Patents by Inventor Atsushi Ohtani

Atsushi Ohtani 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: 11614858
    Abstract: The medical image diagnostic apparatus is configured to generate a medical image based on data collected from a subject when an operator sequentially performs a plurality of steps. A display unit has a display screen. An operation unit receives an operation of an operator on the display screen. A control unit controls the display unit based on the operation received by the operation unit. The display unit displays a plurality of setting screens respectively corresponding to the plurality of steps on a display screen in a superimposed manner. The control unit is configured to switch the setting screen of the uppermost layer between the plurality of setting screens based on the operation received by the operation unit. The display unit further displays, in each of the plurality of setting screens, a plurality of wizard screens for sequentially inputting a plurality of pieces of information in a wizard format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Ohtani, Natsuno Ommori
  • Publication number: 20220390160
    Abstract: A heat pump device having a refrigerant circuit includes: a valve configured to maintain an opening degree during non-energization; a valve drive circuit configured to cause operation of the valve; a valve controller configured to control the valve drive circuit; and a power source circuit configured to supply a power source to the valve drive circuit. The power source circuit includes: a first power source circuit unit configured to receive power source supply from outside to generate a DC: voltage; and a second power source circuit unit for backup. The second power source circuit unit receives power source supply from the outside to store power in a capacitor, and connects the capacitor in parallel to a first output electric path of the first power source circuit unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicants: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD., DAIKIN EUROPE N.V.
    Inventors: Yuusuke FUJIMOTO, Ryuuichi TOYOTA, Kentaroh TAOKA, Atsushi OHTANI, Kevin CORNELIS, David STEEN
  • Patent number: 11331063
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus for a breast examination in which a breakthrough mammary gland density can be adduced. A mammary gland density is calculated by recognizing a distribution of mammary gland tissues of a subject according to a distribution of radioactive pharmaceuticals distributed in a breast. An imaged image of the distribution of the radioactive pharmaceuticals is one type of function image, and represents activity in the subject. Therefore, it is possible to calculate the mammary gland density based on a mammary gland tissue of which the activity is active (an active mammary gland tissue) in the mammary gland tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Ohtani, Tetsuro Mizuta
  • Publication number: 20200275900
    Abstract: A diagnostic imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit including an imager that images a target to be imaged, and a rotation mechanism that rotates the imaging unit to switch the imaging unit to a first state in which a first target area to be imaged of the target is imaged and a second state in which a second target area to be imaged of the target different from the first target area to be imaged is imaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Kazushige TACHIBANA, Atsushi OHTANI, Tetsuro MIZUTA
  • Publication number: 20200142553
    Abstract: The medical image diagnostic apparatus is configured to generate a medical image based on data collected from a subject when an operator sequentially performs a plurality of steps. A display unit has a display screen. An operation unit receives an operation of an operator on the display screen. A control unit controls the display unit based on the operation received by the operation unit. The display unit displays a plurality of setting screens respectively corresponding to the plurality of steps on a display screen in a superimposed manner. The control unit is configured to switch the setting screen of the uppermost layer between the plurality of setting screens based on the operation received by the operation unit. The display unit further displays, in each of the plurality of setting screens, a plurality of wizard screens for sequentially inputting a plurality of pieces of information in a wizard format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Atsushi OHTANI, Natsuno OMMORI
  • Publication number: 20190388045
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus for a breast examination in which a breakthrough mammary gland density can be adduced. A mammary gland density is calculated by recognizing a distribution of mammary gland tissues of a subject according to a distribution of radioactive pharmaceuticals distributed in a breast. An imaged image of the distribution of the radioactive pharmaceuticals is one type of function image, and represents activity in the subject. Therefore, it is possible to calculate the mammary gland density based on a mammary gland tissue of which the activity is active (an active mammary gland tissue) in the mammary gland tissues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi OHTANI, Tetsuro MIZUTA
  • Publication number: 20190175123
    Abstract: A nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus for breast examination capable of diagnosing the entire breast of an examinee while the breast is in a free drooping state regardless of a drooping state of the examinee's breast, and a distance adjustment apparatus for the nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus for breast examination to be used for the nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus for breast examination are provided. When an examinee's breast does not fit within a radiation detection range of a radiation detection unit, a distance adjustment member including a first part, a second part and a third part is placed on a placement unit, and an examinee M is placed in a prone position on the distance adjustment member. Then, the breast of the examinee M is caused to droop to the radiation detection range in the radiation detection unit via an opening formed in the second part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi OHTANI, Kazushige TACHIBANA
  • Patent number: 10278669
    Abstract: This nuclear medical diagnosis apparatus acquires a normalization factor based on reference data of a reference object to be measured, acquires a mutual calibration factor using at least a part of the reference data, and calculates radioactive concentration of the reference object to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Mizuta, Atsushi Ohtani
  • Publication number: 20180368802
    Abstract: This nuclear medical diagnosis apparatus acquires a normalization factor based on reference data of a reference object to be measured, acquires a mutual calibration factor using at least a part of the reference data, and calculates radioactive concentration of the reference object to be measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro MIZUTA, Atsushi OHTANI
  • Patent number: 9060701
    Abstract: Provided is a medical image diagnosis apparatus which requires a small area for installation, has a short length in an axial direction of the apparatus, can reduce a problem of the strength of a top plate, and can simultaneously carry out dynamic PET-imaging of the entire body. A top plate (61) on which an examinee lies is moved through a tunnel of a CT gantry (2) and a PET gantry (3) to execute CT imaging and PET imaging. A PET unit consisting of a plurality (e.g. seven) of PET units (32) has a length of 2 m in the axis direction, the visual field thereof covers the whole body and the whole body can be simultaneously subjected to dynamic PET-imaging. For the maintenance of the PET gantry (3), the diagnosis apparatus is separated at an arbitrary PET unit (32) to be maintained, the apparatus slides on a rail (31) in the axis direction and is separated for maintenance operation. Accordingly, a large space for maintenance is not required and the area for installation is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Inoue, Masaharu Amano, Kazumi Tanaka, Tetsuro Mizuta, Atsushi Ohtani
  • Patent number: 8519341
    Abstract: This invention has one object to provide radiation tomography apparatus that allows suppression of arithmetic load of detection data with a wider detector ring. In order to achieve this purpose, the radiation tomography apparatus according to this invention performs coincidence only when two scintillation counter crystals that detect gamma rays coincidentally (A) belong to the same ring unit, or (B) belong to each of the ring units adjacent to each other. Accordingly, a distance in the central axis direction between the radiation detecting elements is limited to be equal to or less than a thickness of the ring unit in the central axis direction. Accordingly, radiation tomography apparatus may be provided that allows generation of the sectional image suitable for diagnosis while arithmetic load is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Ohtani, Masaharu Amano, Yoshihiro Inoue, Kazumi Tanaka, Tetsuro Mizuta
  • Patent number: 8461518
    Abstract: This invention has one object to provide a method of collecting calibration data in radiation tomography apparatus that allows reliable collection of calibration data with a wide detector ring. In order to achieve this purpose, in the method of collecting calibration data in radiation tomography apparatus according to this invention, the number of coincidence events is obtained while the phantom that emits annihilation gamma-ray pairs moves as to pass through an inner hole of the detector ring. Such configuration dose not need the phantom having a width equal or larger than the detector ring, and may realize reliable collection of calibration data. Moreover, it may be considered that annihilation gamma-ray pairs have been emitted in uniform property without depending on positions of the detector ring. As a result, calibration data that is more suitable for removal of a image artifact may be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Mizuta, Yoshihiro Inoue, Masaharu Amano, Kazumi Tanaka, Atsushi Ohtani
  • Patent number: 8450697
    Abstract: A discrimination parameter calculation method for photon detectors in this invention, applies two types of fitting functions which approximate waveforms of count numbers relative to energy ratios to the data having accumulated output waveform signals, and calculates fitting parameters of both the fitting functions. Based on both the fitting parameters, count numbers which are 1/n of peaks of both the fitting functions, and a value of the energy ratio of both the fitting functions corresponding to the count numbers is calculated as discrimination parameter k. Thus, whatever kind first photon detecting elements 35 and second photon detecting elements 37 may be, since discrimination parameter k is automatically calculated based on the fitting parameters after carrying out a fitting with the fitting functions, the discrimination parameter can be calculated with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Ohtani
  • Patent number: 8395128
    Abstract: One purpose of this invention is to provide radiation tomography apparatus with easier maintenance. A specific approach for this purpose is as follows. That is, a detector ring in the radiation tomography apparatus includes two or more rings. Moreover, a ring moves as to approach a next ring, whereby both the rings are connected. If radiation tomography is conducted while a clearance is provided between the rings, detection sensitivity of the detector ring decreases due to the clearance. On the other hand, according to this invention, the ring moves as to approach the next ring, which results in a narrower clearance. Accordingly, radiation that is not observed may be reduced as much as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Kazumi Tanaka, Yoshihiro Inoue, Masaharu Amano, Tetsuro Mizuta, Atsushi Ohtani
  • Patent number: 8249319
    Abstract: The function of an accumulated amount deriving part 14 can obtain the variation with time of the accumulated amount in the subject based on the radiopharmaceutical in a condition being separated for each radiopharmaceutical, that is, the second variation with time that is a function of the accumulated amount using the first variation with time that is a variation with time of a projection data measured by the projection data deriving part 10. The accumulated image acquisition part 15 acquires the accumulated image of each radiopharmaceutical to be provided for nuclear medicine diagnosis based on the second variations with time separated in this way, enabling the nuclear medicine diagnosis in administration of a variety of radiopharmaceuticals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Ohtani, Tatsuru Imanishi
  • Publication number: 20120001077
    Abstract: This invention has one object is to provide radiation tomography apparatus that allows production with low price through suppression in number of radiation detectors to be mounted. One of the detector rings in this invention is a first detector ring having a sufficient internal diameter to introduce shoulders of the subject M, and the other is a second detector ring having a smaller internal diameter than the first detector ring. In so doing, the radiation detectors forming the detector ring may be suppressed in number, which may provide radiation tomography apparatus of low price. Moreover, a smaller diameter of the detector ring may result in improved spatial resolution and detection sensitivity of radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Inoue, Masaharu Amano, Kazumi Tanaka, Tetsuro Mizuta, Atsushi Ohtani
  • Publication number: 20110297840
    Abstract: One purpose of this invention is to provide radiation tomography apparatus with easier maintenance. A specific approach for this purpose is as follows. That is, a detector ring in the radiation tomography apparatus includes two or more rings. Moreover, a ring moves as to approach a next ring, whereby both the rings are connected. If radiation tomography is conducted while a clearance is provided between the rings, detection sensitivity of the detector ring decreases due to the clearance. On the other hand, according to this invention, the ring moves as to approach the next ring, which results in a narrower clearance. Accordingly, radiation that is not observed may be reduced as much as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Kazumi Tanaka, Yoshihiro Inoue, Masaharu Amano, Tetsuro Mizuta, Atsushi Ohtani
  • Publication number: 20110288397
    Abstract: Provided is a medical image diagnosis apparatus which requires a small area for installation, has a short length in an axial direction of the apparatus, can reduce a problem of the strength of a top plate, and can simultaneously carry out dynamic PET-imaging of the entire body. A top plate (61) on which an examinee lies is moved through a tunnel of a CT gantry (2) and a PET gantry (3) to execute CT imaging and PET imaging. A PET unit consisting of a plurality (e.g. seven) of PET units (32) has a length of 2 m in the axis direction, the visual field thereof covers the whole body and the whole body can be simultaneously subjected to dynamic PET-imaging. For the maintenance of the PET gantry (3), the diagnosis apparatus is separated at an arbitrary PET unit (32) to be maintained, the apparatus slides on a rail (31) in the axis direction and is separated for maintenance operation. Accordingly, a large space for maintenance is not required and the area for installation is small.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Inoue, Masaharu Amano, Kazumi Tanaka, Tetsuro Mizuta, Atsushi Ohtani
  • Publication number: 20110278443
    Abstract: This invention has one object to provide a method of collecting calibration data in radiation tomography apparatus that allows reliable collection of calibration data with a wide detector ring. In order to achieve this purpose, in the method of collecting calibration data in radiation tomography apparatus according to this invention, the number of coincidence events is obtained while the phantom that emits annihilation gamma-ray pairs moves as to pass through an inner hole of the detector ring. Such configuration dose not need the phantom having a width equal or larger than the detector ring, and may realize reliable collection of calibration data. Moreover, it may be considered that annihilation gamma-ray pairs have been emitted in uniform property without depending on positions of the detector ring. As a result, calibration data that is more suitable for removal of a image artifact may be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Tetsuro Mizuta, Yoshihiro Inoue, Masaharu Amano, Kazumi Tanaka, Atsushi Ohtani
  • Publication number: 20110274241
    Abstract: This invention has one object to provide radiation tomography apparatus that allows suppression of arithmetic load of detection data with a wider detector ring. In order to achieve this purpose, the radiation tomography apparatus according to this invention performs coincidence only when two scintillation counter crystals that detect gamma rays coincidentally (A) belong to the same ring unit, or (B) belong to each of the ring units adjacent to each other. Accordingly, a distance in the central axis direction between the radiation detecting elements is limited to be equal to or less than a thickness of the ring unit in the central axis direction. Accordingly, radiation tomography apparatus may be provided that allows generation of the sectional image suitable for diagnosis while arithmetic load is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Atsushi Ohtani, Masaharu Amano, Yoshihiro Inoue, Kazumi Tanaka, Tetsuro Mizuta