JP2002340752A - Expiration gas container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an expiration gas container suited for transport in an expiration gas analyzer. SOLUTION: The expiration gas container 1 comprises a bag-shaped body section 2 composed by a sheet material having flexibility, and a nonreturn valve 3 installed in the body section 2 for preventing an accommodated expiration gas from flowing out while the nonreturn valve 3. The body section 2 forms a nearly cylindrical outer shape while the expiration gas is filled and accommodated. While the expiration gas is being filled, the value of the ratio L/D between total length L in the axial direction of the body section 2 and outer diameter (average diameter) D of the body section 2 is preferably 1.5-10. The roundness of the outer diameter in the cylindrical section of the body section 2 is preferably 6 mm or less and is more preferably 3 mm or less under the state in which gas is filled at 1.05 atm. The expiration gas container 1 filled with the expiration gas can be carried easily by rolling in the expiration gas analyzer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a breath gas container for storing a subject's breath gas to be analyzed by a breath gas analyzer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A method of analyzing the breath of a subject to perform a test for, for example, the presence or absence of bacteria in the body, a digestion and absorption test, a liver function test, and the like is known, which is a noninvasive and simple test method. Attention has been paid.

[0003] As one example, it is necessary to determine whether or not Helicobacter pylori (hereinafter referred to as "H. pylori"), which inhabits the stomach and causes chronic gastritis and stomach ulcer, is infected, or is treated for eradication. There are exhaled gas analysis tests to see if they are successful.

Breath gas analysis to check for the presence of this H. pylori
In the test, an enzyme called urease possessed by H. pylori
Converts urea to ammonia and carbon dioxide (CO₂)
Take advantage of having quality. That is, the carbon atom¹³C
Oral to test subjects using urea labeled and composed of
Administered, and in the subject's exhaled gas before and after the administration.
¹³CO₂of¹²CO₂For example, the ratio of existence to laser
-Measured by spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, etc.
You. If H. pylori inhabited the subject's stomach, administered
By the decomposition of urea¹³CO₂Occurs,¹³
CO₂Is increased. Therefore, before administration¹³
CO₂After administration to the abundance ratio of¹³CO ₂Abundance ratio of
Determine the presence of H. pylori by calculating the increase
Can be

In order to perform such an expiration gas analysis test,
The expired gas of the subject is collected in a bag-shaped or bag-shaped exhaled gas container, and the exhaled gas is transported to a place (examination center or the like) where the exhaled gas analyzer is located to perform exhaled gas analysis.

Conventionally, in such an exhaled gas analysis test, an exhaled gas container which collects and stores exhaled air of a subject is provided.
The exhaled gas is introduced into the exhaled gas analyzer manually by connecting to the exhaled gas analyzer manually. For this reason, when testing a large number of specimens, a complicated operation of sequentially replacing exhalation gas containers with an exhalation gas analyzer is required, and the exhalation gas analysis test is inefficient.

[0007] Since the spread of the breath gas analysis test is expected to increase in the future, it is necessary to improve the test efficiency, and the breath gas analysis which can automatically measure and analyze a large number of samples. Although a device is desired, such a breath gas analyzer needs to be provided with a transport means for transporting a breath gas container. That is, it is necessary to sequentially transport a large number of exhaled gas containers by the transport means, sequentially collect exhaled gas from the transported exhaled gas containers, supply the extracted exhaled gas to the analysis means, and perform measurements one after another.
Therefore, a breath gas container suitable for transportation in a breath gas analyzer is required.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a breath gas container suitable for transportation in a breath gas analyzer.

[0009]

This and other objects are achieved by the present invention which is defined below as (1) to (12).

(1) A breath gas container for storing breath gas of a subject to be analyzed by a breath gas analyzer, comprising a bag-shaped main body made of a flexible sheet material, The expiration gas container is characterized in that the portion has a substantially cylindrical outer shape when filled with expiration gas.

(2) The expiratory gas container according to the above (1), wherein, when the expiratory gas is filled, an entire length of the main body in the axial direction is larger than an outer diameter of the main body.

(3) The ratio L / D of the total length L in the axial direction of the main body portion and the outer diameter D of the main body portion in a state of being filled with the exhalation gas is 1.5 to 10. The expired gas container according to (1) or (2).

(4) The main body is formed by stacking sheet materials,
The expired gas container according to any one of the above (1) to (3), wherein the edge is sealed.

(5) The expired gas container according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the main body is formed by sealing both ends of a cylindrical sheet material.

(6) The expiratory gas container according to any one of the above (1) to (5), further comprising a check valve which functions to prevent the stored exhaled gas from flowing out.

(7) The check valve has a flexible tubular member installed inside the main body portion, and the tubular member is crushed by the pressure of the filled exhalation gas. The expiratory gas container according to the above (6), which is brought into a closed state by the above.

(8) The expired gas container according to any one of (1) to (7), which is rolled and conveyed in the expired gas analyzer.

(9) When the gas is filled at 1.05 atm, the roundness of the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the main body is 6
The expired gas container according to any one of the above (1) to (8), which is not more than mm.

(10) The expired gas container according to any one of (1) to (9), further including an information display section to which an information display body is attached.

(11) The expiratory gas container according to the above (10), wherein the information display carries information on expiratory gas to be stored.

(12) The information display body has a bar code, and is attached so that the scanning direction of the bar code is the same as the axial direction of the main body.
The expiratory gas container according to 1).

[0022]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an exhalation gas container according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the expired gas container and the expired gas analyzing means.

First, in order to explain the use of the exhaled gas container, an outline of a method of exhaled gas analysis will be described with reference to FIG.

The expiration gas container 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a flexible bag shape and collects and stores the expiration gas of the subject.

The expired gas analyzing means 20 shown in FIG.
It is ¹³ in the exhaled gas by using a laser spectroscopy CO ₂
For measuring the abundance ratio of CO ₂ and ¹² CO ₂ , and a measuring cell 201 and a sampling tube 202 communicating with the measuring cell 201
And a pump 2 for reducing the pressure inside the measurement cell 201
03.

The exhaled gas of the subject stored in the exhaled gas container 10 is introduced into the measuring cell 201 through the sampling tube 202. That is, the collection tube 202 is
By inserting the expiration gas container 10 into the expiration gas container 10 through the air inlet 0 or piercing the expiration gas container 10 with the collection tube 202, the inside of the expiration gas container 10 and the measurement cell 201 are communicated via the collection tube 202. . The inside of the measurement cell 201 is depressurized (vacuum) by the pump 203, and the exhaled gas stored in the exhaled gas container 10 is introduced into the measurement cell 201 using this depressurized state.

An LD (laser diode) 204 is installed near the measurement cell 201, and irradiates a laser beam 206 to the exhaled gas introduced into the measurement cell 201. The laser light 206 is reflected by the inner wall of the measurement cell 201, and then received by a PD (photodiode) 205 and photoelectrically converted. Thus, the PD 205 outputs a voltage (signal) according to the amount of received light.

The LD 204 and the PD 205 are each connected to a control unit (not shown).

The control section controls the LD 204 to sweep the wavelength of the laser beam 206 and measures the light absorption spectrum based on the signal from the PD 205. ¹³ CO ₂ and ¹² C
Since the absorption wavelength is slightly different from that of O ₂ , the abundance ratio between ¹³ CO ₂ and ¹² CO ₂ is determined from the spectral intensity ratio.

As described above, the exhalation gas container, for example, collects and stores exhaled gas from a subject, transports it to a place where the exhaled gas analyzer is located, and supplies the exhaled gas to the exhaled gas analyzer. It is used for the purpose of doing.

Next, the structure of the expired gas container of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of an expiration gas container of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the expiration gas container shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along an X-ray. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the expired gas container of the present invention. In the following description, the side shown in FIG. 1 is “front side”, and the side shown in FIG. 2 is “back side”.
Say

The expiration gas container 1 shown in FIGS.
It has a main body 2 and a check valve 3 installed in the main body 2 to prevent the stored exhaled gas from flowing out. Hereinafter, the configuration of each unit will be described.

The main body 2 is in the form of a bag made of a flexible sheet material, and stores expiration gas therein.

In the present embodiment, the main body 2 has a rectangular shape when not filled with exhalation gas, and has an inlet 26 at one short side thereof. When exhaled gas is collected in the exhaled gas container 1, a tubular blowing device (not shown) such as a straw is inserted into the main body 2 from the blowing port 26, and exhaled gas is discharged through the blowing device. Inhale.

In this embodiment, the main body 2 is formed by laminating two rectangular sheet materials and sealing (joining) the edges (peripheries) thereof. That is, the shoulders 21 and 22 located on both sides of the air inlet 26 and the side (long side)
The ends 23 and 24 and the end 25 opposite to the blowing port 26 are sealed (four-side seal).

In contrast to such a configuration, the main body 2 is formed, for example, by folding a single sheet in half and setting its edge to “co”.
A seal formed in a letter shape (three-way seal) may be used. In this case, one of the seals of the side portions 23 and 24 can be omitted, and the manufacture can be more easily performed.

The main body 2 may be formed by sealing both ends of a tubular sheet material (inflation sheet). That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the main body 2 in the exhalation gas container 1 ′ is formed by adding a cylindrical sheet material to the shoulder 2.
1, 22 and the end 25 are sealed.
Thereby, the sealing of the side parts 23 and 24 can be omitted, and the manufacture can be made more easily.

The method for sealing the sheet material is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a method of fusion (thermal fusion, high-frequency fusion, ultrasonic fusion, etc.) and a method of bonding with an adhesive.

Projections 27 and 28 projecting outward from the edge of the air inlet 26 are provided respectively.
The end 271 of the projection 7 extends outside the end 281 of the projection 28. As described above, since the protruding portions 27 and 28 are provided with the positions of the ends 271 and 281 shifted, each of the protruding portions 27 and 28 can be easily pinched with a finger or the like. By this operation, the blowing port 26 can be easily opened, and the blowing tool can be easily inserted. In the present embodiment, the protrusions 27 and 28
Is formed by extending a sheet material forming a check valve 3 described later to the outside of the main body 2.

The constituent material of the sheet material forming the main body 2 is not particularly limited. For example, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polyester such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutadiene, ethylene-vinyl acetate Examples include various synthetic resin materials such as polyolefins such as copolymers, polyamides, polyimides, ionomers, and the like, and polymer alloys containing these.

The sheet material may have a single-layer structure,
Although a multi-layer structure of three or more layers may be used, a multi-layer structure is preferable. For example, it is preferable to have a structure in which polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate random copolymer (EVAL), and polyethylene are laminated in this order.

It is preferable that such a sheet material has a gas barrier property such that stored breath gas does not substantially permeate.

The main body 2 is filled with exhaled gas,
Stored state (hereinafter referred to as "expired gas filling state")
Has a substantially cylindrical outer shape. However, the “outer shape” here refers to an outer shape that does not include the seal portions such as the side portions 23 and 24. In the present embodiment, the main body 2 has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape in the state of the expiratory gas charge, except for the vicinity of both ends, as shown in FIG.

In the state of the expiration gas filling, the expiration gas container 1 is formed by the main body 2 having a substantially cylindrical outer shape.
Rolling becomes possible. Therefore, the exhaled gas container 1 can be suitably used in an exhaled gas analyzer that automatically measures and analyzes a large number of samples.

That is, a breath gas analyzer that automatically measures and analyzes a large number of samples is provided with a transport means for transporting a large number of breath gas containers, and sequentially from the breath gas containers transported by the transport means. It is necessary to collect exhaled gas and supply it to the exhaled gas analyzing means 20 for sequential measurement and analysis. The exhaled gas container 1 of the present invention rolls in such an exhaled gas analyzer. Since they can be transported, they can be transported easily and reliably.

In order to transport the exhaled gas container 1 in the exhaled gas analyzer, a transport mechanism such as a belt transport mechanism may be provided, and may be rolled and transported by the operation of the transport mechanism. And may be rolled by its own weight and transported.

The sealing portions of the side portions 23 and 24 are
Since the exhalation gas container 1 in a state of being filled with exhalation gas rolls because of its flexibility, it is easily bent (falls down) in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Thus, sides 23 and 24
Has little effect on rolling (it does not hinder).

In the expiratory gas filling state, the overall length L of the main body 2 in the axial direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1) is preferably larger than the outer diameter (average outer diameter) D of the main body 2 (L> D). , L
The value of / D is more preferably from 1.5 to 10, and L /
More preferably, the value of D is from 2 to 7. Thereby, the expiration gas container 1 (main body 2) has a long shape in the axial direction and is more easily rolled, so that it is more suitable for transportation in the expiration gas analyzer.

The outer diameter (average outer diameter) D of the main body 2 in the expiratory gas filled state is not particularly limited, but is usually about 1 to 8 cm in consideration of the amount of expiratory gas required for exhaled gas analysis. Is preferably, and more preferably about 2 to 5 cm.

In the state where the main body 2 is filled with gas at 1.05 atm, the roundness of the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion (the portion excluding the vicinity of both ends) (= (maximum outer diameter− (Minimum outer diameter) ××) is preferably 6 mm or less, more preferably 3 mm or less. When a person inhales expiration, the expiration gas is usually sealed at a pressure of about 1.05 atm. Therefore, when the gas is filled at such a pressure, the roundness of the outer diameter of the main body 2 falls within the above range. In the actual use state, the outer shape of the main body 2 becomes sufficiently close to a column, and the rolling becomes easier. Therefore, it is more suitable for transportation in the breath gas analyzer.

The value of the roundness is preferably 15% or less, more preferably 8% or less, of the outer diameter (average outer diameter) D of the main body 2 in the state of the expiratory gas filling.

Further, when the main body 2 is formed by sealing both ends of the cylindrical sheet material, since the side portions 23 and 24 have no sealing portion, the rolling becomes easier.

The exhalation gas container 1 has a main body 2
It is preferable that a check valve 3 that functions so as to prevent the exhaled gas filled and stored inside from leaking out is provided.

In this embodiment, the check valve 3 is formed of a tubular member made of a flexible sheet material, and is installed inside the main body 2. One end of the check valve 3 is sealed and joined to the edge of the air inlet 26, and is formed so as to extend in a cylindrical shape from here to near the center of the main body 2.

In the configuration shown in the figure, the check valve 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape by overlapping two elongated sheet materials and sealing the side portions 31 and 32 respectively. Check valve 3
The present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and may be formed by sealing a side portion of one sheet material folded in half, or may be formed of a tubular sheet material. The constituent materials of the sheet material and the sealing method are the same as those described in the description of the main body 2.

When the exhaled gas of the subject is collected in the exhaled gas container 1, the exhalation device is inserted into the check valve 3 from the air inlet 26 to exhale the exhaled gas. That is, the exhaled gas passes through the inside of the check valve 3 and is stored in the main body 2.

When a sufficient amount of expiration gas has been blown in and the blower is removed, the check valve 3 automatically closes and functions to prevent the stored expiration gas from flowing out. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the check valve 3 is closed so as to be crushed by the pressure of the exhalation gas filled in the main body 2.

Since such a check valve 3 is provided, the check valve 3 is closed immediately after the exhalation is blown and the flow path is shut off.
There is little outside air. Thereby, inspection (measurement) accuracy can be improved. In addition, the operation of sealing the blowing port 26 with a tape, a clip, or the like is unnecessary, which is convenient.

In particular, even when a force that presses the expanded main body 2 by gripping the main body 2 is applied,
Since the internal pressure increases and the check valve 3 is closed with a stronger force, it is possible to more reliably prevent the stored exhaled gas from flowing out.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the front side of the main body 2,
For example, an entry column 4 is provided for entering the name of the subject's hospital, before and after administration of the test reagent, the subject's name, the date of breath collection, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, an information display section 5 is provided on the back side of the main body section 2.
Can be provided with an information display 9 (label). Hooks and brackets 51 are attached to the four corners of the information display section 5, and an information display body 9 is attached inside the information display section 5, for example, by sticking.

The information display 9 has an information carrier such as a bar code or a two-dimensional code, and the information carrier stores therein information about the stored exhaled gas (hereinafter referred to as “specimen information”). Have been. As this sample information,
For example, the subject's ID number, name, age, gender, height, weight, medical history, hospital name, classification before and after administration of the test reagent, collection date, and the like are given.

The sample information carried on the information display 9 is read by reading means provided in the breath gas analyzer, and is used for managing test (measurement) results. Thereby, the exhaled gas stored in each exhaled gas container 1 can be specified, and the management of the inspection (measurement) result can be easily performed.

When the information display 9 is read by the reading means provided in the breath gas analyzer, it is necessary to align the information display 9 with respect to the reading means. Since this can roll, this alignment can be easily performed. That is, a rotation mechanism for rolling (rotating) the exhalation gas container 1 is provided at a position where the information display body 9 is read, and the exhalation gas container 1 is rotated by the rotation mechanism, whereby the information display body 9 can be easily formed. It can be aligned with the reading means.

In the present embodiment, the information display 9 has a bar code 91, and the scanning direction of the bar code 91 (the direction perpendicular to the bar) is the same as the axial direction of the main body 2. It is attached to. Accordingly, even when the main body 2 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape, the barcode 91 can be scanned without being affected by the curvature of the outer surface of the main body 2, and reading can be performed reliably.

The expiration gas container of the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each part constituting the expiration gas container can exhibit the same function. It can be replaced with any configuration.

For example, as long as the main body of the expiratory gas container has a substantially columnar outer shape when the expiratory gas is filled, the arrangement of the sheet material and the arrangement of the seal portion and the like are arbitrary. There may be.

Further, a rigid port member may be provided at the blow port, and a lid may be attached to the port member.

[0070]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is suitable for transportation in a state in which expiration gas is filled, and can be easily and reliably transported in an expiration gas analyzer. Therefore,
The present invention can be suitably used for a breath gas analyzer that automatically analyzes a large number of samples.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of an expired gas container of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the expiration gas container shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a state of X- in FIG.
It is sectional drawing in X-rays.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the expired gas container of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an example of an exhaled gas container and an exhaled gas analyzer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1 'expiration gas container 2 main body 21, 22 shoulder 23, 24 side 25 end 26 inlet 27, 28 protruding part 271, 281 end 3 check valve 31, 32 side 4 entry field 5 information Display unit 51 Braces 9 Information display unit 91 Bar code 10 Exhaled gas container 20 Exhaled gas analyzing means 201 Measurement cell 202 Sampling tube 203 Pump 204 LD 205 PD 206 Laser beam

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) A61B 10/00 A61B 10/00 V (72) Inventor Masahiro Akiu 6-22-1, Mure, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo Aloka Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Eiichi Minagawa 6-22-1, Mure, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo Aloka Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2G045 AA25 AA33 CB22 DB01 HA06 HA12 HA14 JA04 JA07 2G052 AA34 AB06 AD02 AD22 AD42 CA35 DA13 DA27 HC25 JA02 2G059 AA06 BB01 BB12 CC04 CC16 DD12 EE01 EE12 GG01 GG09 KK01 MM01

Claims (12)

[Claims] An exhalation gas container for storing exhaled gas of a subject to be analyzed by an exhaled gas analyzer, comprising: a bag-shaped main body made of a flexible sheet material; Is an exhaled gas container characterized by having a substantially cylindrical outer shape when filled with exhaled gas. 2. The expired gas container according to claim 1, wherein, when the expired gas is filled, an entire length of the main body in the axial direction is larger than an outer diameter of the main body. 3. When the expiration gas is filled, the ratio L / L of the total axial length L of the main body to the outer diameter D of the main body.
The expiratory gas container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the value of D is 1.5 to 10. 4. The expired gas container according to claim 1, wherein the main body is formed by stacking sheet materials and sealing the edges thereof. 5. The expiratory gas container according to claim 1, wherein the main body is formed by sealing both ends of a cylindrical sheet material. 6. The expired gas container according to claim 1, further comprising a check valve which functions to prevent the stored expired gas from flowing out. 7. The check valve has a flexible tubular member installed inside the main body, and the tubular member is crushed by the pressure of the filled exhalation gas. The expiratory gas container according to claim 6, which is in a closed state. 8. The exhaled gas container according to claim 1, wherein the exhaled gas container is rolled and conveyed in the exhaled gas analyzer. 9. The exhaled gas container according to claim 1, wherein a circularity of an outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the main body is 6 mm or less when the gas is filled at 1.05 atm. . 10. The expiratory gas container according to claim 1, further comprising an information display portion provided with an information display body. 11. The expiratory gas container according to claim 10, wherein the information display carries information on expiratory gas to be stored. 12. The exhaled gas according to claim 10, wherein the information display body has a bar code, and the bar code is applied so that a scanning direction of the bar code is the same as an axial direction of the main body. container.