Patents Assigned to Kumamoto University
  • Patent number: 8396283
    Abstract: A three-dimensional-object can be effectively detected. A pair of image capture devices capture a three-dimensional-object and calculate disparity component data of subdivided-image regions, respectively. On a basis of the disparity component data, gray scale values indicative of distances from the image capture device are calculated and a gray scale image in which each region has its corresponding gray scale value is generated. A model of the three-dimensional-object is defined and correlation values is calculated to show the degree of a similarity between the model and the image subdivided regions in the gray scale image. The model is a two-dimensional image with a shaping characteristic when the three-dimensional object is viewed from positions of the image capture devices while each subdivided region of the two-dimensional image has a gray scale value indicative of a distance from the image capture device at a portion corresponding to the three-dimensional object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Kumamoto University
    Inventors: Akira Iihoshi, Yasushi Ueda, Satoko Furuki, Zhencheng Hu, Keiichi Uchimura, Naoki Kourogi
  • Patent number: 8394211
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnesium alloy material excellent in high mechanical characteristics without using special manufacturing facilities or processes and a method for manufacturing the magnesium alloy material. The magnesium alloy material is an Mg—Zn—RE alloy containing Zn as an essential component, at least one of Gd, Tb, and Tm as RE, and the rest including Mg and unavoidable impurities and contains a needle-like precipitate or a board-like precipitate (lengthy precipitate: X-phase=?-phase, ??-phase, and ?1-phase).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., National University Corporation Kumamoto University
    Inventors: Mamoru Nakata, Yuuichi Yamada, Koji Itakura, Takahiro Mibe, Yoshio Okada, Yoshihito Kawamura, Michiaki Yamasaki
  • Publication number: 20130023574
    Abstract: Provided are a method for generating a data set for integrated proteomics analysis, whereby expression level variations of both of proteins and genes can be integrally united together and, moreover, highly accurate and appropriate analysis results can be obtained compared with the existing cases where the expression variation amount of proteins or genes is singly analyzed, an integrated proteomics analysis method, a method for identifying a protein causative of a disease or the like using these methods, and a method of using the same???.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: National University Corporation Kumamoto University
    Inventors: Norie Araki, Souhei Mizuguchi, Daiki Kobayashi, Nobuyuki Tsubota, Takashi Morikawa, Junichi Kuratsu, Masayo Wilson Morifuji
  • Patent number: 8357626
    Abstract: There is provided an oxygen storage/release material using a rare earth oxysulfate or oxysulfide, which has a high oxygen storage/release capacity even at lower temperatures. The oxygen storage/release material of the present invention comprises a compound consisting of Pr2O2SO4 and/or Pr2O2S and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Rh and Fe supported thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignees: National University Corporation Kumamoto University, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Machida, Keita Ikeue, Masahide Miura
  • Patent number: 8354107
    Abstract: Previously, it was difficult to obtain high-affinity antibodies that specifically bind to HMGB-1 but not to HMGB-2. Under this circumstance, the present inventors successfully obtained antibodies that are more reactive to HMGB-1 than to HMGB-2 by using specific peptides as an antigen. The present inventors also demonstrated that the antibodies had a HMGB-1-neutralizing activity. The present inventors administered the antibodies to amyloidosis model animals, and as a result, successfully demonstrated that the antibodies produced a significant therapeutic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignees: Kagoshima University, Kumamoto University, Shino-Test Corporation
    Inventors: Yukio Ando, Ikuro Maruyama, Shingo Yamada
  • Publication number: 20120325373
    Abstract: Provided is a method of treating a metal surface, which can improve surface properties of a target metal, such as surface hardness and wear resistance in a simple manner and at low cost using very simple equipment alone, and which can prevent the deterioration of the metal to create high added value. The present invention is comprised of a method of treating a metal surface, characterized in that: heat-treating a target metal (10) to be surface-modified in nitrogen gas atmosphere (S), in such a state where the target metal (10) is buried in a carbon source powder (12) comprising a carbon powder and a powder of iron or an iron alloy mainly comprising iron and containing carbon, whereby the surface of the target metal (10) is at least nitrided or nitrogen-absorbed to modify the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: National University Corporation Kumamoto University
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Morizono, Sadahiro Tsurekawa, Tatsuya Sako, Hiroyuki Nemoto, Yuka Kawano
  • Patent number: 8333924
    Abstract: Provided is a high-strength and high-toughness magnesium alloy which has practical level of both the strength and the toughness for expanded applications of the magnesium alloys, and is a method for manufacturing thereof. The high-strength and high-toughness magnesium alloy of the present invention contains: a atom % in total of at least one metal of Cu, Ni, and Co; and b atom % in total of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Dy, Er, Ho, Gd, Tb, and Tm, while a and b satisfying the following formulae (1) to (3), 0.2?a?10??(1) 0.2?b?10??(2) 2/3a?2/3<b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignees: National University Corporation Kumamoto University, Chiba University
    Inventors: Yoshihito Kawamura, Michiaki Yamasaki, Takaomi Itoi, Mitsuji Hirohashi
  • Patent number: 8309353
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to establish a system for reliably differentiating an ES cell into a hepatic cell. The present invention provides a method for inducing the differentiation of an ES cell into a hepatic cell, which comprises, in the presence of an M15 cell, culturing a mammal-derived ES cell in the presence of activin and bFGF, and then culturing the ES cell in the presence of dexamethasone, HGF, and oncostatin M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Kumamoto University
    Inventors: Shoen Kume, Nobuaki Shiraki, Kahoko Umeda, Kazuhiko Kume
  • Patent number: 8195386
    Abstract: A movable-body navigation information display unit is provided. In the movable-body navigation information display unit, a driver can intuitively and accurately recognize a relation between navigation information and a real picture or a real landscape. In addition, it is possible to avoid a state that visibility of a caution-needed picture such as a pedestrian in the real picture and a real picture of a road construction site is inhibited by an image of the navigation information. An image data creating section (405) matches road shape data with a road shape model to estimate posture data. In addition, the image data creating section creates picture (image) data for accurately compositing and displaying the image of the navigation information in an appropriate position in a real picture (or in a real landscape) of a road ahead of a movable body, and displays the navigation information as a three-dimensional icon or the like. A picture display section (5) performs display based on the picture data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: National University Corporation Kumamoto University
    Inventors: Zhencheng Hu, Keiichi Uchimura
  • Patent number: 8128731
    Abstract: A method for separating and enriching isotopes in an efficient and low-cost manner from a condensation-system (liquid or/and solid) material including two or more different isotopes by taking advantage of the sedimentation of atoms through an acceleration field by ultra-high speed rotation. The condensation-system material is placed in a sedimentation tank which is then housed in a supercentrifuge. The supercentrifuge in its rotor is rotation driven by an ultra-high speed rotation power source, and an acceleration field of energy of 100000 G to 1500000 G, i.e., about 100 to 800 m/s in terms of peripheral velocity, is applied to the above condensed (liquid or/and solid) material under such a temperature that is specified by an isotope material to be enriched. In this case, a difference in centrifugal force applied is provided between the isotopes in the condensed (liquid or/and solid) material comprising the at least two isotopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignees: National University Corporation Kumamoto University, Maruwa Electronic Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Mashimo, Masao Ono, Xinsheng Huang, Yusuke Iguchi, Satoru Okayasu, Hiroshi Yasuoka, Koji Shibasaki, Masanori Sueyoshi
  • Publication number: 20120016158
    Abstract: There is provided a novel loxoprofen derivative that has no side effect such as a gastrointestinal disorder and also has excellent anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and is represented by the following formula (I) or (II): (wherein R1 and R2 each represent a halogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof. In the derivative, the halogen atom is selected from a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, a fluorine atom, and an iodine atom, and a substituent of the substituted phenyl group is a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl group, a lower alkylthio group, a lower alkoxy group, a nitro group, an amino group, or a carboxyl group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicants: LTT BIO-PHARMA CO., LTD., National University Corporation, Kumamoto University
    Inventors: Toru Mizushima, Masami Ohtsuka, Yoshinari Okamoto, Naoki Yamakawa
  • Publication number: 20110229487
    Abstract: Previously, it was difficult to obtain high-affinity antibodies that specifically bind to HMGB-1 but not to HMGB-2. Under this circumstance, the present inventors successfully obtained antibodies that are more reactive to HMGB-1 than to HMGB-2 by using specific peptides as an antigen. The present inventors also demonstrated that the antibodies had a HMGB-1-neutralizing activity. The present inventors administered the antibodies to amyloidosis model animals, and as a result, successfully demonstrated that the antibodies produced a significant therapeutic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicants: Kumamoto University, Kagoshima University, Shino Test Corporation
    Inventors: Yukio Ando, Ikuro Maruyama, Shingo Yamada
  • Patent number: 8017345
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to find out another tumor marker which is useful for early diagnosis of melanoma, and provide a diagnostic kit and diagnostic method for malignant melanoma using such marker. The present invention provides a diagnostic kit for malignant melanoma, which comprises an antibody against SPARC and an antibody against GPC3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kumamoto University
    Inventors: Yasuharu Nishimura, Tetsuya Nakatsura, Yoshiaki Ikuta
  • Patent number: 8008203
    Abstract: A polishing method and a polishing apparatus capable of polishing a surface of a substrate made of SiC or diamond extremely smoothly and efficiently without causing subsurface damage are provided. A polishing platen 1 can rotate around a rotating shaft 4, and is made of quartz having high transparency to ultraviolet radiation. A large number of grooves 11 are arranged on a front surface of the polishing platen 1 in a lattice form, and each of the grooves 11 is filled with solid photocatalytic particles 20 (CeO2). The polishing platen 1 is relatively rubbed against a to-be-polished surface 30A of a substrate 30 made of silicon carbide (SiC) or diamond (C) while pressing the polishing platen 1 to the to-be-polished surface 30A of the substrate 30 with a very high pressure, thereby the to-be-polished surface 30A is oxidized by the solid photocatalytic particles 20 to perform chemical polishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: National Universtiy Corporation Kumamoto University
    Inventor: Junji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7971159
    Abstract: To provide a data generating method, device, and program that can generate drawing data for drawing the entire general design graphic data with an accuracy of about 1 to 4 nm in a drawing method or a drawing system adapted to draw gradation-controllable spotlights in a two-dimensional array. The data generating method is a method for generating, in an exposure system having a function of irradiating multigradation-controllable spotlights in a two-dimensional array onto a photosensitive film on a substrate, gradation values of the spotlights based on design graphic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignees: Tohoko University, Kumamoto University
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Taniguchi, Tatsuo Morimoto, Akira Nakada, Masae Nakada, legal representative, Tadahiro Ohmi
  • Patent number: 7935814
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel compound that is an agonist of guanosine-3?,5?-cyclic monophosphate and has an effect of activating protein kinase G. The present invention provides 8-guanosine-3?,5?-cyclic monophosphate compound which is represented by the following formula, and a pharmaceutical composition, especially a protein kinase G activating agent, which contains the 8-guanosine-3?,5?-cyclic monophosphate compound as an active ingredient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Kumamoto University
    Inventors: Takaaki Akaike, Teruo Akuta
  • Publication number: 20100320426
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method for the stable production of a high-purity Group II-VI compound semiconductor on an industrial scale, and also a hexagonal crystal of Group II-VI compound semiconductor in which a metal can be doped easily. Another object of the invention is to provide a method of producing a Group II-VI compound semiconductor phosphor. The objects are achieved by a method of producing a Group II-VI compound semiconductor comprising generating a pulsed electrical discharge plasma between metallic electrodes in sulfur to produce a Group II-VI compound semiconductor; a method of producing a Group II-VI compound semiconductor phosphor using a pulsed electrical discharge plasma; and a hexagonal crystal of Group II-VI compound semiconductor composed of a plurality of twin crystals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicants: National University Corp. Kumamoto University, KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Mashimo, Omurzak Uulu Emil, Makoto Okamoto, Hideharu Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20100219068
    Abstract: A harmful gas treatment apparatus and a water treatment apparatus uses an electrochemical device provided with a solid electrolyte membrane having ion conductivity. A first electrochemical device provided with an anode on one surface of a hydrogen ion conductive electrolyte membrane and a cathode on the other surface thereof is combined with a second electrochemical device provided with an anode on one surface of a hydroxyl ion conductive electrolyte membrane and a cathode on the other surface thereof. Both cathodes are disposed so as to face each other within an electrochemical reaction tank. Each of the cathodes is provided with TiO2 as a metal oxide and Pt as a platinum group supported on a porous body having functions to occlude, concentrate and reduce harmful substances as a reducing catalyst. Thus, a water vapor partial pressure and an oxygen partial pressure on the both cathodes is reduced, making it possible to enhance hydrogen generation efficiency at the normal temperature and constant current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Kumamoto University
    Inventors: Shiro Yamauchi, Minoru Kimura, Shigeru Yamaji, Masato Machida
  • Publication number: 20100134776
    Abstract: A pulse power source which can perform high repetition of pulse signals by enhancing the throughput of a pulse source is provided. The pulse power source includes: a charger; an initial-stage capacitor section which is provided with a capacitor charged by the charger; and a magnetic pulse compression circuit which performs magnetic pulse compression of a pulse current generated by discharging a charge from the capacitor at the initial-stage capacitor section and, thereafter, outputs the pulse current. An exposure device which includes the pulse power source is also provided. The pulse power source includes, between the initial-stage capacitor section and the magnetic pulse compression circuit, a transistor which controls timing of discharging a charge from the initial-stage capacitor section, an inductor which constitutes a resonance circuit together with the capacitor at the initial stage capacitor section, and a diode which rectifies the pulse current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: National University Corporation Kumamoto University
    Inventors: Takashi Sakugawa, Hidenori Akiyama, Sunao Katsuki
  • Publication number: 20100130350
    Abstract: There is provided an oxygen storage/release material using a rare earth oxysulfate or oxysulfide, which has a high oxygen storage/release capacity even at lower temperatures. The oxygen storage/release material of the present invention comprises a compound consisting of Pr2O2SO4 and/or Pr2O2S and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Rh and Fe supported thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicants: National University Corporation Kumamoto University, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Machida, Keita Ikeue, Masahide Miura