Patents by Inventor Katsuhiro Kambara
Katsuhiro Kambara 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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Patent number: 8658102Abstract: A chemical analysis apparatus comprising reaction containers containing therein a substance to be analyzed; an agitating mechanism spaced from the substance to be analyzed and agitating said substance to be analyzed with a liquid in said reaction container; and, a measuring portion for measuring physical properties of the substance to be analyzed, said agitating mechanism having a sound supply portion supplying sound waves to the substance to be analyzed, wherein said sound supply portion comprises a mechanism changing, in time, intensity of ultrasonic waves to be irradiated so as to apply pulsation to a swirl flow in the reaction container.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2010Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Hajime Katou, Ryo Miyake, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kambara, Takenori Okusa, Shigenori Watari, Yoichiro Suzuki, Tomonori Mimura, Miki Taki, Akira Inagaki
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Patent number: 8278108Abstract: An automatic analyzer of the type equipped with a sample preprocessing function pretreats a desired sample in a pretreating unit before pipetting the sample into an analyzing unit for analysis. When all samples are carried to the analyzing unit via the pretreating unit, irrespective of whether the sample is to be pretreated, this causes loss in terms of both costs and installation space requirements. In the case where the preprocessing is required, a minimal quantity of the sample is also necessary in order to make the sample react to the preprocessing liquid. In addition, the possible presence of a residual sample left in the pretreating unit could affect analytical results. The automatic analyzer which includes an analyzing unit and a pretreating unit further includes a sample-pipetting mechanism constructed to have a function that allows the mechanism to access a plurality of pipetting positions without a sample sucking/discharging position being fixed.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2010Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Kentaro Wada, Katsuhiro Kambara, Tetsuji Kawahara, Hidenobu Komatsu
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Publication number: 20110283779Abstract: An automatic analyzer of the type equipped with a sample preprocessing function pretreats a desired sample in a pretreating unit before pipetting the sample into an analyzing unit for analysis. When all samples are carried to the analyzing unit via the pretreating unit, irrespective of whether the sample is to be pretreated, this causes loss in terms of both costs and installation space requirements. In the case where the preprocessing is required, a minimal quantity of the sample is also necessary in order to make the sample react to the preprocessing liquid. In addition, the possible presence of a residual sample left in the pretreating unit could affect analytical results. The automatic analyzer which includes an analyzing unit and a pretreating unit further includes a sample-pipetting mechanism constructed to have a function that allows the mechanism to access a plurality of pipetting positions without a sample sucking/discharging position being fixed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Kentaro Wada, Katsuhiro Kambara, Tetsuji Kawahara, Hidenobu Komatsu
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Publication number: 20110271773Abstract: A rack buffer unit 8 serving as a sample-container switching unit is provided between a rack conveying module 4 and a rack conveying module 5 which convey racks 2 on which the sample containers 1 are mounted, and an urgent-sample loading module 7 installing a rack 2 on which a sample container 1 storing a sample desired to be preferentially analyzed is mounted is provided. The rack 2 which is in the process of sample dispensing and the rack 2 desired to be preferentially analyzed are switched from each other by the rack buffer unit 8, and the sample container 1 mounted on the rack 2 desired to be preferentially analyzed is moved to a sample dispensing position in a short period of time.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2010Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Hidenobu Komatsu, Katsuhiro Kambara, Tetsuji Kawahara, Kentaro Wada
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Patent number: 7955557Abstract: Multiple piezoelectric elements 35 are arranged in a row along the top of liquid level in the reaction vessel 11. An ultrasonic reflecting material 38 is installed on the bottom of the portion of the heat insulating bath 12 where heat insulating medium 13 is stored. A lateral ultrasonic wave 9b is generated on the lower side is generated by actuation of the piezoelectric element 35. Wave 9b is reflected by the ultrasonic reflecting material 38. As a lower ultrasonic wave 8 advances along the wall surface of the reaction vessel, it collides with the specimen liquid level, thereby causing a portion of the liquid level closer to the piezoelectric element 35 to be raised. When the lateral ultrasonic wave 9a is applied to this portion, it reaches the inclined portion of the raised liquid level of the specimen. Swirling flow by agitation 36 is produced by the acoustic radiation pressure of the ultrasonic wave. The specimen and reagent are mixed and agitated by this swirling flow.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2003Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Shigenori Watari, Hajime Katou, Katsuhiro Kambara, Hiroyasu Uchida, Takeshi Shibuya
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Patent number: 7820114Abstract: A highly reliable reaction container capable of restraining an initial detection failure (bubble attachment), and a biochemical and/or immunological automatic analyzer loaded with the reaction container. In a reaction container made of a synthetic resin and used for receiving a biological sample and a reagent, developing a biochemical and/or immunological reaction between the biological sample and the reagent, and measuring proceedings of the reaction and/or the state at a predetermined point in time by optical means, an inner wall surface of the reaction container in contact with the biological sample, the reagent, and a reaction product of the biological sample and the reagent has a critical surface tension of not smaller than 25.0 mN/m, or a contact angle between the inner wall surface of the reaction container and a solvent of a reaction solution is not larger than 60 degrees.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2004Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Mina Amo, Takayuki Nakakawaji, Taku Sakazume, Katsuhiro Kambara
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Publication number: 20100233027Abstract: A chemical analysis apparatus comprising reaction containers containing therein a substance to be analyzed; an agitating mechanism spaced from the substance to be analyzed and agitating said substance to be analyzed with a liquid in said reaction container; and, a measuring portion for measuring physical properties of the substance to be analyzed, said agitating mechanism having a sound supply portion supplying sound waves to the substance to be analyzed, wherein said sound supply portion comprises a mechanism changing, in time, intensity of ultrasonic waves to be irradiated so as to apply pulsation to a swirl flow in the reaction container.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Inventors: Hajime KATOU, Ryo Miyake, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kambara, Takenori Okusa, Shigenori Watari, Yoichiro Suzuki, Tomonori Mimura, Miki Taki, Akira Inagaki
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Patent number: 7771656Abstract: A reagent dispensing mechanism (15), first and second dispensing-mechanism transfer means (26, 27), and a second reagent vessel (reagent cassette) carrying-in/out mechanism (24), which are constructed by employing an XY-mechanism, are arranged so as to travel above a reagent table (25) to carry in/out a reagent cassette (22). As compared with the case where the reagent cassette carrying-in/out mechanism (24) is installed radially of the reagent table (25), the area of an automatic analyzer in the horizontal direction can be reduced and a reagent vessel (16) can be moved to a predetermined position in a shorter time by combining the rotation of the reagent table (25) with the movement of the XY-mechanism. Further, as compared the case of dispensing reagents from reagent vessels in a matrix pattern by using the reagent dispensing/transferring mechanism, the travel distance of the transferring mechanism can be shortened and so can be the travel time.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2001Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Shibuya, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kambara
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Patent number: 7722815Abstract: Provided is a chemical analysis apparatus comprising a mechanism which can efficiently agitate a substance to be agitated so that a sample and a reagent are agitated and mixed together in a shorter time with a saved consumption power, incorporating a plurality of sound sources or reflecting plates, and a reaction container is located between one of the sound sources and another of the sound sources or one of the reflecting plates, whereby sound waves can be irradiated toward the reaction container in several directions in order to efficiently fluidize a solution in the reaction container.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2003Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Hajime Katou, Ryo Miyake, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kambara, Takenori Okusa, Shigenori Watari, Yoichiro Suzuki, Tomonori Mimura, Miki Taki, Akira Inagaki
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Patent number: 7670558Abstract: A chemical analysis apparatus in which a sample to be analyzed and a reagent are placed into a reaction container, and sound waves are irradiated to said reaction container so as to agitate them, wherein said chemical analysis apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element producing said sound waves, and drivers for driving said piezoelectric element, said sound waves being intermittently irradiated into said reaction container.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2006Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Hajime Katou, Ryo Miyake, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kambara, Takenori Okusa, Shigenori Watari, Yoichiro Suzuki, Tomonori Mimura, Miki Taki, Akira Inagaki
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Publication number: 20080213903Abstract: An automatic analyzer which assures uniformity in mixing effects regardless of sample quantity and test item and thus produces analysis results with high repeatability. The analyzer includes a device for adding a conditioning liquid into a reaction chamber so that the quantity of liquid in the reaction chamber becomes a predetermined quantity at latest just before mixing. The conditioning liquid may be a diluent or physiological saline as used for dilution of a sample or any other special liquid that adjusts the properties such as viscosity, surface tension, etc. of liquid to be mixed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2008Publication date: September 4, 2008Inventors: Katsuhiro KAMBARA, Shigenori WATARI, Hidetoshi SUGIYAMA
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Publication number: 20070009387Abstract: A chemical analysis apparatus in which a sample to be analyzed and a reagent are placed into a reaction container, and sound waves are irradiated to said reaction container so as to agitate them, wherein said chemical analysis apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element producing said sound waves, and drivers for driving said piezoelectric element, said sound waves being intermittently irradiated into said reaction container.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2006Publication date: January 11, 2007Inventors: Hajime Katou, Ryo Miyake, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kambara, Takenori Okusa, Shigenori Watari, Yoichiro Suzuki, Tomonori Mimura, Miki Taki, Akira Inagaki
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Patent number: 7027935Abstract: A sample dispensing apparatus is realized which can detect a dispensing abnormality occurred during the sample dispensing operation regardless of the type and the extent of the abnormality. A pressure sensor is connected to a dispensing flow passage system, including a sample probe and a dispensing syringe, and a plurality of output values of the pressure sensor during the sample dispensing operation are taken in. A multi-item analysis (based on the Mahalanobis distance) is carried out by using, as items, the plurality of taken-in output values of the pressure sensor. Whether the dispensing is normally performed or not is determined by comparing an analysis result with a threshold. A highly reliable determination result is obtained in spite of variations of sensitivity of the pressure sensor.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2003Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Hitachi High Technologies Corp.Inventors: Akihiro Shimase, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kambara, Tomoyuki Tobita
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Publication number: 20050047970Abstract: A highly reliable reaction container capable of restraining an initial detection failure (bubble attachment), and a biochemical and/or immunological automatic analyzer loaded with the reaction container. In a reaction container made of a synthetic resin and used for receiving a biological sample and a reagent, developing a biochemical and/or immunological reaction between the biological sample and the reagent, and measuring proceedings of the reaction and/or the state at a predetermined point in time by optical means, an inner wall surface of the reaction container in contact with the biological sample, the reagent, and a reaction product of the biological sample and the reagent has a critical surface tension of not smaller than 25.0 mN/m, or a contact angle between the inner wall surface of the reaction container and a solvent of a reaction solution is not larger than 60 degrees.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2004Publication date: March 3, 2005Inventors: Mina Amo, Takayuki Nakakawaji, Taku Sakazume, Katsuhiro Kambara
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Patent number: 6835350Abstract: A measurement cell for analyzer for carrying out qualitative and/or quantitative analysis for one or more substances by an optical means, which is planar and has sample-holding portions, the contact angle between said sample-holding portion and water being 30° or less, and the contact angle between the other portion of said plane and water being 100° or more, permits a plurality of measurements with a single cell for the same one sample, repeated use and reduction of the amount of sample than before.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2002Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Sasaki, Yutaka Ito, Katsuhiro Kambara
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Patent number: 6764654Abstract: A measurement cell for analyzer for carrying out qualitative and/or quantitative analysis for one or more substances by an optical means, which is planar and has sample-holding portions, the contact angle between said sample-holding portion and water being 30° or less, and the contact angle between the other portion of said plane and water being 100° or more, permits a plurality of measurements with a single cell for the same one sample, repeated use and reduction of the amount of sample than before.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2002Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Sasaki, Yutaka Ito, Katsuhiro Kambara
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Patent number: 6737021Abstract: Multiple piezoelectric elements 35 are arranged in a row along the top of liquid level in a reaction vessel 11. An ultrasonic reflecting material 38 is installed on the bottom of the portion of the heat insulating bath 12 where heat insulating medium 13 is stored. A lateral ultrasonic wave 9b is generated on the lower side by actuation of the piezoelectric element 35. Wave 9b is reflected by the ultrasonic reflecting material 38. As lower ultrasonic wave 8 advances along the wall surface of the reaction vessel, it collides with the specimen liquid, thereby causing a portion of the liquid level closer to the piezoelectric element 35 to be raised. When lateral ultrasonic wave 9a is applied to this portion, it reaches the inclined portion of the raised liquid level of the specimen. Swirling flow by agitation 36 is produced by acoustic radiation pressure of the ultrasonic wave. The specimen and reagent are mixed and agitated by this swirling flow.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2001Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Shigenori Watari, Hajime Katou, Katsuhiro Kambara, Hiroyasu Uchida, Takeshi Shibuya
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Publication number: 20040076545Abstract: In order to provide an automatic analyzer capable of ensuring an effective agitation of the reagent and specimen, hence, highly reliable results of analysis, despite small size of the reaction vessel, without carry-over among different specimens, a multiple piezoelectric elements 35 are arranged in a row along the height of liquid level in the reaction vessel 11, and an ultrasonic reflecting material 38 is installed on the bottom of the portion of the heat insulating bath 12 where heat insulating medium 13 is stored. Lateral ultrasonic wave 9b on the lower side is generated by actuation of the piezoelectric element 35 for lateral irradiation located at the bottom. Lateral ultrasonic wave 9b is reflected by the ultrasonic reflecting material 38, and, as lower ultrasonic wave 8, advances along the wall surface of the reaction vessel to collide with the specimen liquid level, thereby causing a part of the liquid level being closer to the piezoelectric element 35 to be raised.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2003Publication date: April 22, 2004Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Shigenori Watari, Hajime Katou, Katsuhiro Kambara, Hiroyasu Uchida, Takeshi Shibuya
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Publication number: 20040057872Abstract: A reagent dispensing mechanism (15), first and second dispensing-mechanism transfer means (26, 27), and a second reagent vessel (reagent cassette) carrying-in/out mechanism (24), which are constructed by employing an XY-mechanism, are arranged so as to travel above a reagent table (25) to carry in/out a reagent cassette (22). As compared with the case where the reagent cassette carrying-in/out mechanism (24) is installed radially of the reagent table (25), the area of an automatic analyzer in the horizontal direction can be reduced and a reagent vessel (16) can be moved to a predetermined position in a shorter time by combining the rotation of the reagent table (25) with the movement of the XY-mechanism. Further, as compared the case of dispensing reagents from reagent vessels in a matrix pattern by using the reagent dispensing/transferring mechanism, the travel distance of the transferring mechanism can be shortened and so can be the travel time.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2003Publication date: March 25, 2004Inventors: Takeshi Shibuya, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kambara
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Publication number: 20040034479Abstract: A sample dispensing apparatus is realized which can detect a dispensing abnormality occurred during the sample dispensing operation regardless of the type and the extent of the abnormality. A pressure sensor is connected to a dispensing flow passage system, including a sample probe and a dispensing syringe, and a plurality of output values of the pressure sensor during the sample dispensing operation are taken in. A multi-item analysis (based on the Mahalanobis distance) is carried out by using, as items, the plurality of taken-in output values of the pressure sensor. Whether the dispensing is normally performed or not is determined by comparing an analysis result with a threshold. A highly reliable determination result is obtained in spite of variations of sensitivity of the pressure sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2003Publication date: February 19, 2004Inventors: Akihiro Shimase, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kambara, Tomoyuki Tobita