Patents by Inventor Akihiro Yokozeki

Akihiro Yokozeki has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7056291
    Abstract: An arteriosclerosis evaluating apparatus 10 includes an arteriosclerosis evaluating procedure 46 (Steps S7, S8, S9, and S10) that evaluates arteriosclerosis of a living subject, based on a relationship between difference ?P of internal and external pressure of an artery of the subject in the state in which the pressure difference ?P is in equilibrium, and amplitude AM of a pulse wave produced from the artery. Therefore, the present apparatus 10 can as easily as possible evaluate the arteriosclerosis of the subject based on a characteristic curve 58 representing the relationship between in-equilibrium pressure difference ?P and pulse-wave amplitude AM which curve is obtained from a pressing pressure Pc of a cuff 12 wound around a certain portion of the subject, and the pulse wave produced from the artery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Colin Medical Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Akihiro Yokozeki, Yoshihisa Miwa
  • Patent number: 6827688
    Abstract: A blood pressure monitor including a cuff, a pressure sensor which detects a pressure in the cuff, a pressure regulating device which increases the pressure of the cuff, a pulse-amplitude determining device for determining an amplitude of each of pulses of a pulse wave which are produced in the cuff and detected by the pressure sensor while the cuff pressure is increased, a candidate determining device for determining, as a diastolic BP candidate, a pressure of the cuff which is detected by the pressure sensor and which corresponds to an amplitude of a first pulse of the pulses determined by the pulse-amplitude determining device, by judging whether the amplitude of the first pulse is not greater than a reference value which is smaller than an amplitude of at least one second pulse of the pulses, by a predetermined proportion of the amplitude of the second pulse, the amplitude of the second pulse being determined by the pulse-amplitude determining device after the amplitude of the first pulse is determined, a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Colin Medical Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Goto, Hideo Nishibayashi, Kiyoyuki Narimatsu, Akihiro Yokozeki
  • Publication number: 20040220481
    Abstract: An arteriosclerosis evaluating apparatus 10 includes an arteriosclerosis evaluating means 46 (Steps S7, S8, S9, and S10) that evaluates arteriosclerosis of a living subject, based on a relationship between difference &Dgr;P of internal and external pressure of an artery of the subject in the state in which the pressure difference &Dgr;P is in equilibrium, and amplitude AM of a pulse wave produced from the artery. Therefore, the present apparatus 10 can as easily as possible evaluate the arteriosclerosis of the subject based on a characteristic curve 58 representing the relationship between in-equilibrium pressure difference &Dgr;P and pulse-wave amplitude AM which curve is obtained from a pressing pressure Pc of a cuff 12 wound around a certain portion of the subject, and the pulse wave produced from the artery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: COLIN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Yokozeki, Yoshihisa Miwa
  • Patent number: 6808496
    Abstract: An oscillometric automatic blood-pressure measuring apparatus, including an inflatable cuff which is adapted to be wound around a portion of a living subject, so as to detect respective amplitudes of a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses of a cuff pulse wave as an oscillatory component that is produced in the cuff in synchronism with heartbeats of the subject in a cuff-pressure change process in which a cuff pressure as a pressure in the cuff is changed, a cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude correcting device for correcting the respective amplitudes of the respective pulses of the cuff pulse wave, according to a predetermined non-linear relationship between difference between cuff pressure and subject's mean blood pressure, and amplitude of cuff pulse wave, and a blood-pressure determining device for determining a blood pressure of the subject based on a change of the corrected amplitudes of the cuff pulse wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Colin Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Oka, Akihiro Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 6748262
    Abstract: The gate means 73 extracts the partial impedance pulse wave SMIMP(P) from the thorax impedance pulse wave SMIMP detected by the thorax impedance pulse wave detector 64. This is done over an intake period defined as a period starting from a first time T1 after the time when the R wave of the induced electro-cardiac wave is detected to the time when a rising edge of the photoelectric pulse wave SM2 is detected. Then, the heartbeat synchronous information determining means 74 selects a rising edge of the partial impedance pulse wave SMIMP(P) that periodically appears as heartbeat synchronous information IH. Thus, it is possible to accurately determine the heartbeat synchronous information IH. Additionally, since the photoelectric pulse wave SM2 that is detected by the photoelectric pulse wave sensor 40 is largely free of noise it is possible to accurately determine the end of the period for reading the thorax impedance pulse wave SMIMP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Colin Medical Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chikao Harada, Keizoh Kawaguchi, Kiyoyuki Narimatsu, Akihiro Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 6645155
    Abstract: A blood pressure monitor apparatus for monitoring a blood pressure of a living subject, comprising: pulse-wave-propagation-velocity-relating information obtaining means for successively obtaining pulse-wave-propagation-velocity-relating information which relates to a pulse-wave propagation velocity at which a pulse wave propagates in an artery of the subject; pulse-period-relating information obtaining means for successively obtaining pulse-period-relating information which relates to a pulse period of the subject; peripheral-blood-volume-relating information obtaining means for successively obtaining peripheral-blood-volume-relating information which relates to a volume of blood which flows in a peripheral body portion of the subject; and abnormality judging means for judging that the blood pressure of the subject is abnormal when at least one of the pulse-wave-propagation-velocity-relating information, pulse-period-relating information, and peripheral-blood-volume-relating information does not fall within a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Colin Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekatsu Inukai, Keizoh Kawaguchi, Tomohiro Nunome, Akihiro Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 6602198
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically measuring a blood pressure of a living subject, including an inflatable cuff which is wound around a portion of the subject, a cuff pulse wave including heartbeat-synchronous pulses occurring to the cuff when a pressure in the cuff is changed, a pressure-pulse-wave detecting device which includes a pressure-pulse-wave sensor that is pressed against an artery of the subject and which detects, through the sensor, a pressure pulse wave that is produced by the artery when the pressure of the cuff is changed and that includes heartbeat-synchronous pulses, a correction-factor determining device for determining, for each of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the pressure pulse wave, a correction factor to correct an amplitude of each heartbeat-synchronous pulse to a predetermined value, a corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining device for multiplying, by the correction factor determined for each of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the pressure pulse wave, an amplitude of on
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Colin Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 6589183
    Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating a degree of hardness of an artery of a living subject, including a blood-flow stopping device which stops a flow of blood through a first portion of the subject, and a blood-amount detecting device which is adapted to be worn on a second portion of the subject that is located on a downstream side of the first portion and which produces a blood-amount signal representing an amount of blood present in the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Colin Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 6582373
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically measuring a blood pressure of a living subject, including an inflatable cuff which is adapted to be wound around a portion of the subject, an increase-end-pressure determining device for determining, based on a cuff pulse wave occurring to the cuff when a pressure in the cuff is increased at a first rate, an increase-end pressure to which the pressure of the cuff is increased at the first rate, at which the increasing of the pressure of the cuff is ended, and from which the pressure of the cuff is decreased at a second rate lower than the first rate, and a blood-pressure determining device for determining a blood pressure of the subject based on a physical signal obtained from the subject when the pressure of the cuff is decreased at the second rate from the increase-end pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Colin Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 6582374
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically measuring a blood pressure of a living subject, including a cuff which is wound around a portion of the subject, a cuff pulse wave occurring to the cuff when a pressure in the cuff is changed, a pulse-wave detecting device which is worn on another portion of the subject and detects a volumetric pulse wave, a correction-factor determining device for iteratively determining, for each of respective pulses of the volumetric pulse wave, a correction factor to correct an amplitude of the each pulse to a predetermined value, a first determining device for iteratively multiplying, by the correction factor determined for the each of the pulses of the volumetric pulse wave, an amplitude of one of the pulses of the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each pulse of the volumetric pulse wave, and thereby determining a corrected amplitude of the one pulse of the cuff pulse wave, and a second determining device for determining a blood pressure of the subject based on a change of the respec
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Colin Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Yokozeki
  • Publication number: 20030097074
    Abstract: An oscillometric automatic blood-pressure measuring apparatus, including an inflatable cuff which is adapted to be wound around a portion of a living subject, so as to detect respective amplitudes of a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses of a cuff pulse wave as an oscillatory component that is produced in the cuff in synchronism with heartbeats of the subject in a cuff-pressure change process in which a cuff pressure as a pressure in the cuff is changed, a cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude correcting device for correcting the respective amplitudes of the respective pulses of the cuff pulse wave, according to a predetermined non-linear relationship between difference between cuff pressure and subject's mean blood pressure, and amplitude of cuff pulse wave, and a blood-pressure determining device for determining a blood pressure of the subject based on a change of the corrected amplitudes of the cuff pulse wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: COLIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tohru Oka, Akihiro Yokozeki
  • Publication number: 20030092999
    Abstract: A blood pressure monitor including a cuff, a pressure sensor which detects a pressure in the cuff, a pressure regulating device which increases the pressure of the cuff, a pulse-amplitude determining device for determining an amplitude of each of pulses of a pulse wave which are produced in the cuff and detected by the pressure sensor while the cuff pressure is increased, a candidate determining device for determining, as a diastolic BP candidate, a pressure of the cuff which is detected by the pressure sensor and which corresponds to an amplitude of a first pulse of the pulses determined by the pulse-amplitude determining device, by judging whether the amplitude of the first pulse is not greater than a reference value which is smaller than an amplitude of at least one second pulse of the pulses, by a predetermined proportion of the amplitude of the second pulse, the amplitude of the second pulse being determined by the pulse-amplitude determining device after the amplitude of the first pulse is determined, a
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Applicant: Colin Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Goto, Hideo Nishibayashi, Kiyoyuki Narimatsu, Akihiro Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 6527726
    Abstract: A blood pressure monitor including a cuff, a pressure sensor which detects a pressure in the cuff, a pressure regulating device which increases the pressure of the cuff, a pulse-amplitude determining device for determining an amplitude of each of pulses of a pulse wave which are produced in the cuff and detected by the pressure sensor while the cuff pressure is increased, a candidate determining device for determining, as a diastolic BP candidate, a pressure of the cuff which is detected by the pressure sensor and which corresponds to an amplitude of a first pulse of the pulses determined by the pulse-amplitude determining device, by judging whether the amplitude of the first pulse is not greater than a reference value which is smaller than an amplitude of at least one second pulse of the pulses, by a predetermined proportion of the amplitude of the second pulse, the amplitude of the second pulse being determined by the pulse-amplitude determining device after the amplitude of the first pulse is determined, a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Colin Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Goto, Hideo Nishibayashi, Kiyoyuki Narimatsu, Akihiro Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 6527725
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a blood pressure of a living subject, including a measuring device which iteratively measures a blood pressure of the subject, a first device for obtaining first information relating to velocity of propagation of pulse wave, a second device for obtaining at least one of second information relating to heart rate and third information relating to area defined by volume pulse wave, a memory which stores groups of information each group of which includes the blood pressure, the first information, and at least one of the second information and the third information, a determining device for determining an expression representing a relationship between (A) blood pressure, and (B1) first information and (B2) at least one of (B21) second information and (B22) third information, and having a first coefficient for the first information, at least one second coefficient for at least one of the second and third information, and a constant, the determining device determining the coefficients and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Colin Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekatsu Inukai, Akihiro Yokozeki, Keizoh Kawaguchi, Kiyoyuki Narimatsu
  • Publication number: 20030032887
    Abstract: The gate means 73 extracts the partial impedance pulse wave SMIMP(P) from the thorax impedance pulse wave SMIMP detected by the thorax impedance pulse wave detector 64. This is done over an intake period defined as a period starting from a first time T1 after the time when the R wave of the induced electro-cardiac wave is detected to the time when a rising edge of the photoelectric pulse wave SM2 is detected. Then, the heartbeat synchronous information determining means 74 selects a rising edge of the partial impedance pulse wave SMIMP(P) that periodically appears as heartbeat synchronous information IH. Thus, it is possible to accurately determine the heartbeat synchronous information IH. Additionally, since the photoelectric pulse wave SM2 that is detected by the photoelectric pulse wave sensor 40 is largely free of noise it is possible to accurately determine the end of the period for reading the thorax impedance pulse wave SMIMP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: COLIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chikao Harada, Keizoh Kawaguchi, Kiyoyuki Narimatsu, Akihiro Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 6500127
    Abstract: A blood pressure monitor apparatus for monitoring a blood pressure of a living subject, comprising: blood pressure-relating information obtaining means for successively obtaining blood pressure-relating information which decreases or increases with a decrease or an increase of the blood pressure of the subject, or blood pressure-relating information which increases or decreases with a decrease or an increase of the blood pressure of the subject; decrease or increase determining means for determining a decrease or an increase of the blood pressure-relating information successively obtained by the obtaining means; and abnormality judging means for judging that the blood pressure of the subject is abnormal when the decrease or increase of the blood pressure-relating information is greater than a predetermined reference value (&ggr;1, &ggr;2), or abnormality judging means for judging that the blood pressure of the subject is abnormal when the blood pressure-relating information is greater than a predetermined ref
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Colin Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekatsu Inukai, Keizoh Kawaguchi, Akihiro Yokozeki
  • Publication number: 20020193692
    Abstract: A blood pressure monitor apparatus for monitoring a blood pressure of a living subject, comprising: pulse-wave-propagation-velocity-relating information obtaining means for successively obtaining pulse-wave-propagation-velocity-relating information which relates to a pulse-wave propagation velocity at which a pulse wave propagates in an artery of the subject; pulse-period-relating information obtaining means for successively obtaining pulse-period-relating information which relates to a pulse period of the subject; peripheral-blood-volume-relating information obtaining means for successively obtaining peripheral-blood-volume-relating information which relates to a volume of blood which flows in a peripheral body portion of the subject; and abnormality judging means for judging that the blood pressure of the subject is abnormal when at least one of the pulse-wave-propagation-velocity-relating information, pulse-period-relating information, and peripheral-blood-volume-relating information does not fall within a
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Colin Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekatsu Inukai, Keizoh Kawaguchi, Tomohiro Nunome, Akihiro Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 6428481
    Abstract: A device for monitoring the blood pressure of a living subject, including a pulse-wave-propagation-velocity-relating information obtaining device for successively obtaining pulse-wave-propagation-velocity-relating information which relates to a pulse-wave propagation velocity at which a pulse wave propagates in an artery of the subject, a pulse-period-relating information obtaining device for successively obtaining pulse-period-relating information which relates to a pulse period of the subject, a peripheral-blood-volume-relating information obtaining device for successively obtaining peripheral-blood-volume-relating information which relates to a volume of blood which flows in a peripheral body portion of the subject, and an abnormality judging device for judging that the blood pressure of the subject is abnormal when at least one of the pulse-wave-propagation-velocity-relating information, pulse-period-relating information, and peripheral-blood-volume-relating information does not fall within a correspondin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Colin Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekatsu Inukai, Keizoh Kawaguchi, Tomohiro Nunome, Akihiro Yokozeki
  • Publication number: 20020099298
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically measuring a blood pressure of a living subject, including a cuff which is wound around a portion of the subject, a cuff pulse wave occurring to the cuff when a pressure in the cuff is changed, a pulse-wave detecting device which is worn on another portion of the subject and detects a volumetric pulse wave, a correction-factor determining device for iteratively determining, for each of respective pulses of the volumetric pulse wave, a correction factor to correct an amplitude of the each pulse to a predetermined value, a first determining device for iteratively multiplying, by the correction factor determined for the each of the pulses of the volumetric pulse wave, an amplitude of one of the pulses of the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each pulse of the volumetric pulse wave, and thereby determining a corrected amplitude of the one pulse of the cuff pulse wave, and a second determining means for determining a blood pressure of the subject based on a change of the respect
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: COLIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiro Yokozeki
  • Publication number: 20020052552
    Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating a degree of hardness of an artery of a living subject, including a blood-flow stopping device which stops a flow of blood through a first portion of the subject, and a blood- amount detecting device which is adapted to be worn on a second portion of the subject that is located on a downstream side of the first portion and which produces a blood-amount signal representing an amount of blood present in the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: COLIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiro Yokozeki