Biological information measuring device, bio sensor system, and error detection method for biological information measuring device

Abstract

In a biological information measurement device, the ingress of biological sample is detected even when a sensor is mounted, which reduces measurement error. The biological information measurement device comprises a voltage supply component that supplies voltage between first and second connectors, between second and third connectors, and between first and third connectors, a current measurement component that measures a first current that flows between the first and second connectors, a second current that flows between the second and third connectors, and a third current that flows between the first and third connectors, and a controller that is connected to the current measurement component and the voltage supply component. The controller compares two or more of the currents and thereby determines whether a foreign substance has adhered between two or more connectors out of the first, second, and third connectors.

1 . A biological information measurement device, comprising:
 a main case;   a sensor mounting component that is provided at the main case and mounts a sensor for measuring biological information on the basis of a biological sample;   a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector provided at the sensor mounting component;   a voltage supply component that supplies voltage between the first connector and the second connector, between the second connector and the third connector, and between the first connector and the third connector;   a current measurement component that measures a first current that flows between the first connector and the second connector, a second current that flows between the second connector and the third connector, and a third current that flows between the first connector and the third connector; and   a controller that controls the current measurement component and the voltage supply component,   wherein in a state in which a sensor is mounted to the sensor mounting component before the biological sample is deposited on the sensor, the controller (i) determines that no foreign substance is adhered between the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector unless at least one of a differential or a ratio between the first current and the second current, a differential or ratio between the second current and the third current, and a differential or ratio between the first current and the third current is within a specific range, and then, (ii) determines whether the sensor is a used sensor.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A biological information measurement device, comprising:
 a main case;   a sensor mounting component that is provided at the main case and mounts a sensor for measuring biological information on the basis of a biological sample;   a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector provided at the sensor mounting component;   a voltage supply component that supplies voltage between the first connector and the second connector, between the second connector and the third connector, and between the first connector and the third connector;   a current measurement component that measures a first current that flows between the first connector and the second connector, a second current that flows between the second connector and the third connector, and a third current that flows between the first connector and the third connector; and   a controller that controls the current measurement component and the voltage supply component,   wherein in a state in which a sensor is mounted to the sensor mounting component before the biological sample is deposited on the sensor, the controller (i) determines that no foreign substance is adhered between the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector on the basis of a differential or ratio between maximum and minimum values for the first current, the second current, and the third current, and then, (ii) determines whether the sensor is a used sensor.   
     
     
         5 . The biological information measurement device according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the controller determines that a foreign substance has adhered between the connectors when a differential or a ratio between the maximum and minimum values is equal to or greater than a first threshold.   
     
     
         6 . The biological information measurement device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the controller determines that no foreign substance has adhered between the connectors when the first current, the second current, and the third current are equal to or less than a second threshold.   
     
     
         7 . The biological information measurement device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the controller supplies voltage between the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector with the voltage supply component after determining that there is no foreign substance adhered between the connectors and determining that the sensor is not a used sensor, and with the measurement component, measures the biological information on the basis of the current flowing between the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector.   
     
     
         8 . The biological information measurement device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the current measurement component includes a current/voltage conversion circuit.   
     
     
         9 . The biological information measurement device according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the current measurement component further includes an A/D conversion circuit that connects to the current/voltage conversion circuit.   
     
     
         10 . The biological information measurement device according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a display component that is controlled by the controller,   wherein the controller outputs an error caused by a foreign substance adhesion between the connectors to the display component when determining that a foreign substance has adhered between the connectors.   
     
     
         11 . The biological information measurement device according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a sensor detector that is connected to the controller and detects the mounting of the sensor to the sensor mounting component,   wherein the controller determines whether a foreign substance has adhered between the connectors when the sensor detector has detected the mounting of the sensor to the sensor mounting component.   
     
     
         12 . A biosensor system, comprising:
 the biological information measurement device according to  claim 1 ; and   the sensor including electrodes that are electrically connected to the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector.   
     
     
         13 . A method for error detection in a biological information measurement device comprising a sensor mounting component that mounts a sensor for measuring biological information on the basis of a biological sample, and a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector provided at the sensor mounting component,
 said error detection method comprising:   applying voltage between the first connector and the second connector, the second connector and the third connector, and the first connector and the third connector;   measuring a first current that flows between the first connector and the second connector, a second current that flows between the second connector and the third connector, and a third current that flows between the first connector and the third connector;   in a state in which the sensor is mounted to the sensor mounting component before the biological sample is deposited on the sensor, determining that no foreign substance is adhered between the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector (i) unless at least one of a differential or a ratio between the first current and the second current, a differential or a ratio between the second current and the third current, and a differential or a ratio between the first current and the third current is within a specific range or (ii) on the basis of a differential or a ratio between maximum and minimum values for the first current, the second current, and the third current; and   determining whether the sensor is a used sensor.   
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The biological information measurement device according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the controller determines that no foreign substance has adhered between the connectors when the first current, the second current, and the third current are equal to or less than a second threshold.   
     
     
         17 . The biological information measurement device according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the controller supplies voltage between the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector with the voltage supply component after determining that there is no foreign substance adhered between the connectors and determining that the sensor is not a used sensor, and with the measurement component, measures the biological information on the basis of the current flowing between the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector.   
     
     
         18 . The biological information measurement device according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the current measurement component includes a current/voltage conversion circuit.   
     
     
         19 . The biological information measurement device according to  claim 4 ,
 further comprising a display component that is controlled by the controller,   wherein the controller outputs an error caused by a foreign substance adhesion between the connectors to the display component when determining that a foreign substance has adhered between the connectors.   
     
     
         20 . The biological information measurement device according to  claim 4 ,
 further comprising a sensor detector that is connected to the controller and detects the mounting of the sensor to the sensor mounting component,   wherein the controller determines whether a foreign substance has adhered between the connectors when the sensor detector has detected the mounting of the sensor to the sensor mounting component.   
     
     
         21 . A biosensor system, comprising:
 logical information measurement device according to  claim 4 ; and   a sensor that is mounted to the sensor mounting component, the sensor including electrodes that are electrically connected to the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector.