Patents by Inventor Nobuhiro Tomatsu

Nobuhiro Tomatsu 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: 10470653
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a tomographic signal obtaining unit that obtains tomographic signals of light beams, the light beams respectively having a different polarization from each other and being obtained by splitting combined light obtained by combining return light and reference light, the return light being from an object to be inspected that is irradiated with measuring light, and an information obtaining unit that obtains three-dimensional polarization tomographic information, and three-dimensional motion contrast information of the object to be inspected, by commonly using at least one of the obtained tomographic signals. In addition, an extracting unit extracts a specific region of the object to be inspected using the obtained three-dimensional polarization tomographic information, and an image generating unit generates a motion contrast enface image of the extracted specific region using the obtained three-dimensional motion contrast information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isao Komine, Masashi Kotoku, Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Yukio Sakagawa, Tomoyuki Makihira
  • Patent number: 10244937
    Abstract: To provide pathological support for users to effectively perform follow up on diseases, using polarization information obtained from polarization-sensitive tomographic images. An image processing apparatus includes a positioning unit configured to position multiple polarization-sensitive tomographic images corresponding to multiple tomographic luminance images, based on the plurality of tomographic luminance images obtained by photographing an object at different times; and a comparing unit configured to compare the plurality of polarization-sensitive tomographic images which are positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Fukuhara, Makoto Sato, Yoshihiko Iwase, Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Tomoyuki Makihira, Kazuhide Miyata, Hiroyuki Shinbata, Ritsuya Tomita, Daisuke Kibe
  • Patent number: 10136807
    Abstract: In a polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography system, an interferometer includes single mode fibers and a plurality of polarization controllers. At least one of the plurality of polarization controllers is disposed on each of the fibers of the interferometer. The fibers include a fiber for sample light beam, a fiber for reference light beam, and a fiber for detection light beam. An image forming unit determines a pixel value from a data set consists of two orthogonal polarization components simultaneously obtained at substantially identical spatial positions of a test sample, wherein a measurement light beam has static single polarization state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Stefan Zotter, Michael Pircher, Christoph Hitzenberger
  • Patent number: 10123698
    Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate 3D blood vessel data indicating a blood vessel in a fundus based on a plurality of tomographic image data indicating cross sections of the fundus, a boundary obtaining unit configured to obtain layer boundary data indicating at least one layer boundary based on 3D tomographic image data including the plurality of tomographic image data indicating the cross sections of the fundus, and a determination unit configured to determine a blood vessel intersecting with the layer boundary by comparing the 3D blood vessel data with the layer boundary data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Kotoku, Nobuhiro Tomatsu
  • Publication number: 20180000341
    Abstract: A alteration caused in a nerve fiber layer could not accurately be displayed. There is provided a tomographic imaging apparatus including a generation means for generating a nerve fiber bundle map, a designation means for designating an arbitrary nerve fiber bundle in the nerve fiber bundle map, and a display control means for causing display means to display a parameter of the designated nerve fiber bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Yoshihiko Iwase, Makoto Sato, Toshiharu Sumiya, Makoto Fukuhara, Atsushi Goto, Mitsuro Sugita, Michael Pircher, Clemens Vass, Christoph Hitzenberger
  • Publication number: 20180003479
    Abstract: The present invention relates to accurately determining a contour of a depolarizing region. An image processing apparatus extracts a depolarizing region in a polarization-sensitive tomographic image of a subject's eye, and detects, in a tomographic intensity image of the subject's eye, a region corresponding to the extracted depolarizing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Toshiharu Sumiya, Makoto Sato, Yoshihiko Iwase, Isao Komine
  • Patent number: 9841268
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus configured to image an object to be examined is provided. The apparatus includes a splitting unit configured to split light obtained by combining the returned light and the reference light into a plurality of lights having different polarization components; and a detecting unit configured to detect the plurality of lights. The apparatus further includes a correcting unit configured to correct a phase difference between different polarization components generated by an optical member provided on an optical path of the measurement light or an optical path of the reference light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Fukuhara, Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Toshiharu Sumiya, Makoto Sato
  • Publication number: 20170231484
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus, including: an information acquiring unit configured to acquire three-dimensional polarization tomographic information and three-dimensional motion contrast information of an object to be inspected using tomographic signals of light beams having polarizations different from each other, which are obtained by splitting combined light obtained by combining return light from the object to be inspected irradiated with measuring light and reference light corresponding to the measuring light; an extracting unit configured to extract a specific region of the object to be inspected using the three-dimensional polarization tomographic information; and an image generating unit configured to generate a motion contrast enface image of the extracted specific region using the three-dimensional motion contrast information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Isao Komine, Masashi Kotoku, Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Yukio Sakagawa, Tomoyuki Makihira
  • Patent number: 9700205
    Abstract: Provided is an ophthalmologic apparatus including one dichroic mirror, which is arranged eccentrically with respect to an optical axis of light from an eye to be inspected to separate the light from the eye to be inspected; another dichroic mirror, which is configured to separate light separated by the one dichroic mirror by being transmitted through the one dichroic mirror; and a positive lens, which is configured to guide the light from the eye to be inspected to the one dichroic mirror as convergent light, and to guide the light from the eye to be inspected to the another dichroic mirror as divergent light, wherein an eccentric section of the one dichroic mirror and an eccentric section of the another dichroic mirror have a positional relationship of being substantially perpendicular to each other and having substantially the same eccentric amount, to thereby correct astigmatism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Yamazaki, Kazuhiro Matsumoto, Nobuhiro Tomatsu
  • Patent number: 9700199
    Abstract: To accurately position multiple tomographic image. An image processing apparatus includes a detecting unit configured to detect motion of an eye in a plurality of polarization-sensitive tomographic images, based on a predetermined region extracted from the plurality of polarization-sensitive tomographic images of the eye, and a positioning unit configured to position a plurality of tomographic luminance images corresponding to the plurality of polarization-sensitive tomographic images, based on the detected movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Makoto Sato, Tomoyuki Makihira, Yoshihiko Iwase, Kazuhide Miyata, Hiroyuki Shinbata, Ritsuya Tomita, Daisuke Kibe
  • Publication number: 20170074638
    Abstract: A polarization-sensitive OCT apparatus includes an interference unit configured to split light emitted from a light source into measurement light and reference light and to generate interfered light by causing returning light of the measurement light that has irradiated a subject to interfere with the reference light that has traveled through a reference arm, a splitting unit configured to split the interfered light into different polarization components, a generation unit configured to detect the polarization components split by the splitting unit and to generate a signal, detection units configured to detect respective polarization states of the measurement light in a sample arm, the returning light of the measurement light that has passed through the interference unit, and the reference light that has passed through the interference unit, and polarization control units configured to control the respective polarization states on the basis of the respective polarization states that have been detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Fukuhara, Makoto Sato, Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Toshiharu Sumiya
  • Publication number: 20170055830
    Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate 3D blood vessel data indicating a blood vessel in a fundus based on a plurality of tomographic image data indicating cross sections of the fundus, a boundary obtaining unit configured to obtain layer boundary data indicating at least one layer boundary based on 3D tomographic image data including the plurality of tomographic image data indicating the cross sections of the fundus, and a determination unit configured to determine a blood vessel intersecting with the layer boundary by comparing the 3D blood vessel data with the layer boundary data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Masashi Kotoku, Nobuhiro Tomatsu
  • Publication number: 20160310002
    Abstract: In a polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography system, an interferometer includes single mode fibers and a plurality of polarization controllers. At least one of the plurality of polarization controllers is disposed on each of the fibers of the interferometer. The fibers include a fiber for sample light beam, a fiber for reference light beam, and a fiber for detection light beam. An image forming unit determines a pixel value from a data set consists of two orthogonal polarization components simultaneously obtained at substantially identical spatial positions of a test sample, wherein a measurement light beam has static single polarization state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Stefan Zotter, Michael Pircher, Christoph Hitzenberger
  • Publication number: 20160198939
    Abstract: To provide pathological support for users to effectively perform follow up on diseases, using polarization information obtained from polarization-sensitive tomographic images. An image processing apparatus includes a positioning unit configured to position multiple polarization-sensitive tomographic images corresponding to multiple tomographic luminance images, based on the plurality of tomographic luminance images obtained by photographing an object at different times; and a comparing unit configured to compare the plurality of polarization-sensitive tomographic images which are positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Makoto Fukuhara, Makoto Sato, Yoshihiko Iwase, Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Tomoyuki Makihira, Kazuhide Miyata, Hiroyuki Shinbata, Ritsuya Tomita, Daisuke Kibe
  • Publication number: 20160157710
    Abstract: To accurately position multiple tomographic image. An image processing apparatus includes a detecting unit configured to detect motion of an eye in a plurality of polarization-sensitive tomographic images, based on a predetermined region extracted from the plurality of polarization-sensitive tomographic images of the eye, and a positioning unit configured to position a plurality of tomographic luminance images corresponding to the plurality of polarization-sensitive tomographic images, based on the detected movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Makoto Sato, Tomoyuki Makihira, Yoshihiko Iwase, Kazuhide Miyata, Hiroyuki Shinbata, Ritsuya Tomita, Daisuke Kibe
  • Patent number: 9290818
    Abstract: A probe, a set of probes, and a probe carrier on which the probe or the set of probes is immobilized, are provided for classification of fungus species. The probe or the set of probes is capable of collectively detecting fungus of the same species and distinguishingly detecting those fungus from fungus of other species. The probe is an oligonucleotide probe for detecting a pathogenic fungus DNA and includes at least one of base sequences of SEQ ID NOS. 1 to 3 and mutated sequences thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Toshifumi Fukui, Nobuyoshi Shimizu, Atsushi Takayanagi
  • Publication number: 20160066784
    Abstract: Provided is an ophthalmologic apparatus including one dichroic mirror, which is arranged eccentrically with respect to an optical axis of light from an eye to be inspected to separate the light from the eye to be inspected; another dichroic mirror, which is configured to separate light separated by the one dichroic mirror by being transmitted through the one dichroic mirror; and a positive lens, which is configured to guide the light from the eye to be inspected to the one dichroic mirror as convergent light, and to guide the light from the eye to be inspected to the another dichroic mirror as divergent light, wherein an eccentric section of the one dichroic mirror and an eccentric section of the another dichroic mirror have a positional relationship of being substantially perpendicular to each other and having substantially the same eccentric amount, to thereby correct astigmatism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Shoichi Yamazaki, Kazuhiro Matsumoto, Nobuhiro Tomatsu
  • Publication number: 20150369586
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus configured to image an object to be examined is provided. The apparatus includes a splitting unit configured to split light obtained by combining the returned light and the reference light into a plurality of lights having different polarization components; and a detecting unit configured to detect the plurality of lights. The apparatus further includes a correcting unit configured to correct a phase difference between different polarization components generated by an optical member provided on an optical path of the measurement light or an optical path of the reference light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Makoto Fukuhara, Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Toshiharu Sumiya, Makoto Sato
  • Patent number: 9161690
    Abstract: There is provided an ophthalmologic apparatus having a tracking function that can select a fundus image that is less affected by eye motion to reduce burdens on an operator/a patient in fundus imaging, wherein the ophthalmologic apparatus picks up a first fundus image (202), extracts a characteristic point as a template from the first fundus image (203), executes pattern matching on a second fundus image (205) to determine presence/absence of eye motion, and decides a tracking template image (207).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Tomoyuki Makihira, Nobuhito Suehira
  • Patent number: 9149181
    Abstract: A tomographic imaging apparatus includes: a light source; an optical splitter unit for splitting light from the light source into reference light and measuring light; a reference optical system including an adjustment unit for adjusting an optical path length of the reference light; a spectral unit for spectrally splitting combined light of the reference light and the return light obtained by irradiating an object to be inspected with the measuring light so as to acquire an interfering signal; a detection unit for detecting an optical path length when a tomographic image of the object is photographed; a storage unit for recording data about a refractive index of a refracting element of the object; and a calculation unit for calculating image data from the interfering signal acquired by the spectral unit based on an actual size using data about the optical path length and the refractive index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Matsumoto, Nobuhito Suehira, Nobuhiro Tomatsu