Patents by Inventor Fuminori Tanahashi

Fuminori Tanahashi 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: 20230329536
    Abstract: An endoscope camera head 6 includes a first and a second members 8, 9 that are relatively rotatable about a first axis Ax1. The first member 8 has a first rotation-sliding surface 84 that extends in an annular shape about the first axis Ax1 as its center. The second member 9 has a second rotation-sliding surface 93 that engages with the first rotation-sliding surface 84 in a state in which movement to a direction of the first axis Ax1 relative to the first member 8 is restricted, and that rotation-slides relative to the first rotation-sliding surface 84 about the first axis Ax1. The second rotation-sliding surface 93 abuts only on a part of the first rotation-sliding surface 84, to expose a part of the first rotation-sliding surface 84 outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Fuminori TANAHASHI, Kohtaro AMANO
  • Patent number: 11717143
    Abstract: An endoscope camera head 6 includes a first and a second members 8, 9 that are relatively rotatable about a first axis Ax1. The first member 8 has a first rotation-sliding surface 84 that extends in an annular shape about the first axis Ax1 as its center. The second member 9 has a second rotation-sliding surface 93 that engages with the first rotation-sliding surface 84 in a state in which movement to a direction of the first axis Ax1 relative to the first member 8 is restricted, and that rotation-slides relative to the first rotation-sliding surface 84 about the first axis Ax1. The second rotation-sliding surface 93 abuts only on a part of the first rotation-sliding surface 84, to expose a part of the first rotation-sliding surface 84 outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanahashi, Kohtaro Amano
  • Publication number: 20220299749
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus for endoscope includes: a coupler; an exterior casing connected to the coupler and extending along a first axis crossing an optical axis of an endoscope, the exterior casing having outer dimensions in a direction along the first axis greater than outer dimensions in a direction along the optical axis of the endoscope; an optical system; and an imaging unit. The exterior casing includes a first exterior part, a second exterior part, and a connector part. The optical system and the imaging unit are housed, in the exterior casing, side by side on the optical axis of the endoscope such that light of an image of a subject guided by the optical system is captured by the imaging unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Fuminori TANAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20200205646
    Abstract: An endoscope camera head 6 includes a first and a second members 8, 9 that are relatively rotatable about a first axis Ax1. The first member 8 has a first rotation-sliding surface 84 that extends in an annular shape about the first axis Ax1 as its center. The second member 9 has a second rotation-sliding surface 93 that engages with the first rotation-sliding surface 84 in a state in which movement to a direction of the first axis Ax1 relative to the first member 8 is restricted, and that rotation-slides relative to the first rotation-sliding surface 84 about the first axis Ax1. The second rotation-sliding surface 93 abuts only on a part of the first rotation-sliding surface 84, to expose a part of the first rotation-sliding surface 84 outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Fuminori TANAHASHI, Kohtaro AMANO
  • Patent number: 10534169
    Abstract: A switch unit includes a frame body which is fixed to an opening section and in which a plurality of holes are formed, a plurality of switches provided in each of two of the plurality of holes, a soft switch cover that is disposed in each of the two holes and covers the plurality of switches, a first catch section formed as part of the switch cover in a position between the plurality of switches, a switch fixing member that is disposed in each of the two holes, is covered with the switch cover, fixes the plurality of switches to the opening section, and catches the first catch section in a position facing the first catch section, and a second catch section formed at an outer circumference of the switch cover and caught by the frame body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fuminori Tanahashi
  • Publication number: 20180348502
    Abstract: A switch unit includes a frame body which is fixed to an opening section and in which a plurality of holes are formed, a plurality of switches provided in each of two of the plurality of holes, a soft switch cover that is disposed in each of the two holes and covers the plurality of switches, a first catch section formed as part of the switch cover in a position between the plurality of switches, a switch fixing member that is disposed in each of the two holes, is covered with the switch cover, fixes the plurality of switches to the opening section, and catches the first catch section in a position facing the first catch section, and a second catch section formed at an outer circumference of the switch cover and caught by the frame body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fuminori TANAHASHI
  • Patent number: 10039437
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for an endoscope of the present invention includes a first circuit board on which a lead portion, a window portion in which a part of the lead portion is exposed, and a second circuit board on which a circuit pattern is fixed by soldering to the lead portion exposed on the window portion, and the lead portion that is exposed on the window portion extends from one end side of the window portion to the other end side, and has an enlarged end portion of the lead portion that is placed between two or more insulating layers and is formed with a larger width than a width of the lead portion in the window portion, at the other end side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fuminori Tanahashi
  • Publication number: 20170224203
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for an endoscope of the present invention includes a first circuit board on which a lead portion, a window portion in which a part of the lead portion is exposed, and a second circuit board on which a circuit pattern is fixed by soldering to the lead portion exposed on the window portion, and the lead portion that is exposed on the window portion extends from one end side of the window portion to the other end side, and has an enlarged end portion of the lead portion that is placed between two or more insulating layers and is formed with a larger width than a width of the lead portion in the window portion, at the other end side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fuminori TANAHASHI
  • Patent number: 8668637
    Abstract: An endoscopic image pickup device includes a sheath functioning as insertion section which is inserted in a body cavity, a camera head body which is coupled to a proximal end portion of the sheath in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the sheath, is rotatable about the axis of the sheath as a rotational axis, and has a center of gravity below the rotational axis, and a remote control section which is provided at a position with an extension below the camera head body. With this structure, even if an endoscope is rotated about the axis of the sheath of the endoscope, the camera head body is always kept in a constant attitude by its own weight. In addition, blurring of an image can be prevented at a time of capturing a still image by the operation of the remote control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Fuminori Tanahashi
  • Patent number: 7714885
    Abstract: An endoscope imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit in which an imaging optical unit that contains at least one optical lens in a rigid member the one end side of which is airtightly sealed is airtightly joined to an imaging element unit that contains at least one imaging element in a rigid member the one end side of which is airtightly sealed through a tubular member to which a bellows portion having an elastic force is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Yazawa, Fuminori Tanahashi, Masami Shimizu, Takao Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Kuroda, Satoshi Takekoshi
  • Publication number: 20090247825
    Abstract: An endoscopic image pickup device includes a sheath functioning as insertion section which is inserted in a body cavity, a camera head body which is coupled to a proximal end portion of the sheath in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the sheath, is rotatable about the axis of the sheath as a rotational axis, and has a center of gravity below the rotational axis, and a remote control section which is provided at a position with an extension below the camera head body. With this structure, even if an endoscope is rotated about the axis of the sheath of the endoscope, the camera head body is always kept in a constant attitude by its own weight. In addition, blurring of an image can be prevented at a time of capturing a still image by the operation of the remote control section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventor: Fuminori Tanahashi
  • Patent number: 6805665
    Abstract: An imaging unit for endoscopes including optical elements for forming an optical image; an imaging device for photoelectrically converting the optical image; a hermetic seal member having at least said optical element and the imaging device incorporated therein; and an imaging device driver making it possible to arbitrarily adjust the position of the imaging device relative to the optical element from outside the hermetic seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Tatsuno, Fuminori Tanahashi
  • Publication number: 20030169333
    Abstract: An endoscope imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit in which an imaging optical unit that contains at least one optical lens in a rigid member the one end side of which is airtightly sealed is airtightly joined to an imaging element unit that contains at least one imaging element in a rigid member the one end side of which is airtightly sealed through a tubular member to which a bellows portion having an elastic force is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Yazawa, Fuminori Tanahashi, Masami Shimizu, Takao Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Kuroda, Satoshi Takekoshi
  • Patent number: 6080101
    Abstract: A TV camera is attached to an eyepiece unit of an endoscope and includes a solid-state imaging device. A housing of the TV camera has an outer metallic sheathing. The outer metallic sheathing is hermetically coupled via an insulating material to a metallic housing frame of an electric connector which has contact pins connected to the solid-state imaging device and which is fixed hermetically using a hermetic seal. This structure defines a hermetically enclosed space which can withstand autoclaving. A shielding sheathing layer is formed inside an insulating layer within the hermetic space in order to shield an electric circuit including the solid-state imaging device and which is located inside the shielding sheathing layer. The shielding sheathing layer is designed to communicate with the housing metallic frame of the connector that is isolated and sheathed. This structure provides measures for solving problems concerning electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Tatsuno, Fuminori Tanahashi
  • Patent number: 6030339
    Abstract: An electric optical adapter unit that is freely detachably attached to a rigid endoscope has an optical system stowed in the center of a housing thereof. An electric circuit such as an automatic iris unit is stowed on the circumference of the optical system. Openings of a frame at both ends of the optical system are sealed hermetically with cover glasses so that the optical system can withstand autoclaving. Electric contact pins fixed in annular plug are hermetically sealed with glass hermetic seals in the back end surface of the frame. In a TV camera unit connected to the back end of the electric optical adapter unit, a CCD and the like are stowed in the center of an imaging optical system housing that is sealed hermetically. A receptacle structured to be watertight is mounted on the circumference of the imaging optical system housing. The receptacle can be freely detachably attached to the electric contact pins of the annular plug, whereby an electric signal can be transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Tatsuno, Fuminori Tanahashi