JPH1183797A - Oxidation/reduction potential measuring apparatus for living being - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a lighter sensor probe for measuring an oxidation/reduction potential with a free shape which enables utilization thereof for carrying by detachably mounting an electrode couple integrated with a support structure on the body of a measuring device with a connector or the like. SOLUTION: A sensor electrode couple is integrally supported by an insulating material such as resin and detachably mounted on the body 10 of a measuring device by a connector or the like. A working electrode 1 comprises platinum or metal plated by platinum and a reference electrode 2 is made up of a pipe- shaped metal such as silver or copper or an alloy thereof. An engagement connector 3 is provided to engage electrodes 1 and 2 with the body 10. A liquid crystal display part 6 displays an oxidation/reduction potential and an electric circuit 7 containing a CPU is integrated into an IC chip. The whole of a sensor section is solidified to be detachably mounted on the body 10. A larger freedom of an electrode structure thereof enables measurement of an oxidation/reduction potential of a juice contained in fresh vegetables, fishes and shells and other edible matters, not confined to a humor of a number of parts of a human body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the structure of an oxidation-reduction potential measuring apparatus for simply measuring the oxidation-reduction potential of a body fluid for the purpose of mainly managing the health and diagnosis of individuals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a measure for knowing the physical condition and health of a human, a method of collecting an individual's body fluid such as urine, sweat, saliva and the like, measuring its oxidation-reduction potential, and measuring a difference from a standard value and a change over time. There is. (For example, Patent Application 8-3 based on priority claim
20662) As a commercially available oxidation-reduction potential measuring device, a metal electrode filled with a reference solution is used as a reference electrode, and platinum, which is insulated and separated from a glass tube or a salt bridge, is used as a working electrode, and this is integrated with the reference electrode. The electrode pair is immersed in an aqueous solution to be measured, and the potential difference between the electrode pairs is measured by a voltmeter connected with a lead wire.

[0003]

If the reference electrode and the working electrode immersed in the aqueous solution and the housing body or the lead wire are of an integral structure, the direction of the electrode device is limited during measurement and the human body is directly This is inconvenient for measuring body fluids, and there is a hygiene problem when measuring an unspecified number of human body fluids with one measuring device. The oxidation-reduction potential of a body fluid is mainly generated by the action of living substances such as enzymes produced in the body. Living materials are fragile depending on environmental conditions,
The original characteristics are not shown in the measurement after a certain period of time after being separated and collected from the living body. Therefore, the problem is to be solved by making the sensor portion in contact with the body fluid a structure that can be separated or detached from the main body or the lead wire.

[0004]

For example, in a sensor electrode pair made of a dissimilar metal such that one electrode is made of platinum and the other electrode is made of zinc, the electrode pair is supported by being insulated by an insulating material such as plastic or glass. In addition, a connector is provided to connect this to the measuring instrument main body or the lead wire. The connector can be either female or male, but if the metal material used is different from the sensor electrode material, it must be watertight. That is,
The metal electrode pair constituting the sensor section of the oxidation-reduction potential measuring device is integrated with a watertight connector. The sensor part made of dissimilar metal integrated with the connector is lightweight and compact, with a thickness of several millimeters or less and an area of several square centimeters or less, and can be handled as one component.

[0005] The shape of the sensor probe which can be attached and detached by the connector can be freely selected depending on the position and shape of the object to be measured. However, when saliva in the mouth of a human body is targeted, the portion with much saliva in the mouth is near the salivary gland. Therefore, by bending the electrode structure at a position several centimeters away from the tip, the metal sensor surely comes into contact with saliva.

When the amount of the body fluid to be measured, for example, the amount of saliva is small and the measured value fluctuates greatly, paper, cloth or nonwoven paper is covered between the electrodes and the entirety, and saliva is impregnated into these inclusions. And then measure. Alternatively, a method is adopted in which saliva is previously attached to a sheet of paper, and the sheet of paper is attached to the electrode pair.

The sensor probe and the main body are covered with a protective case so that the connector is not detached from the main body or the lead wire during carrying. In some cases, the protective case has a hollow cylindrical cap shape, and a reference liquid and a reference metal for calibrating the oxidation-reduction potential are built in the top of the cap in some cases. The reference liquid is contained in a sponge-like water-absorbing material or made into a gel to prevent leakage from the cap.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 1, 1 is a working electrode made of platinum or a metal plated with platinum, 2 is silver in a pipe shape,
A reference electrode made of a metal such as copper, tin, titanium, zinc, or an alloy of these metals, wherein the electrode 1 and the electrode 2 are coaxial or parallel and separated from each other. Reference numeral 3 denotes a connector for fitting the electrode and the main body. 4 is a power switch, 5 is a switch for holding a display value, and 6 is a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying an oxidation-reduction potential in millivolt units.
Reference numeral 7 denotes an electric circuit including a CPU circuit, which is formed into an IC chip. Reference numeral 8 denotes a battery for circuit power. Reference numeral 9 denotes a cover case for protecting the sensor probe units 1, 2, and 3;
To fit. Reference numeral 11 denotes a switch that issues a signal when the case 9 is attached or detached. Reference numeral 12 denotes a switch for resetting the display value to zero or a constant reference value for displaying a reference potential signal from a calibration block 13 made of a calibration reference solution or a reference metal contained in the case 9. Reference numeral 14 denotes a calibration reference solution. FIGS. 2-1 and 2-2 are enlarged views of the connector section 3 and the calibration block 13, respectively. Figure 3-
1 and FIG. 3-2 show the state of attachment of a water-absorbing material coated between coaxial or parallel electrode pairs. FIG. 3-3 shows a state in which water-absorbing paper is detachably attached to the electrodes 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the tip of an electrode probe is bent so that the electrode is efficiently brought into contact with a salivary gland where there is much saliva when the electrode probe is inserted into the mouth to measure the redox potential of saliva in the mouth of a human body. As is evident from the above, it is desirable that the bent portion be 20 to 60 mm from the tip end.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An oxidation-reduction potential measuring apparatus according to the present invention is such that all of the sensor sections are solidified so as to be detachable from a main body section. Because of the high degree of freedom of the electrode structure, it is possible to measure the oxidation-reduction potential of sap contained in edible fresh vegetables, seafood, and the like as well as body fluids in many parts of the human body. FIG.
-1 indicates that the probe is inserted into the flesh of the apple to measure the oxidation-reduction potential of the apple. Fig. 5-
No. 2 indicates that the measurement is possible even if a very small amount of the sample solution is collected in a glass with a small number of samples collected.

[0011]

The oxidation-reduction potential measuring apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
By making the metal electrode pair as a sensor a detachable structure, an interchangeable and lightweight sensor probe for measuring oxidation-reduction potential was realized. As a result, it can be used as a portable device for health management in individuals and homes. Further, repair and replacement for repair are easy and long-term use is possible.
If the probe that comes into contact with body fluids is dedicated to individuals, there is no fear of infection and sanitation is possible. Since the probe shape that matches the measurement site of the human body can be selected, the operation at the time of measurement is simple and the measurement accuracy is improved. The measurement targets include general animals and plants that manage their health and growth status, as well as seafood, vegetables, fruits,
It is possible to measure foods and drinks such as processed foods and drinking water by simply bringing the probe directly into contact with the sample without separating and extracting the sample.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of the present invention.

2 is a partially enlarged view of a connector part of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2-2 is a partially enlarged view of a protective case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure in which a water absorbing paper is attached to a probe unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a probe having a bent tip is in contact with a salivary gland in a mouth and is measured.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method for measuring the oxidation-reduction potential of another measurement sample according to the present invention. FIG. 5-1 shows a method for measuring a fruit, and FIG. 5-2 shows a method for measuring a small amount of a sample.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Working electrode 2 Reference electrode 3 Electrode attaching / detaching part 4 Power on / off switch 5 Hold switch 6 Liquid crystal display part 7 Electric circuit part 8 Power battery 9 Protective cover 10 Main body case 11 Contact switch 12 Reset switch 13 Calibration block 14 Calibration standard solution

Claims (5)

[Claims] A working electrode and a reference electrode made of dissimilar metals constitute a pair of electrodes, and a support structure made of an insulating material such as plastic or glass is formed into an integral shape, and the integrated electrode pair is measured. An oxidation-reduction potential measuring apparatus characterized in that it can be attached to and detached from a vessel main body or a connection cable by a mating connector or the like. 2. A structure in which a working electrode and a reference electrode made of dissimilar metals form a pair of electrodes, and the electrode pair is formed to protrude in a curved shape from a main body portion and to be held in a mouth, and a distance from a tip portion to a curved portion is provided. The oxidation-reduction potential measuring device structure, characterized in that the tip is in contact with the salivary gland in the mouth by setting the length to 20 to 60 mm. 3. An oxidation-reduction potential measuring device structure according to claim 1, wherein the gap between the electrode pairs is filled or covered with a material having an aqueous solution impregnating property, such as cloth or paper. 4. An oxidation-reduction potential measuring device structure, wherein a protective case and a clip are attached to the detachable electrode pair according to claim 1. 5. The oxidation according to claim 4, wherein a reference solution and a reference metal are incorporated in the protective case for calibration of the measured value of the oxidation-reduction potential, and the calibration is automatically performed when the protective case is attached / detached. Reduction potential measurement device