Patents by Inventor Katsumi Hirakawa

Katsumi Hirakawa 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: 8419619
    Abstract: An endoscopic form detection device includes a posture detecting section configured to detect a posture of each of sensor units based on measurement data in the sensor unit, and a linear form detecting section configured to detect a detected linear form of an inserting section on an assumption that a form between the respective sensor units is a linear link whose dimension is equal to an inter-sensor dimension based on the detected posture of each of the sensor units. The endoscopic form detection device includes a curve form detecting section configured to perform curve interpolation with respect to the detected linear form detected on an assumption that a form between the respective sensor units is an arc whose arc length is equal to the inter-sensor dimension, and configured to detect a detected curve form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Katsumi Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 8406489
    Abstract: An image display apparatus 4 includes a control unit 15 having an image display controller 15a and an image processing controller 15b to enable an easy recognition of a condition and the like of an imaging target with respect to respective image areas at each imaging point. The image display controller 15a controls to display a time scale indicating an imaging period of a series of intra-subject images, to divide a display area of each time point on the time scale so as to be associated with divided image areas, and to display average colors of divided image areas respectively in divided scale areas separated as a result of the division, the divided scale areas and the divided image areas being associated with each other, respectively. The image processing controller 15b obtains image data stored in the portable recording medium 5 or the storage unit 14 to output to an image processor 13, and controls various image processes on the output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp
    Inventor: Katsumi Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 8403829
    Abstract: An endoscopic form detection device includes a sensor tentative position detecting section configured to detect a tentative position of each sensor unit on the assumption that a portion between the respective sensor units is a linear tentative link whose dimension is equal to an inter-sensor dimension. The endoscopic form detection device includes a sensor position correcting section configured to correct a position of each sensor unit from the tentative position to a final position based on an absolute value of a difference between an arc length of each tentative arc and the inter-sensor dimension, and a final curve form detecting section configured to perform curve interpolation between the final positions of the respective sensor units by using a final arc to detect a final curve form of an inserting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Katsumi Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 8368746
    Abstract: An image captured by successive imaging over time by using a capsule endoscope is correlated with the imaging position and compiled into a database. The left side of a display screen of a monitor device displays a subject internal model, a trajectory path of the capsule endoscope, and a position mark indicating the imaging position. An image corresponding to the position of the position mark is displayed in an image display area on the right side. When a position mark on the trajectory path is designated by a mouse, the corresponding image is displayed. It is also possible to designate a section for which the image corresponding to the position mark is displayed or to designate a position mark where an unusual image is captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Hirakawa, Masanao Hara
  • Publication number: 20120265015
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to actively control at least one of the position and direction of the imaging field in a subject and to observe a desired observed region in the subject certainly in a short period of time. A body-insertable device system according to the present invention includes a capsule endoscope 1 introduced into a subject and a permanent magnet 3. An imaging unit of the capsule endoscope 1 for taking an image inside the subject is fixed in a casing. The capsule endoscope 1 includes a drive unit for changing at least one of the position and posture of the casing in the liquid 2a which is also introduced in the subject 100. The permanent magnet 3 controls the operation of the drive unit for changing at least one of the position and posture of the casing in the liquid 2a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Hironao Kawano, Hironobu Takizawa, Hidetake Segawa, Isao Aoki, Katsumi Hirakawa, Satomi Kobayashi, Hideo Ito
  • Patent number: 8269823
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to continuously display a series of images of the inside of the subject until the intra-body indwelling capsule is placed at the desired site in the subject, and to easily place the intra-body indwelling capsule endoscope at the desired site. The intra-subject indwelling system 1 according to the present invention includes an endoscope device 14 for imaging a first image of the inside of the subject; an intra-body indwelling capsule 2, for imaging a second image of the inside of the subject; a monitor device 12 for receiving the second image; a receiving device 13, a monitor 11 for displaying the first image or the second image; and an image switching device 10. The intra-body indwelling capsule 2 is arranged at the distal end of the inserting unit 5, and the separation from the inserting unit 5 is detected and the separation detection result is transmitted. The receiving device 13 receives the separation detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignees: Olympus Corporation, Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Katsumi Hirakawa, Takeshi Yokoi, Akio Uchiyama, Shinsuke Tanaka, Hironobu Takizawa
  • Patent number: 8211010
    Abstract: An endoscopic information processing system in accordance with the present invention comprises: a shape analyzing unit that analyzes an insertional shape acquired by detecting the shape of an insertion unit of an endoscope which is inserted into a body cavity; and an information providing unit that provides information on the situation of handling the endoscope according to the result of the analysis performed by the shape analyzing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Katsumi Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 8194096
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a display unit that displays images contained in a plurality of image groups inside a subject picked up by a plurality of imaging devices, and a control unit that extracts a related image related to a currently displayed image currently displayed in the display unit from the plurality of image groups to make the display unit display the related image extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Katsumi Hirakawa, Satomi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8175347
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to alleviate an image diagnosing work in a work station or the like. In a viewer 7 for displaying, on a display unit 11, image data based on a radio signal transmitted from a capsule endoscope to be inserted into a subject, an image processing circuit 35 processes image data received from a receiving apparatus 5 via an interface 34, so as to produce an image processing result of the image data, and further, a control unit 38 displays the image and the image processing result on the display unit 11 in real time, so as to enable a body-cavity image to be observed with reference to the image processing result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Katsumi Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 8169472
    Abstract: An image display apparatus 104 according to the present invention includes a DB 130 which stores patient information of a subject, a display unit 140 that displays a group of intra-subject images of the subject and patient information, an input unit 120 that inputs at least a part of the patient information of the subject, a control unit 150, and an I/F 160 that is communicatively connected to an external receiving device. The control unit 150 searches the DB 130 for patient information of a desired subject based on information input by the input unit 120, and displays the searched patient information on the display unit 140. The patient information is transferred to the external receiving device via the I/F 160, and registered in the external receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignees: Olympus Corporation, Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Katsumi Hirakawa, Seiichiro Kimoto
  • Patent number: 8162821
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to actively control at least one of the position and direction of the imaging field in a subject and to observe a desired observed region in the subject certainly in a short period of time. A body-insertable device system according to the present invention includes a capsule endoscope 1 introduced into a subject and a permanent magnet 3. An imaging unit of the capsule endoscope 1 for taking an image inside the subject is fixed in a casing. The capsule endoscope 1 includes a drive unit for changing at least one of the position and posture of the casing in the liquid 2a which is also introduced in the subject 100. The permanent magnet 3 controls the operation of the drive unit for changing at least one of the position and posture of the casing in the liquid 2a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Hironao Kawano, Hironobu Takizawa, Hidetake Segawa, Isao Aoki, Katsumi Hirakawa, Satomi Kobayashi, Hideo Ito
  • Publication number: 20120059221
    Abstract: An endoscopic form detection device includes a posture detecting section configured to detect a posture of each of sensor units based on measurement data in the sensor unit, and a linear form detecting section configured to detect a detected linear form of an inserting section on an assumption that a form between the respective sensor units is a linear link whose dimension is equal to an inter-sensor dimension based on the detected posture of each of the sensor units. The endoscopic form detection device includes a form correcting section configured to compensate at least a position of each of the sensor units by using a particle filter, and configured to detect a corrected form obtained by correcting the detected linear form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventor: Katsumi HIRAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20120053412
    Abstract: An endoscopic form detection device includes a sensor tentative position detecting section configured to detect a tentative position of each sensor unit on the assumption that a portion between the respective sensor units is a linear tentative link whose dimension is equal to an inter-sensor dimension. The endoscopic form detection device includes a sensor position correcting section configured to correct a position of each sensor unit from the tentative position to a final position based on an absolute value of a difference between an arc length of each tentative arc and the inter-sensor dimension, and a final curve form detecting section configured to perform curve interpolation between the final positions of the respective sensor units by using a final arc to detect a final curve form of an inserting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventor: Katsumi HIRAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20120053418
    Abstract: An endoscopic form detection device includes a posture detecting section configured to detect a posture of each of sensor units based on measurement data in the sensor unit, and a linear form detecting section configured to detect a detected linear form of an inserting section on an assumption that a form between the respective sensor units is a linear link whose dimension is equal to an inter-sensor dimension based on the detected posture of each of the sensor units. The endoscopic form detection device includes a curve form detecting section configured to perform curve interpolation with respect to the detected linear form detected on an assumption that a form between the respective sensor units is an arc whose arc length is equal to the inter-sensor dimension, and configured to detect a detected curve form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventor: Katsumi HIRAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20110218404
    Abstract: The medical instrument includes an optical fiber sensor in which a plurality of FBG sections are formed, a reflector that forms reference light, a light source that outputs light by stepwise changing light beams of wavelengths of a predetermined interval, a coupler that splits light and generates interference light, a detection section that detects the interference light and a calculation section that calculates amounts of deformation of the FBG sections based on the detection result of the detection section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventor: Katsumi HIRAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20110098533
    Abstract: A medical instrument including a distortion detection probe disposed in an insertion portion to be inserted into the interior of an examinee provided with a plurality of FBG sensor sections that detect distortion of the insertion portion, a coordinate calculation section that calculates first three-dimensional coordinates of the respective FBG sensor sections according to a first three-dimensional coordinate system whose origin is a predetermined position based on the detection results of the FBG sensor sections, a coordinate system setting section that sets a second three-dimensional coordinate system based on the first three-dimensional coordinates of the respective FBG sensor sections, a coordinate transformation section that transforms the first three-dimensional coordinates of the respective FBG sensor sections into second three-dimensional coordinates according to the second three-dimensional coordinate system set by the coordinate system setting section and a shape display section that displays the sha
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Fumiyuki ONODA, Hiroyuki USHIFUSA, Tomohiko ODA, Jun HASEGAWA, Masami FUKUCHI, Katsumi HIRAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20100224201
    Abstract: A body-insertable apparatus is inserted into a subject body and travels through the subject body and includes a magnetic field generator that generates a constant magnetic field; a covering member that covers the magnetic field generator and that is made of a biocompatible material; and a container that houses and seals the magnetic field generator covered by the covering member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsumi Hirakawa, Seiichiro Kimoto, Ayako Nagase, Katsuyoshi Sasagawa, Katsuya Suzuki, Takemitsu Honda, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Patent number: 7603160
    Abstract: An intra-subject position display system for displaying a position of an intra-subject device, which is introduced into a subject and moves therein, wherein a relative position of the intra-subject device to an outer surface of the subject is detected and displayed. The position of the intra-subject device is displayed in a relation with the outer surface of the subject. Thereby, it is possible to easily determine in which site of the subject the intra-subject device exists. The present invention is effective to recognize a position of, for example, a capsule type endoscope or a test capsule therefor in the subject (e.g., a human body). To recognize the outer surface of the subject, for example, a plurality of radio devices are arranged on the outer surface of the subject and their radio signals are analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Suzuki, Katsuyoshi Sasagawa, Takemitsu Honda, Katsumi Hirakawa, Seiichiro Kimoto, Ayako Nagase, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20090135249
    Abstract: In an image display apparatus (4) that sequentially displays a plurality of images stored in a storage unit (40) in an imaging order thereof, image instruction information instructing either one of a plurality of stored images or an extracted image preliminarily extracted from the plurality of stored images under a predetermined extraction condition is inputted as an image to be displayed from an input unit (20), a display controller 52 switches an image to be displayed in a predetermined area of a display unit (30) to an image instructed by the image instruction information to display the switched image in a predetermined display area, so that rapid image confirmation by a user is made possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventor: Katsumi Hirakawa
  • Publication number: 20090085897
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a version detecting unit that detects a version of data about a subject, a control unit that compares at least a part of the version of the data about the subject detected by the version detecting unit with at least a part of a software version of the image display apparatus and that controls processing of the data about the subject based on whether at least the part of the version of the data about the subject is identical with at least the part of the software version, and an output unit that outputs warning information when at least the part of the version of the data about the subject is not identical with at least the part of the software version, the warning information indicating that the version of the data about the subject is not identical with the software version.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Katsumi HIRAKAWA, Masanao HARA