Component measuring device

• US 20060243031A1
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kondo, Akira, Nagasawa, Yasushi
• Granted Patent: US 7,586,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/53.10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8483 Investigating reagent band test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04

Abstract

A component measuring device for measuring the quantity and/or the property of a given component in a specimen by colorimetrically measuring a test strip includes a tip mount on which is to be mounted a tip having the test strip, and a photometric unit. The photometric unit comprises a light-emitting element that applies light to the test strip while the tip is mounted on the tip mount, a light-detecting element that detects light reflected from the test strip, and a holder in which is held the light-emitting element and the light-detecting element. The holder possesses a passage through which passes the light and the reflected light. A light-transmissive member closes the passage with a sealing member interposed therebetween in a portion of the holder which faces the test strip. The component measuring device can also be provided with a stain detecting device which is adapted to detect a stain on the light-transmissive member.

Claims

1. A component measuring device for measuring a quantity and/or a property of a given component in a specimen by colorimetrically measuring a test strip, comprising:

a tip mount for removably mounting a tip having the test strip; and

a photometric unit having a light-emitting element for applying light to said test strip while said tip is mounted on said tip mount, a light-detecting element for detecting light reflected from said test strip, and a holder in which is accommodated said light-emitting element and said light-detecting element;

wherein said holder has a passage for passing said light and said reflected light therethrough, and a light-transmissive member closes said passage with a sealing member interposed therebetween in a portion of said holder which is adapted to face said test strip.

3. The component measuring device according to claim 1, wherein said light-transmissive member isolates said test strip and said passage of said holder from each other while said tip is mounted on said tip mount.

4. The component measuring device according to claim 1, wherein said light-transmissive member comprises a flat plate and has a surface adapted to face said test strip and lying substantially flush with an end face of said holder.

5. The component measuring device according to claim 1, wherein said sealing member is made of an elastomeric material.

2. A component measuring device for measuring a quantity and/or a property of a given component in a specimen by colorimetrically measuring a test strip, comprising:

a tip mount for removably mounting a tip having the test strip; and

a photometric unit having a light-emitting element for applying light to said test strip while said tip is mounted on said tip mount, a light-detecting element for detecting light reflected from said test strip, and a holder in which is accommodated said light-emitting element and said light-detecting element,

wherein said holder has a passage for passing said light and said reflected light therethrough, and a light-transmissive member is held to said holder by a holder member in a portion of the holder which is adapted to face said test strip, and the light-transmissive member closing said passage with a sealing member interposed therebetween.

6. The component measuring device according to claim 2, wherein said holder member has an abutment portion held in abutment against said light-transmissive member, said abutment portion having an opening through which passes said light and said reflected light.

7. The component measuring device according to claim 6, wherein said opening has a cross-sectional area which is substantially constant from an outer end thereof to an inner end thereof.

8. The component measuring device according to claim 6, wherein said opening has a cross-sectional area which is progressively reduced from an outer end thereof to an inner end thereof.

9. The component measuring device according to claim 6, wherein said opening has an average cross-sectional area ranging from 0.1 to 100 mm².

26. The component measuring device according to claim 2, wherein said light-transmissive member isolates said test strip and said passage of said holder from each other when said tip is mounted on said tip mount.

27. The component measuring device according to claim 2, wherein said light-transmissive member comprises a flat plate and has a surface lying substantially flush with an end face of said holder and facing the test strip when the tip is mounted on the tip mount.

28. The component measuring device according to claim 2, wherein said sealing member is made of an elastomeric material.

10. A component measuring device for measuring a quantity and/or a property of a given component in a specimen by colorimetrically measuring a test member, comprising:

a tip mount for removably mounting a tip having the test member;

a photometric unit having a light-emitting element for applying light to said test member of said tip for measurement, a light-detecting element for detecting light reflected by said test member, and a holder in which is accommodated said light-emitting element and said light-detecting element;

a light-shielding test tip for being removably mounted on said tip mount,

wherein said holder has a passage for passing said light and said reflected light therethrough, and a light-transmissive member is disposed in a portion of said holder which is adapted to face said test member; and

stain detecting means for detecting a stain on said light-transmissive member based on an amount of light detected by said light-detecting element when light is emitted from said light-emitting element while said test tip is mounted on said tip mount,

wherein said stain detecting means is arranged to determine that there is a stain on said light-transmissive member if an amount of light detected by said light-detecting element is greater than a threshold.

11. The component measuring device according to claim 10, wherein said test tip has a lid-like member for covering a distal end of said tip mount.

12. The component measuring device according to claim 11, wherein at least said lid-like member of said test tip is black or dark in color.

13. The component measuring device according to claim 11, wherein the distance from the distal end of said tip mount to an inner wall of said lid-like member at a distal end thereof is 10 mm or greater while said test tip is mounted on said tip mount.

15. The component measuring device according to claim 10, wherein a stain on said light-transmissive member is detected while said tip is not mounted on said tip mount.

16. The component measuring device according to claim 10, wherein a stain on said light-transmissive member is detected when a power supply of the component measuring device is turned on.

17. The component measuring device according to claim 10, having a stain detecting mode for detecting a stain on said light-transmissive member.

18. The component measuring device according to claim 10, further comprising storage means for storing results from the stain detecting means, wherein a stain on said light-transmissive member is detected after measurement, and a detected result is stored in said storage means.

19. The component measuring device according to claim 18, wherein when a stain on said light-transmissive member is not detected, information stored in said storage means is used.

20. The component measuring device according to claim 18, wherein when the component measuring device is powered on with said tip mounted on said tip mount, a stain on said light-transmissive member is not detected and information stored in said storage means is used.

21. The component measuring device according to claim 10, further comprising indicating means for indicating a detected result produced in detecting a stain on said light-transmissive member.

22. The component measuring device according to claim 10, wherein said light-transmissive member closes said passage with a sealing member interposed therebetween.

14. A component measuring device for measuring a quantity and/or a property of a given component in a specimen by colorimetrically measuring a test member, comprising:

a photometric unit having a light-emitting element for applying light to said test member for measurement, and a light-detecting element for detecting light reflected from said test member,

wherein said photometric unit has a passage for passing said light and said reflected light therethrough, and a light-transmissive member is disposed in a portion of said photometric unit which is adapted to face said test member; and

stain detecting means for detecting a stain on said light-transmissive member based on an amount of light detected by said light-detecting element when light is emitted from said light-emitting element,

wherein said stain detecting means is arranged to determine that there is a stain on said light-transmissive member if the amount of light detected by said light-detecting element is greater than a threshold.

29. The component measuring device according to claim 14, wherein a stain on said light-transmissive member is detected while said tip is not mounted on said tip mount.

30. The component measuring device according to claim 14, wherein a stain on said light-transmissive member is detected when a power supply of the component measuring device is turned on.

31. The component measuring device according to claim 14, having a stain detecting mode for detecting a stain on said light-transmissive member.

32. The component measuring device according to claim 14, further comprising storage means for storing results from the stain detecting means, wherein a stain on said light-transmissive member is detected after measurement, and a detected result is stored in said storage means.

33. The component measuring device according to claim 14, further comprising indicating means for indicating a detected result produced in detecting a stain on said light-transmissive member.

34. The component measuring device according to claim 14, wherein said light-transmissive member closes said passage with a sealing member interposed therebetween.

23. A component measuring device for measuring a quantity and/or a property of a given component in a specimen by colorimetrically measuring a test member, comprising:

a tip mount for removably mounting a tip having the test member; and

a photometric unit having a light-emitting element for applying light to said test member while said tip is mounted on said tip mount, a light-detecting element for detecting light reflected from said test member, and a holder in which is accommodated said light-emitting element and said light-detecting element,

wherein a light-transmissive member is disposed in a portion of said holder which is adapted to face said test member; and

wherein the average distance between said test member and said light-transmissive member while said tip is mounted on said tip mount is 1.5 mm or greater.

25. The component measuring device according to claim 23, wherein when said test member is impregnated with said specimen, a water vapor is produced from a surface of said test member which faces said light-transmissive member.

24. A component measuring device for measuring a quantity and/or a property of a given component in a specimen by colorimetrically measuring a test member, comprising:

a tip mount for removably mounting a tip having the test member; and

a photometric unit having a light-emitting element for applying light to said test member while said tip is mounted on said tip mount, a light-detecting element for detecting reflected light reflected from said test member, and a holder in which is accommodated said light-emitting element and said light-detecting element,

wherein a light-transmissive member is disposed in a portion of said holder which is adapted to face said test member, and a value produced by dividing the volume of a space defined between said test member and said light-transmissive member by the area of a surface of said test member in said space while said tip is mounted on said tip mount is 1.5 mm or greater.

35. The component measuring device according to claim 24, wherein when said test member is impregnated with said specimen, a water vapor is produced from a surface of said test member which faces said light-transmissive member.