Blood testing device

• US 8,556,812 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PHC Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takashima, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): REISNER, NOAM S
• Application Number:
  US12/919,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20110004078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 600/309, 600/583
• US Class Current: 600/309
• 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 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• 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 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150748 Having means for aiding positioning of the piercing device at a location where the body is to be pierced means for aiding positioning of devices for bringing media into the body A61M5/427, locating blood vessels A61B5/489
• 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 5/15109 Fully automatically triggered, i.e. the triggering does not require a deliberate action by the user, e.g. by contact with the patient's skin
• 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 5/15134 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

A blood testing device in which a blood sensor does not contaminate a piercing section when discarded. The blood testing device (11) is provided with the piercing section (13) having an upper holder (13a) and a lower holder (13b), and also with a connector (18). In piercing operation, the connector (18), the upper holder (13a), and the lower holder (13b) sandwich and hold the sensor (24). To discharge the sensor, the lower holder (13b) is pivoted so as to be separated from the upper holder (13a), which creates a space between the lower holder (13b) and the upper holder (13a) to expose the sensor (24).

Claims

1. A blood test apparatus comprising:

a first holding section composed of a first holder and a second holder that are configured to sandwich a blood sensor therebetween;

a second holding section that is configured to hold the blood sensor sandwiched between the first holder and the second holder; and

a puncturing section that punctures skin from a first holder side of the blood sensor sandwiched between the first holder and the second holder, wherein;

the second holding section is rotatable around a rotation axis while holding the blood sensor,

the second holder is rotatable around the rotation axis so as to define a space between the first holder and the second holder, and

the second holding section is pivotably mounted on a rotating shaft that is coaxial with the second holder.

2. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the puncturing section is configured to penetrate the blood sensor to puncture the skin.

3. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first holder is fixed to a housing, and

the second holder faces the first holder and is pivotably mounted on a rotating shaft of the housing.

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

the first holder is fixed to a housing, and

the second holder faces the first holder and is pivotably mounted on a rotating shaft of the first holder.

5. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second holding section is pivotably mounted on a rotating shaft of a housing.

6. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second holding section is pivotably mounted on a rotating shaft of the first holder.

7. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second holding section has a sliding mechanism that is configured to release a holding of the blood sensor when the second holder rotates.

8. The blood test apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the sliding mechanism includes an inclined part having a tapered surface to push the blood sensor.

9. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the second holding section is pivotably mounted on a rotating shaft of a housing;

and

when the second holding section rotates by a predetermined angle, the second holder rotates by an angle greater than the predetermined angle of the second holding section.

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

a sensor cartridge in which blood sensors are stacked and stored; and

a conveying section that conveys the blood sensors stacked and stored in the sensor cartridge to the puncturing section.

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

a pushing section provided in the second holder and configured to push the blood sensor so as to release a holding of the blood sensor; and

an ejecting button which is configured to operate the pushing section.

12. The blood test apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the pushing section includes a lifting section that is configured to lift the blood sensor from the second holder.

13. The blood test apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the pushing section has an inclined part having a tapered surface to push the blood sensor.

14. The blood test apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when the the second holder rotates, the lifting section separates the blood sensor from a contact surface of the second holder.

15. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a negative pressure section that is configured to swell the skin to be punctured by the puncturing section by applying a negative pressure.

16. The blood test apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the negative pressure section has a negative pressure path coupled to the first holder.

17. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the puncturing section is a laser puncturing unit that is configured to puncture the skin with laser light.

18. The blood test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the puncturing section is a needle puncturing unit that is configured to puncture the skin with a needle.

19. The blood test apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

the first holder is fixed to a housing,

the second holder faces the first holder and is pivotably mounted on a rotating shaft of the housing, and

the rotating shaft is provided between the ejecting button and each of the first holder and the second holder.

20. The blood test apparatus according to claim 19, wherein

the ejecting button is disposed outside of the housing.

21. A blood test apparatus comprising:

a holding section composed of a first holder and a second holder that sandwich and hold a blood sensor therebetween;

a puncturing section that punctures skin from a first holder side of the blood sensor held by the holding section; and

an ejecting section that rotates the second holder to part from the first holder and defines a space between the first holder and the second holder by the rotation to expose the blood sensor,

wherein the ejecting section includes an ejection button that is coupled to the second holder and provided to slidably move, and a pushing section that is coupled to the ejection button and pushes the blood sensor,

the ejecting section includes a lifting section that is coupled to the ejection button and lifts the blood sensor, and

when the blood sensor is ejected, the lifting section separates the blood sensor from a contact surface of the second holder.