Patents by Inventor Manabu Aoki

Manabu Aoki 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: 11883683
    Abstract: A particle therapy system includes an accelerator 1 which generates a particle beam for extraction, an irradiation apparatus 21 which irradiates the particle beam to an irradiation target 26, a gantry 18 which rotates together with the irradiation apparatus 21, and an MRI apparatus 50 which rotates together with the gantry 18. The MRI apparatus 50 includes a magnetic circuit composed of an iron core 60 and a plurality of coils 61 serving as a magnetic flux source. The iron core 60 includes two oppositely disposed magnetic poles 63A and 63B, and a return yoke 64 for connecting the magnetic poles 63A and 63B. The magnetic poles 63A, 63B have cavities 65A, 65B. The particle beam passing through the cavity 65A is irradiated to the irradiation target 26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: HITACHI, LTD., NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yusuke Fujii, Ryuya Ando, Manabu Aoki, Kikuo Umegaki, Shinichi Shimizu, Taeko Matsuura, Hiroki Shirato
  • Publication number: 20220413071
    Abstract: An MRI apparatus equipped with a magnetic shield structure to reduce flux leakage. The MRI apparatus includes: a pair of static magnetic magnets that are disposed on opposite sides of an imaging space; and a pair of gradient coils that are disposed on opposite sides of the imaging space. Each static magnetic magnet has a disk-shaped magnetic material pole 201 and a ring-shaped magnetic material pole 202. Each gradient coil has a first coil 204 that applies a magnetic field gradient in a Z axis direction in an imaging region, and a laminate 301 that shields the disk-shaped magnetic material pole from magnetic flux produced in the first coil. The laminate has a smaller thickness in the Z axis direction on the ring-shaped magnetic material pole side than that in a center portion of the imaging space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Kengo Goto, Manabu Aoki, Taisuke Takayanagi, Shin Hoshino, Yukinobu Imamura, Hiroyuki Takeuchi, Takeshi Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20220355129
    Abstract: The system includes a bed on which an irradiation target is mounted, an irradiation device that irradiates the irradiation target with a particle beam, and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that captures an image of an irradiation object and includes a magnet that generates a static magnetic field in an image capturing space in which the irradiation target is disposed, and a yoke disposed outside the image capturing space and through which a magnetic flux of the generated magnetic field passes. The irradiation device 21 is disposed on a back surface side of the yoke when viewed from the image capturing space, and irradiates the irradiation target with the particle beam from a through-hole or gap provided in the yoke. A direction in which the particle beam enters the image capturing space intersects with a direction of a static magnetic field applied to the image capturing space by the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Yusuke FUJII, Manabu AOKI, Masumi UMEZAWA
  • Patent number: 11320504
    Abstract: An open-type MRI apparatus includes a pair of static magnetic field magnets and a pair of gradient magnetic field coils. Each static magnetic field magnet includes a discoid magnetic pole configured to generate a static magnetic field in a Z axis direction in which the pair of static magnetic field magnets are opposed each other, and an annular magnetic pole configured to generate a static magnetic field on an X-Y plane perpendicular to the Z axis direction. Each gradient magnetic field coil includes a Z coil configured to provide a magnetic field being gradient in the Z axis direction in the imaging region, a magnetic material block configured to shield the discoid magnetic pole from a magnetic flux generated from the Z coil, and a correction coil configured to shield the annular magnetic pole from the magnetic flux generated from the Z coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taisuke Takayanagi, Manabu Aoki, Yukinobu Imamura, Hiroyuki Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20220005631
    Abstract: The present invention addresses a problem of providing an MgB2 wire material having a small reversible bending radius, a superconducting coil using the same, and an MRI without lowering a critical current value and a critical current density of the MgB2 wire material to an extreme. To solve the problem, provided are a superconducting wire having a plurality of MgB2 strands and a first base metal, a superconducting coil using the same, and an MRI, the superconducting wire being characterized in that in a cross section orthogonal to a wire longitudinal direction, a center point of an area surrounded by the plurality of MgB2 strands and a center axis of a cross section of the superconducting wire are disposed in separated positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Hideki TANAKA, Takaaki SUZUKI, Motomune KODAMA, Manabu AOKI
  • Publication number: 20210333341
    Abstract: An open-type MRI apparatus includes a pair of static magnetic field magnets and a pair of gradient magnetic field coils. Each static magnetic field magnet includes a discoid magnetic pole configured to generate a static magnetic field in a Z axis direction in which the pair of static magnetic field magnets are opposed each other, and an annular magnetic pole configured to generate a static magnetic field on an X-Y plane perpendicular to the Z axis direction. Each gradient magnetic field coil includes a Z coil configured to provide a magnetic field being gradient in the Z axis direction in the imaging region, a magnetic material block configured to shield the discoid magnetic pole from a magnetic flux generated from the Z coil, and a correction coil configured to shield the annular magnetic pole from the magnetic flux generated from the Z coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Taisuke TAKAYANAGI, Manabu AOKI, Yukinobu IMAMURA, Hiroyuki TAKEUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210154495
    Abstract: A particle therapy system includes an accelerator 1 which generates a particle beam for extraction, an irradiation apparatus 21 which irradiates the particle beam to an irradiation target 26, a gantry 18 which rotates together with the irradiation apparatus 21, and an MRI apparatus 50 which rotates together with the gantry 18. The MRI apparatus 50 includes a magnetic circuit composed of an iron core 60 and a plurality of coils 61 serving as a magnetic flux source. The iron core 60 includes two oppositely disposed magnetic poles 63A and 63B, and a return yoke 64 for connecting the magnetic poles 63A and 63B. The magnetic poles 63A, 63B have cavities 65A, 65B. The particle beam passing through the cavity 65A is irradiated to the irradiation target 26.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Yusuke FUJII, Ryuya ANDO, Manabu AOKI, Kikuo UMEGAKI, Shinichi SHIMIZU, Taeko MATSUURA, Hiroki SHIRATO
  • Patent number: 10622130
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet in which efficiency of conduction cooling is improved is described as well as a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that includes the superconducting magnet and requires no liquid helium. The magnet resonance imaging apparatus includes: a coil portion including a winding core, a winding portion formed by winding a wire around the winding core, a first flange provided on one side of the winding core, and a second flange provided on the other side of the winding core; a cooling device for cooling the coil portion; and a heat conducting member for thermally connecting the coil portion and the cooling device, in which at least one of the first flange, the second flange, and the winding core has a region made of a material whose thermal contraction rate is larger than a thermal contraction rate of the winding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chishin Hori, Manabu Aoki, Akihisa Miyazoe, Yukinobu Imamura
  • Patent number: 10343527
    Abstract: Between an anode active material layer and a separator, a recess impregnation region of an anode side in which electrolytes and solid particles are disposed and including a recess that is located between adjacent anode active material particles positioned on the outermost surface of the anode active material layer is formed. Between a cathode active material layer and a separator, a recess impregnation region of a cathode side in which electrolytes and solid particles are disposed and including a recess that is located between adjacent cathode active material particles positioned on the outermost surface of the cathode active material layer is formed. The solid particles in the recess impregnation regions of the cathode side and the anode side have a concentration that is 30 volume % or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Hatta, Nobuaki Shimosaka, Masaki Machida, Manabu Aoki, Masahiro Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 10056178
    Abstract: The superconducting magnet device reduces the number of connections within and/or the number of wires leading out of a superconducting coil winding and promptly starts expending the magnetic energy in a superconducting coil operating in a persistent-current mode when the superconducting coil increases in temperature or transitions to normal conductivity. This invention provides a superconducting magnet device that has the following: a superconducting coil connected to an excitation power supply; a persistent-current switch connected to the superconducting coil; a heater that controls the temperature of the persistent-current switch; a current source that is connected in parallel with the persistent-current switch and has a different polarity from the excitation power supply; a driving circuit connected to the heater and the current source; and a signal-inputting means for inputting a signal to the driving circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihisa Miyazoe, Takeshi Nakayama, Manabu Aoki
  • Patent number: 9852831
    Abstract: This superconducting magnet includes: a superconducting coil that is formed by winding a first superconducting wire rod; a second superconducting wire rod, which is disposed by being thermally in contact with and electrically insulated from the superconducting coil, and which has a superconducting transition temperature that is lower than that of the first superconducting wire rod; voltage terminals that are disposed at a plurality of areas of the second superconducting wire rod; a voltmeter connected to the voltage terminals; and a switch circuit connected to the voltmeter. The switch circuit interrupts a current when receiving an output from the voltmeter, the current being one that is to be supplied to the superconducting coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihisa Miyazoe, Takeshi Nakayama, Ryuya Ando, Manabu Aoki
  • Patent number: 9817051
    Abstract: An alternating current loss measuring apparatus for superconductors includes a superconductor specimen, a magnetic field applying coil, a radiation shield, a vacuum vessel, first cooling means, and second cooling means. The first cooling means or the second cooling means is provided with a temperature regulating mechanism. The magnetic field applying means and the radiation shield are set to be a first cooling part, whereas the superconductor specimen is set to be a second cooling part, and the first cooling part and the second cooling part are cooled by first and second cooling means, respectively. A high thermal resistance member is disposed between the superconductor specimen and the second cooling means, and temperature measuring means are disposed at at least two positions on the high thermal resistance member. The alternating current loss of a superconductor under an external magnetic field can be measured at each of different temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Kawakami, Takeshi Kawamura, Manabu Aoki, Yukinobu Imamura
  • Publication number: 20160343491
    Abstract: The superconducting magnet device reduces the number of connections within and/or the number of wires leading out of a superconducting coil winding and promptly starts expending the magnetic energy in a superconducting coil operating in a persistent-current mode when the superconducting coil increases in temperature or transitions to normal conductivity. This invention provides a superconducting magnet device that has the following: a superconducting coil connected to an excitation power supply; a persistent-current switch connected to the superconducting coil; a heater that controls the temperature of the persistent-current switch; a current source that is connected in parallel with the persistent-current switch and has a different polarity from the excitation power supply; a driving circuit connected to the heater and the current source; and a signal-inputting means for inputting a signal to the driving circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Akihisa MIYAZOE, Takeshi NAKAYAMA, Manabu AOKI
  • Publication number: 20160341778
    Abstract: An alternating current loss measuring apparatus for superconductors includes a superconductor specimen, a magnetic field applying coil, a radiation shield, a vacuum vessel, first cooling means, and second cooling means. The first cooling means or the second cooling means is provided with a temperature regulating mechanism. The magnetic field applying means and the radiation shield are set to be a first cooling part, whereas the superconductor specimen is set to be a second cooling part, and the first cooling part and the second cooling part are cooled by first and second cooling means, respectively. A high thermal resistance member is disposed between the superconductor specimen and the second cooling means, and temperature measuring means are disposed at at least two positions on the high thermal resistance member. The alternating current loss of a superconductor under an external magnetic field can be measured at each of different temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko KAWAKAMI, Takeshi KAWAMURA, Manabu AOKI, Yukinobu IMAMURA
  • Publication number: 20160336614
    Abstract: Between an anode active material layer and a separator, a recess impregnation region of an anode side in which electrolytes and solid particles are disposed and including a recess that is located between adjacent anode active material particles positioned on the outermost surface of the anode active material layer is formed. Between a cathode active material layer and a separator, a recess impregnation region of a cathode side in which electrolytes and solid particles are disposed and including a recess that is located between adjacent cathode active material particles positioned on the outermost surface of the cathode active material layer is formed. The solid particles in the recess impregnation regions of the cathode side and the anode side have a concentration that is 30 volume % or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Kazuhito Hatta, Nobuaki Shimosaka, Masaki Machida, Manabu Aoki, Masahiro Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20160268028
    Abstract: This superconducting magnet includes: a superconducting coil that is formed by winding a first superconducting wire rod; a second superconducting wire rod, which is disposed by being thermally in contact with and electrically insulated from the superconducting coil, and which has a superconducting transition temperature that is lower than that of the first superconducting wire rod; voltage terminals that are disposed at a plurality of areas of the second superconducting wire rod; a voltmeter connected to the voltage terminals; and a switch circuit connected to the voltmeter. The switch circuit interrupts a current when receiving an output from the voltmeter, the current being one that is to be supplied to the superconducting coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Akihisa MIYAZOE, Takeshi NAKAYAMA, Ryuya ANDO, Manabu AOKI
  • Publication number: 20160225504
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet in which efficiency of conduction cooling is improved is described as well as a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that includes the superconducting magnet and requires no liquid helium. The magnet resonance imaging apparatus includes: a coil portion including a winding core, a winding portion formed by winding a wire around the winding core, a first flange provided on one side of the winding core, and a second flange provided on the other side of the winding core; a cooling device for cooling the coil portion; and a heat conducting member for thermally connecting the coil portion and the cooling device, in which at least one of the first flange, the second flange, and the winding core has a region made of a material whose thermal contraction rate is larger than a thermal contraction rate of the winding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Chishin Hori, Manabu Aoki, Akihisa Miyazoe, Yukinobu Imamura
  • Patent number: 9065121
    Abstract: A separator is provided. The separator includes a base layer and a surface layer, wherein the surface layer is on at least one side of the base layer, and wherein the surface layer is structured so as to collapse at time of charging to prevent damage to a negative electrode due to expansion thereof. A battery including the separator is also provided. An electric device, an electric vehicle, and an electrical storage device including the battery are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Kajita, Yukako Fujimoto, Kazuhito Hatta, Manabu Aoki, Masatake Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20150111753
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet apparatus is provided, which comprises a superconducting coil, an induction coil to be in inductive coupling with the superconducting coil, a first refrigerant vessel charged with a first refrigerant in which the superconducting coil is installed; and a second refrigerant vessel charged with a second refrigerant having a melting temperature higher than or a boiling temperature higher than a boiling temperature of the first refrigerant, the second refrigerant vessel in which the induction coil is installed, wherein the second refrigerant vessel is thermally isolated from the first refrigerant vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Ryoji NAKAGAWA, Ryuya ANDO, Manabu AOKI
  • Patent number: 8989828
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet apparatus includes: a bobbin around which a superconducting coil is wound, the bobbin serving as a protective resistor; a persistent current switch for supplying a persistent current to the superconducting coil; a first closed circuit with the superconducting coil and the persistent current switch connected in series to the coil; and a second closed circuit with the superconducting coil and the bobbin connected in series to the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoji Nakagawa, Ryuya Ando, Manabu Aoki