Decompression mechanism, puncturing apparatus, and blood analysis apparatus

Abstract

Provided are a decompression mechanism capable of performing a desired pressure reduction by simple operation and having improved operability, a puncture device, a blood analysis device, and a sensor mounting mechanism. A needle puncturing device includes: a piston having at one end thereof an end part for forming a part of a sensor mounting mechanism and at the other end an end part for slidably supporting a rod of a lancet section; a cylinder for slidably containing therein the end section of the piston; and packing mounted to the inner periphery of the end part of the piston and maintaining the air-tightness of the outer periphery of the rod. When the piston is moved in the direction toward the cylinder with a skin contact part in contact with the skin, the volumes of an internal space and a pressure reduction chamber are increased to produce a reduced pressure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A decompression mechanism, comprising:
 a cylinder having a bottom;   a piston having a first end part projecting from the bottom and a second end part that is located in the cylinder and slides along an axis of the cylinder;   a first sealing section that seals between the bottom and an outer of the piston;   a second sealing section that seals between the second end part and an inner of the cylinder; and   an air chamber that is sealed with the first and second sealing sections and surrounded by the outer surface of the piston and the inner surface of the cylinder, wherein the piston has a connection hole that connects the air chamber with a hollow space opening in the first end part.   
     
     
         2 . The decompression mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the first sealing section or second sealing section is packing. 
     
     
         3 . The decompression mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the first sealing section is a convex part that makes the bottom tightly contact the outer surface of the piston. 
     
     
         4 . The decompression mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the second sealing section is a convex part that makes the second end part tightly contact the inner surface of the cylinder. 
     
     
         5 . A puncturing apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a puncturing section that is provided in the housing and punctures skin; and   a puncturing mechanism that operates the puncturing section; and   a decompression mechanism including:   a cylinder having a bottom;   a piston that is provided in the cylinder and slides along an axis of the cylinder;   a first sealing section that seals between an end part in the piston and an inner surface of the cylinder;   a second sealing section that seals an opening in the cylinder and an outer surface of the piston;   an air chamber that is sealed with the first and second sealing sections and surrounded by the outer surface of the piston and the inner surface of the cylinder; and   a connection hole connecting the air chamber with a space targeted for pressure reduction in the puncturing mechanism.   
     
     
         6 . The puncturing apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the puncturing mechanism and the decompression mechanism are provided in parallel. 
     
     
         7 . The puncturing apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a removing mechanism that moves the puncturing mechanism in a direction of an outside of the housing and exposes the puncturing section to an outside of the housing. 
     
     
         8 . A blood analysis apparatus that analyzes blood exuding by puncturing using a sensor, comprising:
 a housing;   a puncturing section that is provided in the housing and punctures skin;   a puncturing mechanism that operates the puncturing section;   a cylinder having a bottom;   a piston having a first end part projecting from the bottom and a second end part that is provided in the cylinder and slides along an axis of the cylinder;   a first sealing section that seals between the bottom and an outer surface of the piston;   a second sealing section that seals between the second end part and an inner surface of the cylinder;   a third sealing section that is located in a joint between the piston and the puncturing mechanism and seals between a hollow space opening in the first end part and the puncturing mechanism; and   an air chamber that is sealed with the first and second sealing sections and surrounded by the outer surface of the piston and the inner surface of the cylinder, wherein:   the piston has a connection hole connecting the air chamber with the hollow space; and   the first end part has a contacting part that can contact skin and a holding part that holds a sensor.   
     
     
         9 . The blood analysis apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising a sensor mounting mechanism including:
 a support part slidably projecting from a housing edge;   a sensor holding part that is slidably supported by the support part and holds a sensor;   a skin contacting part that is provided on a tip of the support part and can contact skin;   a first spring that biases to keep a predetermined distance between the sensor holding part slidably held by the support part and the skin contacting part with a first stretching strength;   a second spring that biases to keep a predetermined distance between the sensor holding part slidably held by the support part and the housing edge with a second stretching strength;   a first sealing section that seals between the sensor held by the sensor holding part and the skin contacting part when the skin contacting part is pushed toward the housing edge; and   a second sealing section that seals between the sensor held by the sensor holding part and the housing edge when the skin contacting part is pushed toward the housing edge.   
     
     
         10 . A blood analysis apparatus that analyzes blood exuding by puncturing using a sensor, comprising:
 a housing;   a puncturing section that is provided in the housing and punctures skin;   a puncturing mechanism that operates the puncturing section; and   a decompression mechanism including:   a cylinder having a bottom;   a piston that is provided in the cylinder and slides along an axis of the cylinder;   a first sealing section that seals between an end part of the piston and an inner surface of the cylinder;   a second sealing section that seals an opening in the cylinder and an outer surface of the piston;   an air chamber that is sealed with the first and second sealing sections and surrounded by the outer surface of the piston and the inner surface of the cylinder; and   a connection hole connecting the air chamber and space targeted for pressure reduction in the puncturing mechanism.   
     
     
         11 . The blood analysis apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising a sensor mounting mechanism including:
 a support part slidably projecting from a housing edge;   a sensor holding part that is slidably held by the support part and holds a sensor;   a skin contacting part that is provided on a tip of the support part and can contact skin;   a first spring that biases to keep a predetermined distance between the sensor holding part slidably held by the support part and the skin contacting part with a first stretching strength;   a second spring that biases to keep a predetermined distance between the sensor holding part slidably held by the support part and the housing edge with a second stretching strength;   a first sealing section that seals between the sensor held by the sensor holding part and the skin contacting part when the skin contacting part is pushed toward the housing edge; and   a second sealing section that seals between the sensor held by the sensor holding part and the housing edge when the skin contacting part is pushed toward the housing edge.   
     
     
         12 . The blood analysis apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the sensor mounting mechanism is configured to be removably mounted in the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The blood analysis apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the housing edge has a mounting surface on which the sensor mounting mechanism is removably mounted; and   the sensor mounting mechanism has a removing surface that can adhere to the mounting surface, the blood analysis apparatus further comprising a third sealing section that seals between the mounting surface and the removing surface.   
     
     
         14 . The blood analysis apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the third sealing section is packing. 
     
     
         15 . The blood analysis apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the third sealing section is a convex part projecting from the mounting surface or the removing surface. 
     
     
         16 . The blood analysis apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the puncturing section is a laser emitting device that punctures skin with laser light. 
     
     
         17 . The blood analysis apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the puncturing section is a needle puncturing device that punctures skin with a puncturing needle.