Measurement device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a measurement device for detecting a specimen using a sheet-like sensor, the measurement device being provided with: a main body part in which an insertion opening into which the sensor is inserted is formed, and in which a measurement part for performing a measurement relating to the specimen is provided; and a movable part configured so as to be movable with respect to the main body part in a direction along a sheet surface of the sensor in a state of being inserted into the insertion port, and so as to be movable between a storage position and an expanded position in which an area of the main body part in a plan view is larger than when the main body part is disposed in the storage position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a measuring device that measures a sample attached to a sensor in a state where the sensor is inserted. Background Art

[0002] A measuring device is widely used that inserts a disposable sheet sensor into the measuring device and measures the components of a sample attached to the sensor, etc. In such a measuring device, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-232170 and Japanese Patent No. 6455425, a structure is adopted in which the sensor is inserted from the front end (the side where the sample is not dropped) to the insertion port.

[0003] However, a miniaturized measuring device is small and difficult to hold, and sometimes it is difficult to insert a sensor.

[0004] The present disclosure takes the above-mentioned facts into consideration, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a measuring device that is easy to hold during use. Summary of the invention

[0005] A measuring device of the first mode of the present disclosure uses a sheet-shaped sensor to measure a specimen, wherein the measuring device comprises: a main body, which is formed with an insertion port for inserting the sensor, and has a measuring part inside which performs measurements related to the specimen; and a movable part, which is configured to be able to move relative to the main body in a direction along the sheet surface of the sensor in a state of being inserted into the insertion port, and is able to move between a storage position and an extended position in which the area of ​​the main body in a plan view is increased compared to when it is configured in the storage position.

[0006] A measuring device according to a second aspect is the measuring device according to the first aspect, wherein the movable portion slides in a direction along an insertion direction of the sensor into the insertion port and moves between the accommodated position and the extended position.

[0007] A measuring device according to a third aspect is the measuring device according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein the movable portion covers the insertion guide portion when arranged in the stored position, and exposes the insertion guide portion when arranged in the extended position.

[0008] A measuring device according to a fourth aspect is the measuring device according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising an ejection mechanism that ejects the sensor to the outside of the main body in conjunction with movement of the movable portion from the extended position to the stored position.

[0009] A fifth aspect of the measuring device is the measuring device of any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the movable portion includes an opening and closing member that covers the insertion port when the movable portion is located at the stored position and opens the insertion port when the movable portion is located at the extended position.

[0010] Effects of the Invention

[0011] According to the measuring device of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a measuring device that is easy to hold. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail based on the following drawings, in which:

[0013] Figure 1 It is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of the measurement device and the sensor according to the first embodiment (before the sensor is inserted).

[0014] Figure 2A It is a top view schematically showing the general structure of the sensor.

[0015] Figure 2B Observed from direction II Figure 2A A cross-sectional view of the upstream portion of the vehicle.

[0016] Figure 3 It is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of the measurement device and the sensor according to the first embodiment (after the sensor is inserted).

[0017] Figure 4 It is a plan view showing the upper surface of the main body and the lower surface of the movable part of the measuring device according to the first embodiment.

[0018] Figure 5 It is a side cross-sectional view of the movable portion of the measuring device according to the first embodiment.

[0019] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of line 6-6.

[0020] Figure 7 yes Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of line 7-7.

[0021] Figure 8 It is a plan view of a state where the movable portion of the measuring device according to the first embodiment is arranged in the extended position.

[0022] Fig. 9 It is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of a measuring device and a sensor according to a modification of the first embodiment (after the sensor is inserted).

[0023] Fig.10It is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state in which the movable portion of the measuring device according to the second embodiment is arranged at the storage position.

[0024] Fig.11 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state in which the movable portion of the measuring device according to the second embodiment is arranged in the extended position.

[0025] Fig.12 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state in which the movable portion of the measuring device according to the third embodiment is arranged at the storage position.

[0026] Fig.13 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state in which the movable portion of the measuring device according to the third embodiment is arranged in the extended position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The measuring device of this embodiment comprises: a main body portion, which is formed with an insertion port for inserting the sensor and has a measuring portion inside for performing measurements related to the specimen; and a movable portion, which constitutes a part of the main body portion and is configured to be movable relative to the main body portion in a direction along the sheet surface of the sensor in a state of being inserted into the insertion port, and is capable of moving between a storage position and an extended position in which the area of ​​the main body portion when viewed from above is larger than when it is configured in the storage position.

[0028] The specimen here is, for example, a body fluid collected from a living body, and specifically, blood and urine are examples thereof. The measurement is, for example, the measurement of components contained in the specimen, and when the specimen is blood, the measurement of blood sugar, hemoglobin, or HbA1c, etc., can be given, and when the specimen is urine, the measurement of urine sugar, bilirubin, or urine protein, etc. can be given.

[0029] The measuring device comprises a main body and a movable part. The main body is formed with an insertion port for inserting a sensor, and a measuring part for performing a measurement related to the specimen is provided inside. The movable part is configured to be movable between a storage position and an extended position in which the area of ​​the main body in a plan view is larger than when it is arranged in the storage position relative to the main body. At this time, the movable part moves in the direction of the sheet surface of the sensor in a state of being inserted into the insertion port.

[0030] By moving the movable portion from the stored position to the expanded position, the area of ​​the main body portion in a plan view can be expanded, making it easier to hold the measurement device.

[0031] The movable portion may be configured to slide in an insertion direction of the sensor into the insertion port and to move between the accommodated position and the extended position.

[0032] The main body is formed with an insertion guide portion for guiding the sensor toward the insertion port, and the movable portion may cover the insertion guide portion when arranged at the storage position and expose the insertion guide portion when arranged at the extended position.

[0033] Preferably, there is an ejection mechanism that ejects the sensor out of the main body in conjunction with the movement of the movable part from the expanded position to the stored position. By having an ejector, the user can easily eject the sensor out of the main body without directly touching the sensor.

[0034] Preferably, the movable part has an opening and closing member, which covers the insertion port when the movable part is arranged in the storage position and opens the insertion port when the movable part is arranged in the extended position. By having the opening and closing member, it is possible to suppress the entry of foreign matter such as dust from the insertion port when the sensor is not inserted.

[0035] <First Embodiment>

[0036] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in each of the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same or equivalent components and parts. In addition, for the sake of convenience of description, the dimensional ratios of the drawings are exaggerated and sometimes differ from the actual ratios.

[0037] Figure 1 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the measuring device 10A and the sensor 12 involved in this embodiment. When the sheet-like sensor 12 is inserted into the measuring device 10A, for example, when the specimen is the patient's blood, it can be used as a measuring system such as a portable blood sugar measuring device or a blood sugar level meter such as a self-testing blood sugar meter. The insertion direction of the sensor 12 into the measuring device 10A is shown by arrow X. In addition, in the direction along the arrow X, the direction of the arrow X and the opposite direction are the directions along the insertion direction of the sensor 12. In this embodiment, as an example, an example in which the measuring device 10A is set as a portable blood sugar level meter is described.

[0038] The sensor 12 is in the form of a long sheet and has a pair of sheet surfaces 14, a pair of sensor side surfaces 16, and a pair of sensor end surfaces 18. The sheet surfaces 14 are the front surface 14A and the back surface 14B of the sheet-shaped sensor 12. The sensor side surfaces 16 are the surfaces along the length direction formed at both ends in the width direction of the sensor 12. The sensor end surfaces 18 are the surfaces along the width direction formed at both ends in the length direction of the sensor 12.

[0039] like Figure 2A , Figure 2BAs shown, the sensor 12 has an electrode layer formed on a substrate 12h formed of synthetic resin (plastic), for example, and the electrode layer is formed of a metal material such as gold (Au) or a carbon material such as carbon. A spacer 12i having a rectangular cutout portion as a covering area is stacked on the electrode layer, and a cover 12j made of synthetic resin and having an air hole 12e is further stacked on the spacer 12i. By stacking the substrate 12h, the spacer 12i, and the cover 12j, a space having a sample supply port 12d formed by the cutout portion of the spacer 12i is formed, and the space becomes the flow path 12a. The sample supply port 12d is formed at the upstream end (the rear end after insertion) of the sensor 12, and the air hole 12e is formed near the downstream end of the flow path 12a. The downstream end (the front end after insertion) of the sensor 12 becomes a region where the electrode is exposed without being covered by the cover 12j.

[0040] In the exposed portion, the electrode layer is divided into a plurality of electrodes, each of which is connected to a terminal of a connector 52 provided in a later-described measuring section 50. In addition, the area on the downstream end side of the sensor 12 to be inserted into a later-described measuring insertion port 38 of the measuring device 10A is an insertion area 12f, which includes the lower end portion of the cover 12j in addition to the measuring area 12c.

[0041] The measuring device 10A includes a main body 30. The main body 30 includes a main body 20 and a movable part 32. The main body 20 is roughly rectangular in a plan view, and the corners are arc-shaped. The outer shape of the main body 20 is formed by a shell, and includes an upper surface portion 22, a bottom surface portion 24, and a side surface portion 26. The length direction of the main body 20 is indicated by the symbol L, and the width direction is indicated by the symbol W. An insertion guide portion 28 is formed on one side of the length direction L of the main body 20. The insertion guide portion 28 is formed in a concave shape that opens at the upper surface portion 22 and the side surface portion 26, and an insertion port 28A is formed on the inner side when viewed from the side surface portion 26. The bottom wall of the insertion port 28A is flush with the bottom surface of the insertion guide portion 28, and the sensor 12 can be inserted into the insertion port 28A with the sheet surface 14 facing in the direction along the upper surface portion 22.

[0042] like Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, a connector 52 and a measuring unit 50 are provided inside the main body 20. The connector 52 is formed at a position continuous from the insertion port 28A. In the connector 52, a plurality of terminals (not shown) are provided at positions that can be connected to the electrodes on the surface 14A of the sensor 12. Each terminal of the connector 52 is connected to each part of the measuring unit 50.

[0043] The insertion port 28A is formed in a shape along the outer shape of the sensor 12 when viewed from the insertion direction X, and is formed to be slightly larger than the sensor 12. By inserting the entire insertion area 12f of the sensor 12 closer to the connector 52 than the measurement insertion port 38, the electrodes of the sensor 12 are electrically connected to the terminals of the connector 52. In this embodiment, the orientation of the connector 52 is oriented toward Figure 1 The lower side is oriented so that the electrodes on the surface 14A of the sensor 12 are arranged and connected facing upward.

[0044] The measuring unit 50 is provided with a voltage applicator (not shown), which supplies a predetermined voltage signal to the sensor 12, receives a current signal representing the measurement result from the sensor 12 and performs A / D conversion. In addition, the measuring unit 50 is provided with a control unit (not shown), which is composed of, for example, a microprocessor and controls each part of the measuring device 10A. The control unit supplies a predetermined voltage signal from the voltage applicator to the sensor 12, and generates measurement data representing the measurement value based on the current value from the sensor 12 corresponding to the supply of the voltage signal. The measurement data obtained by the measuring unit 50 is recorded in a recording unit (not shown). The measurement data obtained by the control unit is recorded in the recording unit in association with the measurement time or the patient ID, etc.

[0045] The movable portion 32 is formed in a shape substantially the same as the main body 20 in a plan view, and is thinner than the main body 20. The movable portion 32 is configured to be able to Figure 1 The storage position P1 shown is Figure 3 That is, the movable portion 32 is configured to be movable in the direction along the insertion direction X. When the movable portion 32 is arranged in the storage position P1, it overlaps the main body 20 as a whole when viewed from above with respect to the main body 20. At this time, the area of ​​the main body 30 when viewed from above is the same as the area of ​​the movable portion 32 and the main body 20.

[0046] When the movable portion 32 slides on the upper surface portion 22 of the main body 20 along the insertion direction X and moves to the extended position P2, a portion of the main body 20 does not overlap with the main body 20 in a plan view, and the area of ​​the main body 30 in a plan view is larger than when it is arranged in the storage position P1. In addition, when the movable portion 32 is arranged in the storage position P1, the insertion guide portion 28 is covered by the movable portion 32, and when the movable portion 32 is arranged in the extended position P2, the insertion guide portion 28 is exposed, and the user can visually confirm it.

[0047] exist Figure 4 , in a state where the main body 30 is decomposed into the main body 20 and the movable portion 32 , the upper surface portion 22 of the main body 20 and the lower surface 34 of the movable portion 32 are shown in a plan view.

[0048] The upper surface 22 of the main body 20 is formed with three grooves 25A, 25B, and 25C along the insertion direction X. The grooves 25A, 25B, and 25C are formed on the side of the upper surface 22 away from the insertion guide 28. The engaging portion 27 is engaged with the groove 25B in the middle. Figure 6 As shown, the engaging portion 27 includes a large protrusion 27A disposed on the outside of the main body 20 across the groove 25B, a small protrusion 27B disposed on the inside of the main body 20, and a neck 27C connecting the large protrusion 27A and the small protrusion 27B and disposed in the groove 25B. The widths of the large protrusion 27A and the small protrusion 27B are larger than the groove width of the groove 25B, and the width of the neck 27C is smaller than the groove width of the groove 25B. The engaging portion 27 can move along the groove 25B, and the large protrusion 27A is engaged with the engaging recess 35 described later, and is fixed to the movable portion 32.

[0049] The lower surface 34 of the movable portion 32 is formed with an engagement recess 35 and a pair of engagement claws 37. The engagement recess 35 is formed at the center of the movable portion 32 in the width direction W and the insertion direction X. The engagement portion 27 is fitted into the engagement recess 35. The pair of engagement claws 37 are formed on both sides of the engagement recess 35 in the width direction W. Figure 5 As shown, each engagement claw 37 has a protrusion 37A protruding in the thickness direction and a claw 37B extending from the front end of the protrusion 37A in the direction opposite to the insertion guide 28 in the insertion direction X. The pair of engagement claws 37 are respectively engaged with the grooves 25A and 25C and can move along the grooves 25A and 25C.

[0050] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0051] When using the measuring device 10A, the user slides the movable portion 32 in the insertion direction X on the side opposite to the insertion guide portion 28 relative to the main body 20 and moves it from the storage position P1 to the extended position P2. At this time, the engaging portion 27 engaged with the groove 25B and the engaging claw 37 engaged with the grooves 25A and 25C move along the grooves 25A, 25B, and 25C and reach the ends of the grooves, respectively, thereby functioning as stoppers. Through this movement, the insertion guide portion 28 and a portion of the upper surface portion 22 of the main body 20 are exposed. When viewed from above, the length of the main body 30 in the longitudinal direction L becomes longer, and the area viewed from above is larger than when the movable portion 32 is arranged in the storage position P1, so that it becomes easier for the user to hold the main body 30.

[0052] The user inserts the sensor 12 from the front end side along the bottom surface of the insertion guide 28 to the insertion port 28A while holding the main body 30, with the surface 14A of the sensor 12 facing upward. And the entire insertion region 12f is arranged closer to the connector 52 side than the insertion port 28A. In this way, the electrodes of the measurement region 12c can be connected to the terminals of the connector 52.

[0053] In addition, in the present embodiment, the movable portion 32 is moved from the storage position P1 to the extended position P2 by sliding relative to the main body 20 in the insertion direction X, but it may be moved by other mechanisms. For example, a pin serving as a rotation center may be fixed to the upper surface portion 22 of the main body 20, and the movable portion 32 may be moved by rotating around the pin.

[0054] In addition, the following functions may be incorporated in conjunction with the movement of the movable portion 32 between the storage position P1 and the extended position P2. For example, the power on / off of the measuring device 10A and the button operation may be switched (the power is turned off and the button is inoperable in the storage position P1, and the power is turned on and the button is operable in the extended position P2). In addition, the function of changing the communication method in the measuring device 10A may be incorporated (the communication is disabled, the pairing is not accepted, and the radio wave strength remains unchanged in the storage position P1, and the communication is enabled, the pairing is accepted, and the radio wave strength is variable in the extended position P2). In addition, a locking mechanism for the operation of the measuring device 10A may be provided, which is locked in the storage position P1 and unlocked in the extended position P2.

[0055] In addition, if Fig. 9 As shown, a display D and a button B may be provided on the upper surface portion 22 of the main body 20, in a portion exposed when the movable portion 32 is arranged in the extended position P2. In this case, the display of the display D can be switched on / off and the button B can be switched on or off in conjunction with the movement of the movable portion 32 between the stored position P1 and the extended position P2.

[0056] <Second Embodiment>

[0057] Next, a measurement device 10B according to the second embodiment will be described. The measurement device 10B is different from the measurement device 10A according to the first embodiment in that an opening and closing member 40 is provided. The other structures are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0058] like Fig.10 As shown, the measuring device 10B has a recess 42 formed on the lower surface of the movable portion 32. The recess 42 is formed in a portion corresponding to the insertion guide 28 of the main body 20. The recess 42 is formed in a shape capable of accommodating an opening and closing member 40 described later.

[0059] The opening and closing member 40 is formed into a rectangular plate that covers the insertion port 28A, and one end of the short side is mounted on the inner side (in the longitudinal direction L (insertion direction X) of the recess 42 in a manner that can rotate around an axis member 40A extending in the width direction W. Fig.10 When the movable portion 32 is disposed at the storage position P1, the opening and closing member 40 is disposed at Fig.10The closed position P3 shown closes the insertion opening 28A.

[0060] When the movable part 32 moves from the storage position P1 to the expansion position P2, the opening and closing member 40 contacts the upper surface portion 22 disposed above the insertion port 28A and is stored in the recessed portion 42 while rotating around the shaft member 40A. Fig.11 The open position P4 shown opens the insertion port 28A.

[0061] The measuring device 10B of this embodiment disposes the opening and closing member 40 from the closed position P3 to the open position P4 in conjunction with the movement of the movable portion 32 from the stored position P1 to the extended position P2, thereby opening the insertion port 28A. Therefore, when the measuring device 10B is not in use, foreign matter such as dust can be prevented from entering through the insertion port 28A, and when the measuring device 10B is in use, the insertion port 28A can be easily opened by sliding the movable portion 32.

[0062] <Third Embodiment>

[0063] Next, a measurement device 10C according to the third embodiment will be described. The measurement device 10C is different from the measurement device 10A according to the first embodiment in that an ejector 44 is provided. The other structures are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0064] like Fig.12 As shown in the figure, the measuring device 10C has an ejector 44 mounted on the lower surface of the small protrusion 27B of the engaging portion 27. The ejector 44 extends from the lower surface of the small protrusion 27B toward the insertion port 28A, and has a pressing portion 44A formed at the front end. The pressing portion 44A is formed in a shape that covers the insertion port 28A from the inside when viewed from the opening side of the insertion port 28A.

[0065] When the movable portion 32 is disposed at the storage position P1, the ejector 44 is disposed at Fig.12 The closed position P5 shown closes the insertion opening 28A.

[0066] When the movable portion 32 moves from the stored position P1 to the expanded position P2, the ejector 44 moves from the insertion port 28A to the inner side ( Fig.12 ) and configured on Fig.13 The opening position P6 shown in the figure opens the insertion port 28A. In this state, the sensor 12 can be inserted from the insertion port 28A and connected to the connector 52.

[0067] After the measurement is completed, when the movable portion 32 is moved from the extended position P2 to the stored position P1, the ejector 44 moves from the open position P6 to the closed position P5, and the front end of the sensor 12 is pressed by the pressing portion 44A of the ejector 44 and ejected from the insertion port 28A.

[0068] The measuring device 10C of this embodiment disposes the ejector 44 from the closed position P5 to the open position P6 in conjunction with the movement of the movable portion 32 from the stored position P1 to the extended position P2, thereby opening the insertion port 28A. Therefore, when the measuring device 10C is not in use, foreign matter such as dust can be prevented from entering through the insertion port 28A, and when the measuring device 10C is in use, the insertion port 28A can be easily opened by sliding the movable portion 32.

[0069] Furthermore, the measuring device 10C of this embodiment can push the sensor 12 with the pusher 44A while moving the ejector 44 from the open position P6 to the closed position P5 in conjunction with the movement of the movable portion 32 from the extended position P2 to the stored position P1, thereby ejecting the sensor 12 from the insertion port 28A. Therefore, the user can eject the sensor 12 without directly contacting the sensor 12.

Claims

1. A measuring device for measuring a sample using a sheet-shaped sensor, wherein: The measuring device comprises: a main body having an insertion port for inserting the sensor and a measuring unit for performing a measurement related to the sample; and The movable portion constitutes a part of the main body and is configured to be movable relative to the main body in the direction of the sheet surface of the sensor when inserted into the insertion port, and is capable of moving between a storage position and an extended position in which the area ratio of the main body in a plan view is increased when it is configured in the storage position.

2. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein The movable portion slides in a direction along an insertion direction of the sensor into the insertion port and moves between the accommodated position and the extended position.

3. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein The main body is provided with an insertion guide portion for guiding the sensor toward the insertion port. The movable portion covers the insertion guide portion when arranged at the stored position, and exposes the insertion guide portion when arranged at the expanded position.

4. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein The measuring device includes an ejector configured to eject the sensor to the outside of the main body in conjunction with movement of the movable portion from the extended position to the stored position.

5. The measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein The movable portion includes an opening and closing member that covers the insertion port when the movable portion is disposed at the storage position and opens the insertion port when the movable portion is disposed at the extended position.

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