Patents by Inventor Atsushi Chiba

Atsushi Chiba 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).

  • Publication number: 20150133730
    Abstract: A magnetically guiding system includes: a capsule medical device that has a magnet provided therein; an information acquiring unit that acquires physical information about magnetic guiding of the capsule medical device; a magnetic field generating unit that generates a magnetic field for magnetically guiding the capsule medical device; and a control unit that sets a magnetic field condition based on the physical information acquired by the information acquiring unit and controls the magnetic field generating unit to generate a magnetic field corresponding to the magnetic field condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Hidetake Segawa, Atsushi Chiba, Atsushi Kimura
  • Patent number: 9002434
    Abstract: Position detection of a medical device is prevented from being impossible even when the frequency characteristic of a magnetic induction coil is varied in accordance with the state of an external magnetic field for guiding the medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Uchiyama, Atsushi Kimura, Ryoji Sato, Atsushi Chiba
  • Publication number: 20150065801
    Abstract: A guidance device applies a magnetic field to a capsule medical apparatus within which a first permanent magnet is arranged when the capsule medical apparatus is introduced into a subject, to guide the capsule medical apparatus within the subject. The guidance device includes a second permanent magnet that is configured to be disposed outside the subject and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape or a polygonal column shape, the second permanent magnet having a first plane containing a magnetization direction and a first direction orthogonal to the magnetization direction, and being configured to confine the capsule medical apparatus within a region facing the first plane. The second permanent magnet has a length in the first direction longer than a length in the magnetization direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Atsushi CHIBA, Hironobu TAKIZAWA, Hironao KAWANO
  • Patent number: 8968185
    Abstract: A magnetically guiding system includes: a capsule medical device that has a magnet provided therein; an information acquiring unit that acquires physical information about magnetic guiding of the capsule medical device; a magnetic field generating unit that generates a magnetic field for magnetically guiding the capsule medical device; and a control unit that sets a magnetic field condition based on the physical information acquired by the information acquiring unit and controls the magnetic field generating unit to generate a magnetic field corresponding to the magnetic field condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Hidetake Segawa, Atsushi Chiba, Atsushi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20150057497
    Abstract: An activation device activates a capsule medical device that has a first coil inside and is activated when voltage not less than a first specified value or current not less than a second specified value is generated in the first coil. The activation device includes: a case; a second coil that is provided in the case and is configured to generate a magnetic field when current flows through the second coil; and a guide portion for guiding to a position that is located outside the case and that is a position of the capsule medical device where the capsule medical device can be activated based on the magnetic field generated by the second coil. The capsule medical device is housed at a specified position in a specified posture in a container having a specified shape. The case has a placement surface on which the container is configured to be placed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Atsushi CHIBA, Hidetake SEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20150006042
    Abstract: A shift position detecting device where a shift position determining member is provided for determining a shift position based on a combination of switching modes of three switches corresponding to at least one of a plurality of projection rows each having a plurality of projection portions in a one-by-one basis, and “1, 1, 1” indicative of an ON state of each switch is allocated as a detection logic at a neutral position arranged between a first speed position and a second speed position, wherein a change in friction at the time of a shift operational to the neutral position is alleviated thus giving an operational feeling with no discomfort to a rider. Two projection rows that are objects to be detected by two specified switches among the three switches are formed so as to change switching modes of the specified switches from an OFF state to an ON state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Takashi HOTEI, Takashi TETSUKA, Dai ARAI, Atsushi CHIBA
  • Publication number: 20150000448
    Abstract: A shift position detecting device that determines a shift position based on a detection logic formed of a combination of turning on or off of a plurality of switches that are fixedly arranged at least one by one at positions corresponding to a plurality of detecting object portion rows mounted on a shift drum. An accurate shift position can be detected even if there is an irregularity in switching timings of switching modes of the plurality of switches. A shift position detecting member establishes the shift position as a new shift position and outputs shift position information, while when the detection logic after the transition is a detection logic other than the detection logic corresponding to the changeable shift position, sets the new shift position not yet established and outputs information corresponding to non-establishment of the shift position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Takashi TETSUKA, Takashi HOTEI, Dai ARAI, Atsushi CHIBA, Kenichi TAMURA
  • Patent number: 8868372
    Abstract: A position detecting system having a predicting unit for calculating a moving amount by which a detected object is predicted to move between a first time and a second time after a predetermined time from the first time, and for predicting at least one of a position and a direction of the detected object at the second time, and a control unit for controlling a position detecting unit based on the at least one of the position and the direction of the detected object at the second time predicted by the predicting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Takahiro Iida, Atsushi Chiba, Atsushi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8820750
    Abstract: A high-quality internal combustion engine oil ring which stably keeps oil consumption low for a long period and in which the shapes of an upper rail and a lower rail can be formed at low cost with high accuracy. The internal combustion engine oil ring has a recessed stepped portion formed at a corner of a sliding surface of an outer peripheral sliding projection in sliding contact with a cylinder inner wall surface of at least one of a first rail and a second rail constituting an oil ring main body, in a shape in vertical cross-section along a sliding direction of the first rail and second rail, and a wall surface of the recessed stepped portion has an arcuate surface having a radius of curvature of 0.02 mm to 0.08 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Piston Ring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Chiba, Kazuhiro Fujimura, Iwao Hiraishi, Makoto Kajiwara
  • Publication number: 20140155709
    Abstract: A capsule medical device includes: a power supply unit; a capsule detection magnetic field generation unit configured to generate a capsule detection magnetic field, with which at least one of a position and a posture of the capsule medical device is detected, upon receiving electric power; a state detection unit configured to detect a state of the capsule medical device; a control unit configured to control power supply to the capsule detection magnetic field generation unit; and a magnetic field response unit configured to respond to a guiding-magnetic field for guiding at least one of the position and the posture, wherein the state detection unit includes a guiding-magnetic field detector configured to detect at least one of a strength, a direction, and a gradient of the guiding-magnetic field, and the control unit controls the power supply in accordance with a detection result of the guiding-magnetic field detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Takuto IKAI, Hironao KAWANO, Atsushi CHIBA, Atsushi KIMURA
  • Patent number: 8740774
    Abstract: Using a guidance system with a simple configuration, propulsive motion along a longitudinal direction and changing of the propulsion direction are easily performed with good precision and stability. There is provided a capsule-type medical apparatus which is inserted into the body of a subject and is guided by an external magnetic field, the capsule-type medical apparatus comprising: a substantially cylindrical capsule; a propulsion mechanism for converting rotary motion about a longitudinal axis R of the capsule into propulsive motion along the longitudinal axis R; a magnet accommodated inside the capsule and disposed in such a manner that the magnetic-pole direction thereof can be switched between a direction along the longitudinal axis R and a direction intersecting the longitudinal axis R; and a securing portion for securing the magnet to the capsule in each of the switched states of the magnetic-pole direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignees: Olympus Corporation, Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Hironobu Takizawa, Hironao Kawano, Akio Uchiyama, Shinsuke Tanaka, Atsushi Chiba
  • Publication number: 20140139306
    Abstract: A magnetic field generation apparatus for generating a guiding-magnetic field which is a magnetic field for magnetically guiding a target object includes a plurality of permanent magnets configured to generate a magnetic field, and a switching unit configured to change relative relationship of the plurality of permanent magnets to switch between a first state in which the plurality of permanent magnets generate the guiding-magnetic field in a predetermined region and a second state in which a strength of the guiding-magnetic field in the predetermined region is less than a strength of the guiding-magnetic field in the first state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Atsushi CHIBA, Hironao KAWANO
  • Patent number: 8731637
    Abstract: Provided is an intra-subject medical system which includes a body-insertable device and a physical quantity generator. The body-insertable device is to be introduced into a subject, is covered by a capsule-shaped exterior member, and includes a physical quantity detecting member which has a directivity to detect a predetermined physical quantity; at least one functional member which has a necessary function for examining or treating inside the subject; and a switch control unit which controls an on/off state or operation mode of the at least one functional member when the physical quantity detecting member detects a physical quantity. The physical quantity generator has a physical quantity emitting unit which emits a temporary physical quantity inside the subject; and a physical quantity direction changing unit which changes an emission direction of the physical quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Hironao Kawano, Hironobu Takizawa, Akio Uchiyama, Atsushi Chiba, Takeshi Yokoi, Hideo Ito, Hidetake Segawa
  • Patent number: 8723939
    Abstract: A capsule endoscope system includes a capsule endoscope which attaches irradiation time of illuminating light required to pick up an image of an object to an item of image data, a magnetic field generating apparatus which generates a guidance magnetic field, an operation section which allows at least one of position and orientation of the capsule endoscope to be changed by manipulating the guidance magnetic field, a control section which attaches posture of a subject, an operating history of the operation section, and an output history of the guidance magnetic field to the item of the image data, a storage unit which stores the item of the image data, and an image play control section which determines, based on at least one piece of the information attached to each item of the image data, whether or not it is necessary to play and display the item of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Ryoji Sato, Atsushi Chiba
  • Patent number: 8717140
    Abstract: A thermally responsive switch includes an airtight container including a metal housing and a header plate, conductive terminal pins airtightly fixed to the header plate, a fixed contact fixed to the conductive terminal pin, a thermally responsive plate one end of which is conductively connected to and fixed to the inner surface of the airtight container and the bending direction of which is reversed at a predetermined temperature, and a movable contact fixed to the other end of the thermally responsive plate. In the thermally responsive switch, the movable contact and the fixed contact are composed of a silver tin oxide based contact and gas containing 50% or more and 95% or less of helium is encapsulated in the airtight container in such a manner that gas pressure is equal to or more than 0.35 and equal to or less than 0.7 at ordinary temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ubukata Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Hori, Atsushi Chiba
  • Patent number: 8692682
    Abstract: A position detection system for a detection object and a position detection method for a detection object that enable calibration without removing a detection object after the detection object is introduced into a detection space are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kimura, Akio Uchiyama, Ryoji Sato, Atsushi Chiba
  • Publication number: 20130328274
    Abstract: The second compression ring is formed such that the outer peripheral surface shape has a tapered face, and the radial cross-sectional shape is a rectangular ring, a scraper ring, or a Napier ring, and has a piston ring base and a hard film provided at least on an outer peripheral sliding surface thereof. The piston ring base is composed of a low-alloy steel or carbon steel having a Vickers hardness of Hv 350 Hv 550. The outer peripheral sliding surface is formed so that the axial length is from 0.01 to 0.30 mm between the outer edge end part of the tapered outer peripheral sliding surface and an imaginary line contacting with a lower end surface where a curved surface having a diameter that decreases gradually inward from the outer edge end part toward the lower end in the axial direction is parallel to a ring underside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: NIPPON PISTON RING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sugiura, Atsushi Chiba, Makoto Kajiwara, Kazuhiro Fujimura, Katsuaki Ogawa, Kazuhiro Sameshima
  • Patent number: 8602989
    Abstract: A capsule medical apparatus system includes: a table for placing a subject thereon along a longitudinal direction; an antenna, which is arranged on a body surface of the subject, for receiving in-vivo information transmitted from a capsule medical apparatus inserted in the subject; a cable for transmitting the in-vivo information received by the antenna; a processing device, which is fixed to a longitudinal end portion of the table, for processing the in-vivo information transmitted via the cable; a rotation mechanism for rotating a connecting portion, at which the cable is connected to the processing device, about a rotation axis lying in the longitudinal direction of the table depending on posture change of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Atsushi Chiba
  • Publication number: 20130184526
    Abstract: Using a guidance system with a simple configuration, propulsive motion along a longitudinal direction and changing of the propulsion direction are easily performed with good precision and stability. There is provided a capsule-type medical apparatus which is inserted into the body of a subject and is guided by an external magnetic field, the capsule-type medical apparatus comprising: a substantially cylindrical capsule; a propulsion mechanism for converting rotary motion about a longitudinal axis R of the capsule into propulsive motion along the longitudinal axis R; a magnet accommodated inside the capsule and disposed in such a manner that the magnetic-pole direction thereof can be switched between a direction along the longitudinal axis R and a direction intersecting the longitudinal axis R; and a securing portion for securing the magnet to the capsule in each of the switched states of the magnetic-pole direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventors: Hironobu Takizawa, Hironao Kawano, Akio Uchiyama, Shinsuke Tanaka, Atsushi Chiba
  • Publication number: 20130181410
    Abstract: A high-quality internal combustion engine oil ring which stably keeps oil consumption low for a long period and in which the shapes of an upper rail and a lower rail can be formed at low cost with high accuracy. The internal combustion engine oil ring has a recessed stepped portion formed at a corner of a sliding surface of an outer peripheral sliding projection in sliding contact with a cylinder inner wall surface of at least one of a first rail and a second rail constituting an oil ring main body, in a shape in vertical cross-section along a sliding direction of the first rail and second rail, and a wall surface of the recessed stepped portion has an arcuate surface having a radius of curvature of 0.02 mm to 0.08 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: NIPPON PISTON RING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Atsushi Chiba, Kazuhiro Fujimura, Iwao Hiraishi, Makoto Kajiwara