Blood inspection device

• US 8,437,828 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PHC Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Toshiki, Akiyama, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEARE, MEREDITH H
• Application Number:
  US12/523,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20100030037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,938 Days
• Field of Search: 600345-361, 606/9, 606167-189
• US Class Current: 600/345
• 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 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• 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 5/150824 by visual feedback
• 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 5/15138 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 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood

Abstract

A blood inspection device capable of separately discharging a sensor and a filter by using a single discharger means. The blood inspection device has a housing provided with a circular hollow cylindrical body having an opening. A filter including a filter is provided inside the cylindrical body, and a sensor is provided outside the cylindrical body. A body of the discharger is slidable outside the cylindrical body. A first discharge section of the discharge comes into contact with the sensor unit to push out and discharge it. A second discharge section of the discharger comes into contact with the filter to push out and discharge it.

Claims

1. A blood test apparatus comprising:

a housing that comprises an open cylindrical body having a cylindrical shape;

a sensor unit that includes a blood sensor which analyzes blood and that is detachably attached to the open cylindrical body;

a filter unit that includes a filter which protects an interior of the housing and that is detachably attached to the open cylindrical body; and

an ejector that is slidably attached to the open cylindrical body, that moves the sensor unit toward an open side of the open cylindrical body to first push out and eject the sensor unit from the open cylindrical body of the housing and that then moves the filter unit toward the open side of the open cylindrical body to push out and eject the filter unit from the open cylindrical body of the housing,

wherein the sensor unit comprises a first holder that holds the blood sensor, and the filter unit comprises a second holder that holds the filter, and

wherein the ejector comprises more than one ejector including a first ejector for ejecting the sensor unit and a second ejector for eject the filter unit,

the first ejector is configured to abut the first holder to push out the sensor unit, and

the second ejector is configured to abut the second holder to push out the filter unit.

2. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first ejector and the second ejector are integrally formed.

3. The blood test apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sensor unit can be replaced while the filter unit is kept attached to the open cylindrical body.

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

the housing accommodates a laser emitting apparatus within the housing, the laser emitting apparatus radiates laser light on skin through an interior of the open cylindrical body and punctures the skin;

the filter unit is arranged between the laser emitting apparatus and the sensor unit; and

the filter allows the laser light to pass therethrough.

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

the housing accommodates an optical reader within the housing, the optical reader radiates light on skin through an interior of the open cylindrical body and detects an amount of received reflected light;

the filter unit is arranged between the optical reader and the sensor unit; and

the filter allows the light to pass therethrough.

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

the housing accommodates therein;

a laser emitting apparatus that radiates laser light on skin through an interior of the open cylindrical body and punctures the skin; and

an optical reader that radiates light on the skin through the interior of the open cylindrical body and detects an amount of received reflected light;

the filter unit is arranged between the laser emitting apparatus and the sensor unit, and between the optical reader and the sensor unit; and

the filter allows the laser light and the light to pass therethrough.

7. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the open cylindrical body further comprises a lock that locks the ejector at a time after the sensor unit is ejected and before the filter unit is ejected.

8. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connector that is provided in a front end of the open cylindrical body and that contacts a connection electrode of the blood sensor when the sensor unit is attached to the housing; and

an electrical circuit that connects with the connector and measures components of blood.

9. The blood test apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the ejector comprises a cover that projects from the connector when the sensor unit is ejected.

10. The blood test apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cover part has a tapered shape.

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

the sensor unit comprises a first holder that holds the blood sensor; and

the open cylindrical body comprises a guide that meets the first holder in a part in which the sensor unit is attached.

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

the first holder and the second holder comprise transparent members.

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

the first holder and the second holder have a cylindrical shape having a cross section which is one of a circle, an oval and a polygon.

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

the first holder is water repellant.

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

the first holder comprises openings of different diameters on both ends.

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

an external shape of the blood sensor is one of a circle and a regular polygon; and

a reference electrode is provided in addition to a detection electrode for an electrode in the blood sensor.

17. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit comprises a skin detecting sensor that detects skin.

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

the blood test apparatus comprises a vacuum provider that applies a negative pressure between the sensor unit and the skin to puncture the skin and that creates a vacuum when the skin detecting sensor detects contact with the skin.

19. The blood test apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the vacuum provider finishes creating the vacuum when an inflow of blood is detected.

20. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

one of a laser emitting apparatus and an optical reader provided within the housing, the laser emitting apparatus radiating laser light on skin through an interior of the open cylindrical body and punctures the skin, the optical reader radiating light on skin through the interior of the open cylindrical body and detects an amount of received reflected light; and

an electrical circuit that is connected to the blood sensor of the sensor unit;

wherein the first holder is detachably attached to the open cylindrical body, and the second holder is detachably attached to the open cylindrical body.

21. The blood test apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the filter unit is arranged opposite to the skin and is recessed further within the cylindrical body than the blood sensor.

22. The blood test apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the filter and the second holder of the filter unit are integral.

23. A blood test apparatus comprising:

a housing that comprises an open cylindrical body having a cylindrical shape;

a sensor unit that includes a blood sensor which analyzes blood and that is detachably attached to the open cylindrical body;

a filter unit that includes a filter which protects an interior of the housing and that is detachably attached to the open cylindrical body; and

an ejector that is slidably attached to the open cylindrical body, that moves the sensor unit toward an open side of the open cylindrical body to first push out and eject the sensor unit from the open cylindrical body of the housing and that then moves the filter unit toward the open side of the open cylindrical body to push out and eject the filter unit from the open cylindrical body of the housing,

wherein the open cylindrical body locks the sensor unit by a first locking part provided in an outer peripheral surface of the open cylindrical body and locks the filter unit by a second locking part provided in an inner peripheral surface of the open cylindrical body.

24. The blood test apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the ejector comprises:

a first lock part that is locked in the first locking part when the sensor unit is ejected; and

a second lock part that is locked in the second locking part when the filter unit is ejected.