Patent ID: 7780610

Claim:
A component measuring instrument used by mounting therein a chip comprising a puncture needle and a contact portion for making contact with a specimen sampling portion, comprising: a specimen sampling portion application portion which is capable of having a specimen sampling portion to be punctured applied thereon; puncturing means for moving said puncture needle to puncture the specimen sampling portion applied onto said specimen sampling portion application portion; pressure reducing means for putting the punctured portion of the specimen sampling portion punctured by said puncture needle, together with a containing space for said puncture needle, into a reduced-pressure condition; measuring means for measuring the amount of a predetermined component in a blood sample from the punctured portion; and a chip retracting mechanism for moving said chip, including said puncture needle and said contact portion, in a direction away from the specimen sampling portion, said contact portion being kept in contact with a surface of the specimen sampling portion as said chip moves in said direction so as to maintain said reduced-pressure condition generated by said pressure reducing means.