Patents by Inventor Hiroo Tatsutani
Hiroo Tatsutani 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).
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Publication number: 20140212248Abstract: Disclosed is a tube sorter comprising: a transporting section configured to transport a sample rack; a storage arranged at a higher level than the transporting section, capable of storing a plurality of sample tubes; a lifting section configured to lift up the sample rack transported by the rack transporting section; and a sample tube transferring section configured to remove a sample tube from the sample rack lifted up by the lifting section and set the removed sample tube in the storage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: SYSMEX CORPORATIONInventors: Kei TAKAI, Nobuyoshi YAMAKAWA, Hiroo TATSUTANI, Yuji TAKANO
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Patent number: 8752440Abstract: A sample processing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of sample processing units each configured to process a sample; at least one transport device configured to provide a transport path along which a rack is transported to or from one of the plurality of sample processing units, wherein a rack comprises a plurality of positions configured to hold containers thereat, and at least some of the positions are correlated to at least some of the sample processing units; a controller comprising at least one processor and at least one memory that stores computer programs executed by the at least one processor to: direct the at least one transport device to transport the rack to deliver a container held therein to a sample processing unit correlated to a position of the container at which the container is held in the rack.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Sysmex CorporationInventors: Hiroo Tatsutani, Nobuyoshi Yamakawa, Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Tomoyuki Asahara
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Patent number: 8731709Abstract: A sample processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of sample processing units, each processing a sample contained in a sample container; a transport apparatus that transports a sample rack holding a sample container to at least any one of the plurality of sample processing units; a rack feeding section that receives a sample rack and feeds the received sample rack to a transport line of the transport apparatus; and a controller configured to instruct the transport apparatus, according to a quantity of sample racks received by the rack feeding section, to transport a sample rack fed by the rack feeding section to either (a) a sample processing unit which can accept a subsequent sample rack more rapidly than any other sample processing unit or (b) a sample processing unit having a lower processing load than any other sample processing unit. Also, a sample rack transporting method.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2010Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Sysmex CorporationInventors: Hiroo Tatsutani, Tomoyuki Asahara, Nobuyoshi Yamakawa
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Publication number: 20140037502Abstract: A sample analysis system includes a first measurement unit, a second measurement unit arranged to a downstream side of the first measurement unit, and an information processing section which obtains a measurement result of a sample. The information processing section determines, based on the measurement result of the sample measured by the first measurement unit, whether or not a retest of the sample by the first measurement unit is necessary. When the retest by the first measurement unit is necessary, the information processing section causes the sample container to be transported to a first sample supply position for the first measurement unit and causes the first measurement unit to perform measurement of the sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Sysmex CorporationInventors: Hiroo TATSUTANI, Tomoyuki ASAHARA, Keisuke KUWANO
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Patent number: 8641969Abstract: The present invention is to present a sample testing apparatus comprising: a transport unit for transporting a sample container through a first position and a second position; a testing unit for performing a test on the sample in the sample container transported to the first position; a determination result obtainer for obtaining one of a first determination result indicating that a second test is required and a second determination result indicating that the second test is not required; and a transport controller for controlling the transport unit so as to transport the sample container back to the first position, if the first determination result has been obtained, wherein the sample container is not transported beyond the second position from the first position side before any one of the first and the second determination result has been obtained.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2010Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Sysmex CorporationInventors: Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Hiroo Tatsutani, Tomoyuki Asahara
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Publication number: 20130260412Abstract: The present invention is a sample processing apparatus. The sample processing apparatus includes: a reader configured to read, from a storage medium attached to a sample container containing a sample or a sample rack supporting the sample container, an analysis value which has been generated by a sample analyzer analyzing the sample for a predetermined analysis item; a sample processing section which comprises an operating mechanism configured to perform an operation for processing the sample, and a controller configured to control the operating mechanism of the sample processing section so as to perform processing on the sample based on the analysis value read by the reader.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: SYSMEX CORPORATIONInventor: Hiroo TATSUTANI
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Patent number: 8504301Abstract: The present invention is to present a sample analyzer comprising: an analysis result information generator for generating analysis result information including an analysis result of a sample; a display; a display controller for controlling the display so as to display the analysis result information generated by the analysis result information generator; an input receiver for receiving an input of a comment to one of the analysis result information; a memory for storing the comment received by the input receiver; and a determiner for determining whether another analysis result information to be displayed on the display meets with a predetermined condition, wherein the display controller controls the display so as to display the another analysis result information and the comment stored in the memory, when the determiner has determined that the another analysis result information meets with the predetermined condition.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2009Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Sysmex CorporationInventors: Shunsuke Ariyoshi, Toru Mizumoto, Hiroo Tatsutani
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Patent number: 8333123Abstract: A sample processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of measuring units, each of which measures a sample; a sample conveyance unit for conveying a sample to at least one of the plurality of measurement units; a display unit; and a display controller for controlling the display unit to display an analysis result of a sample which the analysis result has been obtained based on the measurement by at least one of the plurality of measurement units, and controlling the display unit to display conveyance status information indicating a conveyance status of the sample which analysis result has not been obtained yet based on the measurement by at least one of the plurality of measurement units, is disclosed. A sample information display apparatus is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2009Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Sysmex CorporationInventors: Hiroo Tatsutani, Hiroyuki Tanaka
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Publication number: 20120269681Abstract: A sample processing system comprising: a sample processing apparatus configured to process a sample in a sample container; a transporting apparatus configured to transport a sample container to the sample processing apparatus; a first computer configured to perform information processing for the sample processing apparatus; a second computer connected to the first computer through a communication network and configured to control a transporting operation performed by the transporting apparatus; an input unit and a display commonly used for the first and second computers, wherein the first computer configured to control the display to show a first computer screen image, and to control the display to show a second computer screen image upon receiving a switching instruction via the input unit, and the second computer receives an input from the input unit via the second computer screen image shown on the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Inventors: Hiroo Tatsutani, Shunsuke Ariyoshi
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Publication number: 20120160039Abstract: The present invention provides a sample processing system which comprises a plurality of process order issuing units, in which each process order issuing unit issues a process order for instructing processing of a sample. The sample processing system further comprises a sample processing unit that processes the sample based on a process order issued by one of the process order issuing units. The sample processing system further comprises a controller that causes a display unit to display progress information indicating a progress situation of the processing of the sample based on the process order issued by the one of the process order issuing units. The progress information includes identification information for identifying the process order issuing unit that issued the process order.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Inventor: Hiroo Tatsutani
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Publication number: 20120107793Abstract: A sample processing system comprising: a transporting device that transports a sample; a plurality of sample processing devices that are arranged along a transport path for the sample transported by the transporting device and configured to process the sample transported by the transporting device based on a processing order; a controller configured to receive a first processing order for the sample and control the transporting device to transport the sample based on the received first processing order, and configured to receive a second processing order for the sample additionally and control the transporting device to transport the sample based on the received second processing order; and a display, wherein the controller is configured to prompt the display to show progress information indicating a progress status of processing the sample with respect to each of the first and second processing orders. A method of processing sample in a sample processing system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2011Publication date: May 3, 2012Inventor: Hiroo Tatsutani
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Publication number: 20110290040Abstract: A sample processing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of sample processing units each configured to process a sample; at least one transport device configured to provide a transport path along which a rack is transported to or from one of the plurality of sample processing units, wherein a rack comprises a plurality of positions configured to hold containers thereat, and at least some of the positions are correlated to at least some of the sample processing units; a controller comprising at least one processor and at least one memory that stores computer programs executed by the at least one processor to: direct the at least one transport device to transport the rack to deliver a container held therein to a sample processing unit correlated to a position of the container at which the container is held in the rack.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventors: Hiroo Tatsutani, Nobuyoshi Yamakawa, Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Tomoyuki Asahara
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Publication number: 20110244583Abstract: A sample rack transport system comprising: a plurality of transport apparatuses which are connected so as to transport a sample rack to a plurality of sample processing apparatuses; and a control apparatus which communicates with the plurality of transport apparatuses and controls the transport of the sample rack by the plurality of transport apparatuses, wherein at least one of the plurality of transport apparatuses includes a transmission switch which is operated by a user to transmit a signal to the control apparatus, and when the transport of the sample rack has stopped due to a trouble which occurred in one of the plurality of transport apparatuses, responsive to an operation of a transmission switch of another transport apparatus, the control apparatus restarts the transport of the sample rack by the plurality of transport apparatuses. Also, a method for transporting a sample rack.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Inventors: Hiroo Tatsutani, Tomoyuki Asahara, Nobuyoshi Yamakawa
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Publication number: 20110243792Abstract: A sample processing system comprising: first, second and third sample processing units; first, second and third sample transport units; and a control section is disclosed. In order to transport a sample rack which is to be introduced to the first sample transport unit to a destination sample transport unit which is located downstream of a second sample transport unit, the control section initially controls the first and second transport unit to move a transport member. When the sample rack arrives at a predetermined position on the transport path of the first transport unit, the control section controls the third transport unit to move a transport member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Inventors: Hiroo Tatsutani, Hiroyuki Tanaka
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Publication number: 20110244582Abstract: A sample processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of testing units arranged along a transport path and each configured to perform at least one type of test; a plurality of transport units configured to collectively constitute the transport path and collectively function to deliver samples to the plurality of testing units for testing; and at least one processor of a computer system and at least one memory that stores programs executable by the at least one processor to: (a) determine a type of test required to be performed on a sample; (b) if a trouble of a transport unit is reported, determine whether there is an available testing unit performable of the required type of test to which the sample is deliverable; (c) if there is the available testing unit, instruct to transport the sample to the available testing unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Inventor: Hiroo Tatsutani
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Publication number: 20110189053Abstract: A sample processing system comprising: a plurality of sample processing units; and a transport apparatus for transporting a sample to any of the plurality of sample processing units, wherein the transport apparatus comprises a communication section for communicating with an apparatus external to the transport apparatus and a controlling section for setting the transport apparatus in a start-up state when the communication section have received a start-up command signal from the external apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2011Publication date: August 4, 2011Inventors: Hiroo Tatsutani, Tomoyuki Asahara
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Publication number: 20110160899Abstract: A sample processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of sample processing units, each processing a sample contained in a sample container; a transport apparatus that transports a sample rack holding a sample container to at least any one of the plurality of sample processing units; a rack feeding section that receives a sample rack and feeds the received sample rack to a transport line of the transport apparatus; and a controller configured to instruct the transport apparatus, according to a quantity of sample racks received by the rack feeding section, to transport a sample rack fed by the rack feeding section to either (a) a sample processing unit which can accept a subsequent sample rack more rapidly than any other sample processing unit or (b) a sample processing unit having a lower processing load than any other sample processing unit. Also, a sample rack transporting method.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2010Publication date: June 30, 2011Inventors: Hiroo Tatsutani, Tomoyuki Asahara, Nobuyoshi Yamakawa
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Publication number: 20110076193Abstract: A rack transporting apparatus including: a first transport path for transporting a sample rack to the sample processing unit; a second transport path for transporting the sample rack, without passing through the sample processing unit, in the same direction as a transport direction of the sample rack by the first transport path; a third transport path for transporting the sample rack in the opposite direction of the transport direction by the first transport path and the second transport path; a first rack transferring mechanism for transferring the sample rack from the second transport path to the first transport path through a first holding region being capable of holding the sample rack; and a second rack transferring mechanism for transferring the sample rack from the first transport path to the second transport path or the third transport path through a second holding region being capable of holding the sample rack.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Inventors: Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Kei Takai, Hiroo Tatsutani
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Publication number: 20110054807Abstract: An analyzing apparatus comprising a processor of a controller and a memory that stores programs executable by the processor to: receive a test result on a test item from a measurement unit; analyze the test result to determine whether the test result indicates an abnormality on the test item; if the test result is determined to indicate an abnormality on the test item, update a history database in which a history of abnormality determinations made on the test item is recorded; review the history database to determine whether a frequency of abnormality determinations made on the test item exceeds a predetermined frequency for the test item; and if the frequency of abnormality is determined to exceed the predetermined frequency for the test item, alert a user on a possible problem is disclosed. An analyzing method and a non-transitory storage medium are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Inventors: Toru Mizumoto, Hiroo Tatsutani
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Publication number: 20100248374Abstract: The present invention is to present a sample testing apparatus comprising: a transport unit for transporting a sample container through a first position and a second position; a testing unit for performing a test on the sample in the sample container transported to the first position; a determination result obtainer for obtaining one of a first determination result indicating that a second test is required and a second determination result indicating that the second test is not required; and a transport controller for controlling the transport unit so as to transport the sample container back to the first position, if the first determination result has been obtained, wherein the sample container is not transported beyond the second position from the first position side before any one of the first and the second determination result has been obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: SYSMEX CORPORATIONInventors: Nobuhiro KITAGAWA, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Hiroo Tatsutani, Tomoyuki Asahara