Patents by Inventor Kazunari Shimizu
Kazunari Shimizu 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).
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Publication number: 20240016472Abstract: An ultrasonic tonometer for measuring intraocular pressure of a subject eye by using an ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic tonometer includes an irradiation unit configured to irradiate the subject eye with a focused ultrasonic wave, and a Z-alignment detection unit configured to detect an alignment state in a working distance direction with respect to the subject eye. An appropriate Z-alignment position is set to a position that is farther from the irradiation unit than is a geometric focal position of the irradiation unit. The appropriate Z-alignment position is detected by the Z-alignment detection unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2023Publication date: January 18, 2024Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.Inventors: Tsutomu UEMURA, Kazunari SHIMIZU, Koji HAMAGUCHI
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Patent number: 11771316Abstract: Provided is a method for an ophthalmic examination by an ophthalmic examination system including an ophthalmic examination apparatus and an examiner-side apparatus that is connected to the ophthalmic examination apparatus by a network and is provided with an interface for input/output, the method including: a transmission step of transmitting an error signal from the ophthalmic examination apparatus to the examiner-side apparatus upon occurrence of an error in the ophthalmic examination apparatus; a selection step of, upon the examiner-side apparatus receiving the error signal, notifying an examiner of the occurrence of the error via the interface and also accepting selection input for selecting any of a plurality of predetermined handling methods of the error; a response step of the examiner-side apparatus transmitting a response signal to the ophthalmic examination apparatus on the basis of the selection input; and a notification step of, upon the ophthalmic examination apparatus receiving the response signType: GrantFiled: December 1, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.Inventors: Shirohisa Kobayashi, Kazunari Shimizu, Koji Hamaguchi, Miki Tomiyasu, Tsutomu Uemura
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Patent number: 11659986Abstract: Provided is an ophthalmic apparatus for examining an examinee's eye, including: an examination device configured to examine the examinee's eye; an approacher in the examination device, configured to approach the examinee; a detector configured to detect approach of the approacher to the examinee; and a controller configured to switch an operation mode between a first mode where an avoidance operation for avoiding the approach is performed and a second mode where the avoidance operation is not performed, upon the detector detecting the approach.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.Inventors: Shirohisa Kobayashi, Kunio Suzuki, Hiroyoshi Nakanishi, Kazunari Shimizu
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Patent number: 11191431Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus to examine an examinee's eye includes: a first optometry unit to perform a first examination of the examinee's eye; a second optometry unit to perform a second examination of the examinee's eye; a drive unit to cause relative movement of the first and second optometry units in three-dimensional manner relative to the examinee's eye; a controller to control the drive unit; a selection receiving unit to receive a selection signal representing at least one selected from the first second examinations; and a face photographing unit to photograph a face image including at least one of examinee's right and left eyes. The controller switches, according to the selection signal, between a first path for alignment of the first optometry unit with the eye detected from the face image and a second path for alignment of the second optometry unit with the eye detected from the face image.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2018Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazunari Shimizu, Kenji Nakamura, Toru Arikawa
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Publication number: 20210259548Abstract: An ultrasonic tonometer for measuring the eye pressure of an examinee's eye by means of an ultrasonic wave includes an ultrasonic actuator having an ultrasonic element and configured to irradiate the examinee's eye with the ultrasonic wave, and current adjustment means configured to adjust a current applied to the ultrasonic element to control the sound pressure or acoustic radiation pressure of the ultrasonic wave. With this configuration, the ultrasonic tonometer solving at least one of typical problems can be provided. For example, the ultrasonic tonometer capable of properly irradiating the examinee's eye with the ultrasonic wave can be provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2019Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Tetsuyuki MIWA, Tsutomu UEMURA, Kazunari SHIMIZU
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Publication number: 20210186322Abstract: There is provided an ophthalmologic measurement apparatus for measuring a subject eye. The apparatus includes measurement means for objectively measuring eye refractive power of the subject eye, acquisition means for acquiring intraocular lens information relating to an intraocular lens inserted into the subject eye, and correction means for correcting a measurement result of the eye refractive power, based on the intraocular lens information.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2020Publication date: June 24, 2021Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.Inventors: Michihiro TAKII, Masanori YATANI, Kazunari SHIMIZU, Tetsuya YAMAMOTO
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Publication number: 20210169323Abstract: Provided is a method for an ophthalmic examination by an ophthalmic examination system including an ophthalmic examination apparatus and an examiner-side apparatus that is connected to the ophthalmic examination apparatus by a network and is provided with an interface for input/output, the method including: a transmission step of transmitting an error signal from the ophthalmic examination apparatus to the examiner-side apparatus upon occurrence of an error in the ophthalmic examination apparatus; a selection step of, upon the examiner-side apparatus receiving the error signal, notifying an examiner of the occurrence of the error via the interface and also accepting selection input for selecting any of a plurality of predetermined handling methods of the error; a response step of the examiner-side apparatus transmitting a response signal to the ophthalmic examination apparatus on the basis of the selection input; and a notification step of, upon the ophthalmic examination apparatus receiving the response signType: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2020Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Shirohisa Kobayashi, Kazunari Shimizu, Koji Hamaguchi, Miki Tomiyasu, Tsutomu Uemura
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Publication number: 20210076927Abstract: Provided is an ophthalmic apparatus for examining an examinee's eye, including: an examination device configured to examine the examinee's eye; an approacher in the examination device, configured to approach the examinee; a detector configured to detect approach of the approacher to the examinee; and a controller configured to switch an operation mode between a first mode where an avoidance operation for avoiding the approach is performed and a second mode where the avoidance operation is not performed, upon the detector detecting the approach.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Shirohisa KOBAYASHI, Kunio SUZUKI, Hiroyoshi NAKANISHI, Kazunari SHIMIZU
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Publication number: 20210068656Abstract: A non-contact ultrasonic tonometer for measuring the eye pressure of an examinee's eye by use of ultrasound includes a Langevin transducer. The Langevin transducer applies ultrasound to the examinee's eye to measure the eye pressure of the examinee's eye. Further, A non-contact ultrasonic tonometer for measuring the eye pressure of an examinee's eye by use of ultrasound includes: ultrasonic generating means for generating ultrasound; a support base supporting the ultrasonic generating means; and attaching means for attaching the ultrasonic generating means to the support base.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2019Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Tetsuyuki MIWA, Kazunari SHIMIZU, Shirohisa KOBAYASHI, Tsutomu UEMURA, Kenji NAKAMURA
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Publication number: 20190150735Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus to examine an examinee's eye includes: a first optometry unit to perform a first examination of the examinee's eye; a second optometry unit to perform a second examination of the examinee's eye; a drive unit to cause relative movement of the first and second optometry units in three-dimensional manner relative to the examinee's eye; a controller to control the drive unit; a selection receiving unit to receive a selection signal representing at least one selected from the first second examinations; and a face photographing unit to photograph a face image including at least one of examinee's right and left eyes. The controller switches, according to the selection signal, between a first path for alignment of the first optometry unit with the eye detected from the face image and a second path for alignment of the second optometry unit with the eye detected from the face image.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2018Publication date: May 23, 2019Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazunari SHIMIZU, Kenji NAKAMURA, Toru ARIKAWA
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Patent number: 10085631Abstract: A CPU of an eyeglass-prescription assisting apparatus is configured to obtain measurement data on an examinee's eye measured by a wavefront sensor, including first distribution data on a refractive error distribution of an examinee's eye and second distribution data on a refractive power distribution in an eyeglass lens to correct the refractive error of the examinee's eye. The CPU further makes arithmetic processing to obtain third distribution data on a refractive error distribution taking correction with the eyeglass lens into consideration based on the first distribution data and the second distribution data.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2017Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazunari Shimizu, Shirohisa Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20170280990Abstract: A CPU of an eyeglass-prescription assisting apparatus is configured to obtain measurement data on an examinee's eye measured by a wavefront sensor, including first distribution data on a refractive error distribution of an examinee's eye and second distribution data on a refractive power distribution in an eyeglass lens to correct the refractive error of the examinee's eye. The CPU further makes arithmetic processing to obtain third distribution data on a refractive error distribution taking correction with the eyeglass lens into consideration based on the first distribution data and the second distribution data.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazunari SHIMIZU, Shirohisa KOBAYASHI
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Patent number: 9775507Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus obtains naked-eye wavefront aberration data of an examinee's eye measured by an aberration measuring unit, and calculates first corrected wavefront aberration data intended for a prescription with a first correction power based on the naked-eye wavefront aberration data and the first correction power and generates a first evaluation index based on the first corrected wavefront aberration data. The ophthalmic apparatus further calculates second corrected wavefront aberration data intended for a prescription with a second correction power different from the first correction power in at least one of spherical power, astigmatic power, and astigmatic axis angle based on the naked-eye wavefront aberration data and the second correction power, and generates a second evaluation index based on the second corrected wavefront aberration data. The ophthalmic apparatus then displays the first and second evaluation indexes selectively or in parallel on a monitor.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2015Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.Inventor: Kazunari Shimizu
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Patent number: 9723983Abstract: A corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus for photographing endothelial cells of a patient eye's cornea, includes: a cornea photographing optical system including an imaging device and configured to project light toward the cornea and photograph the corneal endothelial cells through the imaging device; a light projecting optical system to project detection light in a first oblique direction to the cornea to detect a focus state of the cornea photographing optical system relative to the cornea; a detecting optical system including a detector with arranged pixels and configured to receive, in a second oblique direction opposite to the first oblique direction, corneal reflection light resulting from the detection light and including reflection light from the corneal endothelium through the detector, and detect an intensity distribution of the corneal reflection light in a depth direction; and a controller to cause a monitor to display the intensity distribution output from the detector.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2015Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazunari Shimizu, Kenji Nakamura, Yusuke Sakashita
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Patent number: 9519830Abstract: An ophthalmic image processing method includes: acquiring information about characteristics of an examinee's eye including corneal information about the corneal anterior surface shape of the examinee's eye, and refractivity information about refraction of the examinees eye as a whole; generating a simulation image of a target image formed at fundus of the examinee's eye using the refractivity information; and simultaneously displaying an eyeball model image showing an eyeball structure, the simulation image, and a corneal information image associated with the cornea on the eyeball model image and corresponding to the corneal information.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2015Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazunari Shimizu, Yukinobu Ban, Tetsuya Yamamoto
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Patent number: 9498115Abstract: An ophthalmic measurement device to simulate a retinal image of an examinee's eye includes an ocular aberrometer for measuring an aberration of the eye and a calculation control unit for analyzing aberration data obtained by the ocular aberrometer on the naked eye. The calculation control unit calculates subjective correction data intended for a prescription based on a subjective value by obtaining the difference in each meridian direction between a refraction value in the aberration data and a new subjective value of the eye as obtained by a subjective optometry device, obtains a second polynomial equation wherein the coefficient that represents the refraction value among the coefficients of a first polynomial equation used for approximating the aberration data is replaced with a coefficient corresponding to the subjective correction data, back-calculates the aberration data by using the second polynomial equation, and generates a simulation image based on the back-calculated aberration data.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.Inventor: Kazunari Shimizu
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Patent number: 9351637Abstract: A cornea shape measurement apparatus includes: a first projecting optical system configured to project a first target on the cornea; a first imaging optical system configured to capture a reflection image of the first target projected on the cornea; a second projecting optical system configured to project a second target different from the first target on the cornea to measure a corneal shape; a second imaging optical system configured to capture a reflection image of the second target projected on the cornea; and a calculation controller configured to adjust the amount of projection light of the second projecting optical system based on the reflection image of the first target, the reflection image having been acquired by the first imaging optical system, and measuring the corneal shape of an examinee's eye based on the reflection image of the second target, the reflection image having been captured by the imaging optical system.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2011Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.Inventor: Kazunari Shimizu
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Publication number: 20160095512Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus obtains naked-eye wavefront aberration data of an examinee's eye measured by an aberration measuring unit, and calculates first corrected wavefront aberration data intended for a prescription with a first correction power based on the naked-eye wavefront aberration data and the first correction power and generates a first evaluation index based on the first corrected wavefront aberration data. The ophthalmic apparatus further calculates second corrected wavefront aberration data intended for a prescription with a second correction power different from the first correction power in at least one of spherical power, astigmatic power, and astigmatic axis angle based on the naked-eye wavefront aberration data and the second correction power, and generates a second evaluation index based on the second corrected wavefront aberration data. The ophthalmic apparatus then displays the first and second evaluation indexes selectively or in parallel on a monitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventor: Kazunari SHIMIZU
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Patent number: 9215975Abstract: An ophthalmic device to measure weakness of Zinn's zonule of an examinee's eye having: an illuminating unit arranged to illuminate the examinee's eye including a lens; an imaging unit including an imaging element and arranged to capture an image of an anterior segment illuminated by the illuminating unit; and a determination unit arranged to process the image of the anterior segment captured by the imaging unit after applying a stimulus to guide the lens to move, the determination unit being further configured to obtain positional information of a characteristic point of the lens to detect mobility of the lens relative to the pupil when the lens returns to a pre-stimulus status, and determine the zonular weakness based on the detected mobility.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2010Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroyuki Hiramatsu, Kazunari Shimizu
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Publication number: 20150327763Abstract: A corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus for photographing endothelial cells of a patient eye's cornea, includes: a cornea photographing optical system including an imaging device and configured to project light toward the cornea and photograph the corneal endothelial cells through the imaging device; a light projecting optical system to project detection light in a first oblique direction to the cornea to detect a focus state of the cornea photographing optical system relative to the cornea; a detecting optical system including a detector with arranged pixels and configured to receive, in a second oblique direction opposite to the first oblique direction, corneal reflection light resulting from the detection light and including reflection light from the corneal endothelium through the detector, and detect an intensity distribution of the corneal reflection light in a depth direction; and a controller to cause a monitor to display the intensity distribution output from the detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2015Publication date: November 19, 2015Inventors: Kazunari SHIMIZU, Kenji NAKAMURA, Yusuke SAKASHITA