BLOOD TEST METHOD AND BLOOD TEST APPARATUS

• US 20090177117A1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Amano, Yoshinori, Fujiwara, Masaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,998,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/583
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14535 for measuring haematocrit
• 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 5/150213 Venting means
• 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 5/150412 Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150519 Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the single-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150595 by snap-lock (i.e. based on axial displacement)
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150641 comprising means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from covering to uncovering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150702 fully automatically removed, i.e. the removing does not require any action by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150755 Blood sample preparation for further analysis, e.g. by separating blood components or by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15087 short range, e.g. between console and disposable using implanted devices A61B5/150877
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150954 Means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. by temperature sensitive sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15109 Fully automatically triggered, i.e. the triggering does not require a deliberate action by the user, e.g. by contact with the patient's skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15113 Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15117 comprising biased elements, resilient elements or a spring, e.g. a helical spring, leaf spring, or elastic strap
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1513 comprising linear sliding guides comprising tooth-shaped elements A61B5/15132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1519 : comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for propelling the piercing unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 : Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood

Abstract

It is intended to provide a blood test apparatus whereby the vicinity of a site to be punctured for collecting the blood can be negatively pressurized and the negative pressurization can be conducted at an appropriate time without resorting to a special operation, thereby facilitating a blood test. More specifically speaking, a blood test apparatus which comprises: a housing having an opening: a puncture means located in the opening; a first sensing means whereby the contact of the front face of the opening with a site to be punctured is detected; a negative pressurization means whereby the inside of the opening is negatively pressurized; a blood sensor whereby the blood, that flows out from the punctured site having been punctured by the puncture means after negatively pressurizing the inside of the opening by the negative pressurization means, is collected; and a measurement circuit whereby a signal obtained from the blood sensor analyzing components in the blood is measured, wherein the negative pressurization means starts up when the first sensing means detects the contact of the front face of the opening with the site to be punctured.

Claims

1. A blood test apparatus comprising:

a housing with an opening part;

a puncturing section that is arranged inside the opening part;

a first sensing section that detects a contact between a part to be punctured and a front surface of the opening part;

a negative pressure section that creates a negative pressure inside the opening part;

a blood sensor that samples blood flowing out from the part punctured with the puncturing section after the negative pressure is created inside the opening part by the negative pressure section; and

a measuring circuit that measures a signal obtained from the blood sensor to analyze components in the blood, wherein;

the blood sensor is arranged projecting from the front surface of the opening part and held so as to be able to move in and out of the housing through the opening part; and

the negative pressure section starts when the first sensing section detects a contact between the part to be punctured and the front surface of the opening part.

2. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the negative pressure section stops when the first sensing section detects a non-contact between the part to be punctured and the front surface of the opening part.

3. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first sensing section detects that the blood sensor is forced into the opening part by the part to be punctured.

4. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first sensing section comprises a mechanical switch provided in the opening part and is pressed when the blood sensor is forced into the opening part by the part to be punctured.

5. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first sensing section comprises an electrical switch or an optical switch provided in the opening part and detects an electrical change or an optical change caused when the blood sensor is forced into the opening part by the part to be punctured.

6. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second sensing section that detects a plumpness of the part to be punctured by the negative pressure.

7. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the puncturing section performs puncturing after the second sensing section detects a plumpness of the part to be punctured.

8. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second sensing section detects that the blood sensor is forced into the opening part by the plumped up part to be punctured.

9. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the blood sensor comprises;

a storing part to which blood flowing out from the part punctured with the puncturing section is led;

a supply channel, one end of which communicates with the storing part, and into which the blood in the storing part flows;

a detecting section which is provided in the supply channel, and in which electrode system is arranged; and

an air hole which communicates with the other end of the supply channel,

wherein the negative pressure section creates a negative pressure in the supply channel via the air hole to facilitate an inflow of the blood in the storing part to the supply channel.

10. The blood test apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

the blood sensor comprises;

a storing part to which blood flowing out from the part punctured with the puncturing section is led;

a supply channel, one end of which communicates with the storing part, and into which the blood in the storing part flows;

a detecting section which is provided in the supply channel, and in which electrode system is arranged; and

an air hole which communicates with the other end of the supply channel,

wherein the negative pressure section creates a negative pressure in the supply channel via the air hole to facilitate an inflow of the blood in the storing part to the supply channel.

11. The blood test apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the negative pressure section stops when the electrode system detect an inflow of the blood to the supply channel.

12. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the puncturing section comprises:

a lancet, one end of which is held by a plunger that moves back and forth inside the housing; and

a blood collection needle attached to the other end of the lancet.

13. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the blood sensor formed integrated with a holder holding the blood sensor configures a blood sampling cartridge; and

the blood sampling cartridge is attached to the opening part removably.

14. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the puncturing section and the blood sensor are integrated with a holder and configure a blood sampling cartridge;

the puncturing section comprises;

a lancet, one end of which is held by a plunger that moves back and forth inside the housing; and

a blood collection needle attached to the other end of the lancet; and

the blood sampling cartridge is attached to the opening part removably.

15. The blood test apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the puncturing section and the blood sensor in the blood sampling cartridge attached to the opening part are held so as to be able to move relative to each other.

16. The blood test apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first sensing section detects a move of the blood sensor of the blood sampling cartridge attached to the opening part, toward inside the opening part.

17. A method for examining blood with the blood test apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

a first step of detecting a contact between the part to be punctured and the front surface of the opening part, by the first sensing section;

a second step of creating a negative pressure inside the opening part by the negative pressure section;

a third step of puncturing the part to be punctured by the puncturing section;

a fourth step of sampling blood flowing out from the punctured part in the blood sensor; and

a fifth step of analyzing components in the sampled blood.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of detecting a non-contact between the part of the skin to be punctured and the front surface of the opening part by the first sensing section and stopping the negative pressure section.

19. A method for examining blood with the blood test apparatus according to claim 9, comprising:

a first step of detecting a contact between the part to be punctured and the front surface of the opening part, by the first sensing section;

a second step of creating a negative pressure inside the opening part by the negative pressure section;

a third step of puncturing the part to be punctured by the puncturing section;

a fourth step of sampling blood flowing out from the punctured part in the blood sensor;

a fifth step of detecting an inflow of the blood to the blood supply channel by the electrode system and stopping the negative pressure section; and

a sixth step of analyzing components in the sampled blood.

20. A method for examining blood with the blood test apparatus according to claim 10, comprising:

a first step of detecting a contact between the part to be punctured and the front surface of the opening part, by the first sensing section;

a second step of creating a negative pressure in the opening part by the negative pressure section;

a third step of detecting a plumpness of the part to be punctured, by the second sensing section;

a fourth step of puncturing the part to be punctured by the puncturing section;

a fifth step of sampling blood flowing out from the punctured part in the blood sensor;

a sixth step of detecting an inflow of the blood to the blood supply channel by the electrode system and stopping the negative pressure section; and

a seventh step of analyzing components in the sampled blood.