Patents by Inventor Ichiro Kitani

Ichiro Kitani 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: 11653821
    Abstract: An endoscope includes a handle operation unit. The handle operation unit includes: an outer ring; a cam ring accommodated in the outer ring to rotate in accordance with rotation of the outer ring about a central axis and having a pair of guide holes; a pair of slide members accommodated in the respective guide holes and fixed to a force transmission member; and a support portion having a pair of slide grooves extending along a longitudinal direction of the endoscope, the support portion being accommodated in the cam ring to support the pair of slide members. The slide members slide in the respective slide grooves in accordance with the rotation of the outer ring. The field of view of the image-capturing unit is changed in accordance with sliding of the pair of slide members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: NIREC CORPORATION, MIZUHO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuo Sumida, Hiromi Sato, Haruyasu Katahira, Ichiro Kitani
  • Publication number: 20220386850
    Abstract: An endoscope includes a handle operation unit. The handle operation unit includes: an outer ring; a cam ring accommodated in the outer ring to rotate in accordance with rotation of the outer ring about a central axis and having a pair of guide holes; a pair of slide members accommodated in the respective guide holes and fixed to a force transmission member; and a support portion having a pair of slide grooves extending along a longitudinal direction of the endoscope, the support portion being accommodated in the cam ring to support the pair of slide members. The slide members slide in the respective slide grooves in accordance with the rotation of the outer ring. The field of view of the image-capturing unit is changed in accordance with sliding of the pair of slide members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicants: NIREC CORPORATION, MIZUHO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuo SUMIDA, Hiromi SATO, Haruyasu KATAHIRA, Ichiro KITANI
  • Patent number: 8672955
    Abstract: The present invention provides a medical suturing device structured with a retrieval puncturing needle formed with through-hole; a retrieval member able to be inserted through through-hole; an insertion puncture needle formed with through-hole; a hollow tube that can be inserted through insertion through-hole, and the distal tip of which is formed into a deformable bent portion; and a suture that can be inserted through the inside of hollow tube. The retrieval member is structured with an annular engagement member that can be deformed into a straight shape, a rod member that is connected to annular engagement member, and a grip that is provided with a mark. The mark is furnished on hollow tube, such that when retrieval puncturing needle and insertion puncture needle are in a condition where mark and mark are facing each other, the upper supporter and lower supporter can be detachably attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Katsuki Nagata, Ichiro Kitani, Shigeaki Funamura, Yoshihiro Wada
  • Patent number: 8545479
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention include a male luer connector having a valve arrangement for keeping a passage that extends through the male luer connector closed when the male luer connector is not attached to a corresponding female luer connector. This passage of the male luer connector may be opened by connecting the male luer connector to a female luer connector. The valve arrangement of the male luer connector may include a movable sealing element arranged around a central fluid conduit. In some embodiments, the male luer connector may include a filter that is permeable to gas, but substantially impermeable to liquid, thus allowing gas to be purged from the male luer connector while substantially preventing liquid from leaking from the connector at least when the male luer connector is not connected to a female luer connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitani, Shigeaki Funamura, Kazuhiro Abe
  • Patent number: 8317758
    Abstract: A medical stopcock which allows easier switching operation of plural branch-tubes. The main body of the stopcock comprises a chamber part with a nearly spherical inner surface, and an upstream branch-tube, a downstream branch-tube and a merge-branch-tube all extending from the chamber part. A valve body of the stopcock comprises a nearly spherical valve main body and a rod-shaped operating part with a guide hole linking the inner surface of the chamber part to the outside. In operation, the rod-shaped operating part is moved along the guide hole through the use of the horizontal flow passages and the vertical flow passage to allow the predetermined branch-tubes out of the upstream branch-tube, the downstream branch-tube and the merge-branch-tube to communicate with one another or to shut-off the communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Shigeaki Funamura, Yosuke Sakai, Ichiro Kitani
  • Patent number: 8286936
    Abstract: A closable male luer connector is provided in which an inner portion within the spigot of the connector is movable from a sealing position to an open position on connection of the connector to a female luer connector wherein the movement of the inner portion may be caused by, for example, action of the female connector on a projecting arm or a screw thread arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitani, Shigeaki Funamura, Norifumi Fujiwara, Yosuke Sakai
  • Patent number: 8287518
    Abstract: A connecting structure for a connector in which a male-side connector and a merging pipe are connected by screwing together a female screw having protrusions formed on the inner peripheral surface of a lock ring and a male screw comprising protrusions formed on the outer peripheral surface of the merging pipe is provided with engaging recess parts on the female screw and engaging projections on the outer peripheral surface of the merging pipe which are able to engage with the engaging recess parts whereby when the male screw and the female screw are screwed together to reach an appropriate screwed state, the engaging protrusions engage with the engaging recess parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitani, Shigeaki Funamura
  • Publication number: 20110319821
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention include a male luer connector having a valve arrangement for keeping a passage that extends through the male luer connector closed when the male luer connector is not attached to a corresponding female luer connector. This passage of the male luer connector may be opened by connecting the male luer connector to a female luer connector. The valve arrangement of the male luer connector may include a movable sealing element arranged around a central fluid conduit. In some embodiments, the male luer connector may include a filter that is permeable to gas, but substantially impermeable to liquid, thus allowing gas to be purged from the male luer connector while substantially preventing liquid from leaking from the connector at least when the male luer connector is not connected to a female luer connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: TYCO HEALTHCARE GROUP LP
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitani, Shigeaki Funamura, Kazuhiro Abe
  • Patent number: 7976532
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention include a male luer connector having a valve arrangement for keeping a passage that extends through the male luer connector closed when the male luer connector is not attached to a corresponding female luer connector. This passage of the male luer connector may opened by connecting the male luer connector to a female luer connector. The valve arrangement of the male luer connector may include a movable sealing element arranged around a central fluid conduit. In some embodiments, the male luer connector may include a filter that is permeable to gas, but substantially impermeable to liquid, thus allowing gas to be purged from the male luer connector while substantially preventing liquid from leaking from the connector at least when the male luer connector is not connected to a female luer connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitani, Shigeaki Funamura, Kazuhiro Abe
  • Patent number: 7963951
    Abstract: A medical valve device includes a valve unit. The valve unit includes two fluid channels and is positionable to selectably connect two inlet ports and an outlet port such that in one position, fluid introduced at a first inlet port is caused to flow in a first fluid channel to a second inlet port and thence in a second fluid channel from said second inlet port to said outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitani, Yoshihiro Wada, Takuya Fujimine
  • Publication number: 20100305586
    Abstract: The present invention provides a medical suturing device structured with a retrieval puncturing needle formed with through-hole; a retrieval member able to be inserted through through-hole; an insertion puncture needle formed with through-hole; a hollow tube that can be inserted through insertion through-hole, and the distal tip of which is formed into a deformable bent portion; and a suture that can be inserted through the inside of hollow tube. The retrieval member is structured with an annular engagement member that can be deformed into a straight shape, a rod member that is connected to annular engagement member, and a grip that is provided with a mark. The mark is furnished on hollow tube, such that when retrieval puncturing needle and insertion puncture needle are in a condition where mark and mark are facing each other, the upper supporter and lower supporter can be detachably attached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: TYCO HEALTHCARE GROUP LP
    Inventors: Katsuki Nagata, Ichiro Kitani, Shigeaki Funamura, Yoshihiro Wada
  • Patent number: 7824364
    Abstract: A liquid mixing infusor includes a main body defining an internal chamber and has an upstream port, a downstream port and a confluent port. Each port is fluidly couplable with the internal chamber. A valve may be mounted within the internal chamber of the main body and is adapted for rotational movement between a blocking position interrupting fluid flow between the confluent port and one of the upstream port and the downstream port and between the upstream port and the downstream port, and a flow position permitting fluid flow between the upstream port and the downstream port. A manually manipulative member is mounted relative to the main body and operatively connected to the valve. The manipulative member is movable to cause corresponding movement of the valve between the blocking position and the flow position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitani, Shigeaki Funamura
  • Patent number: 7810784
    Abstract: A roller clamp is configured to maintain at a prescribed rate the flow rate of a fluid that flows through a tube. The roller clamp includes a tube winding shaft part around which a fluid flow tube is passed and which prevents the setting of the flow rate being disturbed if the tube is subject to a tensional force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Abe, Ichiro Kitani
  • Patent number: 7806874
    Abstract: A liquid coinjector is provided in which one or more connection ports may be connected to an outlet port and in which a valve body is provided for selecting the connection arrangement, the valve body being movable in an axial direction within a chamber of a main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Shigeaki Funamura, Ichiro Kitani, Katsuki Nagata
  • Patent number: 7731155
    Abstract: A male luer connector to prevent generation of bacteria and waste of medicinal liquid. The male luer connector comprises a basal end and a tip end rotatable relative to the basal end; the male luer part is tapered and rotatable within the tip end. The outer peripheral surface of the tip end is decreased from the rear side to the front side; and a stick-like male luer occluding portion is provided within the male luer part which can tightly occlude liquid from the tip end opening of the male luer part. An internal thread portion is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the basal end and an external thread, helically engaged with the internal thread, is provided to the rear end portion of the male lure, whereby the tip end opening can be opened or closed by rotating the tip end relative to the basal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Shigeaki Funamura, Yosuke Sakai, Ichiro Kitani
  • Publication number: 20100063440
    Abstract: A liquid mixing and injecting device is provided which includes an upper branch tube, a chamber part and a rubber plug including a slit formed through the body of the rubber plug. A lid member is attached to an open end of the upper branch tube. The lid includes an opening part and a generally cylindrical member. The upper branch tube is occluded by the rubber plug. A male luer part of a syringe can be inserted into the slit to access the chamber part. A rubber plug receiving part is provided for controlling the shape of the lower end part of the rubber plug body when it is deformed to avoid forming a gap where air can accumulate within the flow path. The rubber plug is fixed by fixing an upper fixing piece of the rubber plug to the generally cylindrical member and by fixing a lower fixing piece between the opening part and the generally cylindrical member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitani, Shigeaki Funamura, Norifumi Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20100022968
    Abstract: A medical stopcock with a cap is provided which includes a chamber part; an upstream branch pipe, a downstream branch pipe and a supplementary upstream branch pipe which are connected to the chamber part, respectively; a rotary valve which can link in communication and block the areas between the chamber part and the upstream branch pipe, downstream branch pipe and supplementary upstream branch pipe, respectively; and a cap which can be attached to and detached from the supplementary upstream branch pipe. The cap is provided with an insertion part to which a filter is fitted, and the movement of liquid between the chamber part and the supplementary upstream branch pipe can be prevented when the cap is fitted to the supplementary upstream branch pipe with the insertion part inserted into the supplementary upstream branch pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: TYCO HEALTHCARE GROUP LP
    Inventor: Ichiro KITANI
  • Publication number: 20100012207
    Abstract: A liquid coinfusion unit and processes are provided inside which liquid and air are unlikely to accumulate which consists of a chamber part, a main upstream branch pipe, a downstream branch pipe, a supplementary upstream branch pipe, and a stopcock which can allow communication/block the area between the chamber part and main upstream branch pipe, and the area between the chamber part and downstream branch pipe, respectively. The portion of the liquid flow channel inside the chamber part which runs from the main upstream branch pipe towards the downstream branch pipe consists of a bypass flow channel which extends from the direction of advance of the liquid from the main upstream branch pipe towards the chamber part to one side which is substantially orthogonal to the direction of advance, after which it extends in the direction of advance of the liquid from the chamber part towards the downstream branch pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Takashi Satoh, Shigeaki Funamura, Ichiro Kitani
  • Patent number: 7618072
    Abstract: A connection structure is provided having a female thread formed on the inner peripheral surface of a lock ring in a male connector engaging a male thread on the outer peripheral surface of a female connector when the male connector and the female connector are screwed to each other. Further, protrusion strips are formed on the rear side portion of the male thread on the outer peripheral surface of the female connector, and the notches that can engage with the protrusion strips are set on the tip portion of the lock ring. As a result, when the male thread and the female thread are screwed to each other, the screwed state is appropriate when the protrusion strips and notches are engaged with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Shigeaki Funamura, Ichiro Kitani
  • Patent number: 7614426
    Abstract: A cap for a connector which can fill a male luer connector with only a fluid, such as a medicinal fluid, without leaving gas in the male luer connector. The cap for the connector comprises the cap body, the sliding part movable relative to the cap body, and the air filter placed at the tip end opening of the gas flow path forming part included in the sliding part. Also, the cap body comprises the cylindrical fitting part for liquid tightly fitting with the tip end opening of the male luer connector, and the cylindrical guide provided with the liquid outlet on its peripheral surface. Further, the liquid outlet can be opened or closed by shifting the gas flow path forming part within the cylindrical guide. Moreover, the cylindrical guide is placed within the recess portion to be guided between the gas flow path forming part and the containing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitani, Katsuki Nagata, Shigeaki Funamura