Test piece for measuring biological sample and biological sample measurement apparatus

• US 8,262,876 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PHC Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Manabe, Kazuo, Imai, Norio, Oozawa, Akiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ball, J. Christopher
• Application Number:
  US12/528,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20100108508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 20440301-40315, 204/406, 204/271, 422/82.01, 435/4, 435 10- 28
• US Class Current: 204/406
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0295 Strip shaped analyte sensors for apparatus classified in A61B5/145 or A61B5/157 disposable multilayered or laminated electrodes G01N27/307; details of handling chemical test elements G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3273 Devices therefor, e.g. test element readers, circuitry details not specific to biochemical electrodes G01N33/4875
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48792 Data management, e.g. communication with processing unit for in vivo diagnostics A61B5/0002; transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A blood glucose measurement device (50) comprises a test piece insertion unit (10) for inserting, holding, and electrically connecting a test piece on which an electrode pattern has been formed, a measurement circuit (16) for electrochemically measuring a biological sample that has been placed in the form of a spot on the test piece, a communication circuit (15) for transmitting the result of measurement with the measurement circuit (16) by wireless communication using an antenna electrode (2C) equipped with the test piece, and a switch (14) that is connected to the test piece insertion unit (10) for switching between the measurement circuit (16) and the communication circuit (15).

Claims

1. A biological sample measurement apparatus, comprising:

a test piece for measuring a biological sample having a measurement electrode for electrochemically measuring the biological sample that has been placed in the form of a spot in a specific location;

a test piece insertion unit for inserting, holding, and electrically connecting the test piece;

a measurement circuit for electrochemically measuring a biological sample that has been placed in the form of a spot on the test piece;

a communication circuit for transmitting the result measured with the measurement circuit by wireless communication by using the measurement electrode of the test piece connected via the test piece insertion unit as a communications antenna; and

a switch that is connected to the test piece insertion unit, for switching between the measurement circuit and the communication circuit.

2. The biological sample measurement apparatus according to claim 1,

further comprising an insertion/removal detection circuit for detecting that the test piece has been inserted into the test piece insertion unit.

3. The biological sample measurement apparatus according to claim 2,

further comprising an auxiliary antenna connected to the communication circuit;

and

a communication controller for controlling communication in the communication circuit,

wherein the communication controller instructs the communication circuit to retransmit via the auxiliary antenna if communication has not been completed upon detection by the insertion/removal detection circuit that no test piece has been mounted.

4. The biological sample measurement apparatus according to claim 2,

further comprising a communication controller for controlling communication in the communication circuit,

wherein the communication controller instructs the communication circuit to retransmit upon detection of the insertion of the next test piece if communication has not been completed upon detection by the insertion/removal detection circuit that no test piece has been mounted.

5. The biological sample measurement apparatus according to claim claim 1,

further comprising a display device for displaying the result of measurement by the measurement circuit;

and

a display controller for controlling the display of the display device,

wherein the display controller controls the display device so that the result of measurement is not displayed until the transmission of the measurement result by the communication circuit is complete.

6. The biological sample measurement apparatus according to claim claim 1,

further comprising a display device for displaying the result of measurement by the measurement circuit;

and

a display controller for controlling the display of the display device,

wherein the display controller controls the display device so that the fact that communication is in progress is displayed until transmission of the result of measurement by the communication circuit is complete.

7. A biological sample measurement apparatus, comprising:

a test piece for measuring a biological sample having a measurement electrode for electrochemically measuring the biological sample that has been placed in the form of a spot in a specific location and an antenna electrode that functions as a communications antenna;

a test piece insertion unit for inserting, holding, and electrically connecting the test piece;

a measurement circuit for electrochemically measuring a biological sample that has been placed in the form of a spot on the test piece;

a communication circuit for transmitting the result measured with the measurement circuit by wireless communication by using the antenna electrode of the test piece connected via the test piece insertion unit; and

an antenna pattern disposed between the communication circuit and an electrode within the test piece insertion unit to which the antenna electrode of the test piece is connected.

8. The biological sample measurement apparatus according to claim 7,

further comprising an insertion/removal detection circuit for detecting that the test piece has been inserted into the test piece insertion unit.

9. The biological sample measurement apparatus according to claim 8,

further comprising an auxiliary antenna connected to the communication circuit;

and

a communication controller for controlling communication in the communication circuit,

wherein the communication controller instructs the communication circuit to retransmit via the auxiliary antenna if communication has not been completed upon detection by the insertion/removal detection circuit that no test piece has been mounted.

10. The biological sample measurement apparatus according to claim 8,

further comprising a communication controller for controlling communication in the communication circuit,

wherein the communication controller instructs the communication circuit to retransmit upon detection of the insertion of the next test piece if communication has not been completed upon detection by the insertion/removal detection circuit that no test piece has been mounted.

11. The biological sample measurement apparatus according to claim 7,

further comprising a display device for displaying the result of measurement by the measurement circuit;

and

a display controller for controlling the display of the display device,

wherein the display controller controls the display device so that the result of measurement is not displayed until the transmission of the measurement result by the communication circuit is complete.

12. The biological sample measurement apparatus according to claim 7,

further comprising a display device for displaying the result of measurement by the measurement circuit;

and

a display controller for controlling the display of the display device,

wherein the display controller controls the display device so that the fact that communication is in progress is displayed until transmission of the result of measurement by the communication circuit is complete.

13. A biological sample measurement apparatus, comprising:

a test piece for measuring a biological sample having a measurement electrode for electrochemically measuring the biological sample that has been placed in the form of a spot in a specific location and an antenna electrode that functions as a communications antenna;

a test piece insertion unit for inserting, holding, and electrically connecting the test piece;

a measurement circuit for electrochemically measuring a biological sample that has been placed in the form of a spot on the test piece; and

a communication circuit for transmitting the result measured with the measurement circuit by wireless communication by using the antenna electrode of the test piece connected via the test piece insertion unit;

an insertion/removal detection circuit for detecting that the test piece has been inserted into the test piece insertion unit;

an auxiliary antenna connected to the communication circuit; and

a communication controller for controlling communication in the communication circuit,

wherein the communication controller instructs the communication circuit to retransmit via the auxiliary antenna if communication has not been completed upon detection by the insertion/removal detection circuit that no test piece has been mounted.

14. The biological sample measurement apparatus according to claim 13,

further comprising a display device for displaying the result of measurement by the measurement circuit;

and

a display controller for controlling the display of the display device,

wherein the display controller controls the display device so that the result of measurement is not displayed until the transmission of the measurement result by the communication circuit is complete.

15. The biological sample measurement apparatus according to claim 13,

further comprising a display device for displaying the result of measurement by the measurement circuit;

and

a display controller for controlling the display of the display device,

wherein the display controller controls the display device so that the fact that communication is in progress is displayed until transmission of the result of measurement by the communication circuit is complete.

16. A biological sample measurement apparatus, comprising:

a test piece for measuring a biological sample having a measurement electrode for electrochemically measuring the biological sample that has been placed in the form of a spot in a specific location and an antenna electrode that functions as a communications antenna;

a test piece insertion unit for inserting, holding, and electrically connecting the test piece;

a measurement circuit for electrochemically measuring a biological sample that has been placed in the form of a spot on the test piece; and

a communication circuit for transmitting the result measured with the measurement circuit by wireless communication by using the antenna electrode of the test piece connected via the test piece insertion unit;

an insertion/removal detection circuit for detecting that the test piece has been inserted into the test piece insertion unit;

a communication controller for controlling communication in the communication circuit,

wherein the communication controller instructs the communication circuit to retransmit upon detection of the insertion of the next test piece if communication has not been completed upon detection by the insertion/removal detection circuit that no test piece has been mounted.