Body fluid testing device

• US 6,349,229 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2000
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PHC Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ikeda, Shin, Yoshioka, Toshihiko, Watanabe, Motokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Application Number:
  US09/445,557
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 600/345, 600/309, 600/346, 600/347, 600/348, 600/349, 600/352, 600/353, 600/354, 600/355, 600/356, 600/357, 600/359, 600/360, 600/361, 600/365, 600/573, 600/576, 600/578, 600/579, 600/583, 606/181-183
• US Class Current: 600/345
• 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 5/150229 Pumps for assisting the blood sampling
• 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 5/150954 Means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. by temperature sensitive sensor
• 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 5/15136 by use of radiation, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15142 Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable

Abstract

An examination system for bodily fluids includes a vessel-like examination unit having an opening, a sensor for examining the bodily fluids, and a bodily-fluids-oozing device. This system is further provided with a pump for decompressing the inside of the unit and an electromagnetic cross-valve for releasing the decompressed condition, or still further provided with humidifying means for supplying vapor inside the unit, in addition to the pump and the valve. As a result, the system produces a precise measurement with a little amount of bodily fluid.

Claims

1. A bodily-fluids-examination-system comprising:

a vessel-like examination unit having an opening in front;

decompressing means for decompressing an inside of said unit;

a sensor holder in said unit;

a specimen collector disposed in said unit and facing the opening; and

a bodily-fluids-oozing-device.

2. The bodily-fluids-examination-system as defined in claim 1, wherein said bodily-fluids-oozing-device includes one of a needle and a laser beam radiator.

3. The bodily-fluids-examination-system as defined claim 1, further comprising decompress-releasing-means for restoring a decompressed condition in said unit to atmospheric pressure.

4. A bodily-fluids-examination-system comprising:

a vessel-like examination unit having an opening in front;

humidifying means for humidifying an inside of said unit;

a bodily-fluids-oozing-device; and

a specimen collector disposed in said unit and facing the opening.

5. The bodily-fluids-examination-system as defined in claim 4 further comprising decompressing means for decompressing the inside of said unit.

6. The bodily-fluids-examination-system as defined claim 5, further comprising decompress-releasing-means for restoring a decompressed condition in said unit to atmospheric pressure.

7. The bodily-fluids-examination-system as defined in claim 5, wherein said bodily-fluids-oozing-device includes one of a needle and a laser beam radiator.

8. The bodily-fluids-examination-system as defined in claim 4, wherein said bodily-fluids-oozing-device includes one of a needle and a laser beam radiator.

9. A bodily-fluids-examination-system comprising:

a vessel-like examination unit having an opening in front;

decompressing means for decompressing an inside of said unit;

decompress-releasing-means for restoring a decompressed condition in said unit to atmospheric pressure;

a bodily-fluids-oozing-device;

a specimen collector disposed in said unit and facing the opening;

a sensor, having an electrode system for contacting with a specimen supplied from said specimen collector, for outputting information regarding the specimen as an electric signal from the electrode system;

determining means for determining a measured value of the specimen based on the electric signal;

a controller for controlling said decompressing means, said decompress-releasing-means and said sensor,

wherein said system allows said decompress-releasing-means to function after said sensor outputs the electric signal.

10. A bodily-fluids-examination-system comprising:

a vessel-like examination unit having an opening in front;

decompressing means for decompressing an inside of said unit;

decompress-releasing-means for restoring a decompressed condition in said unit to atmospheric pressure;

a bodily-fluids-oozing-device;

a specimen collector disposed in said unit and facing the opening;

a sensor, having an electrode system for contacting with a specimen supplied from said specimen collector, for outputting information regarding the specimen as an electric signal from the electrode system;

determining means for determining a measured value of the specimen based on the electric signal;

a controller for controlling said decompressing means, said decompress-releasing-means and said sensor,

wherein said system allows said decompressing means to function after said bodily-fluids-oozing-device operates as well as said decompress-releasing-means to function after said sensor outputs the electric signal.

11. A bodily-fluids-examination-system comprising:

a vessel-like examination unit having an opening in front;

humidifying means for humidifying an inside of said unit;

decompressing means for decompressing the inside of said unit;

decompress-releasing-means for restoring a decompressed condition in said unit to atmospheric pressure;

a bodily-fluids-oozing-device;

a specimen collector disposed in said unit and facing the opening;

a sensor, having an electrode system for contacting with a specimen supplied from said specimen collector, for outputting information regarding the specimen as an electric signal from the electrode system;

determining means for determining a measuring value of the specimen based on the electric signal;

a controller for controlling said humidifying means, said decompressing means, said decompress-releasing-means and said sensor,

wherein said system allows said bodily-fluids-oozing-device to function after said humidifying means operates, and also allows said decompressing means to function after said bodily-fluids-oozing-device operates as well as said decompress-releasing-means to function after said sensor outputs the electric signal.