and the K thermocouple 2 for measuring the heater temperature connected to the heating controller 26 are connected.
0 and 0 are connected to each other. Heater 1 of the second heat insulating member 3
5 includes a power supply 40 (see FIG. 2) to a power cable 18,
The heater 9 of the first heat insulating member 2 is energized via 19, and the power source 40 supplies power cables 18, 19, power cables 16, 17, connectors 16a, 17a, 10a, 11 to the heater 9 of the first heat insulating member 2.
a, power is supplied through the power cables 10 and 11. Further, the heating controller 26 controls the temperatures of the heaters 9 and 15 based on the heater temperature measurement value by the K thermocouple 20. 1 and 2, a hole for connecting the exhalation introducing pipe 24 and a pipe 3 for the pressure sensor.
Illustration of holes for four connections is omitted.

When the exhalation sampling tube 22 is attached to the sampling tube heating section 1 and the exhalation sampling tube 22 is heated, first, the groove 12 of the second heat insulating member 3 constituting the sampling tube heating section 1 is formed.
After fitting the other side in the radial direction of the exhalation sampling tube 22 (see FIG. 4) to the one side in the radial direction of the exhalation sampling tube 22, the first heat retaining member 2 constituting the sampling tube heating unit 1 is attached. By fitting the groove 4, the exhalation sampling tube 22 is sandwiched between the first and second heat retaining members 2 and 3. Next, the velcro tapes 7 and 8 of the velcro tape attaching members 5 and 6 of the first heat retaining member 2 and the velcro tapes 13 and 14 of the second heat retaining member 3 are adhered to the sampling tube heating unit 1 for exhalation. The sampling tube 22 is attached (see FIG. 2).

Further, the power cable 1 of the first heat insulating member 2
0 and 11 connectors 10a and 11a and the second heat insulating member 3
The power cables 16 and 17 are connected to the connectors 16a and 17a, respectively. Then, from the power source 40 to the heaters 9 and 15
The sampling tube heating part 1 is kept at a predetermined temperature (for example, about 50 ° C.) by energizing. This prevents adsorption of the exhaled breath component and condensation of water on the inner wall surface of the exhaled breath sampling tube 22 mounted on the sampling tube heating unit 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the construction of the exhalation introduction tube 24 and the introduction tube heating section 25. A heater 41, a heat insulating material 42, and holding members 43, 44 are provided on the outer peripheral portion of the exhalation introduction tube 24.
Is equipped with an introduction tube heating unit 25. More specifically, a heater 41 is wound around the outer peripheral portion of the exhalation introduction tube 24. The heater 41 is for keeping the temperature of the entire introduction tube heating unit 25 warm. The outer peripheral portion of the heater 41 is covered with a heat insulating material 42 made of, for example, glass wool, and both ends of the heat insulating material 42 are held by holding members 43 and 44 so as not to come apart.

Further, the heater 41 has the above-mentioned power source 40.
Power cable 45 connected to (see FIGS. 2 and 6)
And the K thermocouple 46 for measuring the heater temperature, which is connected to the heating controller 26 described above. The heating controller 26 controls the temperature of the heater 41 based on the measured value of the heater temperature by the K thermocouple 46. By energizing the heater 41 from the power source 40 via the power cable 45, the introduction tube heating unit 25 is kept warm at a predetermined temperature (for example, about 50 ° C.).
This prevents adsorption of the exhaled breath component and condensation of water on the inner wall surface of the exhaled breath introduction tube 24 attached to the introduction tube heating unit 25.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment constructed as described above will be described.

When the inspector turns on the power source 40 of the breath sampling / analyzing device, the heaters 9, 1 of the sampling tube heating unit 1 are turned on from the power source 40.
5 is energized and the heater 41 of the introduction pipe heating unit 25
Is energized. As a result, the exhalation sampling tube 22 is heated by the heaters 9 and 15, and the exhalation introducing tube 24 is heated by the heater 41. The heating controller 26 controls the sampling tube heating unit 1 to be kept at a predetermined temperature (for example, about 50 degrees C) based on the heater temperature measured value by the K thermocouple 20, and the heater temperature measured value by the K thermocouple 46 is controlled. Based on this, the introduction pipe heating unit 25 is controlled so as to be kept at a predetermined temperature (for example, about 50 ° C.).

After that, when the subject H holds the mouthpiece 21 attached to the exhalation sampling tube 22 and expels the exhaled air according to the instruction of the exhalation sampling from the inspector, the exhaled exhaled gas is discharged from the exhalation sampling tube 22. A part thereof is stored in the exhalation storing section 22b through the exhalation introducing section 22a, and the remaining exhalation is discharged to the outside through the exhalation discharging section 22c. Pressure sensor 2
When 7 detects the discharge pressure of the exhaled air in the exhalation sampling tube 22 and outputs a control start signal to the analysis control unit 28, the analysis control unit 28 causes the exhalation introduction pump 29 and the actuator 3 to operate.
As a result of driving and controlling 6, the expiratory reservoir 2 of the expiratory sampling tube 22
The exhalation of 2b is automatically introduced into the sample loop 32 of the exhalation analyzer main body 30 through the exhalation introducing tube 24, and a predetermined amount is filled in the sample loop 32.

After that, the analysis control unit 28 drives and controls the carrier gas supply mechanism 35, and as a result, the sample loop 32 is obtained.
The exhaled air inside the exhaled breath analysis unit 37 is supplied with the supply of carrier gas from the carrier gas supply mechanism 35 to the sample loop 32.
Supplied to Accordingly, the breath analysis unit 37 analyzes the breath and outputs a control signal based on the breath analysis to the data processing unit 31. As a result, the data processing unit 31
Performs breath analysis data processing.

By the way, in this embodiment, the sampling tube heating unit 1 is used.
Since the sampling tube heating part 1 is kept at a predetermined temperature (for example, about 50 ° C.) by the heaters 9 and 15 of the
When exhaled air is exhaled from the exhalation exhalation pipe 22 from the exhaled air, the exhaled air temperature is maintained at a constant temperature without lowering. As a result, it is possible to prevent adsorption of the exhalation component and condensation of water on the inner wall surface of the exhalation sampling tube 22 mounted on the sampling tube heating unit 1. Therefore, when the exhaled breath collected by the exhaled breath collection tube 22 is introduced into the exhaled breath analyzer main body 30 to perform the exhaled breath analysis, the reliability of the exhaled breath analysis can be improved. Further, when the next subject exhales into the exhalation sampling tube 22, it is possible to prevent a problem that the exhalation component and water of the previous subject exhale into the exhalation of the subject. Furthermore, the exhalation sampling tube 2
2 No need for complicated cleaning work inside.

Further, in the present embodiment, the heater 41 of the introduction tube heating section 25 keeps the introduction tube heating section 25 at a predetermined temperature (for example, about 50 ° C.), so the exhalation sampling tube 2
When the exhalation is introduced from the exhalation reservoir 22b of No. 2 to the exhalation introducing tube 24, the temperature of the exhalation is maintained at a constant temperature. As a result, the exhalation introduction tube 24 attached to the introduction tube heating unit 25
It is possible to prevent adsorption of exhaled air components and condensation of water on the inner wall surface of the. Therefore, when the exhalation in the exhalation sampling tube 22 is introduced into the exhalation analyzer main body 30 through the exhalation introducing tube 24 to perform exhalation analysis, the reliability of the exhalation analysis can be improved. Further, when the exhalation exhaled by the exhalation sampling tube 22 of the next subject is introduced into the exhalation introduction tube 24, the exhalation component and water of the previous exhalation of the subject are prevented from mixing in the exhalation of the subject. You can also do it. Furthermore, the complicated cleaning work inside the exhalation introduction tube 24 is unnecessary.

After the exhalation sampling and analyzing apparatus described above completes the exhalation sampling and analysis, for example, when the exhalation sampling tube 22 mounted on the sampling tube heating unit 1 is removed and replaced with another exhalation sampling tube. First, the velcro tapes 7 and 8 of the first heat retaining member 2 forming the sampling tube heating unit 1 are peeled off from the velcro tapes 13 and 14 of the second heat retaining member 3 and are placed on the upper surface of the second heat retaining member 3. If the heat insulation member 2 is removed, the second
The exhalation sampling tube 22 fitted in the groove 12 of the heat retaining member 3 can be removed.

Next, after placing another exhalation sampling tube in the groove 12 of the second heat retaining member 3 which constitutes the sampling tube heating section 1, the first heat retaining member 2 is placed on the upper surface of the second heat retaining member 3, The exhalation sampling tube 22 is held between the first and second heat insulating members 2 and 3. After this, the velcro tape mounting members 5, 6 of the first heat insulating member 2
If the velcro tapes 7 and 8 of No. 2 and the velcro tapes 13 and 14 of the second heat insulating member 3 are adhered to each other, the sampling tube heating unit 1
The installation of another exhalation sampling tube for the is completed. That is, the exhalation sampling tube for the sampling tube heating unit 1 can be easily replaced.

Here, in this embodiment, the spatial cross-sectional shape of the exhalation sampling tube 22 is circular, but the spatial cross-sectional shape may be polygonal such as quadrangular. In this case, the shapes of the grooves 4 and 12 of the sampling tube heating unit 1 may be such that the polygonal exhalation sampling tube is fitted. Further, in the present embodiment, the inside of the sampling tube heating unit 1 has the structure shown in FIG. 3, but the outside portions of the heaters 9 and 15 inside the sampling tube heating unit 1 may be hollow.

Further, in the present embodiment, the sampling tube heating part 1 is divided into two parts, but for example, the exhalation sampling tube has a cylindrical shape having an inner diameter such that the exhalation sampling tube gradually becomes smaller from the expiratory inlet to the expiratory outlet. In this case, the sampling tube heating part 1 is not divided into two parts, and the sampling tube heating part 1 is provided with a through hole along the longitudinal direction thereof into which the cylindrical exhalation sampling tube is fitted. A heater may be embedded in the periphery of the.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A configuration including a heat retaining body having a heat transfer surface that is in close contact with the periphery of an exhalation sampling tube into which exhaled air is blown and holds the exhalation sampling tube, and a heating body provided around the heat transfer surface of the heat retaining body. Therefore, when the subject blows the exhalation into the exhalation sampling tube, the exhalation inside the exhalation sampling tube can be maintained at a predetermined temperature by the heating element, which allows the components in the exhalation to It is possible to prevent the phenomenon of adsorption on the wall surface and the phenomenon of condensation of the water contained in the exhaled breath. As a result, the exhaled breath collected by the exhaled breath sampling tube is sent to the specified exhaled breath analyzer as it is and the exhaled breath analysis is performed. It becomes possible to
Therefore, there is an effect that the reliability of the breath analysis can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a mounting state of a first heat insulating member and a second heat insulating member that constitute a sampling tube heating unit in the present embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an exhalation sampling tube is attached to a sampling tube heating unit in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 (a) is an explanatory view showing a sectional structure of a first heat retaining member in the present embodiment with a part omitted, and FIG. 3 (b) shows a sectional structure of a second heat retaining member in the present embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which abbreviate | omitted one part.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an exhalation sampling tube in the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an exhalation introduction tube and an introduction tube heating section in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an exhalation sampling / analyzing device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of an exhalation sampling device in a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an exhalation collection method using an exhalation collection bag and a method of introducing exhalation in the exhalation collection bag into an exhalation analyzer in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sampling tube heating part 2 1st heat insulation member as a heat insulation main body 3 2nd heat insulation member as a heat insulation main body 4,12 Groove 9,15 Heater 22 as a heating body 22 Breath collection tube

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A heat retaining body provided with a heat transfer surface that is in close contact with the periphery of an exhalation sampling tube into which exhaled air is blown and holds the exhalation sampling tube, and is provided around the heat transfer surface of the heat retaining body. A heating device for an exhalation sampling tube, comprising: a heating body.