Blood glucose level measurement device

Abstract

This blood glucose level measurement device comprises: a sensor unit that measures the blood glucose level of a user; a communication unit that transmits, to the outside, data representing the blood glucose level measured by the sensor unit; a flexible, sheet-shaped battery that supplies power to the sensor unit and the communication unit; a flexible, plate-shaped circuit unit that controls the operation of the communication unit; and a mounting unit that is configured to be mounted on the body of the user. The peak current of the battery is 20 mA or more.

Description

Blood glucose measuring device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a blood glucose measuring device.

[0002] Techniques relating to devices for measuring blood glucose levels have been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2 and 3).

[0003] Special Table No. 2021-522900 Publication Special Table No. 2010-538745 Publication Special Table No. 2023-541445

[0004] Blood glucose measuring devices that are worn on the body to measure blood glucose levels are attached to the user's body, specifically, the user's arm or abdomen, for example. Since they are worn on the user's body for several days or even several tens of days, it is desirable for them to fit snugly against the user's skin. In addition, there is a demand for improved convenience in processing the measured blood glucose data.

[0005] Therefore, one of the objects is to provide a blood glucose measuring device that can improve convenience while improving the fit to the user's skin.

[0006] A blood glucose measuring device according to the present disclosure includes a sensor unit that measures a user's blood glucose level, a communication unit that transmits blood glucose level data measured by the sensor unit to an external device, a flexible sheet-like battery that supplies power to the sensor unit and the communication unit, a flexible plate-like circuit unit that controls the operation of the communication unit, and an attachment unit that is attached to the user's body. The peak current of the battery is 20 mA or more.

[0007] Such a blood glucose measuring device can improve convenience while improving the fit to the user's skin.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a blood glucose measuring device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the blood glucose measuring device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a circuit unit included in the blood glucose measuring device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the blood glucose measuring device shown in FIG. 1 worn on the skin of a user's arm. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a blood glucose measuring device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the blood glucose measuring device shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a blood glucose measuring device according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the blood glucose measuring device shown in FIG. 7.

[0009] [Summary of the embodiment] First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. A blood glucose measuring device according to the present disclosure includes a sensor unit that measures a user's blood glucose level, a communication unit that transmits data on the blood glucose level measured by the sensor unit to an external device, a flexible sheet-like battery that supplies power to the sensor unit and the communication unit, a flexible plate-like circuit unit that controls the operation of the communication unit, and an attachment unit that is attached to the user's body. The peak current of the battery is 20 mA or more.

[0010] The blood glucose measuring device of the present disclosure includes a flexible, plate-shaped circuit unit and a flexible, sheet-shaped battery, allowing it to fit snugly to the user's body. This means it fits snugly to the user's skin. Furthermore, the battery's peak current is 20 mA or higher, allowing a large current to flow through the communication unit. This allows the user to transmit data on blood glucose levels measured by the sensor unit to a remote data processing terminal, eliminating the need for the user to carry a data processing terminal. This eliminates the need to carry a data processing terminal and reduces the burden on the user for processing measured blood glucose data, thereby improving convenience. As described above, this blood glucose measuring device can improve convenience while enhancing the fit snugly to the user's skin.

[0011] In the blood glucose measuring device of the above aspect, the communication unit may be arranged to overlap the battery when viewed in the thickness direction of the battery. By doing so, even if the communication unit becomes larger due to the use of multiple communication antennas in the communication unit, the communication unit is arranged to overlap the empty space above the battery, thereby reducing the area occupied by the blood glucose measuring device when viewed in the thickness direction, making it easy to achieve a compact size. This makes it easy to reduce discomfort for the user when wearing the blood glucose measuring device and the risk of the device becoming detached from the user's skin.

[0012] In the blood glucose measuring device of the above aspect, the communication unit may be disposed adjacent to the battery when viewed in the thickness direction of the battery. This makes it easy to reduce the thickness of the blood glucose measuring device itself, thereby reducing the size in the thickness direction. This makes it easy to reduce discomfort for the user when wearing the device and the risk of the device becoming detached from the user's skin. Furthermore, since interference between the communication unit and the battery can be easily suppressed, it becomes easy to transmit radio waves efficiently over long distances. This therefore makes it possible to further improve convenience.

[0013] In any of the blood glucose measuring devices according to the above aspects, the circuit unit may be flat. The battery may be disposed between the circuit unit and the attachment unit. The communication unit may be disposed on the circuit unit. A blood glucose measuring device in which a communication unit and a battery are disposed on both the front and back sides of the circuit unit in this manner has a low density of electronic elements disposed on the surface of the circuit unit and a relatively simple shape, making it easy to manufacture and to reduce total costs.

[0014] In any one of the above blood glucose measuring devices, the battery's peak current may be 30 mA or more. The communication unit may transmit blood glucose level data via LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) communication. This allows the blood glucose level data to be transmitted to a cloud server via LPWA, eliminating the need for a receiving terminal. Furthermore, a service provider that provides health management using the blood glucose measuring device processes and operates the data, eliminating the need for the user to upload data or operate a terminal. This further improves convenience.

[0015] In any one of the above blood glucose level measuring devices, the battery's peak current may be 100 mA or more. The communication unit may transmit blood glucose level data via at least one of LoRa (registered trademark), Sigfox (registered trademark), and Wi-Fi (registered trademark). This allows the blood glucose level data to be transmitted to a cloud server via at least one of LoRa, Sigfox, and Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for a receiving terminal. Furthermore, a service provider providing health management using the blood glucose level measuring device processes and operates the data, eliminating the need for the user to upload data or operate a terminal. This further improves convenience.

[0016] In any one of the above blood glucose level measuring devices, the circuit unit may include a determination unit that determines whether the blood glucose level data measured by the sensor unit is within a predetermined range, and an alert issuing unit that issues an alert if the determination unit determines that the blood glucose level data is not within the predetermined range. This allows the alert to alert the user wearing the blood glucose level measuring device to an abnormal blood glucose level. Therefore, it is easy to draw the user's attention to the abnormal blood glucose level.

[0017] In any one of the above blood glucose level measuring devices, the battery capacity may be 4 mAh or more. The device may further include a display that displays data related to the blood glucose level. This allows the display to visually display data related to the blood glucose level to the user. In this case, since the battery capacity is 4 mAh or more, the risk of insufficient battery capacity when transmitting data via the communication unit can be reduced, thereby promoting reliable data transmission.

[0018] In any one of the above blood glucose measuring devices, the battery may be capable of being charged to 80% or more of its full capacity within 30 minutes, thereby shortening the period during which no power is available and measurement by the sensor unit or data transmission by the communication unit is not possible.

[0019] In any one of the above blood glucose level measuring devices, the communication unit, the battery, and the circuit unit may be detachably provided in the blood glucose level measuring device. This allows the user to remove and charge the battery-containing section while leaving the sensor unit and attachment unit on the user's skin, for example, when taking a shower. This improves convenience.

[0020] In the blood glucose measuring device according to any one of the above aspects, the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the battery may each be made of a sintered body. This eliminates the use of flammable organic binders or conductive polymers as constituent materials of the electrodes, thereby enabling the battery to be made smaller and thinner while improving the safety of the blood glucose measuring device.

[0021] In any one of the above blood glucose level measuring devices, the blood glucose level measuring device may be sheet-shaped. The outer shape of the blood glucose level measuring device may be rectangular, with both the vertical and horizontal lengths of 50 mm or less when viewed in the thickness direction. The thickness of the blood glucose level measuring device may be 0.8 mm or more and 2.5 mm or less. A blood glucose level measuring device of this size can be worn comfortably on the user's body without any discomfort.

[0022] In any one of the above blood glucose level measuring devices, the sensor unit and the battery may be arranged adjacent to each other when viewed in the thickness direction of the blood glucose level measuring device. This configuration prevents the sensor unit and the battery, which tend to be thicker, from overlapping, allowing the device to be thinner overall. This makes it easier to reduce discomfort for the user when wearing the device and the risk of the device becoming detached from the user's skin.

[0023] [Specific Example of Embodiment] Next, specific examples of the blood glucose measuring device of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters, and their description will not be repeated.

[0024] (Embodiment 1) A blood glucose measuring device according to the present disclosure will be described. Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of the blood glucose measuring device in embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the blood glucose measuring device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a view of the blood glucose measuring device shown in Fig. 1 as seen in the direction indicated by arrow II. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a circuit unit, described later, included in the blood glucose measuring device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the blood glucose measuring device shown in Fig. 1 worn on the skin of a user's arm.

[0025] 1, 2, 3, and 4, the blood glucose measuring device 10a in embodiment 1 is used by being directly attached to the body of a user 20a, specifically, to the skin of the user's body, such as the arm or abdomen. FIG. 4 shows a case in which the blood glucose measuring device 10a is attached to the user's 20a's own arm 30a using the user's 20a's hand 29a. The blood glucose measuring device 10a is attached to the user's 20a's skin for several days to several tens of days, and blood glucose levels are measured periodically. The user 20a wears the blood glucose measuring device 10a at a location where attachment does not cause any problems in daily life. The blood glucose measuring device 10a automatically measures blood glucose levels periodically from the user's 20a's body.

[0026] In this embodiment, the blood glucose level measuring device 10a is sheet-shaped. The outer shape of the blood glucose level measuring device 10a is rectangular when viewed in the thickness direction (Z direction), with four rounded corners. In this embodiment, the direction in which the long sides of the blood glucose level measuring device 10a extend is the X direction, the direction in which the short sides extend is the Y direction, and the thickness direction of the blood glucose level measuring device 10a is the Z direction.

[0027] The blood glucose level measuring device 10a includes a sensor unit 11a, a communication unit 12a, a battery 13a, a circuit unit 14a, and an attachment unit 15a. In this embodiment, the blood glucose level measuring device 10a also includes a display 16a.

[0028] The sensor unit 11a measures the blood glucose level of the user. The sensor unit 11a includes a needle unit 17a that penetrates the skin of the user 20a. The needle unit 17a has a sharp tip, and in this embodiment, the blood glucose level measuring device 10a is invasive. The sensor unit 11a measures the blood glucose level from at least one of the user's blood and interstitial fluid using the needle unit 17a.

[0029] The external shape of the communication unit 12a is a rectangle whose length in the Y direction is longer than its length in the X direction when viewed in the Z direction. The four corners may be rounded. The communication unit 12a also has a thin shape. The communication unit 12a transmits blood glucose level data measured by the sensor unit 11a to an external device. The communication unit 12a is also configured to receive operation data (calibration, changes to measurement conditions, and display information) from an external device via wireless communication. That is, the communication unit 12a can transmit and receive data to and from an external terminal via wireless communication. Specifically, for example, the communication unit 12a can transmit and receive data to and from a server 19a located outside the blood glucose level measuring device 10a. For example, a small communication antenna is used as the communication unit 12a. In this embodiment, the communication unit 12a may transmit blood glucose level data to the server 19a via a nearby gateway via LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) communication. Alternatively, the information may be transmitted to both the server 19a and the portable receiver by both LPWA and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communications. Note that a cloud server may be used as the server 19a.

[0030] The battery 13a is sheet-shaped and flexible. The battery 13a supplies power to the sensor unit 11a and the communication unit 12a. The battery 13a has a capacity of 4 mAh (milliampere-hours) or more. The battery 13a includes an outer casing 21a, a positive electrode tab terminal 22a, and a negative electrode tab terminal 23a. The outer casing 21a contains a separator, an electrolyte, a positive electrode, and a negative electrode (none of which are shown). In this embodiment, the positive electrode tab terminal 22a and the negative electrode tab terminal 23a are spaced apart in the Y direction and protrude from the outer casing 21a. The positive electrode tab terminal 22a and the negative electrode tab terminal 23a protrude from the outer casing 21a in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow Y. At least the positive electrode of the battery 13a is made of a sintered body. Such a battery 13a does not use flammable organic binders or conductive polymers as constituent materials for the electrodes, and therefore can improve the safety of the blood glucose measuring device while realizing a smaller and thinner battery.

[0031] In this embodiment, the sensor unit 11a and the battery 13a are arranged adjacent to each other when viewed in the thickness direction (Z direction). Specifically, when viewed in the thickness direction, the sensor unit 11a and the battery 13a are arranged with a gap in the X direction. That is, in this embodiment, there is no overlapping area between the sensor unit 11a and the battery 13a when viewed in the thickness direction.

[0032] The circuit unit 14a is plate-shaped and flexible. The thickness of the circuit unit 14a is 1.0 mm or less. In this embodiment, the thickness of the circuit unit 14a is 0.2 mm or less. The circuit unit 14a is provided with an electrical circuit such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) (not shown), which electrically connects the functional units shown in FIG. 3 and controls the operation of the communication unit 12a. The circuit unit 14a includes a first region 26a and a second region 27a whose position in the thickness direction is different from that of the first region 26a. A step 28a is provided between the first region 26a and the second region 27a.

[0033] The battery 13a and the display 16a are mounted on the first region 26a. The display 16a is positioned so that its display surface is exposed on the surface of the blood glucose level measuring device 10a. In the region where the first region 26a is located, the components are stacked in this order: the attachment portion 15a, the first region 26a of the circuit unit 14a, the battery 13a, and the display 16a.

[0034] The communication unit 12a is disposed on the second region 27a. In the region where the second region 27a is located, the sensor unit 11a is disposed between the mounting portion 15a and the circuit unit 14a. A portion of the sensor unit 11a provided with the needle portion 17a is also disposed below the mounting portion 15a. The sensor unit 11a and the circuit unit 14a are connected by a connection terminal 18a. In the region where the second region 27a is located, the following components are disposed in this order: a portion of the sensor unit 11a including the needle portion 17a, the mounting portion 15a, the remaining portion of the sensor unit 11a, the connection terminal 18a, the second region 27a of the circuit unit 14a, and the communication unit 12a.

[0035] The circuit unit 14a includes a communication control unit 31a, a display control unit 32a, a sensor control unit 33a, a data storage unit 34a, a determination unit 35a, and a warning transmission unit 36a. The communication control unit 31a controls the operation of the communication unit 12a, such as controlling the timing of data transmission by the communication unit 12a. The display control unit 32a controls the display operation of the display 16a, such as generating a display image on the display 16a. The sensor control unit 33a controls the operation of the sensor unit 11a, such as measuring the blood glucose level from at least one of the blood and the indirect fluid that comes into contact with the needle unit 17a in accordance with the timing of blood glucose level measurement. The data storage unit 34a is, for example, a memory provided in the circuit unit 14a and stores data such as blood glucose levels. The determination unit 35a determines whether the blood glucose level data measured by the sensor unit 11a is within a predetermined range. The warning transmission unit 36a issues a warning if the determination unit 35a determines that the blood glucose level data is not within the predetermined range. The warning is issued, for example, by vibration, visible light, sound, or by displaying a warning such as text or a picture on the display 16a.

[0036] The attachment unit 15a is attached to the user's body. For example, an adhesive tape can be used as the attachment unit 15a. The attachment unit 15a is located at the bottom in the thickness direction, except for a region where a part of the sensor unit 11a including the needle portion 17a is located.

[0037] The display 16a displays data related to the blood glucose level. The display 16a is flat and has, for example, an electronic paper screen. Power is supplied to the display 16a from the battery 13a. The thickness of the display 16a is 1.0 mm or less. In this embodiment, the thickness is 0.4 mm or less. As shown in FIG. 1 , the X-direction edge of the display 16a on the right side in the thickness direction is aligned with the X-direction edges of the circuit unit 14a and the attachment unit 15a. In FIG. 1 , the display 16a displays blood glucose measurement data 24a of "170 mg / dL" and a warning mark 25a determined by the determination unit 35a to indicate that the measured blood glucose level data is outside a predetermined range.

[0038] The blood glucose level measuring device 10a includes a covering portion 37a. The covering portion 37a covers the communication portion 12a, the battery 13a, the circuit portion 14a, the display 16a, and a portion of the connection terminal 18a. In FIG. 1 and other figures, the covering portion 37a is illustrated by a dashed line. The covering portion 37a is made of a flexible resin. That is, the communication portion 12a, the battery 13a, the circuit portion 14a, the display 16a, and a portion of the connection terminal 18a are coated with the covering portion 37a. The covering portion 37a is provided on the attachment portion 15a except for the portion where the sensor portion 11a is located. The covering portion 37a is formed by lamination or molding. The display surface of the display 16a is exposed through the covering portion 37a, or a transparent covering portion 37a is provided to ensure visibility of the display surface of the display 16a. The components covered by the covering portion 37a are detachably attached to the attachment portion 15a. By providing this covering portion 37a, the detachable portion can be integrated as, for example, a transmitter portion, and the waterproof, dustproof, and stain-proof properties of the covered member can be improved.

[0039] Here, the size of the battery 13a is such that the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the footprint are each 45 mm or less, and the thickness is 1.5 mm or less. In this embodiment, the footprint is 40 mm x 30 mm or less, and the thickness is 0.5 mm or less. The peak current of the battery 13a is 20 mA or more. In this embodiment, the peak current of the battery 13a is 30 mA or more. The battery 13a can be charged to 80% or more of its full capacity within 30 minutes.

[0040] Conventional blood glucose level measuring devices sometimes use small, non-rechargeable button batteries. Such small button batteries have a small peak current of, for example, 0.1 mA or less, and are therefore unable to perform wireless communication by themselves. This necessitates the addition of an additional capacitor or other device that temporarily stores power and discharges a large current. However, this capacitor is bulky and / or requires additional space, which increases the thickness of the blood glucose level measuring device itself.

[0041] The blood glucose level measuring device 10a includes a flexible, plate-shaped circuit unit 14a and a flexible, sheet-shaped battery 13a, allowing it to fit snugly against the user's skin. This means it fits snugly against the user's skin. Furthermore, the peak current of the battery 13a is 20 mA or greater, allowing a large current to flow through the communication unit 12a. This allows the user to transmit blood glucose level data measured by the sensor unit 11a to a remote data processing terminal for processing, etc., without having to carry a data processing terminal. This eliminates the need to carry a data processing terminal and reduces the burden on the user for processing measured blood glucose level data, thereby improving convenience. As described above, the blood glucose level measuring device 10a improves convenience while enhancing the fit snugly against the user's skin.

[0042] In this embodiment, the communication unit 12a is located adjacent to the battery 13a. Conventional blood glucose level measuring devices sometimes use small, non-rechargeable button batteries. While this allows for a smaller footprint, the thickness of the battery itself exceeds, for example, 2.5 mm. By adopting the above configuration in which the communication unit 12a is located adjacent to the battery 13a, the thickness of the blood glucose level measuring device 10a itself can be easily reduced, thereby reducing the size in the thickness direction. This facilitates reducing discomfort to the user when wearing the device and the risk of the device becoming detached from the user's skin. Furthermore, since interference between the communication unit 12a and the battery 13a is easily suppressed, it becomes easier to efficiently transmit radio waves over long distances. This further improves convenience.

[0043] In this embodiment, the peak current of the battery 13a is 30 mA or more. The communication unit 12a transmits blood glucose level data via LPWA communication. Therefore, blood glucose level data can be transmitted to a server via LPWA, eliminating the need for a receiving terminal. Furthermore, since the service provider that provides health management using the blood glucose level measuring device 10a processes and operates the data, the user does not need to upload data or operate the terminal. This further improves convenience.

[0044] In this embodiment, the circuit unit 14a includes a determination unit 35a that determines whether the blood glucose level data measured by the sensor unit 11a is within a predetermined range, and an alert issuing unit 36a that issues an alert if the determination unit 35a determines that the blood glucose level data is not within the predetermined range. This alert can alert the user wearing the blood glucose measuring device 10a to an abnormal blood glucose level. This makes it easy to draw the user's attention to an abnormal blood glucose level.

[0045] In this embodiment, the battery 13a has a capacity of 4 mAh or more. The device also includes a display 16a that displays data related to blood glucose levels. Therefore, the display 16a can visually display data related to blood glucose levels to the user. In this case, because the battery 13a has a capacity of 4 mAh or more, the risk of insufficient battery capacity during data transmission via the communication unit 12a can be reduced, thereby promoting reliable data transmission.

[0046] In this embodiment, the battery 13a can be charged to 80% or more of its full capacity within 30 minutes, thereby shortening the period during which there is no power and the sensor unit 11a cannot perform measurements or the communication unit 12a cannot transmit data.

[0047] In this embodiment, the communication unit 12a, battery 13a, and circuit unit 14a are detachably mounted on the blood glucose level measuring device 10a. Therefore, for example, when the user takes a shower, the portion including the battery 13a can be removed and charged while the sensor unit 11a and attachment unit 15a remain on the user's skin. This improves convenience.

[0048] In this embodiment, the blood glucose level measuring device 10a is sheet-shaped. The outer shape of the blood glucose level measuring device 10a is a rectangle with a vertical length and a horizontal length of 50 mm or less when viewed in the thickness direction. The thickness of the blood glucose level measuring device 10a is 0.8 mm to 2.5 mm. A blood glucose level measuring device 10a of this size can be worn comfortably on the user's body without any discomfort.

[0049] In this embodiment, the sensor unit 11a and the battery 13a are arranged next to each other when viewed in the thickness direction of the blood glucose level measuring device 10a. This allows the sensor unit 11a and the battery 13a, which tend to be thicker, to be configured so that they do not overlap, allowing for a thinner overall device. This makes it easier to reduce discomfort for the user when wearing the device and the risk of the device becoming detached from the user's skin.

[0050] (Embodiment 2) Another embodiment, embodiment 2, will now be described. Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a blood glucose measuring device according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of the blood glucose measuring device shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a view of the blood glucose measuring device shown in Fig. 5 as viewed in the direction indicated by arrow VI. The blood glucose measuring device 10b according to embodiment 2 basically has the same configuration as in embodiment 1, and achieves the same effects. However, the blood glucose measuring device 10b according to embodiment 2 differs from embodiment 1 in the configuration of the communication unit and the like.

[0051] 5 and 6 , the communication unit 12b included in the blood glucose level measuring device 10b of the second embodiment is disposed so as to overlap the battery 13a. In this embodiment, the external shape of the communication unit 12b is the same as that of the communication unit 12a of the first embodiment, and the communication unit 12b is disposed so as to be longer in the X direction than in the Y direction. That is, compared to the first embodiment, the communication unit 12b is disposed so as to be larger than the communication unit 12a. In this embodiment, a portion of the communication unit 12b is disposed so as to overlap the battery 13a. The display 16b is configured so as to be shorter in the X direction than the display 16a of the first embodiment. The configurations of the sensor unit 11a, the battery 13a, the circuit unit 14a, and the attachment unit 15a are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0052] By doing so, even if the communication unit 12b becomes large due to, for example, the use of multiple communication antennas (LPWA, BLE) or a high-performance antenna, an increase in the thickness of the blood glucose level measuring device 10b can be avoided by arranging it in at least one of the free space above the battery 13a and the free space created by reducing the size of the display 16a. In this case, for example, even if the communication unit 12b becomes large, the size of the entire blood glucose level measuring device 10b in the X direction can be made the same as in the first embodiment. Note that, assuming that the size of the communication unit 12b does not change, the size of the entire blood glucose level measuring device 10b in the X direction can be made smaller than in the first embodiment, thereby reducing user discomfort and increasing the options for where to wear the blood glucose level measuring device 10b.

[0053] (Embodiment 3) Another embodiment, embodiment 3, will now be described. Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view showing a blood glucose measuring device according to embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. Fig. 8 is a schematic side view of the blood glucose measuring device shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 8 is a view of the blood glucose measuring device shown in Fig. 7 as viewed in the direction indicated by arrow VIII. The blood glucose measuring device 10c according to embodiment 3 basically has the same configuration as in embodiment 1, and achieves the same effects. However, the blood glucose measuring device 10c according to embodiment 3 differs from embodiment 1 in the configuration of the circuit section and the like.

[0054] 7 and 8, the circuit unit 14c included in the blood glucose level measuring device 10c of the third embodiment is flat, unlike the circuit unit 14c of the first and second embodiments. That is, the circuit unit 14c does not have a first region, a second region, or a step. Unlike the blood glucose level measuring device 10c of the first and second embodiments, the attachment unit 15a, the battery 13a, the circuit unit 14a, and the display 16a are stacked in this order. That is, the battery 13a is disposed between the circuit unit 14a and the attachment unit 15a. The communication unit 12c is disposed on the circuit unit 14a. The communication unit 12c is closer to the display 16a than the communication unit 12a of the first embodiment and is slightly shorter in longitudinal direction than the communication units 12a and 12b of the second embodiment. In this case, the longitudinal length of the covering portion 37c is also shorter than in the first and second embodiments. In this way, the communication unit 12c can be arranged in various shapes depending on the required number of communication antennas and communication capabilities. Furthermore, when viewed in the thickness direction (Z direction) of the battery 13a, the communication unit 12c is arranged so as to overlap the battery 13a. Specifically, a portion of the communication unit 12c is arranged so as to overlap the battery 13a.

[0055] In this blood glucose measuring device 10c, in which the communication unit 12c and the battery 13a are arranged on both the front and back sides of the circuit unit 14a, the density of the electronic elements arranged on the surface of the circuit unit 14a is low and the shape is relatively simple, making it easy to manufacture and facilitating a reduction in total costs.

[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the communication unit 12c is arranged to overlap the battery 13a when viewed in the thickness direction of the battery 13a. Therefore, even if the communication unit 12c becomes larger by, for example, employing multiple communication antennas in the communication unit 12c, the communication unit 12c is arranged to overlap the empty space above the battery 13a, thereby reducing the area occupied by the blood glucose level measuring device 10c when viewed in the thickness direction, making it easy to achieve a more compact size. In this embodiment, the longitudinal length is shorter than in the first embodiment. Therefore, it is easy to reduce the discomfort felt by the user when wearing the device and the risk of the device becoming detached from the user's skin.

[0057] (Other Embodiments) In the above embodiment, the display is an electronic paper screen, but the display is not limited to this. Alternatively, a liquid crystal screen or an LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamp that emits visible light may be used for display. The warning issuing unit may issue a warning by vibration or sound. Of course, the warning may be issued by vibration or sound in addition to the display on the screen.

[0058] In the above-described embodiment, the positive and negative electrodes of the battery may each be made of a sintered body. This eliminates the need for flammable organic binders or conductive polymers in the electrode materials, thereby enabling the battery to be made smaller and thinner while improving the safety of the blood glucose measuring device.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the peak current of the battery may be 100 mA or more. The communication unit may transmit blood glucose level data via at least one of LoRa communication, Sigfox communication, and Wi-Fi communication. In this way, blood glucose level data can be transmitted to a cloud server via at least one of LoRa, Sigfox communication, and Wi-Fi communication, eliminating the need for a receiving terminal. Furthermore, since a service provider that provides health management using a blood glucose measuring device processes and operates the data, the user does not need to upload data or operate a terminal. This further improves convenience.

[0060] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the mechanism for measuring blood glucose levels is configured so that the sensor unit includes a needle portion and comes into contact with at least one of the subcutaneous blood and interstitial fluid (invasive), but this is not limited thereto, and the sensor unit may also be configured so as not to include a needle portion and not to damage the skin (non-invasive).

[0061] It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not limiting in any respect. The scope of the present invention is defined not by the above description but by the claims, and it is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0062] 10a, 10b, 10c blood glucose measuring device, 11a sensor unit, 12a, 12b, 12c communication unit, 13a battery, 14a, 14c circuit unit, 15a attachment unit, 16a, 16b display, 17a needle unit, 18a connection terminal, 19a server, 20a user, 21a exterior body, 22a positive electrode tab terminal, 23a negative electrode tab terminal, 24a measurement data, 25a warning mark, 26a first region, 27a second region, 28a step, 29a hand, 30a arm, 31a communication control unit, 32a display control unit, 33a sensor control unit, 34a data storage unit, 35a determination unit, 36a warning transmission unit, 37a, 37c covering unit.

Claims

1. A blood glucose measurement device, comprising: a sensor unit that measures a user's blood glucose level; a communication unit that transmits data of the blood glucose level measured by the sensor unit to the outside; a sheet-like battery that has flexibility and supplies power to the sensor unit and the communication unit; a circuit unit that is plate-shaped, has flexibility, and controls the operation of the communication unit; and a mounting unit that is mounted on the user's body, wherein a peak current of the battery is 20 mA or more.

2. The blood glucose measurement device according to claim 1, wherein, when viewed in the thickness direction of the battery, the communication unit is disposed so as to overlap the battery.

3. The blood glucose measurement device according to claim 1, wherein, when viewed in the thickness direction of the battery, the communication unit is disposed adjacent to the battery.

4. The blood glucose measurement device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the circuit unit is flat, the battery is disposed between the circuit unit and the mounting unit, and the communication unit is disposed on the circuit unit.

5. The blood glucose measurement device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the peak current of the battery is 30 mA or more, and the communication unit transmits data of the blood glucose level by LPWA communication.

6. The blood glucose measurement device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the peak current of the battery is 100 mA or more, and the communication unit transmits data of the blood glucose level by at least one of LoRa communication, Sigfox communication, and Wi-Fi communication.

7. The blood glucose measurement device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the circuit unit includes: a determination unit that determines whether data of the blood glucose level measured by the sensor unit is within a predetermined range; and a warning transmission unit that transmits a warning if the determination unit determines that the data of the blood glucose level is not within the predetermined range.

8. The blood glucose measurement device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a display that displays data related to the blood glucose level, wherein a capacity of the battery is 4 mAh or more.

9. The blood glucose measurement device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the battery can be charged with 80% or more of the total capacity of the battery within 30 minutes.

10. The blood glucose measurement device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the communication unit, the battery, and the circuit unit are detachably provided on the blood glucose measurement device.

11. The blood glucose measurement device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the battery are each composed of a sintered body.

12. The blood glucose measurement device is sheet-shaped, the outer shape of the blood glucose measurement device is a rectangular shape with a length in the longitudinal direction and a length in the lateral direction each being 50 mm or less when viewed in the thickness direction, and the thickness of the blood glucose measurement device is 0.8 mm or more and 2.5 mm or less. The blood glucose measurement device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The blood glucose measurement device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the sensor unit and the battery are arranged adjacent to each other when viewed in the thickness direction of the blood glucose measurement device.

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