Patents by Inventor Koichi Yoshimitsu

Koichi Yoshimitsu 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: 8187175
    Abstract: An endoscope according to an aspect of the invention includes an image pickup connector portion projecting from one end side of an endoscope connector and connected to a first electrical contact of a video processor, and a magnification change connector portion projecting from the other end side of the endoscope connector opposite to the one end side and connected to a second electrical contact of a magnification control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Koichi Yoshimitsu, Takashi Otawara
  • Patent number: 7658710
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes a light source for supplying three narrow wavelength bands including one wavelength band for exciting fluorescence, an excitation light cut filter for transmitting light having a wavelength greater than either 470 nm or 490 nm, and an image capturing unit for capturing the light transmitted by the excitation light cut filter and outputting three wavelength band signals corresponding to the three narrow wavelength bands of the light source. Also included are first, second and third frame memories for inputting and storing the three wavelength band signals, respectively, and first, second and third output ends for outputting first, second and third color signals, respectively, to a monitor for displaying an image. An image processor receives signals from the first, second and third frame memories respectively and selects among the first output end, the second output end and third output end for outputting the received signals to the monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ueno, Takeshi Ozawa, Kazunari Nakamura, Isami Hirao, Hiroshi Ibe, Koichi Yoshimitsu, Yuichi Morizane, Mamoru Kaneko, Shunya Akimoto, Masaki Terakubo, Katsuichi Imaizumi, Nobuyuki Doguchi, Sakae Takehana, Kazuhiro Gono
  • Publication number: 20080039689
    Abstract: An endoscope according to an aspect of the invention includes an image pickup connector portion projecting from one end side of an endoscope connector and connected to a first electrical contact of a video processor, and a magnification change connector portion projecting from the other end side of the endoscope connector opposite to the one end side and connected to a second electrical contact of a magnification control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Koichi Yoshimitsu, Takashi Otawara
  • Patent number: 7226412
    Abstract: An endoscope system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes an endoscope with a monochrome image pickup device for capturing reflected light and fluorescence from the body cavity, an excitation light cut filter which is installed in front of the image pickup device for shielding excitation light, and an endoscope ID which includes information on the type of the endoscope. A light source unit includes a first switching filter that irradiates light including excitation light for a fluorescent image mode and a filter for generating continuous light for a normal-light image mode. The filters switch based between the fluorescent image mode and the normal-light image mode. A second switching filter with a limiting filter that limits certain wavelengths of excitation light of the first switching filter is provided. The limiting filters are switched according to the endoscope ID or observation state in the fluorescence mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ueno, Takeshi Ozawa, Kazunari Nakamura, Isami Hirao, Hiroshi Ibe, Koichi Yoshimitsu, Yuichi Morizane, Mamoru Kaneko, Shunya Akimoto, Masaki Terakubo, Katsuichi Imaizumi, Nobuyuki Doguchi, Sakae Takehana, Kazuhiro Gono
  • Publication number: 20070100207
    Abstract: In the light source unit 3A, a switching filter section 14, which can switch the RGB filter for normal-light observation and a filter for fluorescent observation on the optical path, is installed in front of the lamp 12, where if the fluorescent image mode is selected, the excitation light in a part of the blue wavelength band is supplied to the electronic endoscope 2A, and the excitation light reflected by the subject side is shielded by the excitation light cut filter 27 in front of the CCD 28 so as to obtain the fluorescent image, and also the signal of the fluorescent image and the signals of the two reflected light images which are set in a predetermined wavelength band are passed through the image processing circuit 38, where a matrix circuit for appropriately allocating the color signals of the R, G and B channels is installed, and as a result, the images can be displayed on the monitor 5 in pseudo-colors in hues which allow easy identification of a normal tissue and a pathologically affected tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi UENO, Takeshi OZAWA, Kazunari NAKAMURA, Isami HIRAO, Hiroshi IBE, Koichi YOSHIMITSU, Yuichi MORIZANE, Mamoru KANEKO, Shunya AKIMOTO, Masaki TERAKUBO, Katsuichi IMAIZUMI, Nobuyuki DOGUCHI, Sakae TAKEHANA, Kazuhiro GONO
  • Patent number: 7204803
    Abstract: An image processing device for an endoscope, wherein a wavelength band filter for shielding at least a part of the blue wavelength band is disposed in front of an image pickup element built into the endoscope, for image processing the signal output by said image pickup element includes means for generating color image signals whilst switching between a normal-light image mode using white light and a fluorescence image mode including fluorescence information and adjusting means for adjusting the gain of a prescribed color signal of said color image signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ueno, Takeshi Ozawa, Kazunari Nakamura, Isami Hirao, Hiroshi Ibe, Koichi Yoshimitsu, Yuichi Morizane, Mamoru Kaneko, Shunya Akimoto, Masaki Terakubo, Katsuichi Imaizumi, Nobuyuki Doguchi, Sakae Takehana
  • Patent number: 7172553
    Abstract: In the light source unit 3A, a switching filter section 14, which can switch the RGB filter for normal-light observation and a filter for fluorescent observation on the optical path, is installed in front of the lamp 12, where if the fluorescent image mode is selected, the excitation light in a part of the blue wavelength band is supplied to the electronic endoscope 2A, and the excitation light reflected by the subject side is shielded by the excitation light cut filter 27 in front of the CCD 28 so as to obtain the fluorescent image, and also the signal of the fluorescent image and the signals of the two reflected light images which are set in a predetermined wavelength band are passed through the image processing circuit 38, where a matrix circuit for appropriately allocating the color signals of the R, G and B channels is installed, and as a result, the images can be displayed on the monitor 5 in pseudo-colors in hues which allow easy identification of a normal tissue and a pathologically affected tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ueno, Takeshi Ozawa, Kazunari Nakamura, Isami Hirao, Hiroshi Ibe, Koichi Yoshimitsu, Yuichi Morizane, Mamoru Kaneko, Shunya Akimoto, Masaki Terakubo, Katsuichi Imaizumi, Nobuyuki Doguchi, Sakae Takehana, Kazuhiro Gono
  • Patent number: 6960165
    Abstract: In a light source unit, a switchable filter section in which an RGB filter and a fluorescence observation filter can be shifted into the light path is disposed in front of a lamp. When fluorescence image mode is selected, excitation light in a part of the wavelength band of the blue wavelength band is supplied to an electronic endoscope, and the excitation light which is reflected by the subject is shielded by an excitation light shielding filter situated in front of a CCD, whereby a fluorescence image can be obtained. On the other hand, if normal-light image mode is selected, then R, G, B light is supplied sequentially, and even under illumination of B light, the color component image in the wavelength bands which are not shielded by the excitation light shielding filter are captured, thereby yielding a normal-light image also, and hence making it possible to capture both a fluorescence image and a normal-light image by means of a single image pickup element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ueno, Takeshi Ozawa, Kazunari Nakamura, Isami Hirao, Hiroshi Ibe, Koichi Yoshimitsu, Yuichi Morizane, Mamoru Kaneko, Shunya Akimoto, Masaki Terakubo, Katsuichi Imaizumi, Nobuyuki Doguchi, Sakae Takehana
  • Publication number: 20040215060
    Abstract: In the light source unit 3A, a switching filter section 14, which can switch the RGB filter for normal-light observation and a filter for fluorescent observation on the optical path, is installed in front of the lamp 12, where if the fluorescent image mode is selected, the excitation light in a part of the blue wavelength band is supplied to the electronic endoscope 2A, and the excitation light reflected by the subject side is shielded by the excitation light cut filter 27 in front of the CCD 28 so as to obtain the fluorescent image, and also the signal of the fluorescent image and the signals of the two reflected light images which are set in a predetermined wavelength band are passed through the image processing circuit 38, where a matrix circuit for appropriately allocating the color signals of the R, G and B channels is installed, and as a result, the images can be displayed on the monitor 5 in pseudo-colors in hues which allow easy identification of a normal tissue and a pathologically affected tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ueno, Takeshi Ozawa, Kazunari Nakamura, Isami Hirao, Hiroshi Ibe, Koichi Yoshimitsu, Yuichi Morizane, Mamoru Kaneko, Shunya Akimoto, Masaki Terakubo, Katsuichi Imaizumi, Nobuyuki Doguchi, Sakae Takehana, Kazuhiro Gono
  • Publication number: 20040046865
    Abstract: In a light source unit, a switchable filter section in which an RGB filter and a fluorescence observation filter can be shifted into the light path is disposed in front of a lamp. When fluorescence image mode is selected, excitation light in a part of the wavelength band of the blue wavelength band is supplied to an electronic endoscope, and the excitation light which is reflected by the subject is shielded by an excitation light shielding filter situated in front of a CCD, whereby a fluorescence image can be obtained. On the other hand, if normal-light image mode is selected, then R, G, B light is supplied sequentially, and even under illumination of B light, the color component image in the wavelength bands which are not shielded by the excitation light shielding filter are captured, thereby yielding a normal-light image also, and hence making it possible to capture both a fluorescence image and a normal-light image by means of a single image pickup element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ueno, Takeshi Ozawa, Kazunari Nakamura, Isami Hirao, Hiroshi Ibe, Koichi Yoshimitsu, Yuichi Morizane, Mammoru Kaneko, Shunya Akimoto, Masaki Terakubo, Katsuichi Imaizumi, Nobuyuki Doguchi, Sakae Takehana
  • Publication number: 20020177751
    Abstract: In a light source unit, a switchable filter section in which an RGB filter and a fluorescence observation filter can be shifted into the light path is disposed in front of a lamp. When fluorescence image mode is selected, excitation light in a part of the wavelength band of the blue wavelength band is supplied to an electronic endoscope, and the excitation light which is reflected by the subject is shielded by an excitation light shielding filter situated in front of a CCD, whereby a fluorescence image can be obtained. On the other hand, if normal-light image mode is selected, then R, G, B light is supplied sequentially, and even under illumination of B light, the color component image in the wavelength bands which are not shielded by the excitation light shielding filter are captured, thereby yielding a normal-light image also, and hence making it possible to capture both a fluorescence image and a normal-light image by means of a single image pickup element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ueno, Takeshi Ozawa, Kazunari Nakamura, Isami Hirao, Hiroshi Ibe, Koichi Yoshimitsu, Yuichi Morizane, Mamoru Kaneko, Shunya Akimoto, Masaki Terakubo, Katsuichi Imaizumi, Nobuyuki Doguchi, Sakae Takehana
  • Publication number: 20020175993
    Abstract: In the light source unit 3A, a switching filter section 14, which can switch the RGB filter for normal-light observation and a filter for fluorescent observation on the optical path, is installed in front of the lamp 12, where if the fluorescent image mode is selected, the excitation light in a part of the blue wavelength band is supplied to the electronic endoscope 2A, and the excitation light reflected by the subject side is shielded by the excitation light cut filter 27 in front of the CCD 28 so as to obtain the fluorescent image, and also the signal of the fluorescent image and the signals of the two reflected light images which are set in a predetermined wavelength band are passed through the image processing circuit 38, where a matrix circuit for appropriately allocating the color signals of the R, G and B channels is installed, and as a result, the images can be displayed on the monitor 5 in pseudo-colors in hues which allow easy identification of a normal tissue and a pathologically affected tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ueno, Takeshi Ozawa, Kazunari Nakamura, Isami Hirao, Hiroshi Ibe, Koichi Yoshimitsu, Yuichi Morizane, Mamoru Kaneko, Shunya Akimoto, Masaki Terakubo, Katsuichi Imaizumi, Nobuyuki Doguchi, Sakae Takehana, Kazuhiro Gono
  • Patent number: 5159446
    Abstract: At least one controlling unit of a controlling unit for controlling a bending driving motor bending driving a bendable portion, a controlling unit for controlling an advancing and retreating driving motor advancing and retreating moving an insert section and a controlling unit for controlling a rotating driving motor rotating driving the insert section and a camera controlling unit for processing a signal for an imaging device are made separate from each other so that such existing scope as an electronic scope or fiber scope fitted with a TV camera may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Hibino, Yoshikatsu Nagayama, Mutsumi Yoshikawa, Toshiyuki Takara, Masahito Goto, Akira Suzuki, Sakae Takehana, Yoshinao Oaki, Koichi Yoshimitsu, Yoshisada Aoki
  • Patent number: 5150702
    Abstract: A diaphragm blade is rotatably secured by a rotational shaft disposed in a base. The aperture blade has a diaphragm aperture at the central portion thereof. A shape-memory alloy which deforms in accordance with temperatures and an elastic member are respectively secured to the end portions of the aperture blade. The other end portion of each of the shape-memory alloy and the elastic member is secured to the base. The shape of the shape-memory alloy is deformed by changing the temperature so that the aperture blade is displaced. In consequence, a diaphragm aperture formed in the aperture blade is positioned/retracted from the optical path so as to change the quantity of light which is transmitted through the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Miyanaga, Nobuyuki Sakamoto, Koichi Yoshimitsu, Yasundo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4982725
    Abstract: The endoscope apparatus comprises an endoscope having an elongate insertable part having a bendable part and a driving apparatus for bending and driving the bendable part, a first bending controlling apparatus for controlling the driving apparatus and a second bending controlling apparatus for controlling the driving apparatus independently of the first bending controlling apparatus when the first bending controlling apparatus is controllable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Hibino, Yoshikatsu Nagayama, Mutsumi Yoshikawa, Toshiyuki Takara, Masahito Goto, Akira Suzuki, Sakae Takehana, Yoshinao Oaki, Koichi Yoshimitsu, Yoshisada Aoki