Sensor holder, holder unit in which blood sensor is mounted to the sensor holder, and blood testing device to which the holder unit is mounted

• US 8,574,509 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2009
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishida, Takeshi, Takashima, Tetsuya, Hashimoto, Yohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Mui, Christine T
• Application Number:
  US12/632,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20100150777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 422/68.1, 422/50
• US Class Current: 422/400
• 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 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150259 Improved gripping, e.g. with high friction pattern or projections on the housing surface or an ergonometric shape
• 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 5/151 Devices specially adapted for taking samples of capillary blood, e.g. by lancets , needles or blades
• 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 5/15136 by use of radiation, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/04 Exchange or ejection of cartridges, containers or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/085 Protection against injuring the user
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/027 Digital display, e.g. LCD, LED
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/048 enabling gas exchange, e.g. vents
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/527 for microfluidic devices, e.g. used for lab-on-a-chip

Abstract

A sensor holder comprises a sensor mounting part having a first face on which a blood sensor is placed, a second face provided on the opposite side from the first face, and a through-hole that goes from the first face to the second face and is large enough to allow a laser beam to pass through; a finger holding part that is provided on the second face and surrounds the through-hole, and a grip that sticks out from the blood testing device when the sensor holder is mounted to the blood testing device.

Claims

1. A sensor holder for being removably mounted to a blood testing device having a puncture unit, said sensor holder comprising:

a sensor mounting part having a first face for placement of a blood sensor, a second face provided on the opposite side of the first face, a through-hole that goes from the first face to the second face and is large enough to allow a puncture tool to pass through, an insertion opening into which the blood sensor is inserted, and a latching protrusion provided on the first face for being latched in a latching hole of the blood sensor;

a finger holding part that is provided on the second face and surrounds the through-hole on the second face side; and

a grip that sticks out from the blood testing device when the sensor holder is mounted in the blood testing device, the grip being connected to the sensor mounting part along a first direction,

wherein the sensor holder has a plate shape which extends along the first direction, and

wherein the grip has convex portions formed on the first face.

2. A holder unit, comprising:

the sensor holder according to claim 1; and

a blood sensor placed on the first face of the sensor mounting part.

3. A blood testing device, comprising:

a case;

a holder unit mounting component that is provided inside the case;

the holder unit of claim 2 removably mountable to the holder unit mounting component;

a connector for connecting to a connection terminal of the blood sensor;

a puncture unit for puncturing a test subject; and

an electrical circuit connected to the connector.

4. The blood testing device according to claim 3, wherein the holder unit mounting component is provided at one corner of the case.

5. The blood testing device according to claim 3, wherein the holder unit mounting component is provided in the middle of the lower end of the case.

6. The blood testing device according to claim 3, further comprising a cut-out provided at one corner of the case,

wherein the holder unit mounting component is provided on the cut-out side at the lower end of the case.

7. The blood testing device according to claim 3, further comprising an eject button for ejecting the holder unit mounted to the holder unit mounting component,

wherein the holder unit mounting component is provided at one corner of the case.

8. The blood testing device according to claim 3, wherein the puncture unit is provided on an opposite side of the holder unit mounting component from the holder unit.

9. A blood testing device, comprising:

a case;

a holder unit including a blood sensor and a sensor holder which has a plate shape extending along a first direction, the blood sensor having a latching hole, and the sensor holder including;

i. a sensor mounting part having a first face for placement of the blood sensor, a second face provided on the opposite side of the first face, a through-hole that goes from the first face to the second face, an insertion opening into which the blood sensor is inserted, and a latching protrusion provided on the first face which latches in the latching hole of the blood sensor;

ii. a finger holding part that is provided on the second face and surrounds the through-hole on the second face side;

iii. a grip that sticks out from the case when the sensor holder is mounted to the case, the grip being connected to the sensor mounting part along the first direction, and

iv. wherein the grip has convex portions formed on the first face;

a holder unit mounting component provided inside the case and to which the holder unit is removably mountable;

a connector for connecting to a connection terminal of the blood sensor;

a puncture unit for puncturing a test subject through the through-hole of the sensor holder; and

an electrical circuit connected to the connector.

10. The blood testing device of claim 9, wherein the holder unit mounting component is arranged and configured in the case such that the grip protrudes from the case and the second face of the sensor mounting part faces away from the case when the sensor holder is mounted to the holder unit mounting component,

wherein the puncture unit includes a puncture needle, and

wherein the grip and the convex portions are configured such that removing the sensor holder from the holder unit mounting component displaces the grip and the convex portions relative to the puncture needle.

11. The blood testing device of claim 9, wherein the puncture unit includes a puncture needle which is movable through the through-hole of the sensor mounting part in a first direction, and

wherein the holder unit mounting component is arranged and configured in the case such that the grip protrudes from the case and the second face of the sensor mounting part faces away from the case in the first direction and the convex portions face in a direction opposite to the first direction when the sensor holder is mounted to the holder unit mounting component.