Abstract: In the measuring equipment, a nozzle driving unit 10 equipped with a bar code reader decides whether the cartridge container being set is a special-purpose container, in which a predetermined reagent is injected separately in advance and to which a bar code is attached, or a general-purpose container that is prepared by separately injecting reagents by hand into an empty cartridge container, and when the cartridge container is a special-purpose container, a CPU 1 reads out measurement conditions from a measurement condition storage part for special-purpose reagents 3a based on the information included in the bar code, and when the cartridge container is a general-purpose container, the CPU1 reads out measurement conditions for items of a measurement object selected and input by a measurer from a measurement condition storage part for general-purpose reagents 3b to conduct a measurement.

Abstract: A method of determining glycated hemoglobin is provided, by which a ratio of the glycated hemoglobin in a sample can be determined accurately and easily. The ratio of glycated hemoglobin can be determined by degrading a glycated hemoglobin in a whole blood sample selectively with a protease to give a glycated hemoglobin degradation product; causing a redox reaction between a glycation site of the glycated hemoglobin degradation product and a fructosyl amino acid oxidoreductase; and determining this redox reaction. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in a whole blood sample, there is a correlation between the ratio of the glycated hemoglobin determined by this method and an HbA1c concentration. Thus, without determining the glycated ?-amino group as a characteristic structure of HbA1c, an amount of HbA1c can be determined accurately and easily from the determined ratio of the glycated hemoglobin.

Abstract: The present invention aims to enable highly reliable measurement of a glycated amine. A fructosyl amino acid oxidase (FAOD) is added to a sample to remove a non-analyte glycated amine that is present in the sample and different from an analyte glycated amine. Thereafter, a protease is added to the sample to degrade the analyte glycated amine, and the degradation product of the analyte glycated amine reacts with the FAOD that has already been added to the sample. By measuring this redox reaction, the amount of the analyte glycated amine can be measured.

Abstract: A method of measuring an analyte in a sample with excellent sensitivity using a redox reaction is provided. In this method, a reducing substance or an oxidizing substance derived from the analyte is measured in the presence of a tetrazolium compound and sodium azide using the redox reaction, and an amount of the analyte is determined from the amount of the reducing substance or oxidizing substance thus measured. The tetrazolium compound and the sodium azide are present at a ratio in a range from 20:3 to 20:12. Preferably, a solution containing the tetrazolium compound and the sodium azide is aged and then added to the sample.

Abstract: A target nucleic acid having a target sequence in a sample is detected according to the steps of: (a) mixing a first probe including a nucleic acid which has a specific region having a sequence complementary to the target sequence and a nonspecific region having a sequence that is not complementary to the target sequence of the target nucleic acid; a second probe including a nucleic acid which has a first region that is complementary to at least a portion of the nonspecific region of the first probe, a loop region that does not have a sequence complementary to the first probe, and a second region that is complementary to at least a portion of the specific region of the first probe, the loop region being capable of forming a loop when it is annealed with the first probe, wherein the nucleic acid is labeled with a labeling material generating a signal by which formation of the aforementioned loop can be detected; and a sample under conditions in which the first probe and the second probe are annealed and the fi

Abstract: The present invention relates to a measuring instrument (1) comprising a channel (60) for moving a sample liquid (BL) containing a solid component (B1) and providing a liquid reaction field and first and second electrodes (31, 32) which are used to apply voltage to the liquid reaction field. The first electrode (31) has an electron transfer interface (31a) for transferring electrons between it and the liquid reaction field when voltage is applied to the liquid reaction field via the first and second electrodes (31, 32). The measuring instrument (1) comprises concentrating means (51) for increasing the concentration of solid components at portions thereof which contact the electron transfer interface (31a) in the liquid reaction field. The concentrating means (51) preferably comprises a water-absorbing layer containing an absorbent polymer material.

Abstract: A test strip having the capability of separating blood cells from whole blood, wherein it has a porous reagent layer comprising beads, an inorganic gel and a reagent that causes a detectable reaction with a substance to be detected, and a substrate that supports the reagent layer, wherein the beads are adhered to each other with the inorganic gel, and interstices are formed between the beads to trap a solid. The test strip can thus be used for separating blood cells from a whole blood including blood cells and plasma and detecting a substance to be detected, such as glucose, contained in plasma. The use of the test strip allows the measurement of a substance to be detected even by measurement of a transmitted light, the exhibition of good oxygen permeability, and thus can be used for measuring a substance to be detected with improved accuracy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lancet (2) including a lancet body (20) provided with a lancing needle (20a), and a casing (22) including a space extending throughout the casing for retaining the lancet body therein. In the lancet (2), the lancet body (20) is fixed to the casing (22) when an external force exceeding a predetermined level in a particular direction is not applied to the casing (22), whereas the lancet body (20) becomes movable relative to the casing (22) when an external force exceeding the predetermined level in the particular direction is applied to the casing (22). The present invention also relates to a lancing apparatus which is used with the lancet (2) attached thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a test piece supplying device (1) comprising a container (4) for containing a plurality of test pieces, and also includes a movable body (3) moving relative to the container (4) with the test piece accommodated in a recess (30) so as to take the test piece out of the container (4). The container (4) includes a sweeping portion (41) for interfering with the test pieces, in the container (4), located above the test piece accommodated in the recess (30), when the movable body (3) moves relative to the container (4). When a warped test piece accommodated in the recess (30) is moved relative to the container (4), the interfering portion (41) flattens the test strip to be accommodated in the recess (30) so that the test piece is easily taken out of the container (4).

Abstract: A method of measuring an analyte, comprising a step of measuring a detectable substance by using a reaction system including a formation reaction of the detectable substance based on a chemical reaction of the analyte contained in a sample, wherein a layered inorganic compound is caused to exist in the reaction system including the formation reaction of the detectable substance, whereby high-sensitivity measurement is made possible, the detectable substance can be stabilized to improve accuracy of the measurement, a rate of a chemical reaction is increased to enable quick measurement, and high-sensitivity measurement is made possible even in a reaction system which forms an insoluble substance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lancing depth-adjustable lancing apparatus (1) for moving a lancing element (21) held in a housing (3) in a lancing direction (N1) to lance skin with the lancing element (21). The lancing apparatus (1) includes a lancing depth adjustment mechanism for adjusting lancing depth of the lancing element (21) in the skin. The lancing depth adjustment mechanism includes a displacing member (6) which is movable relative to the housing (3) in the lancing or the retreating direction (N1, N2), a cover (7) which is movable with the displacing member (6) in the lancing or the retreating directions (N1, N2), and a stepped portion (37) provided at the housing (3) for restricting the movement of the lancing element (21) in the lancing direction (N1) when the lancing element (21) moves in the lancing direction (N1).

Abstract: A lancing device (X) comprising a first moving member (32) holding a lancing member (11) moved from a standby position to a puncturing position in a puncturing direction (N1), for puncturing a target portion by the lancing member (11). The lancing device (X) further comprises a second moving member (31) connected to the first moving member (32), for controlling the movement of the first moving member (32) upon the movement of the second moving member, and also comprises an impact absorbing means (23A) for absorbing impact that is caused when the first and the second moving members (31), (32) come to stop on puncture operation. The impact absorbing means (23A) includes an elastic member (23Ab) for absorbing impact by elastic deformation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analyzing tool (X1) including a reaction space (4) for allowing a particular component contained in a sample and a reagent to react with each other, and a reagent portion (51, 52) which is arranged in the reaction space (4) and which dissolves when the sample is supplied to the reaction space (4). The reagent portion (51, 52) includes a first part (51) and a second part (52) facing each other at a defining surface defining the reaction space (4).

Abstract: In a connector, the position at which a pointed part of a rocking terminal slidingly contacts an insertion and the position at which the pointed part of the rocking terminal contacts an upper surface of a terminal plate are substantially the same. Therefore, shavings generated by the contact of the insertion and the pointed part or foreign matters adhering to the insertion may adhere to the pointed part of the rocking terminal and be pinched between the pointed part and the terminal plate, whereby no contact is caused by inserting the insertion into the connector. Then, with regard to a connector having a switch part comprising a rocking terminal (51) swayed by inserting an insertion (53) into a main body of the connector and a receiving terminal (52) arranged to contact the rocking terminal, a pointed part (51a) is formed on the rocking terminal, and the terminals contact electrically with each other by making the receiving terminal touch a side surface of the pointed part.

Abstract: A measuring system includes a measuring apparatus (2) for obtaining pulse data and identification data related to the pulse data, and a central controlling apparatus (1, 3) for receiving the pulse data and the identification data from the measuring apparatus. The central controlling apparatus includes a data processing unit (1) for performing data processing based on the pulse data and the identification data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biosensor that can prevent a mediator from being affected by oxygen, thereby allowing an analyte in a sample solution to be measured rapidly and easily with high accuracy. The biosensor can be produced by providing a substrate having electrodes, applying a solvent containing a mediator, a surfactant, a buffer, and a layered inorganic compound to surfaces of the electrodes to form an inorganic gel layer for preventing natural oxidation of the mediator, and forming an enzyme reagent layer containing an oxidoreductase on the inorganic gel layer. In this biosensor, due to the inorganic gel layer, the mediator having been reduced by the reaction between an analyte and the oxidoreductase can be measured electrochemically, without being reoxidized by dissolved oxygen or the like.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a hemolyzed sample that does not affect an accuracy of determination in a measurement even after the sample is left standing at room temperature, and a hemolysis reagent solution used therefor are provided. Using a hemolysis reagent solution in which a surfactant is contained and carbon dioxide is dissolved, blood cells are hemolyzed so as to prepare a hemolyzed sample. Even after the thus prepared hemolyzed sample is stored at room temperature, for example, glycated proteins or the like can be measured with an accuracy of determination similar to that for the hemolyzed sample immediately after preparation. The concentration of the carbon dioxide dissolved in the hemolyzed sample at 2° C. to 35° C. is at least 8 mmol/L.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for analyzing a sample by utilizing a double integration circuit (11) for outputting a physical quantity related to the output from an analytical tool (2). In the present invention, the time interval from when the output from the analytical tool (2) is inputted into the double integration circuit (11) till when the physical quantity is started to be outputted from the double integration circuit (11) differs before and after the supply of the sample to the analytical tool (2) is confirmed.

Abstract: A lancing device according to the present invention includes: a housing; a moving body movable relatively to the housing for forward movement of a needle; a driving mechanism for forward movement of the moving body; a hollow pressing portion at a front end of the housing for contact with a part where a puncture is to be made; and a pump mechanism capable of causing a vacuum to act inside the pressing portion. The pump mechanism is capable of adjusting the vacuum. The pump mechanism includes for example: a moving portion capable of reciprocating in a first direction and a second direction away from the first direction. Preferably, the adjustment of the vacuum is made by changing the number of reciprocations of the moving part in the first and the second directions.