Patents by Inventor Junko Kawai

Junko Kawai 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: 9132456
    Abstract: A cleaning method for a working mechanism for a medical manipulator, the working mechanism including a shaft, a force transmitting member in the shaft, a working unit at one end of the shaft with a working unit moved by the force transmitting member, and a cover over a portion of the working unit, with a gap between the cover and shaft, and a hole is disposed on a side of the cover. The method includes the steps of inserting an end of the shaft with the cover into one end of a tube, sealing the tube and shaft with a sealing element, disposing a sucking and discharging element on another end of the tube, and immersing another end of the shaft into a cleaning agent. By activating the sucking and discharging element, sucking and discharging of the cleaning agent is carried out repeatedly, from the other end of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Junko Kawai, Makoto Jinno
  • Publication number: 20140305472
    Abstract: A cleaning method for a working mechanism for a medical manipulator, the working mechanism including a shaft, a force transmitting member in the shaft, a working unit at one end of the shaft with a working unit moved by the force transmitting member, and a cover over a portion of the working unit, with a gap between the cover and shaft, and a hole is disposed on a side of the cover. The method includes the steps of inserting an end of the shaft with the cover into one end of a tube, sealing the tube and shaft with a sealing element, disposing a sucking and discharging element on another end of the tube, and immersing another end of the shaft into a cleaning agent. By activating the sucking and discharging element, sucking and discharging of the cleaning agent is carried out repeatedly, from the other end of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Junko Kawai, Makoto Jinno
  • Patent number: 8795324
    Abstract: A working mechanism for a medical manipulator and a cleaning method therefor are provided. A working unit of a medical manipulator is equipped with a hollow connecting shaft, wires of a motive force transmitting member disposed in the connecting shaft, and a distal end working unit disposed on one end of the connecting shaft and which is moved by the wires. A cover covers at least a portion of the distal end working unit. A gap is provided between the cover and the connecting shaft, with oblong holes being disposed laterally on right and left sides of the cover. A cleaning agent is made to flow through the holes and the gap and/or a brush may be inserted through the holes and the gap for cleaning the distal end working unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Junko Kawai, Makoto Jinno
  • Patent number: 8038689
    Abstract: A manipulator includes a composite input unit that is manually operable by the fingers, a connector shaft extending from an operating unit, and a working unit mounted on the distal end of the connector shaft. The working unit comprises a rolling mechanism, a tilting mechanism, and an opening and closing mechanism. The composite input unit includes a shuttle ring for actuating the rolling mechanism. The manipulator also includes a gripper for gripping a curved needle. The gripper is placed near a DVC, whereupon the rolling mechanism is actuated to roll the gripper and to pierce a living body with the curved needle, until the point of the curved needle projects outside of the living body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junko Kawai, Shigeru Omori, Shuichi Uenohara
  • Publication number: 20110092776
    Abstract: A medical manipulator and a cleaning method therefor are provided. The medical manipulator includes an operation command unit equipped with a motor, and a working unit, which is detachable with respect to the operation command unit. A connector of the working unit is connected to the operation command unit, and includes pulleys that engage with the motor, the connector serving to rotatably retain the pulleys therein. The connector has an elongate shape extending in the longitudinal direction of a connecting shaft, and a first cleaning hole is arranged in an end portion of the connector that is opposite to a side on which the connecting shaft is connected. A second cleaning hole opens into an interior cavity, in the vicinity of an end portion on the side where the connecting shaft is connected. The end portions are shaped substantially hemispherically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junko KAWAI, Shuji Imuta
  • Patent number: 7887640
    Abstract: A medical manipulator and a cleaning method therefor are provided. The medical manipulator includes an operation command unit equipped with a motor, and a working unit, which is detachable with respect to the operation command unit. A connector of the working unit is connected to the operation command unit, and includes pulleys that engage with the motor, the connector serving to rotatably retain the pulleys therein. The connector has an elongate shape extending in the longitudinal direction of a connecting shaft, and a first cleaning hole is arranged in an end portion of the connector that is opposite to a side on which the connecting shaft is connected. A second cleaning hole opens into an interior cavity, in the vicinity of an end portion on the side where the connecting shaft is connected. The end portions are shaped substantially hemispherically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junko Kawai, Shuji Imuta
  • Publication number: 20090240263
    Abstract: A manipulator includes a composite input unit that is manually operable by the fingers, a connector shaft extending from an operating unit, and a working unit mounted on the distal end of the connector shaft. The working unit comprises a rolling mechanism, a tilting mechanism, and an opening and closing mechanism. The composite input unit includes a shuttle ring for actuating the rolling mechanism. The manipulator also includes a gripper for gripping a curved needle. The gripper is placed near a DVC, whereupon the rolling mechanism is actuated to roll the gripper and to pierce a living body with the curved needle, until the point of the curved needle projects outside of the living body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junko Kawai, Shigeru Omori, Shuichi Uenohara
  • Publication number: 20090031842
    Abstract: A working mechanism for a medical manipulator and a cleaning method therefor are provided. A working unit of a medical manipulator is equipped with a hollow connecting shaft, wires of a motive force transmitting member disposed in the connecting shaft, and a distal end working unit disposed on one end of the connecting shaft and which is moved by the wires. A cover covers at least a portion of the distal end working unit. A gap is provided between the cover and the connecting shaft, with oblong holes being disposed laterally on right and left sides of the cover. A cleaning agent is made to flow through the holes and the gap and/or a brush may be inserted through the holes and the gap for cleaning the distal end working unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicants: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Junko Kawai, Makoto Jinno
  • Publication number: 20090030449
    Abstract: A medical manipulator and a cleaning method therefor are provided. The medical manipulator includes an operation command unit equipped with a motor, and a working unit, which is detachable with respect to the operation command unit. A connector of the working unit is connected to the operation command unit, and includes pulleys that engage with the motor, the connector serving to rotatably retain the pulleys therein. The connector has an elongate shape extending in the longitudinal direction of a connecting shaft, and a first cleaning hole is arranged in an end portion of the connector that is opposite to a side on which the connecting shaft is connected. A second cleaning hole opens into an interior cavity, in the vicinity of an end portion on the side where the connecting shaft is connected. The end portions are shaped substantially hemispherically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junko Kawai, Shuji Imuta