Patents by Inventor Nobuyuki Iwama
Nobuyuki Iwama 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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Patent number: 11399799Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a plurality of probe ports and processing circuitry. An ultrasound probe including transmission circuitry to drive transducers that generate ultrasound is connectible to each of the plurality of probe ports. The processing circuitry generates a control signal for the transmission circuitry or a drive signal to drive the transmission circuitry, according to a position of one of the probe ports to which the ultrasound probe is connected.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2019Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Canon Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Nobuyuki Iwama, Shuta Fujiwara, Isao Uchiumi, Hiroyuki Shibanuma, Wataru Kameishi, Yuji Kuwana
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Patent number: 11253230Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a transmitting and receiving circuitry, an input circuitry, and a processing circuitry. The transmitting and receiving circuitry transmits a first ultrasound wave used for changing the shape of a tissue in the body of a patient and transmits/receives a second ultrasound wave that is transmitted/received with timing different from that of the first ultrasound wave. The input circuitry receives an input of a request indicating that the first ultrasound wave should be transmitted. When the input circuitry has received the input of the request indicating that the first ultrasound wave should be transmitted, the processing circuitry controls the transmission of the first ultrasound wave in accordance with the strength of a reflected-wave signal of the second ultrasound wave or one or more pixel values of an image resulting from an imaging process performed by using the reflected-wave signal of the second ultrasound wave.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2015Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Nobuyuki Iwama, Hironobu Hongou, Isao Uchiumi, Koichi Morikawa, Yasuo Miyajima, Takatoshi Okumura
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Publication number: 20210302575Abstract: A transmission circuit according to an embodiment includes: a plurality of constant current circuits, a plurality of switching elements, and controlling circuitry. The plurality of constant current circuits are connected in parallel to a power source line connected to a single power source and a transducer element. Each of the plurality of switching elements is connected to a different one of the plurality of constant current circuits and to the transducer element. The controlling circuitry is configured to control the plurality of switching elements on the basis of a waveform signal indicating a waveform of an ultrasound wave output from the transducer element.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Applicant: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventor: Nobuyuki IWAMA
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Patent number: 10765401Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic device according to an embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe and transformer circuitry. The ultrasonic probe transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject and converts reflection waves reflected by the subject to a reflection wave signal. The transformer circuitry includes an auto transformer that transforms the reflection wave signal at a transformation ratio in accordance with a control signal based on information related to the ultrasonic probe among a plurality of transformation ratios.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2015Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Canon Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Isao Uchiumi, Nobuyuki Iwama, Yasuo Miyajima, Hironobu Hongou, Takatoshi Okumura, Koichi Morikawa
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Patent number: 10575817Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus transmits ultrasound waves to a subject from a plurality of transducers each corresponding to one of a plurality of channels, and receives reflected waves generated in the subject by the transducers. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a control circuit and a receiving circuit. The control circuit controls channels used to transmit ultrasound waves and channels not used to transmit ultrasound waves among the channels. The receiving circuit receives the reflected waves, and includes a preamplifier and an impedance control circuit. The preamplifier amplifies the reflected waves. The impedance control circuit is located on the upstream side of the preamplifier, and sets line impedance in a transmitting period, in which the ultrasound waves are transmitted from the transducers to the inside of the subject, to be lower than that in a receiving period, in which the reflected waves are received by the transducers.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2017Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Canon Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Shibanuma, Isao Uchiumi, Nobuyuki Iwama, Wataru Kameishi, Yuhei Fukuo
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Patent number: 10564273Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a present embodiment includes a transmission circuit, a reception circuit, a data processing circuit, an image generating circuit, a switching power supply circuit, and a control circuit. The switching power supply circuit is configured to generate a drive voltage for at least one of the transmission circuit, the reception circuit, the data processing circuit, and the image generating circuit. The control circuit is configured to control the transmission circuit to repeatedly transmit an ultrasonic pulse, and control a timing of a switching operation of the switching power supply circuit to synchronize the timing with a transmission timing or a reception timing of the ultrasonic pulse.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2016Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Canon Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Nobuyuki Iwama, Yuhei Fukuo, Koichi Morikawa, Wataru Kameishi, Isao Uchiumi, Hiroyuki Shibanuma
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Publication number: 20190321003Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a plurality of probe ports and processing circuitry. An ultrasound probe including transmission circuitry to drive transducers that generate ultrasound is connectible to each of the plurality of probe ports. The processing circuitry generates a control signal for the transmission circuitry or a drive signal to drive the transmission circuitry, according to a position of one of the probe ports to which the ultrasound probe is connected.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Applicant: Canon Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Nobuyuki IWAMA, Shuta FUJIWARA, Isao UCHIUMI, Hiroyuki SHIBANUMA, Wataru KAMEISHI, Yuji KUWANA
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Patent number: 10390801Abstract: In general, according to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, a plurality of power supplies implemented by circuitry, at least one pulser, and a controller implemented by circuitry. The ultrasonic probe includes a plurality of piezoelectric transducers which generate ultrasonic waves in response to supplied driving signals. The pulser outputs the driving signal based on an applied voltage applied from any one of the plurality of power supplies. The controller switches the plurality of power supplies in accordance with the at least one pulser used for generation of the driving signal in one transmission mode period.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2015Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Canon Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Nobuyuki Iwama, Hironobu Hongou, Isao Uchiumi, Koichi Morikawa, Takatoshi Okumura
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Patent number: 10226237Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, an image generation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The image generation unit generates image data from a reflected wave received from the ultrasonic probe. The display unit displays the image data. The ultrasonic probe includes a plurality of temperature sensors that measure the temperature of the ultrasonic probe and a switching circuit that is connected to the respective temperature sensors and switches connection to any one of the temperature sensors to a valid state to output data from the temperature sensors to a temperature detector. The control unit includes an instruction unit that instructs the switching circuit to switch connection to any one of the temperature sensors to a valid state at a predetermined time interval and a determination unit that determines whether a temperature measured by the temperature detector is within a set temperature range.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2015Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Yasuo Miyajima, Hironobu Hongou, Isao Uchiumi, Nobuyuki Iwama, Koichi Morikawa, Takatoshi Okumura
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Patent number: 10226229Abstract: To provide an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus capable of appropriately assigning a transmission delay time of a group to a transducer without complicated wires. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of the embodiment comprises a plurality of transducers, a timing pulse generator, a switch part, and a switch controller. Ultrasound waves are transmitted to the transducers. The timing pulse generator has output terminals for outputting timing pulses based on a delay time to a channel corresponding to each of the transducers, in which a plurality of output terminals are divided into groups and each group has the output terminals of a specific number greater than two. The timing pulse generator then generates the transmission delay time within a predetermined time range for the each group. The switch part selectively connects the channels with the output terminals.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2012Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Hironobu Hongou, Yasuo Miyajima, Nobuyuki Iwama, Isao Uchiumi, Masaaki Ishitsuka, Toru Hirano
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Patent number: 10130336Abstract: An ultrasound probe and ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus that can maintain surface temperature of an ultrasound probe within a safe range, without reduction in performance. The ultrasound probe includes a casing, a transducer, an electronic circuit, and a heat-transfer construction. Elements of the transducer are aligned at one end of the casing and send out ultrasound waves in accordance with their respective delay times. The electronic circuit, disposed in the casing, includes a delay circuit setting delay times and pulsers for generating pulses in accordance with the delay times, the pulses being sent to the transducer. While the electronic circuit is being energized, the heat-transfer construction disposes a member having a low heat conductivity at least either between the electronic circuit and the casing or between the electronic circuit and the transducer. Thereby, heat from the electronic circuit is conducted to the other end of the casing.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2012Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Yasuo Miyajima, Hironobu Hongou, Toru Hirano, Isao Uchiumi, Nobuyuki Iwama, Masaaki Ishitsuka
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Publication number: 20180280001Abstract: A medical image diagnosis apparatus includes a power factor corrector, a DC/DC converter, and a battery device. The power factor corrector is supplied with AC power and generates DC power to drive individual parts of the apparatus. The DC/DC converter converts the voltage of the DC power generated by the power factor corrector to a voltage desired for driving the individual parts. The battery device includes a battery that stores DC power, a discharging circuit that is connected to the downstream side of the power factor corrector and supplies the DC power from the battery to the individual parts, and a charging circuit that is connected to the upstream side of the power factor corrector, and is supplied with AC power and supplies DC power to the battery. The battery device supplies the DC power to the individual parts when the power factor corrector cannot supply the DC power.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Applicant: Canon Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Nobuyuki Iwama, Shuta Fujiwara, Isao Uchiumi, Hiroyuki Shibanuma, Wataru Kameishi
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Publication number: 20170252001Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus transmits ultrasound waves to a subject from a plurality of transducers each corresponding to one of a plurality of channels, and receives reflected waves generated in the subject by the transducers. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a control circuit and a receiving circuit. The control circuit controls channels used to transmit ultrasound waves and channels not used to transmit ultrasound waves among the channels. The receiving circuit receives the reflected waves, and includes a preamplifier and an impedance control circuit. The preamplifier amplifies the reflected waves. The impedance control circuit is located on the upstream side of the preamplifier, and sets line impedance in a transmitting period, in which the ultrasound waves are transmitted from the transducers to the inside of the subject, to be lower than that in a receiving period, in which the reflected waves are received by the transducers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2017Publication date: September 7, 2017Applicant: Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki SHIBANUMA, lsao UCHIUMI, Nobuyuki IWAMA, Wataru KAMEISHI, Yuhei FUKUO
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Publication number: 20170115383Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a present embodiment includes a transmission circuit, a reception circuit, a data processing circuit, an image generating circuit, a switching power supply circuit, and a control circuit. The switching power supply circuit is configured to generate a drive voltage for at least one of the transmission circuit, the reception circuit, the data processing circuit, and the image generating circuit. The control circuit is configured to control the transmission circuit to repeatedly transmit an ultrasonic pulse, and control a timing of a switching operation of the switching power supply circuit to synchronize the timing with a transmission timing or a reception timing of the ultrasonic pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2016Publication date: April 27, 2017Applicant: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Nobuyuki IWAMA, Yuhei FUKUO, Koichi MORIKAWA, Wataru KAMEISHI, Isao UCHIUMI, Hiroyuki SHIBANUMA
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Publication number: 20160151039Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a transmitter, a receiver, a needle tip position acquisition unit, a ROI setting unit, an image generator, and a display controller. The transmitter transmits ultrasound beams to a subject into which a puncture needle is inserted while scanning the subject. The receiver receives signals reflected from the subject. The needle tip position acquisition unit successively acquires the position of the needle tip of the puncture needle. The ROI setting unit sets a region of interest at least in a direction in which the puncture needle is inserted. The image generator generates an image of the region of interest according to the position of the needle tip based on the signals. The display controller displays the image of the region of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2015Publication date: June 2, 2016Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Koichi MORIKAWA, Isao Uchiumi, Nobuyuki Iwama, Toru Hirano, Hironobu Hongou, Yuhei Fukuo
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Patent number: 9354313Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including oscillation elements configured to transmit toward and receive from a region of a subject, a receiving delay setting unit configured to divide the oscillation elements into oscillation element groups and set a common delay to oscillation elements included in each of the oscillation element groups in accordance with an imaging condition, an adding unit configured to add received signals transmitted from the oscillation elements in accordance with the delay set by the received delay setting unit, and an image generating unit configured to generate image data in accordance with received signal added by adding unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2008Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventor: Nobuyuki Iwama
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Publication number: 20160095582Abstract: In general, according to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, a plurality of power supplies implemented by circuitry, at least one pulser, and a controller implemented by circuitry. The ultrasonic probe includes a plurality of piezoelectric transducers which generate ultrasonic waves in response to supplied driving signals. The pulser outputs the driving signal based on an applied voltage applied from any one of the plurality of power supplies. The controller switches the plurality of power supplies in accordance with the at least one pulser used for generation of the driving signal in one transmission mode period.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Nobuyuki IWAMA, Hironobu HONGOU, lsao UCHIUMI, Koichi MORIKAWA, Takatoshi OKUMURA
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Publication number: 20150359511Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic device according to an embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe and transformer circuitry. The ultrasonic probe transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject and converts reflection waves reflected by the subject to a reflection wave signal. The transformer circuitry includes an auto transformer that transforms the reflection wave signal at a transformation ratio in accordance with a control signal based on information related to the ultrasonic probe among a plurality of transformation ratios.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2015Publication date: December 17, 2015Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Isao UCHIUMI, Nobuyuki IWAMA, Yasuo MIYAJIMA, Hironobu HONGOU, Takatoshi OKUMURA, Koichi MORIKAWA
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Publication number: 20150216508Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a transmitting and receiving circuitry, an input circuitry, and a processing circuitry. The transmitting and receiving circuitry transmits a first ultrasound wave used for changing the shape of a tissue in the body of a patient and transmits/receives a second ultrasound wave that is transmitted/received with timing different from that of the first ultrasound wave. The input circuitry receives an input of a request indicating that the first ultrasound wave should be transmitted. When the input circuitry has received the input of the request indicating that the first ultrasound wave should be transmitted, the processing circuitry controls the transmission of the first ultrasound wave in accordance with the strength of a reflected-wave signal of the second ultrasound wave or one or more pixel values of an image resulting from an imaging process performed by using the reflected-wave signal of the second ultrasound wave.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2015Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Nobuyuki IWAMA, Hironobu HONGOU, Isao UCHIUMI, Koichi MORIKAWA, Yasuo MIYAJIMA, Takatoshi OKUMURA
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Publication number: 20150164483Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, an image generation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The image generation unit generates image data from a reflected wave received from the ultrasonic probe. The display unit displays the image data. The ultrasonic probe includes a plurality of temperature sensors that measure the temperature of the ultrasonic probe and a switching circuit that is connected to the respective temperature sensors and switches connection to any one of the temperature sensors to a valid state to output data from the temperature sensors to a temperature detector. The control unit includes an instruction unit that instructs the switching circuit to switch connection to any one of the temperature sensors to a valid state at a predetermined time interval and a determination unit that determines whether a temperature measured by the temperature detector is within a set temperature range.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2015Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Yasuo MIYAJIMA, Hironobu HONGOU, Isao UCHIUMI, Nobuyuki IWAMA, Koichi MORIKAWA, Takatoshi OKUMURA