Sensor cartridge and measuring device

• US 9,034,158 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2010
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Inventors: Watanabe, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Van, Luan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kessel, Maris R
• Application Number:
  US12/910,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20110094881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 204/400, 20440301-40315, 221/186, 221/197, 221/220, 221/221, 600/300, 600/573, 600/576, 600/577, 600345-347, 422 8201- 8203
• US Class Current: 204/400
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3271 Amperometric enzyme electrodes for analytes in body fluids, e.g. glucose in blood amperometry per se G01N27/49; aspects concerning the enzyme reagent C12Q1/001
• 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 33/4875 Details of handling test elements, e.g. dispensing or storage, not specific to a particular test method test-elements per se B01L, automatic analysers G01N35/00, in-vivo analysis on the human body for medical diagnosis A61B
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack

Abstract

A sensor cartridge for supplying a sensor is used. The sensor cartridge includes a casing within which the plurality of sensors can be arranged, and that allows a sample to be introduced to a sensor located at a preset location, and a connection structure. The connection structure electrically connects an external device and a sensor electrode of the sensor located at the preset location. The casing is formed so as to be held by the external device when the external device and the sensor electrode of the sensor are electrically connected via the connection structure.

Claims

1. A sensor cartridge for supplying a sensor, comprising:

a casing within which a plurality of sensors are arranged and to allow a sample to be introduced to a sensor located at a preset location within the casing;

each of the plurality of sensors includes a sample inlet and a sensor electrode;

the plurality of sensors are arranged in a line, and the preset location is at a head of the line;

each of the sample inlet of each of the plurality of sensors is facing the head of the line;

the casing is configured to allow a sample to be introduced to the sample inlet of the sensor positioned at the head of the line;

a connection structure including internal wiring embedded on the casing to electrically connect the sensor electrode of the sensor located at the head of the line to an external device, and

an information presentation portion adapted to present information relating to the plurality of sensors housed within the casing,

wherein the casing is adapted to be held by the external device when the external device and the sensor electrode of the sensor located at the preset location at the head of the line are electrically connected via the connection structure,

wherein the connection structure is provided within the casing so as not to be exposed to the outside of the casing.

2. The sensor cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a member that presses the sensor located at the preset location is provided within the casing such that the sensor electrode of the sensor located at the preset location is pressed against part of the connection structure.

3. The sensor cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the connection structure comprises a conduction path penetrating through a wall of the casing, and is connected via the conduction path to the sensor electrode of the sensor located at the preset location.

4. The sensor cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the connection structure comprises, within the casing, an electrode that comes into contact with the sensor electrode of the sensor located at the preset location, and an electrode for being connected to the device.

5. The sensor cartridge according to claim 4, wherein one or both of the electrode that comes into contact with the sensor electrode of the sensor located at the preset location and the electrode for being connected to the device are configured to be elastically deformable by pressure.

6. The sensor cartridge according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor cartridge further comprises a delivery mechanism, and

the delivery mechanism discharges the sensor located at the preset location, and causes a sensor placed adjacent to the discharged sensor to be located at the preset location.

7. The sensor cartridge according to claim 6,

wherein the casing comprises a sheet member on a principal surface of which the plurality of sensors can be placed, and

the delivery mechanism causes the sensor placed adjacent to the discharged sensor to be located at the preset location by moving the sheet member.

8. The sensor cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the casing is formed such that at least part of the casing is housed within the device when the device and the sensor electrode of the sensor located at the preset location are electrically connected via the connection structure.

9. The sensor cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the casing comprises an opening that allows the sample to be introduced to the sensor located at the preset location.

10. A measuring device for measuring living body numerical information by using a sensor, comprising:

a sensor cartridge to house and supply the sensor; and

a device body configured to hold the sensor cartridge,

wherein the sensor cartridge includes;

a casing within which a plurality of sensors are arranged in a line, each of the plurality of sensors includes a sample inlet and a sensor electrode;

the preset location is at a head of the line;

each of the sample inlet of each of the plurality of sensors is facing the head of the line;

the casing is configured to allow a sample to be introduced to a sensor located at a preset location at the head of the line; and

a connection structure including internal wiring embedded on the casing to electrically connects the device body and the sensor electrode of the sensor located at the preset location at the head of the line,

an information presentation portion configured to present information relating to the plurality of sensors housed within the casing,

the casing is adapted to be held by the device body when the device body and the sensor electrode of the sensor located at the preset location at the head of the line are electrically connected via the connection structure, and

the device body includes an electrode to contact a part of the connection structure when the sensor cartridge is held by the device body,

wherein the connection structure is provided within the casing so as not to be exposed to the outside of the casing.