Patents by Inventor Ayako Nagase

Ayako Nagase 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: 20090002177
    Abstract: The invention provides a receiving apparatus that can suppress data loss when an antenna is detached. When a non-connection of an antenna is detected (step S103: Yes) after a recording operation is started (step S101: Yes), the receiving apparatus operates a warning unit to issue a warning to a user to the effect that the antenna is detached (step S105). Therefore, the receiving apparatus does not issue a warning (step S102) when there is no problem even when the antenna is detached, such as when an examination is not yet started (step S101: No). When the antenna is detached in a state that the use of the antenna is essential during an examination, the receiving apparatus notifies the user such as a subject about this fact, thereby prompting the user to correct the connection of the antenna. As a result, the data loss when the antenna is detached can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kimoto, Toshiaki Shigemori, Manabu Fujita, Akira Matsui, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi, Ayako Nagase
  • Publication number: 20080318540
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to be able to ensure detecting whether an open-circuit occurs to a feeder within short time with simple configuration. A receiving apparatus 2 according to the present invention receives image information transmitted from a capsule endoscope 3 through a coaxial cable and a receiving antenna selected and switched to from among coaxial cables 9a to 9d connected to receiving antennas 8a to 8d, respectively by a changeover switch 20. The receiving apparatus 2 includes a changeover switch 22, an open-circuit detecting circuit 23, and a control unit 26. The changeover switch 22 branches the coaxial cables 9a to 9d near the changeover switch 20, and selects and switches to one of the branched coaxial cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Masatoshi Homan, Ayako Nagase, Seiichiro Kimoto, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi, Manabu Fujita, Akira Matsui, Toshiaki Shigemori
  • Publication number: 20080278970
    Abstract: An in-body information acquiring apparatus includes a function executing unit that realizes a predetermined function inside a body of a patient. A power-supply circuit includes a power unit that includes a cell and that outputs a first current and a first voltage; and a converter that converts the first current to a second current, which is a current required to operate the function executing unit for a predetermined time, and converts the first voltage to a second voltage, which is a voltage required to operate the function executing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takemitsu Honda, Toshiaki Shigemori, Seiichiro Kimoto, Ayako Nagase, Katsuyoshi Sasagawa, Hatsuo Shimizu, Tetsuo Minai, Tsutomu Nakamura, Hiroshi Suzushima, Noriyuki Fujimori, Tatsuya Orihara, Katsuya Suzuki, Masayuki Hashimoto, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20080267466
    Abstract: Each of detecting circuits 36a, 36d, 36f, and 36h detects a key signal such as a horizontal synchronization signal, a vertical synchronization signal, a capsule ID, a WB coefficient, and error information, i.e., a key signal superposed on RF signals received by an RF receiving unit 33. Each of determining units 36b, 36c, 36e, 36g, and 36i determines whether an image is valid or invalid based on the result of detection. A recording deciding unit 36k decides whether to record the image information in a storage unit 35 or not based on the result of determination. Thus, a receiving apparatus 3 can stop recording the image information received when a trouble occurs, thereby preventing defective images from mixing into the recorded image information, and preventing a recorded image size from becoming large, whereby necessary images can be recorded within a predetermined examination time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Manabu Fujita, Toshiaki Shigemori, Seiichiro Kimoto, Ayako Nagase, Akira Matsui, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Patent number: 7316647
    Abstract: In a capsule endoscope illuminating units are disposed around an image capturing unit in such a manner that an optical axis of the illuminating units do not intersect with an optical axis of the observation unit, and illumination areas of the illuminating units overlap at substantially a central portion of an image capturing area of the image capturing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kimoto, Noriyuki Fujimori, Hiroshi Suzushima, Toshiaki Shigemori, Tsutomu Nakamura, Ayako Nagase, Tetsuo Minai, Hatsuo Shimizu, Takemitsu Honda, Katsuyoshi Sasagawa, Katsuya Suzuki, Masayuki Hashimoto, Tatsuya Orihara, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20070260116
    Abstract: A remaining-power-amount recognizing circuit 20 provided within a capsule endoscope 2 recognizes a remaining power amount of a body-insertable apparatus (capsule endoscope 2), and superimposes information of the remaining power amount on a transmission signal. An RF transmitting unit 15 of the capsule endoscope 2 transmits the superimposed information to a receiving apparatus 3 at the outside of the subject. A remaining-power-amount detecting circuit 48 provided within an external device 32 of the receiving apparatus 3 detects the information of the remaining power amount, and displays the detected information on a display unit 51 provided within the external device 32. With this arrangement, a user can promptly recognize a remaining power amount of the capsule endoscope 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventors: Toshiaki Shigemori, Manabu Fujita, Ayako Nagase, Akira Matsui, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20070252892
    Abstract: To achieve a moving-state detecting apparatus and a moving-state detecting system that detect a moving state of a body-insertable apparatus such as a capsule endoscope within a subject, a body-insertable apparatus (2) includes a sensor signal transmitter that transmits a sensor signal which is attenuated according to a propagation distance. A moving-state detecting apparatus (3) includes receiving antennas (7a to 7h) that receive sensor signals, and a moving-state calculator that calculates a moving state of the body-insertable apparatus (2), based on received strength of sensor signals received by the receiving antennas (7a to 7h).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Manabu Fujita, Toshiaki Shigemori, Seiichiro Kimoto, Ayako Nagase, Akira Matsui, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20070249285
    Abstract: To realize a receiving system that can excellently receive radio signals before and after a body insertable device, which is a radio signal source, is inserted into a subject, the receiving system has a first receiving antenna (1), a second receiving antenna (2), and a receiving apparatus (3). The first receiving antenna (1) is used when the body insertable device is outside the subject. The second receiving antenna (2) is used when the body insertable device is inserted into the subject. The receiving apparatus (3) performs a receiving processing on radio signals received through the first receiving antenna (1) or the second receiving antenna (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kimoto, Manabu Fujita, Toshiaki Shigemori, Ayako Nagase, Akira Matsui, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20070167743
    Abstract: An intra-subject position detection system includes a subject insertable device introduced into a subject, moving through the subject; and including a magnetic field generator that generates a magnetostatic field. The system also includes a position detecting device arranged outside the subject and obtaining position information of the subject insertable device inside the subject. The position detecting device also includes a magnetic field detector that is arranged on the subject at a time of use and detects a strength of the magnetostatic field output from the magnetic field generator; a reference sensor that derives a position of the magnetic field detector relative to a reference position on the subject; and a position deriving unit that derives a position of the subject insertable device inside the subject based on the magnetic field strength and the position of the magnetic field detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Takemitsu Honda, Katsumi Hirakawa, Seiichiro Kimoto, Ayako Nagase, Katsuyoshi Sasagawa, Katsuya Suzuki, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20070058036
    Abstract: A receiving apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives an image signal, identification information on a transmitting apparatus, and color adjusting information that are radio transmitted from the transmitting apparatus; a lock controller that locks the color adjusting information when the receiving unit receives at least one of consecutively repeated identical color adjusting information and consecutively repeated identical identification information during a predetermined period or when the receiving unit most often receives at least one of the identical color adjusting information or the identical identification information during the predetermined period; and an image processing unit that performs image processing on the received image signal based on the locked color adjusting information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Shigemori, Seiichiro Kimoto, Manabu Fujita, Ayako Nagase, Akira Matsui, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20070049818
    Abstract: A body-insertable apparatus is inserted into a subject body and travels through the subject body and includes a magnetic field generator that generates a constant magnetic field; a covering member that covers the magnetic field generator and that is made of a biocompatible material; and a container that houses and seals the magnetic field generator covered by the covering member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Katsumi Hirakawa, Seiichiro Kimoto, Ayako Nagase, Katsuyoshi Sasagawa, Katsuya Suzuki, Takemitsu Honda, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20070002038
    Abstract: An intra-subject position display system for displaying a position of an intra-subject device, which is introduced into a subject and moves therein, wherein a relative position of the intra-subject device to an outer surface of the subject is detected and displayed. The position of the intra-subject device is displayed in a relation with the outer surface of the subject. Thereby, it is possible to easily determine in which site of the subject the intra-subject device exists. The present invention is effective to recognize a position of, for example, a capsule type endoscope or a test capsule therefor in the subject (e.g., a human body). To recognize the outer surface of the subject, for example, a plurality of radio devices are arranged on the outer surface of the subject and their radio signals are analyzed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Suzuki, Katsuyoshi Sasagawa, Takemitsu Honda, Katsumi Hirakawa, Seiichiro Kimoto, Ayako Nagase, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20060264734
    Abstract: A receiving apparatus is for selecting and receiving a radio signal in a frame structure having an information body part including at least information body and an additional part including information for receiving field intensity measurement by using a plurality of antennas. The apparatus includes a controller that measures a receiving field intensity of not a first antenna which has received the information body in a transmission period of the additional part in a current frame but a second antenna, and measures a receiving field intensity of the first antenna in a transmission period of the information body part in the current frame, and if the receiving field intensity of the second antenna exceeds the receiving field intensity of the first antenna, selects and changes to the second antenna as the first antenna of a next frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kimoto, Toshiaki Shigemori, Ayako Nagase, Manabu Fujita, Akira Matsui, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20060128337
    Abstract: A receiving apparatus which is used while connected to a plurality of antennas, the receiving apparatus receiving a radio signal through the antennas to perform a predetermined process to the received radio signal, the radio signal being transmitted from a body-insertable apparatus inserted into a subject, includes a receiving antenna selection unit that selects the antenna which is suitable for reception of the radio signal when the radio signal is transmitted from the body-insertable apparatus; a sequential antenna selection unit that sequentially selects each of the plurality of antennas when performance inspection of the plurality of antennas is performed; and a signal processing unit that performs a predetermined process to the radio signal received through the antenna, the antenna being selected by the receiving antenna selection unit or the sequential antenna selection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu Fujita, Ayako Nagase, Seiichiro Kimoto, Toshiaki Shigemori, Akira Matsui, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20040236181
    Abstract: An in-body information acquiring apparatus includes a function executing unit that realizes a predetermined function inside a body of a patient. A power-supply circuit includes a power unit that includes a cell and that outputs a first current and a first voltage; and a converter that converts the first current to a second current, which is a current required to operate the function executing unit for a predetermined time, and converts the first voltage to a second voltage, which is a voltage required to operate the function executing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takemitsu Honda, Toshiaki Shigemori, Seiichiro Kimoto, Ayako Nagase, Katsuyoshi Sasagawa, Hatsuo Shimizu, Tetsuo Minai, Tsutomu Nakamura, Hiroshi Suzushima, Noriyuki Fujimori, Tatsuya Orihara, Katsuya Suzuki, Masayuki Hashimoto, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20040225190
    Abstract: A capsule endoscope has a front cover having a window for illuminating light and a window for capturing images. The window for illuminating light is flat. The window for capturing images is flat or convex. Because the window for illuminating light is flat, the light passes through the window without being reflected toward an image capturing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kimoto, Noriyuki Fujimori, Hiroshi Suzushima, Toshiaki Shigemori, Tsutomu Nakamura, Ayako Nagase, Tetsuo Minai, Hatsuo Shimizu, Takemitsu Honda, Katsuyoshi Sasagawa, Katsuya Suzuki, Masayuki Hashimoto, Tatsuya Orihara, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Publication number: 20040225189
    Abstract: In a capsule endoscope illuminating units are disposed around an image capturing unit in such a manner that an optical axis of the illuminating units do not intersect with an optical axis of the observation unit, and illumination areas of the illuminating units overlap at substantially a central portion of an image capturing area of the image capturing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kimoto, Noriyuki Fujimori, Hiroshi Suzushima, Toshiaki Shigemori, Tsutomu Nakamura, Ayako Nagase, Tetsuo Minai, Hatsuo Shimizu, Takemitsu Honda, Katsuyoshi Sasagawa, Katsuya Suzuki, Masayuki Hashimoto, Tatsuya Orihara, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi