Patents by Inventor Ichiro Odachi

Ichiro Odachi 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).

  • Ultrasonic diagnosis system in which periphery of magnetic sensor included in distal part of ultrasonic endoscope is made of non-conductive material
    Patent number: 6248074
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer for producing an ultrasonic tomographic image is included in a distal part of an ultrasonic endoscope to be inserted into an object of observation. The ultrasonic transducer is rotated. Echoes of ultrasonic waves produced by the ultrasonic transducer are detected in order to produce an ultrasonic tomographic image that is a two-dimensional image. A magnetic sensor for detecting a position is included in the distal part. A magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generator locked near the object of observation is sensed. The position and orientation of the distal part are detected, whereby information of a position and orientation relevant to the ultrasonic tomographic image is obtained. Based on the information of the position and orientation, a plurality of produced ultrasonic tomographic images is synthesized in order to produce an ultrasonic image that is a three-dimensional image. The periphery of the magnetic sensor in the distal part is made of a non-conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ohno, Kenji Kishi, Tomonao Kawashima, Ichiro Odachi