Patents by Inventor Kazuo Banju

Kazuo Banju 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: 10813535
    Abstract: A medical device holding apparatus includes a first medical device; a second medical device having a different weight from the first medical device; a base having a counterweight; an arm having a first end coupled to the counterweight via a link mechanism; an adapter for attaching the first medical device or the second medical device to a second end of the arm; a first balance correction member attached to the adapter to attain a weight balance between both sides of the arm in a case where the first medical device is attached to the adapter; and a second balance correction member attached to the adapter to attain a weight balance between the first end and the second end of the arm in a case where the second medical device is attached to the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryutaro Unai, Kazuo Banju
  • Publication number: 20200129052
    Abstract: A medical device holding apparatus includes a first medical device; a second medical device having a different weight from the first medical device; a base having a counterweight; an arm having a first end coupled to the counterweight via a link mechanism; an adapter for attaching the first medical device or the second medical device to a second end of the arm; a first balance correction member attached to the adapter to attain a weight balance between both sides of the arm in a case where the first medical device is attached to the adapter; and a second balance correction member attached to the adapter to attain a weight balance between the first end and the second end of the arm in a case where the second medical device is attached to the adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryutaro UNAI, Kazuo BANJU
  • Publication number: 20200121416
    Abstract: A medical instrument holder for holding a medical instrument comprising: an adapter connected to a base portion via an arm; and an instrument holding portion configured to be capable of holding the medical instrument and connected to the adapter. The instrument holding portion includes: a positioning portion configured to perform positioning with respect to the adapter when mounted on the adapter; and a rod configured to be connected to the positioning portion and to be inserted into the adapter. The adapter includes: a contact portion to which an upper surface of the positioning portion contacts and which has an opening; a fitting hole configured to communicate with the opening of the contact portion and to extend in an insertion direction of the rod; and a window portion that is open to the fitting hole and is configured so that an insertion state of the rod can be visually recognized through the window portion when the positioning portion contacts to the contact portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryota SASAI, Kazuo BANJU
  • Patent number: 10582840
    Abstract: Provided is an endoscope apparatus provided with: an elongated insertion portion that is inserted into a body; an image-acquisition portion that has an imaging optical system disposed at a distal end of the insertion portion and that acquires two images having parallax for the same imaging subject; an identifying portion that identifies an image of an object, which is in close proximity to the imaging optical system, that is captured only in one of the two images acquired by the image-acquisition portion; and a close-proximity-image-removal processing portion that processes the image so that the image of the object identified by the identifying portion is removed from the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Kikuchi, Kazuo Banju
  • Patent number: 10376283
    Abstract: A medical port includes: a faceplate having a through-hole; an elastic member formed in a curved shape and configured to clamp and fix a living tissue between the elastic member and the faceplate; and a string-shaped member fixed at a first end to the elastic member and extending from the elastic member through the faceplate. The elastic member is configured such that extension of the string-shaped member through the faceplate in a direction opposite to the elastic member reduces an outer diameter of the curved shape of the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Nishizawa, Kazuo Banju, Takahiro Kogasaka
  • Patent number: 10085616
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an insertion part inserted into a body; an observation part provided at the insertion part and observing an inside of a viewing range defined in the front thereof; an arm part manipulated to be bent, a proximal end portion of which is provided at the insertion part, and which has an opening of a channel, through which a treatment tool is inserted, provided at a distal end side thereof; a first detection part detecting an out-of-viewing-range state where a center axis line in the opening of the channel does not pass through the viewing range; a second detection part detecting that the treatment tool has been inserted through the channel; and an alert part alerting a user when the second detection part detects that the treatment tool has been inserted through the channel and the first detection part detects the out-of-viewing-range state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shotaro Takemoto, Kazuo Banju
  • Patent number: 9980632
    Abstract: An endoscope system of the present invention includes a control part has a computation part which computes the radius of curvature of the central axis of the instrument channel when the input signal is received and, may generate the first driving signal according to a result of the computation part computing the radius of curvature so that a treatment instrument at which a rigid part is provided to be easily inserted into a channel while a view of an observation part is limited from deviating from an object to be treated, even when a radius of curvature of a bending part is small while the bending part is bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Banju, Tetsuyuki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9955857
    Abstract: An endoscope device includes a flexible insertion portion; a flexible tube portion; a first bending portion; a second bending portion; an observation portion; a first drive portion bending the first bending portion; a second drive portion bending the second bending portion; a position detection portion detecting a position of a rigid distal end portion of a medical instrument; first and second bending detection portions detecting radii of curvature of axes of channels formed in the first and second bending portions and directions in which the channels are bent when an input signal generated by the position detection portion is received, respectively; and a control portion configured to control generating a second drive signal driving the second drive portion based on a first drive signal driving the first drive portion, and sending the second drive signal to the second drive portion while sending the first drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shotaro Takemoto, Madoka Ito, Tetsuyuki Sakamoto, Kazuo Banju
  • Patent number: 9861264
    Abstract: A rigid endoscope includes a first insertion section extending along longitudinal directions, a first needle defining an outer edge of a first opening, and a first functional section provided in a vicinity of the first opening of a first lumen, and configured to perform some part of functions. The rigid endoscope includes a second insertion section extending along the longitudinal directions, and located apart from the first insertion section in directions perpendicular to the longitudinal directions, a second needle defining an outer edge of a second opening, and a second functional section provided in a vicinity of the second opening of a second lumen, and configured to perform some part of the functions different from the functions performed by the first functional section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Okamoto, Kazuo Banju, Hiroki Moriyama
  • Publication number: 20170367566
    Abstract: Provided is an endoscope apparatus provided with: an elongated insertion portion that is inserted into a body; an image-acquisition portion that has an imaging optical system disposed at a distal end of the insertion portion and that acquires two images having parallax for the same imaging subject; an identifying portion that identifies an image of an object, which is in close proximity to the imaging optical system, that is captured only in one of the two images acquired by the image-acquisition portion; and a close-proximity-image-removal processing portion that processes the image so that the image of the object identified by the identifying portion is removed from the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru KIKUCHI, Kazuo BANJU
  • Patent number: 9775603
    Abstract: A suture needle has: a flexible elongated shaft member; a passing mechanism for passing a suture needle between two gripping members, wherein the passing mechanism has fitting hole portions that are provided in the respective gripping members and that hold the suture needle in a fitting manner, a holding member movable in a direction intersecting the axis of each fitting hole portion and having a pressing surface which can press an outer circumferential surface of the suture needle held in the fitting hole portion, and a tensile-force-transmitting member coupled with the holding member and which can move along the longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft member, wherein the outer circumferential surface of the suture needle is pressed by the pressing surface against the inner circumferential surface of the fitting hole portion by the motion of the tensile-force-transmitting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kasahara, Kazuo Banju, Madoka Ito, Tatsutoshi Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20170164943
    Abstract: A suture needle has: a flexible elongated shaft member; a passing mechanism for passing a suture needle between two gripping members, wherein the passing mechanism has fitting hole portions that are provided in the respective gripping members and that hold the suture needle in a fitting manner, holding member movable in a direction intersecting the axis of each fitting hole portion and having a pressing surface which can press an outer circumferential surface of the suture needle held in the fitting hole portion, and a tensile-force-transmitting member coupled with the holding member and which can move along the longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft member, wherein the outer circumferential surface of the suture needle is pressed by the pressing surface against the inner circumferential surface of the fitting hole portion by the motion of the tensile-force-transmitting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki KASAHARA, Kazuo BANJU, Madoka ITO, Tatsutoshi HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170071450
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an insertion part inserted into a body; an observation part provided at the insertion part and observing an inside of a viewing range defined in the front thereof; an arm part manipulated to be bent, a proximal end portion of which is provided at the insertion part, and which has an opening of a channel, through which a treatment tool is inserted, provided at a distal end side thereof; a first detection part detecting an out-of-viewing-range state where a center axis line in the opening of the channel does not pass through the viewing range; a second detection part detecting that the treatment tool has been inserted through the channel; and an alert part alerting a user when the second detection part detects that the treatment tool has been inserted through the channel and the first detection part detects the out-of-viewing-range state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shotaro TAKEMOTO, Kazuo BANJU
  • Publication number: 20170042412
    Abstract: An endoscope device includes a flexible insertion portion; a flexible tube portion; a first bending portion; a second bending portion; an observation portion; a first drive portion bending the first bending portion; a second drive portion bending the second bending portion; a position detection portion detecting a position of a rigid distal end portion of a medical instrument; first and second bending detection portions detecting radii of curvature of axes of channels formed in the first and second bending portions and directions in which the channels are bent when an input signal generated by the position detection portion is received, respectively; and a control portion configured to control generating a second drive signal driving the second drive portion based on a first drive signal driving the first drive portion, and sending the second drive signal to the second drive portion while sending the first drive signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shotaro TAKEMOTO, Madoka ITO, Tetsuyuki SAKAMOTO, Kazuo BANJU
  • Patent number: 9522014
    Abstract: A multi-degree-of-freedom forceps includes a insertion portion that has a first bending portion and a second bending portion connected to each other at both ends via an operating member; a treatment portion that is attached to the first bending portion and is used for tissue treatment; and an operating portion that is attached to the second bending portion to bend the second bending portion to thereby bend the first bending portion. The operating portion has a handle body capable of being swung relative to the insertion portion with the second bending portion as an operation center. The handle body has a grip portion that is gripped by a user in use. The grip portion is provided around the operation center or closer to the insertion portion side than the operation center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Nishizawa, Kazuo Banju, Tatsutoshi Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20160324399
    Abstract: An endoscope system of the present invention includes a control part has a computation part which computes the radius of curvature of the central axis of the instrument channel when the input signal is received and, may generate the first driving signal according to a result of the computation part computing the radius of curvature so that a treatment instrument at which a rigid part is provided to be easily inserted into a channel while a view of an observation part is limited from deviating from an object to be treated, even when a radius of curvature of a bending part is small while the bending part is bent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo BANJU, Tetsuyuki SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160317183
    Abstract: A medical port includes: a faceplate having a through-hole; an elastic member formed in a curved shape and configured to clamp and fix a living tissue between the elastic member and the faceplate; and a string-shaped member fixed at a first end to the elastic member and extending from the elastic member through the faceplate. The elastic member is configured such that extension of the string-shaped member through the faceplate in a direction opposite to the elastic member reduces an outer diameter of the curved shape of the elastic member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji NISHIZAWA, Kazuo BANJU, Takahiro KOGASAKA
  • Patent number: 9456736
    Abstract: A medical instrument system includes an elongated member having an inner space in a direction of a longitudinal axis, an insertion section installed at the inner space and having a bending section capable of being bent, a manipulation section configured to manipulate the bending section, a first manipulation member transmitting a driving force of the bending section in accordance with the manipulation by the manipulation section, a second manipulation member arranged in the direction of a longitudinal axis, a connecting section having a first connecting section and a second connecting section and capable of connecting the first manipulation member and the second manipulation member, and a switching mechanism having a first acting section and a second acting section and switching between a connection state and a release state in accordance with a relative movement between the elongated member and the insertion section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshio Onuki, Kiyotaka Matsuno, Tatsutoshi Hashimoto, Tsutomu Okada, Kazuo Banju, Ken Shigeta, Naoki Iwanaga, Shotaro Takemoto, Ayano Ishioka
  • Patent number: 9414829
    Abstract: A medical port includes: a faceplate having a through-hole; a fixing ring formed in an annular shape and having an outer circumferential surface in which an outer diameter is gradually increased from a first opening end opened at a faceplate side toward a second opening end opened at an opposite side of the faceplate side; and a moving member connected to the fixing ring and the faceplate and configured to move the fixing ring with respect to the faceplate such that the fixing ring is pulled toward the faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Nishizawa, Kazuo Banju, Takahiro Kogasaka
  • Publication number: 20160206177
    Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion part having a channel; an operation part attached to a proximal end part of the insertion part; a shaft-like member inserted into the insertion part, a proximal end part of the shaft-like member extends to the operation part, and the shaft-like member configured to be capable of moving inside the channel with respect to the insertion part; and a projectable unit provided at a distal end part of the channel; wherein the projectable unit includes: a movable part provided at a distal end part side of the channel and provided at distally than a distal end of the shaft-like member; and a coupling part watertightly attached with the movable part and the distal end part of the channel and is elastically deformable in accordance with a movement of the movable part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shotaro TAKEMOTO, Kazuo BANJU