Abstract: The present invention is to present a measuring device which can conduct stable extraction and measurement of interstitial fluid. The measuring device comprises: a device body which comprises an extraction part for extracting body fluid from a living body and a measuring part for measuring a biological component contained in the extracted body fluid; a holding member which holds the device body and has an opening part for defining a measurement area on the living body; and a mounting member for mounting the holding member on the living body; wherein the measurement area on the living body is defined by the opening part when the holding member is mounted on the living body by the mounting member.

Abstract: A micropore forming system comprising: a microneedle chip having microneedles for forming micropores in a skin of a living body; a chip container for detachably housing the microneedle chip; and a micropore forming device for detachably holding the microneedle chip and for contacting the microneedles of the microneedle chip to the skin.

Abstract: The present invention is to present an analyzer for analyzing a concentration of a predetermined component contained in tissue fluid of a subject, the analyzer being capable of mitigating the pain of the subject. The analyzer comprises: an extraction medium retainer for retaining an extraction medium for holding tissue fluid extracted through a skin of a subject; a component amount information obtainer for obtaining component amount information regarding amount of a predetermined component contained in the tissue fluid held in the extraction medium; an electrical information obtainer for obtaining electrical information related to amount of the extracted tissue fluid by supplying electrical power to the extraction medium which is holding the extracted tissue fluid; and a component concentration obtainer for obtaining a concentration of the predetermined component contained in body fluid of the subject based on the component amount information and the electrical information.

Abstract: Methods for detecting a malaria parasite are described that include: releasing the malaria parasite by allowing an erythrocyte in a specimen to undergo hemolysis; staining the released malaria parasite with a fluorescent dye to prepare a measurement sample; detecting optical information from the measurement sample; and distinguishing the malaria parasite based on the optical information obtained. Apparatuses and reagent kits are also described.

Abstract: A compressor unit includes a compressor, an inverter for driving the compressor, and an over-current protective device for protecting the inverter against an output over-current. A control part controls the output voltage of the inverter when the compressor is started based on a ambient temperature detected by a temperature sensor so that the input current of the inverter does not exceed the working current value of the over-current protective device having temperature characteristics varying according to the ambient temperature. Thereby, a start torque can be increased by increasing the output voltage of the inverter without operating the over-current protective device when the compressor is stated at a low temperature when a start load is increased.

Abstract: An analyte extracting cartridge set is described that includes: an analyte extracting cartridge to be loaded to an analyzing apparatus for extracting an analyte from a subject to be examined and analyzing the analyte, the analyte extracting cartridge having a liquid retaining member for retaining a liquid to hold the analyte extracted from the subject; and a liquid distributor member for retaining the liquid and distributing a predetermined amount of the liquid to the liquid retaining member. A method for extracting an analyte from a subject to be examined and analyzing the analyte with the use of the analyte extracting cartridge is also described.

Abstract: Measuring devices for measuring an analyte extracted through skin of a living body are described that include: a noninvasive sampling unit for extracting the analyte from the living body through analyte transmission paths formed in an extracting region of the skin; an analyte detection unit for detecting a quantity of extracted analyte; and a control unit for obtaining a corrected analyte quantity based on the quantity of the extracted analyte and number of analyte transmission paths in the extracting region. Methods and systems for measuring analytes extracted through skin are also described.

Abstract: An extraction device for extracting an analyte from living tissue is disclosed that comprises a power source; a first electrode and second electrode connected to the power source; and a holding unit for holding a collecting medium for collecting analyte extracted from living tissue, wherein the collecting medium is in contact with both the first electrode and second electrode continuously. An analyzer comprising the extraction device, method for extracting an analyte, and method for extracting and analyzing an analyte are also described.

Abstract: A tissue cutting device is described, a representative one of which includes: a handle part; a head unit including comprising a plurality of blades arranged so as to extend substantially parallel with a longitudinal direction of the handle part at intervals and a blade holding portion for holding the plurality of blades; and a head holding part located at the distal end of the handle part, for holding the head.

Abstract: An analyzer including an electrical information acquiring section for acquiring an electrical information by supplying an electricity to a skin of a subject; and a controller for acquiring a component value relating to an amount of a predetermined component included in a tissue fluid extracted via the skin of the subject and converting the component value into a concentration of the predetermined component included in the tissue fluid in a body of the subject based on the electrical information acquired by the electrical information acquiring section is disclosed. An analyzing method and a blood-sugar level measuring device are also disclosed.

Abstract: An extracting kits for extracting analyte through the skin of a living body are disclosed that comprises an inserting device comprising needles for forming a plurality of extraction holes in the skin through the stratum corneum but not reaching the subcutaneous tissue and an extracting device for extracting the analyte into a liquid supplied into the extraction holes by supplying the liquid into the plurality of extraction holes. An extracting device and extracting method are also described.

Abstract: An analyzer for extracting and analyzing an analyte from a subject is disclosed that comprises a reservoir capable of holding a liquid for holding the analyte extracted from the subject; and a liquid supplying mechanism for holding a liquid to be supplied to the reservoir and supplying the liquid to the reservoir. A cartridge, cartridge kit, and analyzing method are also described.

Abstract: A compressor unit includes a compressor, an inverter for driving the compressor, and an over-current protective device for protecting the inverter against an output over-current. A control part controls the output voltage of the inverter when the compressor is started based on a ambient temperature detected by a temperature sensor so that the input current of the inverter does not exceed the working current value of the over-current protective device having temperature characteristics varying according to the ambient temperature. Thereby, a start torque can be increased by increasing the output voltage of the inverter without operating the over-current protective device when the compressor is stated at a low temperature when a start load is increased.

Abstract: Extraction devices for extracting analyte through the skin of a living body are disclosed that includes first and second extraction units which are placed on the skin and in which analyte is extracted; electrode unit placed on the skin; and a power source unit for outputting a first current flowing through the electrode unit, the living body, and the first extraction unit, and a second current flowing through the electrode unit, the living body, and the second extraction unit.

Abstract: Extraction device for extracting an analyte from living tissue through skin are described that include: (a) a first electrode part having a contact area with the skin of less than about 50 mm2; (b) a through-current electrode part; and (c) a power supply part for supplying electrical energy to the first electrode part and the through-current electrode part, and for extracting an analyte in the first electrode part. Analyzers, extraction methods, and analysis methods are also described.

Abstract: Methods for detecting a malaria parasite are described that include: releasing the malaria parasite by allowing an erythrocyte in a specimen to undergo hemolysis; staining the released malaria parasite with a fluorescent dye to prepare a measurement sample; detecting optical information from the measurement sample; and distinguishing the malaria parasite based on the optical information obtained. Apparatuses and reagent kits are also described.

Abstract: A non-invasive blood analyzer includes a light applying device for applying light to a detection region including a blood vessel in a living body and a capturing device for capturing an image of the detection region to which the light is applied. Finally, an analyzing device is included for further processing the captured image to analyze blood cells in the blood vessel included in the detection region. Preferably, the analyzing device includes a reference image forming device for forming a reference image by using at least one of a plurality of images which the capturing device repeatedly captures with respect to the same detection region. In addition, it includes a differential image forming device for calculating a difference in pixel information between the reference image and one of the plurality of images to form a differential image by using the calculated difference as pixel information.

Abstract: A non-invasive blood analyzer is intended to capture images of a prescribed volume of blood in a blood vessel in a non-invasive manner and with a good contrast without collecting blood from a living body. The non-invasive blood analyzer includes a light application device for illuminating a detection region of vessels contained in a part of a living body, an image capturing device for capturing images of the detection region illuminated by the light application device, and an analyzer for analyzing blood components contained in the detection region by processing the images captured by the image capturing device. The image capturing device includes an object lens for converging the reflected light from the detection region. The light application device illuminates the detection region at an incident angle larger than an aperture angle of the object lens with respect to the detection region to provide dark-field illumination.

Abstract: A non-invasive blood analyzer contains a light applicator for illuminating a detection region under the skin of a living body including a blood vessel; a camera for capturing an image of the illuminated detection region; an analyzer for processing the captured image and analyzing at least a component of blood in the blood vessel; a transparent plate; and a support for supporting the transparent plate and contacting the transparent plate closely with the skin over the detection region. The light applicator and the camera are constructed to illuminate the detection region and capture the image of the detection region through the transparent plate. Further, a drive controller is included for driving the support to move the transparent plate contacted closely with the skin in order to adjust the detection region to thereby compensate for any change in position of the blood vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a concentration of hemoglobin includes a light application device for applying light to a detection region containing a blood vessel present in a living body; an image capturing device for capturing an image of the detection region to which the light is applied; and an analyzer for analyzing the concentration of hemoglobin in blood flowing through the blood vessel by processing the captured image. The analyzer includes a light intensity detector for detecting a light intensity of a body tissue and a light intensity of blood using the captured image. It further includes a calculator for calculating the concentration of hemoglobin from a ratio of the light intensity of the body tissue relative to the light intensity of blood thus detected.