Body fluid measuring apparatus with lancet and lancet holder used for the measuring apparatus

• US 20020198444A1
• Filed: 06/12/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Inventors: Kusaka, Yasuhide, Hamamoto, Katsumi, Uchigaki, Takatoshi
• Granted Patent: US 6,849,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/345
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150099 by negative pressure, other than vacuum extraction into a syringe by pulling on the piston rod or into pre-evacuated tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150435 Specific design of proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150809 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150946 Means for varying, regulating, indicating or limiting the speed or time of blood collection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15105 Purely manual piercing, i.e. the user pierces the skin without the assistance of any driving means or driving devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15194 fully automatically retracted, i.e. the retraction does not require a deliberate action by the user, e.g. by terminating the contact with the patient's skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4875 Details of handling test elements, e.g. dispensing or storage, not specific to a particular test method test-elements per se B01L, automatic analysers G01N35/00, in-vivo analysis on the human body for medical diagnosis A61B

Abstract

A body fluid measuring apparatus includes a main body (20) and a lancet holder (30) for attachment to the main body (20). The lancet holder (30) includes a lancet (31) which is movable for stabbing a skin (S) to draw body fluid, and a biosensor (36) for introducing the drawn body fluid to perform predetermined measurement. The biosensor (36) is moved in a predetermined direction by a sensor moving mechanism (40, 42).

Claims

1. A body fluid measuring apparatus comprising:

a main body; and

a lancet holder for attachment to the main body;

wherein the lancet holder includes a lancet movable for stabbing a skin to draw body fluid, and a biosensor for introducing the drawn body fluid to perform predetermined measurement; and

wherein a sensor moving mechanism is further provided for moving the biosensor in a predetermined direction.

2. The body fluid measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biosensor is shaped like a plate and internally formed with a body fluid path having an inlet end, the biosensor being formed with an operative electrode and a counterpart electrode facing the body fluid path at a position spaced from the inlet end.

3. The body fluid measuring apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising body fluid detecting means for detecting the drawn body fluid, the sensor moving mechanism moving the biosensor in the predetermined direction in response to a detection signal generated by the body fluid detecting means.

4. The body fluid measuring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the body fluid detecting means comprises a pair of conductance measuring electrodes facing the body fluid path at the inlet end of the biosensor, the body fluid being detected by sensing conduction established between the conductance measuring electrodes due to the body fluid.

5. The body fluid measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the body fluid detecting means is non-contact detection means for detecting existence of the body fluid without contacting the drawn body fluid.

6. The body fluid measuring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the non-contact detection means comprises a light source for emitting light toward the skin, and a light receiving element for receiving reflected light from the drawn body fluid.

7. The body fluid measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the biosensor comprises a base plate having an upper surface on which the operative electrode and the counterpart electrode are formed, a pair of spacers spaced from each other and disposed on the base plate, and a cover plate laminated on the spacers to bridge the spacers, the body fluid path being defined between the spacers.

8. The body fluid measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the body fluid path is formed with a reactive reagent layer.

9. The body fluid measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor moving mechanism comprises an eccentric cam driven by a motor for rotation, the eccentric cam pushing an edge of the biosensor.

10. The body fluid measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body includes a plurality of terminals for slidably contacting a plurality of electrodes formed on an upper surface of the biosensor, an electronic circuit connected to the plurality of terminals, a lancet operation mechanism for moving the lancet for stabbing, and a display for displaying a measurement result.

11. The body fluid measuring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each of the terminals comprises an elastic connector pin.

12. The body fluid measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biosensor is held inclined so that one edge is closer to the skin than an opposite edge, the biosensor being movable along an inclined movement path.

13. The body fluid measuring apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the sensor moving mechanism acts on the opposite edge of the biosensor.

14. The body fluid measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the biosensor includes a first electrode facing the body fluid path at the inlet end, and a second electrode facing the body fluid path at an end opposite to the inlet end, filling of the body fluid path with the body fluid being detected by measuring conductance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

15. The body fluid measuring apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second electrode is one of the operative electrode and the counterpart electrode.

16. A lancet holder comprising:

a lancet which is movable for stabbing a skin to draw body fluid, and

a biosensor for introducing the body fluid drawn to perform predetermined measurement;

wherein the biosensor is supported for movement in a predetermined direction.