Patents by Inventor Akira Maehara

Akira Maehara 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).

  • Publication number: 20230398257
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a bioabsorbable and stretchable fibrous medical material that enables formation of ligation which provides a small and hard-to-unravel knot even with a weak force. The present invention provides a fibrous medical material which is a fibrous material composed of a molded article provided by spinning and drawing a bioabsorbable aliphatic polymer, wherein an elongation at break is 75% or greater, an intermediate elastic modulus in tension at a strain ranging from 0.25% and 10% is lower than an initial elastic modulus in tension at a strain ranging from 0.05% to 0.25%, the intermediate elastic modulus in tension is 400 MPa or less, and a residual strain rate after 100% deformation is 70% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicants: MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC., National University Corporation Tokai National Higher Education and Research System
    Inventors: Akira MAEHARA, Hitoshi HIRATA, Atsuhiko MURAYAMA, Yasunobu NAKAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20230219273
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a polymeric molded product, which does not undergo a considerable molecular weight reduction during melt-molding, even in a polymer may easily lose its molecular weight when it is in a melted state. The present invention provides a method for producing a polymeric molded product, which comprises melt-molding a polymer comprising lamellar crystals that are different in lamella thickness, in a temperature range where some of the lamellar crystals undergo melting and flowing, and the other balance lamellar crystals remain unmelted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicants: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc., The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Akira MAEHARA, Tadahisa IWATA, Taku OMURA, Taizo KABE
  • Publication number: 20230211539
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a polymeric molded product, the method enabling expansion of a temperature range that can be used for partial melting. The present invention provides a method for producing a polymeric molded product, which comprises subjecting a crystalline polyhydroxyalkanoate to a heating treatment at a temperature equal to or higher than a glass transition temperature; and melt-molding a polyhydroxyalkanoate yielded by the heating treatment, which comprises lamellar crystals that are different in lamellar thickness, in a temperature range where some of the lamellar crystals undergo melting and flowing, and the other balance lamellar crystals remain unmelted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicants: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc., The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Akira MAEHARA, Tadahisa IWATA, Taku OMURA, Taizo KABE
  • Patent number: 11466120
    Abstract: A medical material comprising film obtained from a polyester wherein the polyester has a weight average molecular weight of 1,250,000 or greater determined by gel permeation chromatography calibrated with polystyrene standards. The polyester comprises a 3-hydroxybutyrate unit and a 4-hydroxybutyrate unit as polymerization units, and proportion of the 4-hydroxybutyrate unit relative to all monomer units is from 14 mol % to 40 mol %. The polyester film is useful for medical apparatus, packaging material for food, plastic sheet for agriculture, flowerpots for seedings, and sheets for construction and engineering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Akira Maehara
  • Publication number: 20220203600
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a stretchable polyester having shape followability and flexibility by elastic response and being able to suppress deterioration over time due to secondary crystallization. The present invention provides a stretchable polyester which is an aliphatic copolymer polyester containing two or more types of monomer units, wherein the stretchable polyester contains an ?-form and an amorphous structure, and a degree of orientation determined by X-ray of the ?-form is 50% or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicants: MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC., The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Akira MAEHARA, Tadahisa IWATA, Taizo KABE, Yuki KAWAMURA
  • Patent number: 11279957
    Abstract: To provide a method for producing a polyester comprising at least a 3-hydroxybutyrate unit as a polymerization unit and having a high molecular weight and a narrow molecular weight distribution (that is, small Mw/Mn). A method for producing a polyester comprising culturing a microorganism in a culture solution containing a carbon source and a nitrogen source, the polyester having a weight average molecular weight of 1,000,000 or greater and comprising at least a 3-hydroxybutyrate unit as a polymerization unit. The culture conditions include maintenance of an osmotic pressure of the culture solution from 200 mOsm to 900 mOsm during culture period, and maintenance of a nitrogen atom concentration of the culture solution at 0.30 g/L or greater during culture period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Akira Maehara
  • Publication number: 20200347416
    Abstract: To provide a method for producing a polyester comprising at least a 3-hydroxybutyrate unit as a polymerization unit and having a high molecular weight and a narrow molecular weight distribution (that is, small Mw/Mn). A method for producing a polyester comprising culturing a microorganism in a culture solution containing a carbon source and a nitrogen source, the polyester having a weight average molecular weight of 1,000,000 or greater and comprising at least a 3-hydroxybutyrate unit as a polymerization unit. The culture conditions include maintenance of an osmotic pressure of the culture solution from 200 mOsm to 900 mOsm during culture period, and maintenance of a nitrogen atom concentration of the culture solution at 0.30 g/L or greater during culture period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Akira MAEHARA
  • Publication number: 20200255589
    Abstract: To provide a 4-hydroxybutyrate unit-containing polyhydroxyalkanoate having a high molecular weight and achieving a high strength at break and a high elongation at break. A polyester having a weight average molecular weight of 1250000 or greater determined by gel permeation chromatography calibrated with polystyrene standards, wherein the polyester comprises at least a 3-hydroxybutyrate unit and a 4-hydroxybutyrate unit as polymerization units, and a proportion of the 4-hydroxybutyrate unit relative to all monomer units is from 14 mol % to 40 mol %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Akira MAEHARA
  • Patent number: 7542114
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, by which a reduction of costs of a color filter is realized and declining of the transmittance or reflectance due to an alignment error is suppressed, comprising a pair of substrates arranged facing to each other over a liquid crystal layer, wherein one substrate is formed pixels PXL arranged in matrix. Each pixel is formed a reflection portion for reflecting an outside light and a transmission portion for transmitting a light. The other substrate is formed a color filter colored to be different colors (red, green and blue) corresponding to respective pixels. One or more color adjusting windows CFW having a coloring concentration of zero or less than that of other portions are provided on reflection regions CFR superposing with reflection portions inside pixel regions corresponding to respective pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Nakamura, Masato Imai, Yoko Fukunaga, Akira Maehara
  • Patent number: 7468239
    Abstract: A mask for photolithography in which a semi-transmission film is formed so that the phase difference of lights passing through a semi-transmission portion and a transmission portion of the mask for photolithography is between (?¼+2 m) ? and (¼+2 m) ? inclusive, where m is an integer. The invention makes it possible to efficiently and properly form a thin film having a multi-step structure by a single process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Imai, Akira Maehara, Yoko Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7218366
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, by which a reduction of costs of a color filter is realized and declining of the transmittance or reflectance due to an alignment error is suppressed, comprising a pair of substrates arranged facing to each other over a liquid crystal layer, wherein one substrate is formed pixels PXL arranged in matrix. Each pixel is formed a reflection portion for reflecting an outside light and a transmission portion for transmitting a light. The other substrate is formed a color filter colored to be different colors (red, green and blue) corresponding to respective pixels. One or more color adjusting windows CFW having a coloring concentration of zero or less than that of other portions are provided on reflection regions CFR superposing with reflection portions inside pixel regions corresponding to respective pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Nakamura, Masato Imai, Yoko Fukunaga, Akira Maehara
  • Patent number: 7153614
    Abstract: A mask for photolithography in which a semi-transmission film is formed so that the phase difference of lights passing through a semi-transmission portion and a transmission portion of the mask for photolithography is between (?¼+2 m).? and (¼+2 m).? inclusive, where m is an integer. The invention makes it possible to efficiently and properly form a thin film having a multi-step structure by a single process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Imai, Akira Maehara, Yoko Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7148938
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, by which a reduction of costs of a color filter is realized and declining of the transmittance or reflectance due to an alignment error is suppressed, comprising a pair of substrates arranged facing to each other over a liquid crystal layer, wherein one substrate is formed pixels PXL arranged in matrix. Each pixel is formed a reflection portion for reflecting an outside light and a transmission portion for transmitting a light. The other substrate is formed a color filter colored to be different colors (red, green and blue) corresponding to respective pixels. One or more color adjusting windows CFW having a coloring concentration of zero or less than that of other portions are provided on reflection regions CFR superposing with reflection portions inside pixel regions corresponding to respective pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Nakamura, Masato Imai, Yoko Fukunaga, Akira Maehara
  • Patent number: 7136125
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, by which a reduction of costs of a color filter is realized and declining of the transmittance or reflectance due to an alignment error is suppressed, comprising a pair of substrates arranged facing to each other over a liquid crystal layer, wherein one substrate is formed pixels PXL arranged in matrix. Each pixel is formed a reflection portion for reflecting an outside light and a transmission portion for transmitting a light. The other substrate is formed a color filter colored to be different colors (red, green and blue) corresponding to respective pixels. One or more color adjusting windows CFW having a coloring concentration of zero or less than that of other portions are provided on reflection regions CFR superposing with reflection portions inside pixel regions corresponding to respective pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Nakamura, Masato Imai, Yoko Fukunaga, Akira Maehara
  • Publication number: 20060203155
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, by which a reduction of costs of a color filter is realized and declining of the transmittance or reflectance due to an alignment error is suppressed, comprising a pair of substrates arranged facing to each other over a liquid crystal layer, wherein one substrate is formed pixels PXL arranged in matrix. Each pixel is formed a reflection portion for reflecting an outside light and a transmission portion for transmitting a light. The other substrate is formed a color filter colored to be different colors (red, green and blue) corresponding to respective pixels. One or more color adjusting windows CFW having a coloring concentration of zero or less than that of other portions are provided on reflection regions CFR superposing with reflection portions inside pixel regions corresponding to respective pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: Shinji Nakamura, Masato Imai, Yoko Fukunaga, Akira Maehara
  • Publication number: 20060203156
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, by which a reduction of costs of a color filter is realized and declining of the transmittance or reflectance due to an alignment error is suppressed, comprising a pair of substrates arranged facing to each other over a liquid crystal layer, wherein one substrate is formed pixels PXL arranged in matrix. Each pixel is formed a reflection portion for reflecting an outside light and a transmission portion for transmitting a light. The other substrate is formed a color filter colored to be different colors (red, green and blue) corresponding to respective pixels. One or more color adjusting windows CFW having a coloring concentration of zero or less than that of other portions are provided on reflection regions CFR superposing with reflection portions inside pixel regions corresponding to respective pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: Shinji Nakamura, Masato Imai, Yoko Fukunaga, Akira Maehara
  • Publication number: 20060098143
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, by which a reduction of costs of a color filter is realized and declining of the transmittance or reflectance due to an alignment error is suppressed, comprising a pair of substrates arranged facing to each other over a liquid crystal layer, wherein one substrate is formed pixels PXL arranged in matrix. Each pixel is formed a reflection portion for reflecting an outside light and a transmission portion for transmitting a light. The other substrate is formed a color filter colored to be different colors (red, green and blue) corresponding to respective pixels. One or more color adjusting windows CFW having a coloring concentration of zero or less than that of other portions are provided on reflection regions CFR superposing with reflection portions inside pixel regions corresponding to respective pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Shinji Nakamura, Masato Imai, Yoko Fukunaga, Akira Maehara
  • Publication number: 20050042528
    Abstract: A mask for photolithography in which a semi-transmission film is formed so that the phase difference of lights passing through a semi-transmission portion and a transmission portion of the mask for photolithography is between (?¼+2 m) ? and (¼+2 m) ? inclusive, where m is an integer. The invention makes it possible to efficiently and properly form a thin film having a multi-step structure by a single process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Masato Imai, Akira Maehara, Yoko Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20040095528
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, by which a reduction of costs of a color filter is realized and declining of the transmittance or reflectance due to an alignment error is suppressed, comprising a pair of substrates arranged facing to each other over a liquid crystal layer, wherein one substrate is formed pixels PXL arranged in matrix. Each pixel is formed a reflection portion for reflecting an outside light and a transmission portion for transmitting a light. The other substrate is formed a color filter colored to be different colors (red, green and blue) corresponding to respective pixels. One or more color adjusting windows CFW having a coloring concentration of zero or less than that of other portions are provided on reflection regions CFR superposing with reflection portions inside pixel regions corresponding to respective pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Shinji Nakamura, Masato Imai, Yoko Fukunaga, Akira Maehara
  • Publication number: 20030165641
    Abstract: A mask for photolithography in which a semi-transmission film is formed so that the phase difference of lights passing through a semi-transmission portion and a transmission portion of the mask for photolithography is between (−¼+2 m).&pgr; and (¼+2 m).&pgr; inclusive, where m is an integer. The invention makes it possible to efficiently and properly form a thin film having a multi-step structure by a single process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Masato Imai, Akira Maehara, Yoko Fukunaga