Patents by Inventor Ryoji Inaba

Ryoji Inaba 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: 7883613
    Abstract: The present invention provides a capillary electrophoresis apparatus in which a capillary is easily attached to and detached from a migration medium filling unit without mixing impurities into the capillary. Mixture of impurities such as dust is also prevented when a capillary negative-electrode end is brought into contact with a sample stored in a vessel. Furthermore, temperature control is efficiently performed in the capillary. In the capillary electrophoresis apparatus, the whole of capillary array can be supported by grasping a grip portion by hand. A migration medium filling mechanism includes a slide mechanism which moves a polymer block with respect to a capillary head. The capillary electrophoresis apparatus includes a vessel in which a sample and a buffer can simultaneously be stored. Temperatures of the capillary and an irradiation and detection unit are controlled by a temperature control function provided in a thermostatic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Gomi, Ryoji Inaba, Motohiro Yamazaki, Hidenori Namba, Jin Matsumura, Hiromi Yamashita, Seiichi Ugai, Kazumichi Imai
  • Publication number: 20100321692
    Abstract: System and method for fluorescent light excitation and detection from samples to enhance the numerical aperture and/or reduce the cross-talk of the fluorescent light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard T. REEL, Eric S. Nordman, Tomoyuki Sakai, Satoshi Takahashi, Ryoji Inaba
  • Publication number: 20100288642
    Abstract: A capillary array includes a light detection portion, a sample supply portion, a buffer solution supply portion and a voltage application portion which are necessary functions for electrophoresis, thereby, when assembling the capillary array into an electrophoresis apparatus, the same can be immediately used. Accordingly, a capillary array is provided which can be easily incorporated into an electrophoresis apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Yasushi Shimizu, Toshiaki Kita, Kiyoshi Tsukada, Akihiro Suzuki, Tomonari Morioka, Masaya Kojima, Ryoji Inaba, Daizo Tokinaga, Shuhei Yamamoto, Yoshiyuki Okishima, Masao Fukunaga, Takayasu Furukawa, Tomohiro Shoji
  • Patent number: 7785458
    Abstract: A capillary array includes a light detection portion, a sample supply portion, a buffer solution supply portion and a voltage application portion which are necessary functions for electrophoresis, thereby, when assembling the capillary array into an electrophoresis apparatus, the same can be immediately used. Accordingly, a capillary array is provided which can be easily incorporated into an electrophoresis apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Shimizu, Toshiaki Kita, Kiyoshi Tsukada, Akihiro Suzuki, Tomonari Morioka, Masaya Kojima, Ryoji Inaba, Daizo Tokinaga, Shuhei Yamamoto, Yoshiyuki Okishima, Masao Fukunaga, Takayasu Furukawa, Tomohiro Shoji
  • Patent number: 7787120
    Abstract: Detection sensitivity is improved by increasing the amount of light of beams that irradiate a sample cell without causing saturation of a detector with ultraviolet beams or visible beams. This spectrophotometer includes a sample cell, which stores a sample to be measured, a visible light source and an ultraviolet light source each for supplying an incident beam that enters the sample, a spectroscope, which disperses a beam that has passed through the sample, an optical detector, which detects beams dispersed from such beam (spectrum), and a dichroic element which reflects or transmits ultraviolet beams from the ultraviolet light source and which transmits or reflects visible beams from the visible light source. Optics are configured such that ultraviolet beams and visible beams that have passed through or have been reflected by the dichroic element enter the sample cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Motohiro Yamazaki, Ryoji Inaba, Kosaku Toyosaki, Shintaro Kubo, Takashi Gomi, Katsunobu Hama, Kiyotoshi Mori, Hideyuki Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7736481
    Abstract: To reduce the elongation of the migration time for the first electrophoresis cycle in successive electrophoresis cycles and improve the reliability of electrophoresis analysis. The present invention relates to making the condition of a migration medium at the start of the first electrophoresis analysis in successive electrophoresis analyses after the temperature in a thermostatic oven reaches a desired preset temperature substantially the same as the conditions after the successive electrophoresis analyses. Preferably, a voltage is applied to a separation medium filling a capillary during preheating of the thermostatic oven. Preferably, the temperature in the thermostatic oven during preheating is set higher than the temperature in the thermostatic oven during electrophoresis analysis. Preferably, a buffer solution is heated during preheating of the thermostatic oven. Preferably, the capillary is filled with a preheated separation medium during preheating of the thermostatic oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Miho Ozawa, Ryoji Inaba
  • Publication number: 20090255814
    Abstract: The invention aims to improve the spatial resolution in a multi-focus type electrophoresis apparatus that irradiates a capillary array from both ends thereof with laser beams. The invention relates to an electrophoresis apparatus in which capillaries at both ends of a capillary array are irradiated respectively with laser beams, and each of the two laser beams traverses multiple capillaries. In the electrophoresis apparatus, the laser beams are coaxially introduced into the capillary array from the both ends thereof to travel in a direction vertical to axis of each capillary and horizontal to the aligrnent plane of the capillary array; and a ?/4 plate and a polarizer are arranged on the laser beam optical axes. According to the invention, the total width of the incident laser beams is made narrow, generation of pseudo signals is prevented, and an analysis performance is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Motohiro Yamazaki, Ryoji Inaba, Satoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7601252
    Abstract: Scattering on analysis in a multi-capillary electrophoresis apparatus is suppressed. The multi-capillary electrophoresis apparatus has a multi-capillary array that has a sample and a separation medium for separating a sample charged therein, and has a sampling section formed at ends of the capillaries and a detector part for acquiring information depending on the sample thus separated, a means for applying a voltage between the sampling section and the detector part, a chamber part having an air blowing mechanism and a temperature controlling mechanism, a capillary housing base provided on a leeward side of the air blowing mechanism and housing the multi-capillary array, and a first straightening plate provided between the chamber part and the capillary housing base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Motohiro Yamazaki, Masaya Kojima, Ryoji Inaba
  • Publication number: 20090211911
    Abstract: The invention provides a capillary electrophoresis apparatus which can improve the operability and measuring speed. According to the invention, a sensor for identifying the type of sample containers is fixed at the position away from a capillary anode electrode. The sensor is made to be closer to the sample containers by moving a moving stage so that the sample containers disposed on the moving stage can be identified by the sensor. A fixing apparatus for fixing at least a pair of sample containers is provided on the moving stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Takeshi Ohura, Ryoji Inaba, Yoshitaka Kodama, Hiromi Yamashita, Manabu Akiba, Tomohiro Shoji
  • Publication number: 20090183990
    Abstract: In a capillary electrophoresis apparatus, a capillary array unit has a capillary array including capillaries having a capillary head and a detection unit, a frame for supporting the capillary array, and a load header for holding cathode ends of the capillaries. The frame has separators for separating and holding the capillaries. The capillary head, the detection unit, and the separators are disposed along one linear line. With this arrangement, there is provided the capillary array unit and the capillary electrophoresis apparatus which are arranged such that a job for mounting the capillary array can be executed easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Tomohiro SHOJI, Toshiyuki Sakurai, Takashi Gomi, Ryoji Inaba
  • Publication number: 20090128813
    Abstract: System and method for fluorescent light excitation and detection from samples to enhance the numerical aperture and/or reduce the cross-talk of the fluorescent light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Richard T. Reel, Eric S. Nordman, Tomoyuki Sakai, Satoshi Takahashi, Ryoji Inaba
  • Patent number: 7513984
    Abstract: When irradiating laser beam from the side face of the capillary array, an optical axis of the laser beam is inclined in vertical direction with respect to a plane face formed by the capillary array, thus, reflection light by the capillary array and returning light is prevented from entering into a laser beam source, thereby, instability of laser oscillation is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoji Inaba, Satoshi Takahashi, Miho Ozawa, Yoshitaka Kodama
  • Patent number: 7483136
    Abstract: System and method for fluorescent light excitation and detection from samples to enhance the numerical aperture and/or reduce the cross-talk of the fluorescent light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems Inc.
    Inventors: Richard T. Reel, Eric S. Nordman, Tomoyuki Sakai, Satoshi Takahashi, Ryoji Inaba
  • Publication number: 20090020429
    Abstract: Even if a standby time to the measurement becomes long, a sample in a sample container is prevented from deteriorating. A cooling mechanism is provided in a sample tray for holding a sample plate, or in a plate-mounting portion of a table-type auto sampler of a capillary electrophoresis apparatus, so that the sample plate is cooled during the measurement also.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Miho Ozawa, Ryoji Inaba, Tomohiro Shoji, Manabu Akiba
  • Publication number: 20090009761
    Abstract: Detection sensitivity is improved by increasing the amount of light of beams that irradiate a sample cell without causing saturation of a detector with ultraviolet beams or visible beams. This spectrophotometer includes a sample cell, which stores a sample to be measured, a visible light source and an ultraviolet light source each for supplying an incident beam that enters the sample, a spectroscope, which disperses a beam that has passed through the sample, an optical detector, which detects beams dispersed from such beam (spectrum), and a dichroic element which reflects or transmits ultraviolet beams from the ultraviolet light source and which transmits or reflects visible beams from the visible light source. Optics are configured such that ultraviolet beams and visible beams that have passed through or have been reflected by the dichroic element enter the sample cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Motohiro Yamazaki, Ryoji Inaba, Kosaku Toyosaki, Shintaro Kubo, Takashi Gomi, Katsunobu Hama, Kiyotoshi Mori, Hideyuki Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7473342
    Abstract: In a case where the temperature of capillaries cannot be controlled rapidly in accordance with the change of the amount of heat generated from the capillaries, the phoretic speed of the sample is not controlled constant to lower the analyzing performance for the sample. This invention intends to stabilize the electrophoretic speed. The surface of a substrate on which a plurality of capillaries are arranged is in contact with a member capable of temperature control thereby controlling the temperature of the capillaries. Since a member capable of controlling the temperature and the capillaries are in direct contact with each other according to the invention, the temperature of the capillary can be controlled rapidly at a high accuracy, so that electrophoretic speed is stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichi Ugai, Tomonari Morioka, Ryoji Inaba, Akihiro Suzuki, Yoshinori Ookoshi, Yoshiyuki Okishima, Tsukasa Ohira, Motohiro Yamazaki, Takashi Gomi
  • Publication number: 20080302665
    Abstract: An electrophoresis analysis method and apparatus capable of maintaining high reliability upon a repeated use of the same gel. A heat transfer medium selected from the group consisting of solids, liquids and gels is filled in substantially all of the gaps between the electrode and each capillary. A hollow electrode into which a capillary is inserted has a plurality of retaining shapes such that the capillary can be fixed at the center of the electrode. The heat from the capillary can be efficiently dissipated via the electrode, and also the temperature increase in the capillary can be prevented. Further, temperature increases due to the heating of the capillaries during operation can be controlled and thereby thermal deterioration of the gel can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Syozo Kasai, Takayasu Furukawa, Ryoji Inaba, Daiki Numai, Tomoyuki Tobita
  • Publication number: 20080296160
    Abstract: Provided is a capillary electrophoresis device including a holder preventing a septum from coming off when a capillary is pulled out, and also allowing containers to be taken out in any order. In the capillary electrophoresis device for separating and analyzing a sample such as a DNA and a protein by electrophoresis, the holder includes: a septum having a capillary hole through which a capillary penetrates; a container for storing a solution; and a container-accommodation unit for accommodating the container. A hole formed in the septum engages with an engagement portion formed on the container, and thereby the septum is held to cover the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Takeshi OOURA, Ryoji Inaba
  • Patent number: 7459068
    Abstract: A multi-capillary electrophoresis apparatus is provided for reducing errors during analysis caused by fluctuations in electrophoresis time among plural capillaries of the apparatus. The multi-capillary electrophoresis apparatus can contain a multi-capillary array that has a separation medium filled therein for isolating a sample. A detector component can be provided at a position remote from a sample injecting end of the array for acquiring information from the sample. A buffer container can be provided for holding a buffer solution into which the sample injecting end can be immersed. One or more temperature controlling component devices can be arranged for controlling a temperature of the buffer solution, of the detector component, or of both the buffer solution and the detector component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Nordman, Miho Ozawa, Masaya Kojima, Ryoji Inaba, Yoshitaka Kodama, Motohiro Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7438793
    Abstract: A multi-capillary array which can be used for a multi-capillary electrophoresis apparatus to effectively disperse the heat generated within a load header. In a load header of the capillary array used for the multi-capillary electrophoresis, an insulated holder, a connection plate and tubular electrodes are closely arranged without substantial formation of gaps. The heat generated within the load header can be dispersed effectively to the external side by eliminating an air-layer within the load header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Hanada, Ryoji Inaba