Patents by Inventor Mamoru Kaneko
Mamoru Kaneko 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: 6772003Abstract: A general-light observation light image can be obtained by illuminating the polarized frame sequence light or polarized white light, for example. In addition, a parallel polarized component and a vertical polarized component with respect to a polarizing direction of illuminating light, which is polarized in a specific direction are captured. Then, image data, which is a difference between both of the polarized component is calculated and is displayed in a display device. Thus, a scattered light component in a living-body tissue surface side can be extracted with good S/N, which can improve the diagnosis functionality.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2002Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Mamoru Kaneko, Akira Hasegawa, Katsuichi Imaizumi, Shunya Akimoto, Naoki Miura, Katsuya Ono, Hideyuki Takaoka, Kazuhiro Gono, Junichi Nozawa
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Publication number: 20040140425Abstract: A flexible shaft driven to rotate is inserted through a transparent sheath having pliability. By a fiber inserted through the inside thereof, low-coherence light is guided and is made to exit to a living-body tissue side which is an observation target through a lens and a prism forming an exit and entrance portion at the tip portion. Subsequently, the light reflected on the living-body tissue side is guided in order to produce an image. In that case, a positioning member for keeping the exit and entrance portion and the living-body tissue at a proper distance is formed at the tip portion of the sheath or the tip portion of an endoscope through which an optical probe is inserted and, therefore, a stable tomogram image can be produced.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2004Publication date: July 22, 2004Applicant: Olympus CorporationInventors: Shuhei Iizuka, Akihiro Horii, Yasushige Ishihara, Raifu Matsui, Mamoru Kaneko
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Publication number: 20040109164Abstract: An optical imaging device includes a reference scanning unit offering a high signal-to-noise ratio and capable of scanning an object rapidly. An interference optical system can be realized inexpensively. In the optical imaging device, low coherent light passed through an optical coupler and another optical coupler, irradiated from an optical scanner probe, reflected from an observed point in a living tissue, returned to the optical coupler, propagated over a fourth SM optical fiber, and routed to another optical coupler shall be referred to as sample light. Light passed through an optical length variation optical system via the optical coupler and routed to the optical coupler shall be referred to as reference light. At this time, a difference between a delay time undergone by the sample light and a delay time undergone by the reference light is proportional to a difference between an optical length for the sample light and an optical length for the reference light.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2003Publication date: June 10, 2004Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihiro Horii, Mamoru Kaneko, Tadashi Hirata, Hitoshi Mizuno
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Patent number: 6687010Abstract: An optical imaging device includes a reference scanning unit offering a high signal-to-noise ratio and capable of scanning an object rapidly. An interference optical system can be realized inexpensively. In the optical imaging device, low coherent light passed through an optical coupler and another optical coupler, irradiated from an optical scanner probe, reflected from an observed point in a living tissue, returned to the optical coupler, propagated over a fourth SM optical fiber, and routed to another optical coupler shall be referred to as sample light. Light passed through an optical length variation optical system via the optical coupler and routed to the optical coupler shall be referred to as reference light. At this time, a difference between a delay time undergone by the sample light and a delay time undergone by the reference light is proportional to a difference between an optical length for the sample light and an optical length for the reference light.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2000Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Akihiro Horii, Mamoru Kaneko, Tadashi Hirata, Hitoshi Mizuno
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Patent number: 6636254Abstract: Using an endoscope system, a surgeon A holds an endoscope with a TV camera (hereinafter, an endoscope) and a therapeutic appliance such as forceps and carries out a surgical procedure while viewing a first monitor. A surgeon B holds a therapeutic appliance such as forceps and carries out the surgical procedure while viewing a second monitor. A video signal sent from the TV camera of the endoscope is fed to and processed by an image processing apparatus, and displayed on each of the first and second monitors. The image processing apparatus transfers the video signal sent from the endoscope to each of an image inverting circuit and a selector switch. The image inverting circuit inverts an image (laterally (to produce a mirror image), vertically, or vertically and laterally (180°)), and supplies a processed video signal to the selector switch.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1996Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd,Inventors: Junichi Onishi, Akihiro Taguchi, Kenji Harano, Akinobu Uchikubo, Kenya Inomata, Makoto Tsunakawa, Kuniaki Kami, Tsutomu Hirai, Takashi Takemura, Mamoru Kaneko, Yasukazu Tatsumi, Kyou Imagawa
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Publication number: 20030187319Abstract: A sentinel lymph node detecting apparatus comprises an endoscope, a visible-light CCU and infrared CCU, which are detachably connected to the endoscope, a superimposing circuit for superimposing the image output from the infrared CCU on the image output from the visible-light CCU, a monitor for displaying the image superimposed by the superimposing circuit, and a fluctuating magnetic field generating device for generating a fluctuating magnetic field for vibrating ferrofluid which has been accumulated in sentinel lymph nodes as a tracer beforehand, so as to heat the ferrofluid. A computer color-enhanced infrared image obtained by an infrared sensor is superimposed on an endoscope image obtained by visible-light CCD, and the synthesized endoscope infrared image is displayed on a display screen of the monitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2003Publication date: October 2, 2003Applicant: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Mamoru Kaneko, Toshihiro Shizuka, Tadahiro Nakano, Masaru Sudo, Katsuichi Imaizumi, Hitoshi Ueno
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Publication number: 20030187349Abstract: A sentinel lymph node detecting system comprises an inserting portion with a small diameter which can be inserted into the body cavity, an X-ray detecting unit for two-dimensionally detecting X-rays, and an optical imaging unit 3 for taking visible-light images, which are mounted to the tip of the inserting portion. The X-ray detecting unit and the optical imaging unit are disposed along the longitudinal direction of the inserting portion, and are closely disposed one to another so as to observe in the same direction. A radioactive tracer accumulated in sentinel lymph nodes is detected by the X-ray detecting unit. The X-ray detected image is smaller in size than the image taken by the optical imaging unit. Thus, sentinel lymph nodes can be quickly identified in a sure manner, and further, the load placed on a patient, such as the need to perform laparotomy, can be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2003Publication date: October 2, 2003Applicant: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Mamoru Kaneko, Toshihiro Shizuka, Tadahiro Nakano, Masaru Sudo, Hisao Yabe, Hitoshi Ueno
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Publication number: 20030048540Abstract: An optical imaging apparatus includes an optical probe and an apparatus main body which controls and drives the optical probe via a connecting cable. The optical probe includes a low-coherence light source, a half mirror (light separating means), an XY reflecting mirror scan (horizontal scanning means), an objective optical system, a reflecting mirror, a modulating mirror (reference light reflecting means), and a photo detector (optical detecting means). In the optical probe, the modulating mirror and the objective optical system, as optical path length interlockingly adjusting means, are integrally arranged to an optical path length interlockingly adjusting base, together with a reflecting-side lens. The optical probe has an advancing and regressing driving unit which advances and regresses the optical path length interlockingly adjusting base in the optical axis direction (Z direction).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Applicant: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Tianyu Xie, Mamoru Kaneko, Toshiro Okamura, Yasuhiro Kamihara
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Publication number: 20030040668Abstract: A general-light observation light image can be obtained by illuminating the polarized frame sequence light or polarized white light, for example. In addition, a parallel polarized component and a vertical polarized component with respect to a polarizing direction of illuminating light, which is polarized in a specific direction are captured. Then, image data, which is a difference between both of the polarized component is calculated and is displayed in a display device. Thus, a scattered light component in a living-body tissue surface side can be extracted with good S/N, which can improve the diagnosis functionality.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2002Publication date: February 27, 2003Applicant: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Mamoru Kaneko, Akira Hasegawa, Katsuichi Imaizumi, Shunya Akimoto, Naoki Miura, Katsuya Ono, Hideyuki Takaoka, Kazuhiro Gono, Junichi Nozawa
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Publication number: 20030013952Abstract: On the side at hand of an optical probe, a whole rotation transfer connector rotates while being supported by a ball bearing and a slide bearing and, therefore, rotation is transferred to a flexible shaft. The relative position between the flexible shaft and an optical sheath is changed in accordance with the amount of screwing of a sheath stopping member on the side at hand into an outer cylinder by an external thread portion and an internal thread portion. When the optical sheath is moved furthermore, the flexible shaft is elongated due to elastic deformation because the length of the flexible shaft is regulated by the interval between a locking part of a locking member at the tip and a shaft stopping member. A tip housing is made to contact with the locking member while tension is applied to the flexible shaft by the rear end surface in the direction of the side at hand.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2002Publication date: January 16, 2003Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shuhei Iizuka, Akihiro Horii, Mamoru Kaneko, Kenji Hirooka, Hitoshi Mizuno
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Patent number: 6493458Abstract: An apparatus and method for correctly determining the position of a vehicle in a traffic lane by obtaining correct information about the position of the traffic lane without being affected by variations in the road surface, weather, time of day, or such imaging conditions as fixed or moving lighting, are provided. An edge signal of a high spatial frequency component and a luminance signal of a low spatial frequency component of a digital image signal representing the view of the local area to the front of a vehicle are extracted. A road contour signal is then extracted from the edge signal, and a road region signal is extracted from the luminance signal. The position of the lane Sre is then detected with high precision by evaluating the lane contour Sre based on the road region signal Srr and lane contour data Sre.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1998Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuhiko Yasui, Atsushi Iisaka, Mamoru Kaneko
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Publication number: 20020177751Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2002Publication date: November 28, 2002Applicant: 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
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Publication number: 20020175993Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2002Publication date: November 28, 2002Applicant: 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
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Publication number: 20020166946Abstract: A flexible shaft driven to rotate is inserted through a transparent sheath having pliability. By a fiber inserted through the inside thereof, low-coherence light is guided and is made to exit to a living-body tissue side which is an observation target through a lens and a prism forming an exit and entrance portion at the tip portion. Subsequently, the light reflected on the living-body tissue side is guided in order to produce an image. In that case, a positioning member for keeping the exit and entrance portion and the living-body tissue at a proper distance is formed at the tip portion of the sheath or the tip portion of an endoscope through which an optical probe is inserted and, therefore, a stable tomogram image can be produced.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2002Publication date: November 14, 2002Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shuhei Iizuka, Akihiro Horii, Yasushige Ishihara, Raifu Matsui, Mamoru Kaneko
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Patent number: 6422994Abstract: A fluorescent imaging device to prevent the breakdown of a fluorescent image high-sensitivity imaging apparatus has a light source for endoscope use which selectively switches between an excitation light and a white light. This introduces a light into a light guide of an endoscope and such light is emitted onto an object. A fluorescent image high-sensitivity imaging device images the fluorescences obtained by excitation with the excitation light which is emitted onto the object. A white light imaging device images a white light image obtained from the white light which is emitted onto the object. A switch inputs a power source onto the fluorescent image high-sensitivity imaging apparatus and there is a mechanism to prevent overprint on an image plane of the fluorescent image high-sensitivity imaging apparatus which is in the imaging condition with the power source inputted.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1998Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mamoru Kaneko, Hitoshi Ueno, Sakae Takehana, Isami Hirao, Nobuyuki Doguchi, Takeshi Ozawa, Takefumi Uesugi, Katsuichi Imaizumi, Yasukazu Kogen, Makoto Tomioka, Tadashi Hirata, Masahiro Kawauchi
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Publication number: 20020062061Abstract: An imaging system for use with an endoscope, including a light source which emits white light and excitation light which will produce a fluorescence response by an object under inspection, an imaging camera including separate paths for processing images produced by white light and excitation light, a selection device that causes the imaging device to operate in a white light mode or an excitation light mode, and a protective device that prevents damage to high-sensitivity imaging components from exposure to excessive light input. Fluorescent image data are separated into at least red and green color bands which are separately processed to produced a video display in which normal tissue is displayed in predetermined specific color, and abnormal tissue in one or more distinctly different colors. In one embodiment, an image color interpretation guide is provided in the form of multiple color bars which are superimposed on a single video display device with the image display. of different kinds.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2002Publication date: May 23, 2002Applicant: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mamoru Kaneko, Hitoshi Ueno, Sakae Takehana, Isami Hirao, Nobuyuki Doguchi, Takeshi Ozawa, Takefumi Uesugi, Katsuichi Imaizumi, Yasukazu Kogen, Makoto Tomioka, Tadashi Hirata, Masahiro Kawauchi
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Publication number: 20020031242Abstract: An apparatus and method for correctly determining the position of a vehicle in a traffic lane by obtaining correct information about the position of the traffic lane without being affected by variations in the road surface, weather, time of day, or such imaging conditions as fixed or moving lighting, are provided. An edge signal or a high spatial frequency component and a luminance signal of a low spatial frequency component of a digital image signal representing the view of the local area to the front of a vehicle are extracted. A road contour signal is then extracted from the edge signal, and a road region signal is extracted from the luminance signal. The position of the lane Sre is then detected with high precision by evaluating the lane contour Sre based on the road region signal Srr and lane contour data Sre.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 1998Publication date: March 14, 2002Inventors: NOBUHIKO YASUI, ATSUSHI IISAKA, MAMORU KANEKO
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Patent number: 6327493Abstract: A light scanning device has a tip structure which includes a light scanning part connected to a light source, and which is insertable into a body cavity and is formed so as to be water-tight. A controlling part controls the light scan through the tip structure, and the tip structure and the controlling part are also connected to each other in a water-tight manner by a slender tube through which a plurality of electrical cables pass. An electric connector is fixed with the proximal end portion of the tube in a water-tight manner, and is electrically connectable so as to be water-tight with and removable from this controlling part.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1998Date of Patent: December 4, 2001Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Ozawa, Mamoru Kaneko, Akihiro Horii, Atsushi Okawa, Hiroki Hibino, Hiroyuki Sangu, Hitoshi Ueno, Hitoshi Mizuno, Jun Hiroya, Katsuichi Imaizumi, Hidemichi Aoki, Masahiro Ohno, Eiji Yasuda, Yoshinao Oaki, Kenji Yoshino, Sakae Takehana, Isami Hirao, Takefumi Uesugi, Toshimasa Kawai
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Patent number: 6217510Abstract: At the tip of an insertion part of an endoscope, an object window for regular observation use is positioned at almost the center, directly connected to which, said object window for fluorescent observation use is provided, and at the both sides of the object window for regular observation use and the object window for fluorescent observation use, two illumination windows are provided. A forceps hole which is an opening part at the tip side of a forceps channel which is inserted into the insertion part is provided at the lower right of the object window for regular observation use, and a treatment tool which is inserted through a forceps insertion channel is to be extruded from this forceps hole. By this way, on monitor images at both of white light observation and fluorescent observation, the treatment tool such as a forceps or the like is designated at almost the same position to improve the manipulation capability.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1998Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Ozawa, Hitoshi Ueno, Sakae Takahana, Nobuyuki Doguchi, Isami Hirao, Mamoru Kaneko, Makoto Tomioka, Takefumi Uesugi, Yasukazu Kogen, Masahiro Kawauchi, Katsuichi Imaizumi, Tadashi Hirata
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Patent number: 6091833Abstract: An apparatus and method for correctly determining the position of a vehicle in a traffic lane by obtaining correct information about the position of the traffic lane without being affected by variations in the road surface, weather, time of day, or such imaging conditions as fixed or moving lighting, are provided. An edge signal of a high spatial frequency component and a luminance signal of a low spatial frequency component of a digital image signal representing the view of the local area to the front of a vehicle are extracted. A road contour signal is then extracted from the edge signal, and a road region signal is extracted from the luminance signal. The position of the lane Sre is then detected with high precision by evaluating the lane contour Sre based on the road region signal Srr and lane contour data Sre.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1997Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuhiko Yasui, Atsushi Iisaka, Mamoru Kaneko