JPH0441325Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (a) Industrial application field This invention relates to improvements in biochemical measuring devices such as blood glucose meters and urine sugar meters.

(b) Conventional technology To measure the concentration of a specific chemical substance in a test liquid, such as blood sugar level or urine sugar level, a test paper impregnated with a reagent is impregnated with the test liquid and a color reaction is performed. The concentration of a specific chemical substance is quantified based on the degree of coloration of the test paper at this time. Therefore,
Various biochemical measurement devices are commercially available that measure the degree of coloration of a test paper and automatically calculate the concentration of a specific chemical substance in a liquid to be tested.

This conventional biochemical measurement device includes a measurement circuit board, a display device, etc. in a case, has a test strip insertion section recessed on the outer surface of the case, and has a light emitting element and a light receiving element facing the test strip insertion section. In order to block external light, the test strip insertion section is covered with a test strip cover that can be opened and closed.

In this conventional biochemical measuring device, the concentration of a specific chemical substance in the test liquid is quantified based on a predetermined calibration curve from the reflectance or transmittance of the test strip inserted into the test strip insertion section. The value is displayed digitally or analogously on the display. As the test paper, what is generally used is something called a stick, in which a piece of test paper is stuck to the tip of a flexible strip-shaped thin plate.

(c) Problems to be solved by the invention In the conventional biochemical measuring device described above, when the test strip is inserted into the test strip insertion section, the test liquid adhering to the test strip also flows into the test strip insertion section. It will stick and stain. When this dirt accumulates, the optical path connecting the light-emitting element, the test paper, and the light-receiving element is blocked, and the chemical substances in the dirt react with the reagents in the test paper, causing measurement errors. Moreover, it may give a feeling of uncleanness to the user. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the test strip insertion section.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional biochemical measuring device, the test strip cover that covers the test strip insertion portion is attached to the case by a shaft, and it is difficult to remove it from the case. For this reason, the test strip insertion section was cleaned with the test strip cover attached, but the opening area of the test strip insertion section to the outside was small, and cleaning had to be done using a cotton swab, etc. There was an inconvenience that cleaning was difficult and incomplete.

In addition, in the conventional biochemical measuring device described above, a part of the test strip insertion section that contacts the test strip and supports the test strip (hereinafter referred to as a test strip holder or stake holder) is configured to be detachable from the test strip insertion section. It is also known that With this biochemical measurement device,
The test strip holder part can be removed and cleaned, and dirt can be easily and completely removed. However, the test strip insertion portion other than the test strip holder portion was difficult to clean, and dirt could not be completely removed.

This idea was made in view of the above-mentioned inconvenience, and it allows the test strip cover to be easily attached and detached.
The object of the present invention is to provide a biochemical measurement device that allows easy and complete cleaning of the test strip insertion section.

(d) Means and action for solving the problems As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the biochemical measurement device of this invention has a test strip insertion section provided at an appropriate position on the side of the case, and a test strip insertion section. a test strip holder provided in the section and holding the test strip; a light emitting element and a light receiving element facing the test strip held in the test strip holder; and a test strip cover that covers the test strip insertion section in an openable and closable manner. The test strip cover is slidably supported by the case, and the test strip insertion section is opened and closed by sliding of the test strip cover, and the test strip cover is moved in the sliding direction. It is detachably attached to the case. Therefore, the test strip cover can be attached and removed from the case with a single touch, and cleaning can be performed with the test strip insertion section completely exposed to the outside.

(E) Example An example of this invention is shown in Figure 1a, Figure 1b,
The following description will be made based on FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4.

In this embodiment, this invention is applied to a blood glucose meter, and FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of this blood glucose meter 1. 2 is a case, which is made up of an upper case member 3 and a lower case member 4.

A liquid crystal display 5, a power switch 6, a memory switch 7, and a measurement switch 8 are provided on the upper surface of the upper case member 3.
is provided. The liquid crystal display 5 digitally displays the measured blood sugar level. Memory switch 7
is for storing the measured blood sugar level in a memory (not shown). The measurement switch 8 is
This is a switch to start measurement.

A stake insertion section (test paper insertion section) 9 is recessed in one side 2a of the case 2. A stake holder 24 is removably provided in the stake insertion portion 9, and the stake insertion portion 9 is covered with a test paper cover 29 that is removable.

The front half of the sensor housing 10 is exposed within the stick insertion portion 9 (see FIGS. 1a, 1b, and 4). A recess 11 is formed on the front surface of the sensor housing 10. On the other hand, the sensor housing 10 includes a light emitting diode element (light emitting element) 12 and a phototransistor (light receiving element).
14 are provided. Light emitting diode element 12
The phototransistor 14 faces the recess 11 directly through the communication hole 13. In addition,
A transparent plate 15 is provided in the recess 11 to protect the light emitting diode element 12 and the phototransistor 14 from adhering to blood or the like.

An opening/closing button 20 is provided on the upper surface of the upper case member 3 at the rear of the stake insertion portion. A prismatic guide piece 21 is vertically provided on both side edges 20a of the opening/closing button 20 (see FIGS. 1a and 4). These guide pieces 21 are inserted into guide grooves 3a provided in the upper case member 3, and the opening/closing button 2
0 is supported on the upper case member 3 so as to be able to move up and down. Further, the open/close button 20 is biased upward by a leaf spring 23 provided between the lower surface of the open/close button 20 and the upper surface of the rear half of the sensor housing 10 (see FIG. 1b). The top surface of the open/close button 20 is
In the biased state, it is aligned with the upper surface of the upper case member 3 (see FIG. 4).

An engaging pawl 22 is provided on the lower surface of the opening/closing button 20. The engaging claw 22 projects forward of the opening/closing button 20, passes through the vertically elongated insertion hole 17 of the sensor housing 10, and reaches the inside of the stake insertion portion 9 (see FIGS. 1a and 1b).

24 is a stake holder. The stake holder 24 includes a stake support plate 26 erected on a bottom plate 25, and side plates 28, 28 that cover the front side of the stake support plate 26 (see FIG. 4). These side plates 28, 28 are for preventing the later-described stay from shifting laterally. Side edge 26 of stake support plate 26
a, 26a are the recesses 11 of the sensor housing 10;
It is inserted from below into the grooves 16, 16 provided on both sides. As a result, the stake holder 24 is removably installed in the stake insertion portion 9 (see FIGS. 1a, 3, and 4).

A window hole 27 is bored in the stake support plate 24 (see FIGS. 1a, 1b, and 3).
This window hole 27 is for allowing a test paper piece 38 stuck to the tip of a stake 37 supported on the stake support plate 26 to face the light emitting diode element 12 and phototransistor 14.

The test strip cover 29 has a U-shape when viewed from the side (see FIGS. 1b, 3, and 4). A notch 3 is provided at the rear end of the upper surface of the test strip cover 29.
0 is formed. This notch 30 is for inserting the tip of the stake 37.

On the inner surface of the test paper cover 29, there are supporting members 31,...
..., 31 supports the stake pressing member 32 (see FIGS. 1a and 1b). This stake pressing member 32 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and is used to press the back side of the stake 37 and support the stake 37 on the stake support plate 26 (see FIG. 1b).

From the side edge of the test paper cover 29, the locking claws 33, 3
3 is installed protrudingly. By engaging the locking claws 33, 33 into the engagement grooves 9a, 9a, the test strip cover 29 is detachably attached to the case 2. Further, the ends of the locking claws 33, 33 are guided to the engagement grooves 9a, 9a, and the test paper cover 29 becomes slidable in the sliding directions O, C [see FIGS. 1a and 2a].
Note that the upper side edge 29a and the lower side edge 29b of the test strip cover 29 are also connected to the stepped portion 9 of the stake insertion portion 9.
b to prevent the test paper cover 29 from wobbling when the test paper cover 29 slides (see FIG. 4).
8 and 18 are provided protrudingly (see Figures 1a and 4). The shaft portions 18, 18 are provided with coil springs 34,
34 is installed. The tips of the coil springs 34, 34 are connected to the test strip cover 29 attached to the case 2.
It comes into pressure contact with the inner surface and urges the test paper cover 29 forward. There is also a locking piece 3 on the inner surface of the test paper cover 29.
5, 35 [see Fig. 1b]. The engaging claw 2 of the opening/closing button 20 is attached to the locking pieces 33, 33.
2 is engaged, the test paper cover 29 resists the biasing force of the coil springs 34 and is brought into a closed state. Note that in the closed state, the outer surface of the test strip cover 29 is aligned with the outer surface of the case 2.

The stake 37 is a thin strip-shaped synthetic resin plate 37.
A test paper piece 38 impregnated with a reagent is attached to the tip of a (see FIGS. 1b and 2b).

Next, an example of use of this embodiment blood glucose meter 1 will be described below.

To open the test strip cover 29, push down the open/close button 20 and move the engaging claw 22 downward to disengage it from the locking piece 35 (see FIG. 2b). The test paper cover 29 slides forward (in the sliding direction O) by the urging force of the coil springs 34, 34. The test strip cover 29 is stopped when the stop claw 33 is engaged with the front end of the engagement groove 9a (see FIG. 2a).

When the test strip cover 29 slides forward and becomes open, a stake insertion opening 36 is formed between the protrusion 19 and the notch 30 (see FIGS. 2a and 2b). The tip of the stick 37 on which blood has been dropped and a color reaction has occurred on the test strip 38 is inserted into the stick insertion portion 9 through the stick insertion port 36 . At this time, the test paper piece 38 at the tip of the stake 37 is inserted toward the rear.

Next, the user pushes the front surface of the test strip cover 29 to slide the test strip cover 29 backward (sliding direction C) to the closed state (see FIG. 1b). At this time,
The tip of the stake 37 is connected to the stake holding member 32.
is pressed against the stake support plate 26 by
A test strip 38 faces the light emitting diode element 12 and the phototransistor 14. In addition, the status 3
A portion slightly above the tip of 7 is sandwiched between the protrusion 16 and the notch 30. At this time, the front surface of the protrusion 16 and the notch 30 are sloped, and the upper half of the stay 37 is bent forward. This prevents disturbance light from entering the stake insertion portion 9 through the gap between the protrusion 19 and the notch 30.

Subsequently, when the user turns on the measurement switch 8, the light emitting diode element 12 is driven to emit light, the light is reflected on the test paper piece 38, and is received by the phototransistor 14. A measuring circuit (not shown) of the blood glucose meter 1 determines the blood glucose level based on a predetermined calibration curve from the current value flowing through the phototransistor 14, and digitally displays the result on the display 5. Note that this invention does not include a measuring circuit and a method for quantifying blood sugar level as the main parts, so the details thereof will be omitted.

If the inside of the stick insertion part 9 becomes dirty with blood attached to the tip of the stick 37, remove the test strip cover 2.
9 from the case 2, and clean the inside of the stick insertion part 9.

To remove the test paper cover 29, open the test paper cover 29 (see FIGS. 2a and 2b) and pull the test paper cover 29 forward (sliding direction O). When a pulling force is applied to the test paper cover 29,
The engagement between the locking claw 33 and the front end of the engagement groove 9a is released, and the test strip cover 29 is removed from the case 2 (see FIG. 3).

When the test strip cover 29 is removed, the stake insertion portion 9 is exposed.
can be easily cleaned. Since the stake holder 24 in the stake insertion portion 9 directly contacts the tip of the stake 37, dirt tends to accumulate thereon. For this reason, this embodiment is configured so that the stake holder 24 can be removed and cleaned. Further, the test paper cover 29 can also be washed, and stains on the stake presser member 32 can be easily removed. Furthermore, since the test paper cover 29 is removable, the stake holding member 32 can be easily replaced.

After cleaning or washing is completed, the stake holder 24 is installed in the stake insertion portion 9. next,
Push the test paper cover 29 from the front of the stake insertion part 9, engage the locking claw 33 into the engagement groove 9a,
Attach to case 2.

In the above embodiment, the stake holder is detachable, but it may be molded integrally with the sensor housing, for example, and the design can be changed as appropriate.

In addition, although the above embodiment is an application of this invention to a reflective blood glucose meter, this invention can be widely applied to various biochemical measuring devices such as urine glucose meters, regardless of whether they are reflective or transparent. It is something.

(f) Effect of the invention The biochemical measurement device of this invention has a test strip cover slidably supported in the case, and the test strip insertion section is opened and closed by sliding of the test strip cover, and the test strip cover is also slidably supported by the case. Since it is attached to the case so that it can be attached and detached in this sliding direction, it has the advantage that the test strip cover can be easily attached and detached, and the test strip insertion section can be easily and completely cleaned.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures show one embodiment of this invention.
Figure a is an enlarged view of a main part of a blood glucose meter according to an embodiment of the invention, with a part cut away;
Figure a is an enlarged view of the main part of the blood glucose meter with the test strip cover open, and Figure 2b is an enlarged sectional view of the blood glucose meter taken along the center line in Figure 2a. Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the blood glucose meter with the test strip cover and stake holder removed, and Figure 4 is a partially cutaway side view of the same blood glucose meter with the test strip cover and stake holder removed. FIG. 2... Case, 9... Stakes insertion part, 12
...Light emitting diode element, 14...Phototransistor, 24...Statholder, 29...Test paper cover.

Claims (1)

[Scope of claim for utility model registration] (1) A test strip insertion section provided at an appropriate location in the case;
A test strip holder provided in the test strip insertion section and holding the test strip, a light emitting element and a light receiving element facing the test strip held in the test strip holder, and a cover that can open and close the test strip insertion section. In a biochemical measuring device comprising a test strip cover, the test strip cover is slidably supported in the case, and the sliding of the test strip cover opens and closes the test strip insertion section, and the test strip cover is slidably supported on the case. A biochemical measurement device characterized in that a paper cover is detachably attached to the case in this sliding direction. (2) The test strip insertion portion is provided with an engagement groove, and the test strip cover is provided with a locking claw, and by engaging the engagement groove with the locking claw, the test strip cover is The biochemistry device according to claim 1, wherein the test strip cover is detachably attached to a case and is slidable by the locking claw being guided in the engagement groove. measuring device. (3) The biochemical measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the test strip holder is detachably provided in the test strip insertion section.