Patents by Inventor Masaharu Mizuochi
Masaharu Mizuochi 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: 10188286Abstract: The tomographic image capturing device of the present invention includes a tomographic image capturing means that scans measurement light on a subject's eye fundus (E) to capture tomographic images of the subject's eye fundus and an image processing means that compresses a picture of the captured tomographic images in a scan direction to generate a new tomographic picture. The tomographic image capturing means performs scan at a second scan pitch (PL) narrower than a first scan pitch (PH) to capture the tomographic images of the subject's eye fundus. The image processing means compresses the picture (B11) of the tomographic images captured at the second scan pitch (PL) in the scan direction to generate the new tomographic picture (B12). The measurement width in the scan direction of the new tomographic picture (B12) is a width of a picture corresponding to a measurement width in the scan direction of a tomographic picture (Bn (n=1 to 10)) obtained by scan at the first scan pitch (PH).Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: KOWA COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Naoki Kobayashi, Masaharu Mizuochi, Toshiaki Nakagawa
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Publication number: 20180008144Abstract: The tomographic image capturing device of the present invention includes a tomographic image capturing means that scans measurement light on a subject's eye fundus (E) to capture tomographic images of the subject's eye fundus and an image processing means that compresses a picture of the captured tomographic images in a scan direction to generate a new tomographic picture. The tomographic image capturing means performs scan at a second scan pitch (PL) narrower than a first scan pitch (PH) to capture the tomographic images of the subject's eye fundus. The image processing means compresses the picture (B11) of the tomographic images captured at the second scan pitch (PL) in the scan direction to generate the new tomographic picture (B12). The measurement width in the scan direction of the new tomographic picture (B12) is a width of a picture corresponding to a measurement width in the scan direction of a tomographic picture (Bn (n=1 to 10)) obtained by scan at the first scan pitch (PH).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2016Publication date: January 11, 2018Inventors: Naoki KOBAYASHI, Masaharu MIZUOCHI, Toshiaki NAKAGAWA
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Patent number: 9820649Abstract: A three-dimensional tomographic image (B) is formed which is composed of a plurality of two-dimensional tomographic images obtained by scanning an ocular fundus. A contour of a certain 2D region (M1, M2, M3, M4) in the tomographic image is determined for each tomographic image, and the volume of a certain 3D region is calculated through correcting each area of the certain 2D region defined by the determined contour or its accumulated value using an image correction coefficient in accordance with the diopter of the subject's eye. Even for subjects' eyes of different diopters, the influence of the diopter correction is eliminated and a quantitative comparison of subjects' eyes of different diopters is possible.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2015Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: KOWA COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Toshiaki Nakagawa, Yoshihiro Kakutani, Masaharu Mizuochi
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Publication number: 20170135578Abstract: A three-dimensional tomographic image (B) is formed which is composed of a plurality of two-dimensional tomographic images obtained by scanning an ocular fundus. A contour of a certain 2D region (M1, M2, M3, M4) in the tomographic image is determined for each tomographic image, and the volume of a certain 3D region is calculated through correcting each area of the certain 2D region defined by the determined contour or its accumulated value using an image correction coefficient in accordance with the diopter of the subject's eye. Even for subjects' eyes of different diopters, the influence of the diopter correction is eliminated and a quantitative comparison of subjects' eyes of different diopters is possible.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2015Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Toshiaki NAKAGAWA, Yoshihiro KAKUTANI, Masaharu MIZUOCHI
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Patent number: 8061840Abstract: An ocular light stimulus apparatus provides the ocular fundus of an examinee's eye under examination with observation light to observe the ocular fundus and provides localized background light and stimulus light to a retina of the ocular fundus to perform biological examination through use of a bioelectrical signal from the retina. The ocular light stimulus apparatus has a ring slit and a photographic stop. Each of the ring slit and the photographic stop is disposed in a position substantially conjugate with the anterior ocular segment of the eye to be examined so that the ocular fundus of the eye is irradiated with the ocular fundus observation light via the ring slit and is irradiated with the stimulus light and the background light via the photographic stop.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2010Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Kowa Company Ltd.Inventor: Masaharu Mizuochi
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Patent number: 7832865Abstract: A timer function hold mode in which the timer continues the timing function is set in a mydriatic fluorescence mode by operating a timer switch for at least a fixed time, or by simultaneously operating a fluorescence filter switch and the timer switch. If the timer function hold mode is set in the mydriatic fluorescence mode, then the timing of the timer is continued even after the photography mode switches to another photography mode e.g. non-mydriatic or mydriatic color mode. When, on the other hand, the timer function hold mode is not set in the mydriatic fluorescence mode, the timer is caused to be stopped or reset when the mode is switched to the non-mydriatic or mydriatic color mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2010Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Kowa Company Ltd.Inventor: Masaharu Mizuochi
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Patent number: 7815312Abstract: Stimulus light is projected from a stimulus light source onto an ocular fundus of an eye under examination to locally stimulate the retina in order to perform a biological examination. During a biological examination, first background light is projected from an illumination light source via an objective lens, and second background light is projected from a light source from the periphery of the objective lens onto the ocular fundus. During alignment prior to a biological examination, the first background light is turned off and the second background light is projected onto the ocular fundus. During observation of the ocular fundus, the first background light projected onto the fundus is blocked, so that fundus observation or eye fixation is not disturbed by the background light. This enables accurate alignment to be carried out.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2009Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Kowa Company Ltd.Inventors: Kazunori Matsumura, Tatsuya Fujii, Masaharu Mizuochi
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Publication number: 20100253910Abstract: An ocular light stimulus apparatus is proposed in which an ocular fundus of an examinee's eye is illuminated by infrared light from an illumination light source via a ring slit disposed in the position conjugate with the anterior ocular segment thereof, and the ocular fundus is irradiated with stimulus light from a stimulus light source and background light from a background light source via a photographic stop disposed in the position substantially conjugate with the anterior ocular segment of the examinee's eye. This allows the background light to be projected onto the ocular fundus so as to spread in all directions about the center of the anterior ocular segment. Therefore, the entire ocular fundus can be uniformly illuminated about the position onto which the stimulus light is projected, and an accurate local ERG examination can be performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Inventor: Masaharu Mizuochi
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Publication number: 20100165292Abstract: A timer function hold mode in which the timer continues the timing function is set in a mydriatic fluorescence mode by operating a timer switch for at least a fixed time, or by simultaneously operating a fluorescence filter switch and the timer switch. If the timer function hold mode is set in the mydriatic fluorescence mode, then the timing of the timer is continued even after the photography mode switches to another photography mode e.g. non-mydriatic or mydriatic color mode. When, on the other hand, the timer function hold mode is not set in the mydriatic fluorescence mode, the timer is caused to be stopped or reset when the mode is switched to the non-mydriatic or mydriatic color mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2010Publication date: July 1, 2010Inventor: Masaharu Mizuochi
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Patent number: 7735999Abstract: A timer function hold mode in which the timer continues the timing function is set in a mydriatic fluorescence mode by operating a timer switch for at least a fixed time, or by simultaneously operating a fluorescence filter switch and the timer switch. If the timer function hold mode is set in the mydriatic fluorescence mode, then the timing of the timer is continued even after the photography mode switches to another photography mode e.g. non-mydriatic or mydriatic color mode. When, on the other hand, the timer function hold mode is not set in the mydriatic fluorescence mode, the timer is caused to be stopped or reset when the mode is switched to the non-mydriatic or mydriatic color mode.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2006Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Kowa Company Ltd.Inventor: Masaharu Mizuochi
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Patent number: 7695141Abstract: A stimulus light from a stimulus light source is projected to the retina of an ocular fundus under examination to stimulate the retina in localized fashion to generate a bioelectric signal from the retina. The stimulus light source is mounted on a movable block, and an operating lever is used to move the stimulus light source to change the stimulus light on the retina. The size of the stimulus light can also be varied using a panel having a plurality of openings with different diameters for allowing the stimulus light to pass through. This assures a reliable local ERG examination because the bioelectrical signal can be produced in a wider area of the retina. The operating lever is further fixed by inserting a cap to keep the projected stimulus light unchanged. This allows the burden on the examiner to be reduced remarkably, assuring a reliable local ERG examination.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2008Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: Kowa Company Ltd.Inventors: Takuya Hara, Kazunori Matsumura, Tatsuya Fujii, Masaharu Mizuochi
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Publication number: 20090257027Abstract: Stimulus light is projected from a stimulus light source onto an ocular fundus of an eye under examination to locally stimulate the retina in order to perform a biological examination. During a biological examination, first background light is projected from an illumination light source via an objective lens, and second background light is projected from a light source from the periphery of the objective lens onto the ocular fundus. During alignment prior to a biological examination, the first background light is turned off and the second background light is projected onto the ocular fundus. During observation of the ocular fundus, the first background light projected onto the fundus is blocked, so that fundus observation or eye fixation is not disturbed by the background light. This enables accurate alignment to be carried out.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2009Publication date: October 15, 2009Inventors: Kazunori Matsumura, Tatsuya Fujii, Masaharu Mizuochi
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Publication number: 20090231543Abstract: A stimulus light from a stimulus light source is projected to the retina of an ocular fundus under examination to stimulate the retina in localized fashion to generate a bioelectric signal from the retina. The stimulus light source is mounted on a movable block, and an operating lever is used to move the stimulus light source to change the stimulus light on the retina. The size of the stimulus light can also be varied using a panel having a plurality of openings with different diameters for allowing the stimulus light to pass through. This assures a reliable local ERG examination because the bioelectrical signal can be produced in a wider area of the retina. The operating lever is further fixed by inserting a cap to keep the projected stimulus light unchanged. This allows the burden on the examiner to be reduced remarkably, assuring a reliable local ERG examination.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2008Publication date: September 17, 2009Inventors: Takuya Hara, Kazunori Matsumura, Tatsuya Fujii, Masaharu Mizuochi
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Patent number: 7429107Abstract: An ophthalmic photography apparatus is provided in which focus and alignment can be adjusted over the whole period of infrared light-excited fluorescence photography. During alignment and focus adjustments, the brightness of index light sources used for such adjustments is increased. When the shutter is operated, the brightness of the index light sources is decreased, dimming the indexes. When the automatic gain control of the imaging device functions in the later phase of the photography, the brightness of the indexes is gradually increased. In the first part of the photography period, the indexes are dimmed to prevent the images thereof from showing up on the recording images, and are brightened in the later stages to make the indexes easier to see.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2005Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Assignee: Kowa Company Ltd.Inventor: Masaharu Mizuochi
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Patent number: 7270414Abstract: An ophthalmic photographic apparatus is provided that is readily able to capture dynamic and still eye fundus images by infrared light-excited fluorescence. A CCD device that is sensitive to infrared light is used to capture images of the eye fundus as dynamic and still images. When the shutter button is pressed, infrared light-excited fluorescence images are obtained as still images and stored in a recording unit. The infrared light-excited fluorescence image of the eye fundus is captured as a still image with or without a flash from a strobe light source. Such an arrangement makes it possible to capture still images even when dynamic images are being recorded.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2004Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: Kowa Company Ltd.Inventors: Kazunori Matsumura, Masaharu Mizuochi
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Patent number: 7258440Abstract: An ophthalmic photographic apparatus includes an illumination optical system for illuminating an eye fundus and a photographing optical system for photographing an image of the illuminated eye fundus. The ophthalmic photographic apparatus includes a first aperture stop, a second aperture stop having an outside diameter that is smaller than that of the first aperture stop, a third aperture stop that transmits more light than the first aperture stop, and means for selectively inserting the first to third aperture stops into the optical path of the illumination optical system. The ophthalmic photographic apparatus does not have a complicated structure, but can be readily used in the various photographing modes.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2004Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: Kowa Company Ltd.Inventors: Takayoshi Suzuki, Masaharu Mizuochi, Kazunori Matsumura
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Publication number: 20060280489Abstract: A timer function hold mode in which the timer continues the timing function is set in a mydriatic fluorescence mode by operating a timer switch for at least a fixed time, or by simultaneously operating a fluorescence filter switch and the timer switch. If the timer function hold mode is set in the mydriatic fluorescence mode, then the timing of the timer is continued even after the photography mode switches to another photography mode e.g. non-mydriatic or mydriatic color mode. When, on the other hand, the timer function hold mode is not set in the mydriatic fluorescence mode, the timer is caused to be stopped or reset when the mode is switched to the non-mydriatic or mydriatic color mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2006Publication date: December 14, 2006Inventor: Masaharu Mizuochi
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Publication number: 20060126017Abstract: An ophthalmic photography apparatus is provided in which focus and alignment can be adjusted over the whole period of infrared light-excited fluorescence photography. During alignment and focus adjustments, the brightness of index light sources used for such adjustments is increased. When the shutter is operated, the brightness of the index light sources is decreased, dimming the indexes. When the automatic gain control of the imaging device functions in the later phase of the photography, the brightness of the indexes is gradually increased. In the first part of the photography period, the indexes are dimmed to prevent the images thereof from showing up on the recording images, and are brightened in the later stages to make the indexes easier to see.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2005Publication date: June 15, 2006Inventor: Masaharu Mizuochi
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Publication number: 20060028617Abstract: An ophthalmic photographic apparatus is provided that is readily able to capture dynamic and still eye fundus images by infrared light-excited fluorescence. A CCD device that is sensitive to infrared light is used to capture images of the eye fundus as dynamic and still images. When the shutter button is pressed, infrared light-excited fluorescence images are obtained as still images and stored in a recording unit. The infrared light-excited fluorescence image of the eye fundus is captured as a still image with or without a flash from a strobe light source. Such an arrangement makes it possible to capture still images even when dynamic images are being recorded.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2004Publication date: February 9, 2006Inventors: Kazunori Matsumura, Masaharu Mizuochi
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Publication number: 20040263781Abstract: An ophthalmic photographic apparatus includes an illumination optical system for illuminating an eye fundus and a photographing optical system for photographing an image of the illuminated eye fundus. The ophthalmic photographic apparatus includes a first aperture stop, a second aperture stop having an outside diameter that is smaller than that of the first aperture stop, a third aperture stop that transmits more light than the first aperture stop, and means for selectively inserting the first to third aperture stops into the optical path of the illumination optical system. The ophthalmic photographic apparatus does not have a complicated structure, but can be readily used in the various photographing modes.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Inventors: Takayoshi Suzuki, Masaharu Mizuochi, Kazunori Matsumura