Blood test apparatus

• US 8,206,318 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PHC Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Uchiyama, Motonori, Fujiwara, Masaki, Akiyama, Toshihiro, Amano, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoekstra, Jeffrey G
• Application Number:
  US12/293,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20100234768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,923 Days
• Field of Search: 600573-584, 606/167, 606/181
• US Class Current: 600/583
• 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 5/150954 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 5/15134 Bladeless capillary blood sampling devices, i.e. devices for perforating the skin in order to obtain a blood sample but not using a blade, needle, canula, or lancet, e.g. by laser perforation, suction or pressurized fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15138 provided with means to ensure the protection of the user, e.g. to avoid laser light entering the eyes of a user
• 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 means of easily removing a portion of blood bleeding from pierced skin, which has not been taken into a blood sensor but remained on the skin, in a blood test with the use of a blood test apparatus. By using this means, it becomes unnecessary in the blood test to separately prepare a paper sheet, etc. for wiping off. More specifically speaking, a blood test apparatus wherein a blood sensor is provided within a blood sensor unit detachable to the blood test apparatus body and the blood sensor unit has a part to be in contact with the skin in the test and an absorption means. It is favorable that the part to be in contact with the skin in the test serves as the absorption means.

Claims

1. A blood test apparatus comprising:

an apparatus body that has an opening part;

a blood sensor that is held at the opening part;

a puncturing section that is provided inside the apparatus body and that punctures skin;

an electrical circuit section that is connected to the blood sensor; and

a power supply section that supplies power to the electrical circuit section, wherein;

the blood sensor is included in a blood sensor unit that can be attached to and removed from the apparatus body, and forms therein a blood storing part which can sample a body fluid including blood to be tested; and

the blood sensor unit has a part that contacts the skin upon a blood test, and has an absorbing section for absorbing a body fluid including a part of blood from punctured skin punctured with the puncturing section, said blood part not being sampled with the blood storing part so as to remain on the punctured skin; and

the absorbing section including a blood absorbing member is set apart and distinct from the blood storing part, and is arranged closer to the part that contacts the skin upon the blood test than is the storing part.

2. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the absorbing section contacts with the skin upon the test.

3. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the absorbing section comprises a groove that produces capillary action.

4. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the absorbing section comprises one or a plurality of grooves that are formed in a lower face, outer face or inner face of the blood sensor unit.

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

the lower face of the blood sensor unit is inclined with respect to a contacting skin surface; and

an inner periphery of the lower face of the blood sensor unit projects toward the skin further than an outer periphery of the lower face of the blood sensor unit.

6. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the absorbing section comprises one or a plurality of absorbent elastic members.

7. The blood test apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the elastic member is impregnated with an antiseptic.

8. The blood test apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the elastic member is placed in the lower face, outer face or inner face of the blood sensor unit.

9. The blood test apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the elastic member is embedded inside the lower face, outer face or inner face of the blood sensor unit.

10. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the absorbing section comprises an accordion-shaped extensible member.

11. The blood test apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a seal member is placed in a tip of the accordion-shaped extensible material.

12. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the absorbing section comprises an absorbent elastic member that is placed outside the blood sensor unit, and a through-hole that communicates between the elastic member and an interior of the blood sensor unit.

13. The blood test apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the absorbing section comprises a plurality of the through-holes.

14. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a negative pressure section that is provided inside the apparatus body,

wherein the negative pressure section can create a negative pressure inside the blood sensor unit.

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

the absorbing section comprises a groove that produces capillary action and communicates with an interior of the blood sensor unit; and

the blood test apparatus further comprises a negative pressure section that is provided inside the apparatus body and that can create a negative pressure inside the blood sensor unit.

16. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the absorbing section comprises a groove that produces capillary action and one or a plurality of absorbent elastic bodies.