BIOLOGICAL COMPONENT-MEASURING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CALIBRATING THE SAME

• US 20110198241A1
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikkiso Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nikkiso Company Limited
• Inventors: Murakami, Motoaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,236,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/792
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3274 Corrective measures, e.g. error detection, compensation for temperature or hematocrit, calibration coding of calibration information G01N33/48771
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00693 Calibration

Abstract

This invention provides a biological component-measuring device, enabling the operator to easily calibrate the entire device and capable of measuring biological components accurately, and a method for calibrating the device. The device measures a sample including a body fluid taken through a body fluid sampler by sending it with a pump through a sample channel to a sensor. The device further includes a calibrating liquid channel through which a calibrating liquid can be supplied to the sensor via the sample channel by a switching of a first flow path changeover valve placed in the sample channel at a location upstream of the pump and connected to the channel. The method includes introducing the calibrating liquid in the calibrating liquid channel, via other channels, into the sensor by switching the valve.

Claims

1. A biological component-measuring device in which a sample including a body fluid taken by a body fluid sampler is transferred to a sensor through a sample channel by a pump and a biological component in the sample is measured by the sensor, comprising:

a first flow path changeover valve placed in the sample channel at a location upstream of the pump; and

a calibrating liquid channel connected to the first flow path changeover valve, capable of supplying a calibrating liquid to the sensor through the sample channel by a switching operation of the first flow path changeover valve.

2. A biological component-measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a body fluid-diluting liquid channel for supplying a body fluid- diluting liquid to the body fluid sampler.

3. A biological component-measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second flow path changeover valve placed in the body fluid-diluting liquid channel; and

a second body fluid-diluting liquid channel, connected to the second flow path changeover valve, capable of mixing the body fluid-diluting liquid in the body fluid-diluting liquid channel with the calibrating liquid by a switching operation of the second flow path changeover valve.

4. A biological component-measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a flushing liquid channel through which a flushing liquid flows, the flushing liquid channel connected with the sample channel via a third flow path changeover valve at a location between the body fluid sampler and the first flow path changeover valve, and/or between the second flow path changeover valve and the body fluid sampler.

5. The biological component-measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the flushing liquid includes a predetermined concentration of biological components.

6. A biological component-measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a first diluent channel through which a diluent for diluting the sample in the sample channel flows, the first diluent channel connected with the sample channel at a location downstream of the first flow path changeover valve.

7. A biological component-measuring device according to claim 6, further comprising a gas channel connected to the first diluent channel or a junction of the first diluent channel and the sample channel.

16. A method of calibrating the biological component-measuring device according to claim 1, comprising transferring the calibrating liquid from the calibrating liquid channel to the sensor via the sample channel by a switching of the first flow path changeover valve.

17. A method of calibrating the biological component-measuring device according to claim 6, comprising:

a first operation of carrying out a zero point calibration of the biological component-measuring device by supplying the diluent to the sample channel from the first diluent channel prior to sampling a biological component;

a second operation of supplying the flushing liquid to the sample channel while the biological component is being measured; and

a third operation of introducing the calibrating liquid in the calibrating liquid channel into the sensor via the sample channel by a switching of the first flow path changeover valve, without introducing the flushing liquid into the sensor.

18. A method of calibrating the biological component-measuring device according to claim 4, comprising:

a first operation of supplying a first portion of the flushing liquid at a first flow rate that is larger than a flow rate of the sample, to the sample channel from the flushing liquid channel while a biological component is being measured;

a second operation of introducing the calibrating liquid into the sensor by a switching of the first flow path changeover valve placed in the sample channel, after the first portion of the flushing liquid is introduced into the sample channel and the sensor; and

a third operation of introducing a second portion of the flushing liquid at a flow rate smaller than the first flow rate into the sample channel at a location upstream of the first flow path changeover valve and into the body fluid sampler during the second operation, to prevent the body fluid from flowing into the part filled with the second portion of the flushing liquid.

8. A biological component-measuring device comprising:

a biological component-measuring device proper; and

a channel-carrying substrate, in which a sample including a body fluid taken by a body fluid sampler is transferred to a sensor through a sample channel by a pump and a biological component in the sample is measured by the sensor, the channel-carrying substrate including;

a substrate detachably mountable on the biological component-measuring device proper;

a sample channel connectable to the body fluid sampler and the sensor for measuring a biological component in the sample including the body fluid taken by the body fluid sampler, the sample channel fixed to the substrate so as to be capable of transferring the sample to the sensor by the pump; and

a calibrating liquid channel connectable to a calibrating liquid tank, and connected to the sample channel at a location upstream of the pump via a first flow path changeover valve, the calibrating liquid channel fixed to the substrate so as to be capable of supplying a calibrating liquid stored in the calibrating liquid tank to the sample channel.

9. A biological component-measuring device according to claim 8, the substrate further comprising a body fluid-diluting liquid channel fixed thereto, connectable to a body fluid-diluting liquid tank, for supplying a body fluid-diluting liquid stored in the body fluid-diluting liquid tank to the body fluid sampler.

10. A biological component-measuring device according to claim 8, further comprising:

a second flow path changeover valve placed in the body fluid-diluting liquid channel; and

a second body fluid-diluting liquid channel, connected to the second flow path changeover valve, capable of mixing the body fluid-diluting liquid in the body fluid-diluting liquid channel with the calibrating liquid by a switching operation of the second flow path changeover valve.

11. A biological component-measuring device according to claim 8, the substrate further comprising a flushing liquid channel through which a flushing liquid flows, the flushing liquid channel connectable to a flushing liquid tank and connected with the sample channel at a location between the body fluid sampler and the first flow path changeover valve, and/or between the second flow path changeover valve and the body fluid sampler.

12. The biological component-measuring device according to claim 8, wherein the flushing liquid includes a predetermined concentration of biological components.

13. A biological component-measuring device according to claim 8, the substrate further provided with a first diluent channel through which a diluent for diluting the sample in the sample channel flows, the first diluent channel connectable to a diluent tank and connected with the sample channel at a location downstream of the first flow path changeover valve.

14. A biological component-measuring device according to claim 13, the substrate further provided with a gas channel connected to the first diluent channel or a junction of the first diluent channel and the sample channel.

15. The biological component-measuring device according to any claim 8, wherein the calibrating liquid tank is placed at a lower level than the body fluid sampler.

19. A method of calibrating the biological component-measuring device according to claim 13, comprising:

a first operation of carrying out a zero point calibration of the biological component-measuring device by supplying the diluent to the sample channel from the first diluent channel prior to sampling a biological component;

a second operation of supplying the flushing liquid to the sample channel while the biological component is being measured; and

a third operation of introducing the calibrating liquid in the calibrating liquid channel into the sensor via the sample channel by a switching of the first flow path changeover valve, without introducing the flushing liquid into the sensor.

20. A method of calibrating the biological component-measuring device according to claim 11, comprising:

a first operation of supplying a first portion of the flushing liquid at a first flow rate that is larger than a flow rate of the sample, to the sample channel from the flushing liquid channel while a biological component is being measured;

a second operation of introducing the calibrating liquid into the sensor by a switching of the first flow path changeover valve placed in the sample channel, after the first portion of the flushing liquid is introduced into the sample channel and the sensor; and

a third operation of introducing a second portion of the flushing liquid at a flow rate smaller than the first flow rate into the sample channel at a location upstream of the first flow path changeover valve and into the body fluid sampler during the second operation, to prevent the body fluid from flowing into the part filled with the second portion of the flushing liquid.