Abstract: A measuring device (A) includes a cartridge mount portion (6), a take-out device (B) for taking out a sensor (S) from a cartridge (2), and a measurement circuit (31) for performing measurement by utilizing the sensor (S) taken out from the cartridge (2) by the take-out device (B). The take-out device (B) includes a film breaker (70a) for breaking a film of the cartridge (2), and a movable member (70) for moving the sensor (S) to make the sensor (S) in the cartridge (2) pass through the broken portion of the film.

Abstract: A biosensor is constituted by disposing an electrode system including a working electrode and a counter electrode on a substrate, forming an inorganic particulate-containing layer containing inorganic particulates thereon, and forming a reagent layer containing a reagent thereon. The inorganic particulates make it possible to prevent impurities in a sample from being in contact with the electrode system and being adsorbed therein, so that measurement is performed with high precision. The inorganic particulate-containing layer can be formed by applying a dispersion system of inorganic particulates and drying them, and it is preferable that the inorganic particulates are contained in the form of aggregates.

Abstract: A measurement support system includes a measurement device and a management device connected to the measurement device via a communications network. When the measurement device uses consumable materials such as reagents, the management device manages the stock of consumable materials, supplies the consumable materials, and corrects measured data in accordance with the state of the consumable materials. Thus, the measurement support system can reduce the burden on users of the measurement device. The reagents that are used in measurement by a personal measuring instrument (3) located at each of patients' homes (B, C, . . . ) are assigned a reagent ID number beforehand. This reagent ID number and measured data are transmitted to a host computer (1) of a medical institution (A). The host computer (1) determines the stock of reagents based on the consumable material identifier received from the personal measuring instrument (3) and ships the reagents to the patient's home when the stock is running low.

Abstract: A measurement support system includes a measurement device and a management device connected to the measurement device via a communications network. When the measurement device uses consumable materials such as reagents, the management device manages the stock of consumable materials, supplies the consumable materials, and corrects measured data in accordance with the state of the consumable materials. Thus, the measurement support system can reduce the burden on users of the measurement device. The reagents that are used in measurement by a personal measuring instrument (3) located at each of patients' homes (B, C, . . . ) are assigned a reagent ID number beforehand. This reagent ID number and measured data are transmitted to a host computer (1) of a medical institution (A). The host computer (1) determines the stock of reagents based on the consumable material identifier received from the personal measuring instrument (3) and ships the reagents to the patient's home when the stock is running low.

Abstract: The ion activity-measuring device of the present invention is provided with a hydrophobic bridge of which portion contacting with a liquid reservoir is hydrophilic. The hydrophobic bridge is made of, for example, at least one selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, polypropylene, rayon and polyethylene, and is produced by treating a portion contacting with the liquid reservoir with a spreading accelerator. The spreading accelerator is at least one selected from the group consisting of a surfactant and a hydrophilic polymer. There is also provided a method for producing the above ion activity-measuring device, comprising embedding nonwoven fabric in the cover plate to bond the nonwoven fabric to the cover plate.

Abstract: A measurement support system includes a measurement device and a management device connected to the measurement device via a communications network. When the measurement device uses consumable materials such as reagents, the management device manages the stock of consumable materials, supplies the consumable materials, and corrects measured data in accordance with the state of the consumable materials. Thus, the measurement support system can reduce the burden on users of the measurement device. The reagents that are used in measurement by a personal measuring instrument (3) located at each of patients' homes (B, C, . . . ) are assigned a reagent ID number beforehand. This reagent ID number and measured data are transmitted to a host computer (1) of a medical institution (A). The host computer (1) determines the stock of reagents based on the consumable material identifier received from the personal measuring instrument (3) and ships the reagents to the patient's home when the stock is running low.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a concentration measuring method which includes selecting a calibration curve optimum for computing the concentration of a measurement target substance from a plurality of calibration curves based on an output from a reaction system containing the target substance and a reactant capable of reacting with the target substance, and computing the concentration of the target substance based on the optimum calibration curve and the output. Each of the calibration curves is prepared based on a plurality of outputs generated upon lapse of a same reaction time from a plurality of standard reaction systems each containing a standard reagent of a known different concentration and the reactant. The plurality of calibration curves differ from each other in reaction time based on which the calibration curves are prepared.

Abstract: A measuring instrument (A) includes: a storage (1) which has an insertion port (10) for insertion of measuring articles (S) and is capable of storing the measuring articles stacked in a direction of the insertion; and movable members (2A, 2B) for a movement of dispensing a predetermined quantity of the measuring articles (S) out of the storage (1) toward a measuring position (P). With such an arrangement, refilling of the measuring articles (S) to the measuring instrument (A) becomes easy, and the measuring instrument (A) can be always loaded suitably with a quantity of the measuring articles.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote data management system with which, by keeping the transmission of measured data from measurers from being concentrated at particular times, the measured data can be gathered efficiently and the party managing the data can suffice with a minimal equipment investment. In patient households (B, C . . . ), a personal measuring device (3) is connected to a communications device (2) via a cable or the like, and data that are measured by the personal measuring device (3) are transferred to the communications device (2) and stored. A server (1) of a medical institution (A) sends a data transmission request to the communications device (2) in each patient's household via a public communications network 10 daily, biweekly, or monthly, for example. When the communications device (2) receives the data transmission request it transmits the stored measured data to the server (1).

Abstract: A measuring instrument (A) includes a pressurizing mechanism (C) which moves at least one of a measuring article (S) and a connector (4) toward and into pressing contact with the other when the measuring article (S) is placed at a measuring position (P). This prevents improper connection between the connector (4) and the measuring article (S) caused by wear of the connector (4).

Abstract: A pipet device (A) includes a pipet nozzle (1) formed with an internal passage (10) and a hollow pipet tip (4) removably attached to the nozzle (1). The tip (4) is movable between a normal fixed position and a completely detached position relative to the nozzle (1). The nozzle (1) is formed with an external-air intake groove (16). The intake groove (16) is closed by the tip (4) when the tip (4) is at the normal fixed position. The intake groove (16) is exposed from the tip (4) when the tip (4) is moved from the normal fixed position toward the completely detached position.

Abstract: A measurement support system includes a measurement device and a management device connected to the measurement device via a communications network. When the measurement device uses consumable materials such as reagents, the management device manages the stock of consumable materials, supplies the consumable materials, and corrects measured data in accordance with the state of the consumable materials. Thus, the measurement support system can reduce the burden on users of the measurement device. The reagents that are used in measurement by a personal measuring instrument (3) located at each of patients' homes (B, C, . . . ) are assigned a reagent ID number beforehand. This reagent ID number and measured data are transmitted to a host computer (1) of a medical institution (A). The host computer (1) determines the stock of reagents based on the consumable material identifier received from the personal measuring instrument (3) and ships the reagents to the patient's home when the stock is running low.

Abstract: A body fluid measuring apparatus, comprising a main body (20) and a lancet holder (30) installed on the main body (20), the lancet holder (30) further comprising a lancet (31) capable of being moved for piercing to allow body fluid to be bled from skin (S) and a biosensor (36) introducing the bled body fluid for a specified measurement, wherein the biosensor (36) is moved in a specified direction by a sensor moving mechanism (40, 42).

Abstract: An hole-opening implement (5 or 50) for opening a hole in a soft material (2) has a first cutting part and a second cutting part. To pierce the soft material with the hole-opening implement, both cutting parts advances in the soft material while cutting the soft material. Such a state that the second cutting part remains in the soft material just after the first cutting part is passed through the soft material is assured so that a cut piece as bound to the soft material can remain after the opening. The first cutting part is formed at a tip of the hole-opening implement, and the second cutting part is disposed behind the first cutting part in the piercing direction of the hole-opening implement. Otherwise, the hole-opening implement may be constructed so that the first cutting part is sharp in section and the second cutting part is formed so as to have lower cutting force than the first cutting part.

Abstract: A body fluid measuring apparatus includes a main body (20) and a body fluid sampler (30) attached to the main body (20). The body fluid sampler (30) includes a fixed member (35) fixed to the main body (20) and a movable member guided by the fixed member (35). The fixed member (35) is provided with a body fluid-sucking chamber (39) open at the tip of the fixed member (35) and a through-hole communicating therewith. The movable member (31) includes a lancet (32) acting as a first electrode and is reciprocatively movable for bringing the tip of the lancet (32) into and out of the tip of the fixed member (35). The body fluid-sucking chamber (39) is provided with a second electrode (36) and a reactive layer containing a reactive reagent necessary for measurement. The main body (20) includes an electronic circuit (24) for determining a measured value on the basis of an electrical signal from the lancet (32) as the first electrode and a second electrode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel enzyme (&agr;-GARE) which releases an amino acid residue having a glycated &agr;-amino group (&agr;-GA) from a glycated protein etc. and to bacterial strains producing the same. Examples of the bacterial strains include Sphingomonas parapaucimobilis KDK1004 (FERM BP-7041). The &agr;-GARE is contained in the culture supernatant of this strain and &agr;-GA can be released from a glycated peptide by using the same, as shown in FIG. 1.

Abstract: A glucose sensor system comprising the steps of using as a sample discriminating parameter a ratio (I/&Dgr;I) of a measured current value I to the time-differential value of the current value &Dgr;I, defining a discrimination function that discriminates whether a sample is blood or control fluid and uses the discriminating parameter as an independent variable, quantitating as a discriminating index a numeric value obtained by substituting a discriminating parameter value into this discrimination function, and automatically discriminating, based on this index, whether the sample is blood or a control fluid, whereby a kind of the sample can be automatically quantitated by measuring electric current when a sensor system is used for quantitating the concentration of an analysis object in the sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel enzyme (&agr;-GARE) which releases an amino acid residue having a glycated &agr;-amino group (&agr;-GA) from a glycated protein etc. and to bacterial strains producing the same. Examples of the bacterial strains include Sphingomonas parapaucimobilis KDK1004 (FERM BP-7041). The &agr;-GARE is contained in the culture supernatant of this strain and &agr;-GA can be released from a glycated peptide by using the same, as shown in FIG. 1.

Abstract: A glucose sensor system comprising the steps of using as a sample discriminating parameter a ratio (I/&Dgr;I) of a measured current value I to the time-differential value of the current value &Dgr;I, defining a discrimination function that discriminates whether a sample is blood or control fluid and uses the discriminating parameter as an independent variable, quantitating as a discriminating index a numeric value obtained by substituting a discriminating parameter value into this discrimination function, and automatically discriminating, based on this index, whether the sample is blood or a control fluid, whereby a kind of the sample can be automatically quantitated by measuring electric current when a sensor system is used for quantitating the concentration of an analysis object in the sample.

Abstract: A blood testing tool is provided, which separates blood cells and can collect blood plasma or blood serum with a high yield. The blood testing tool includes an asymmetric porous membrane with a pore size distribution in which an average pore size varies to be reduced continuously or discontinuously in a thickness direction. The porous membrane includes a blood supply portion, a development portion, and a blood-cell blocking portion formed between the blood supply portion and the development portion and pores in the blood cell blocking portion include only pores through which blood cells cannot pass. When blood is supplied to one side with larger pores of the blood supply portion, the blood moves in a direction parallel to a surface of the porous membrane by a capillary phenomenon, but only blood plasma or blood serum moves into the development portion to develop.