Patents by Inventor Masakazu Akechi

Masakazu Akechi 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: 10391483
    Abstract: A dispensing device for reducing the dead volume of a liquid sample includes a main channel connected to a sample inlet and a sample outlet, and branch channels connected to the main channel. Each branch channel is connected to a different liquid reservoir. High inflow-withstanding pressure sections are provided in the main channel between the branch channels and between the branch channel and the sample outlet. Each high inflow-withstanding pressure section has a channel inner wall forming a contact angle of 90° or larger with a liquid sample. A liquid sample enters the main channel through the sample inlet, reaches a branch point between the first branch channel and the main channel, flows into the first branch channel and the liquid reservoir, and then passes through the high inflow-withstanding pressure section to a branch point between the next branch channel and the main channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Kanai, Takahiro Nishimoto, Masakazu Akechi, Nobuhiro Hanafusa
  • Publication number: 20190136171
    Abstract: A well has a pair of side surfaces, and one of the side surfaces is in contact with a compartment of a first channel with a gas-permeable membrane being interposed therebetween and the other side surface is in contact with a compartment of a second channel with a gas-permeable membrane being interposed therebetween. The well is filled with a liquid cell culture medium, and in such a state, a high-concentration gas and a low-concentration gas, which are different in the concentration of a specific component from each other, are allowed to flow through the first and second channels, respectively, to form a concentration distribution of the specific component in the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicants: SHIMADZU CORPORATION, KYOTO UNIVERSITY, WASEDA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tatsuya Munaka, Hirohisa Abe, Masaki Kanai, Masakazu Akechi, Taira Maekawa, Shinya Kimura, Eishi Ashihara, Shuichi Shoji, Kentaro Kawai
  • Patent number: 10029253
    Abstract: Micro droplets are accurately placed in a reaction well. The reaction well (5) is formed in one surface of a well base (3). A channel base (11) is placed on the well base (3). The channel base (11) has, in its surface joined to the well base (3), a liquid introduction channel (12a) and a reaction well air vent channel (18a). The channel base (11) also has a recess (27) formed opposite to the reaction well (5) and recessed upward from the upper surface of the liquid introduction channel (12a). When viewed from above, a shoulder part (26) of the recess (27) is placed near the connection part between the reaction well (5) and the liquid introduction channel (12a) and is closer to the center of the reaction well (5) than a shoulder part (16) of the reaction well (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Akechi, Masaki Kanai, Takahiro Nishimoto, Nobuhiro Hanafusa
  • Patent number: 9726658
    Abstract: A display device, a display method, and a display program used in a measurement system capable of facilitating positioning in a measurement information image by displaying an IP (imaging plate) image having measurement information for ?+ rays contained in blood to be measured and appending a guide G based on design information of a disc housing the blood to an IP image and displaying the image. The guide G is appended to an IP image in which a guide is not originally reflected, which makes it possible to visually discern a reference position (for example, the central position of the disc) in the IP image based on design information. As a result, it is possible to facilitate positioning in the IP image based on the guide G indicating the reference position (central position of the disc).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Oishi, Nobuya Hashizume, Tomoaki Tsuda, Masakazu Akechi
  • Publication number: 20170120259
    Abstract: A centrifugal separation device including a supporter attached to a centrifuge and a divisional part removable from the supporter is provided. The divisional part has two flow channels and an extracting part. The flow channels extend substantially in parallel to the direction in which centrifugal force acts, and are connected to each other on the leading end side in the direction in which centrifugal force acts. One of the flow channels is a sample flow channel having a sample inlet on the base end side in the direction in which centrifugal force acts, and the other flow channel is an air-discharging flow channel having an outlet on the base end side. The extracting part includes part of the sample flow channel, and has a connecting part for the part to be cut off from the remainder of the sample flow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ippei Takeuchi, Masakazu Akechi, Masaki Kanai, Shinobu Kudoh
  • Publication number: 20160214109
    Abstract: Micro droplets are accurately placed in a reaction well. The reaction well (5) is formed in one surface of a well base (3). A channel base (11) is placed on the well base (3). The channel base (11) has, in its surface joined to the well base (3), a liquid introduction channel (12a) and a reaction well air vent channel (18a). The channel base (11) also has a recess (27) formed opposite to the reaction well (5) and recessed upward from the upper surface of the liquid introduction channel (12a). When viewed from above, a shoulder part (26) of the recess (27) is placed near the connection part between the reaction well (5) and the liquid introduction channel (12a) and is closer to the center of the reaction well (5) than a shoulder part (16) of the reaction well (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Masakazu Akechi, Masaki Kanai, Takahiro Nishimoto, Nobuhiro Hanafusa
  • Publication number: 20150310584
    Abstract: A display device, a display method, and a display program used in a measurement system capable of facilitating positioning in a measurement information image by displaying an IP (imaging plate) image having measurement information for ?+ rays contained in blood to be measured and appending a guide G based on design information of a disc housing the blood to an IP image and displaying the image. The guide G is appended to an IP image in which a guide is not originally reflected, which makes it possible to visually discern a reference position (for example, the central position of the disc) in the IP image based on design information. As a result, it is possible to facilitate positioning in the IP image based on the guide G indicating the reference position (central position of the disc).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira OISHI, Nobuya HASHIZUME, Tomoaki TSUDA, Masakazu AKECHI
  • Patent number: 8858682
    Abstract: In order to control bubble removal or mixing in a flow channel, bubble transfer between flow channels (1, 2) is controlled by disposing first flow channel (1) for flow of a first fluid of liquid or gas and second flow channel (2) for flow of a second fluid of liquid with, interposed therebetween, gas exchange unit (5) through which while no liquid can pass, a gas component can be transferred, and by providing a pressure difference between the flow channels (1, 2) with the gas exchange unit (5). By rendering the pressure of the second flow channel (2) higher than that of the first flow channel (1), any bubble transfer from the first fluid to the second fluid is prevented, or bubbles within the second fluid are transferred into the first fluid to thereby attain deaeration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Akechi
  • Publication number: 20140253594
    Abstract: The display apparatus of this invention, even when edges of an IP image with measurement information on ?+ rays are indistinct and an area to be measured is unclear, includes a main screen for displaying in superimposition the IP image and a scanner image with morphological information on blood, whereby an area measured of the scanner image can be grasped visually from the IP image. Even if traces of movement of the blood appear on the IP image, the position of an object to be measured can be determined by displaying the IP image and the scanner image in superimposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuya Hashizume, Tomoaki Tsuda, Masakazu Akechi, Akira Oishi
  • Patent number: 8697010
    Abstract: A dispensing device for reducing the dead volume of a liquid sample includes a main channel connected to a sample inlet and sample outlet, and branch channels connected to the main channel. Each branch channel is connected to a different liquid reservoir. High inflow-withstanding pressure sections are provided in the main channel between the branch channels and between the branch channel and the sample outlet. Each high inflow-withstanding pressure section has a channel inner wall forming a contact angle of 90° or larger with a liquid sample. A liquid sample enters the main channel through the sample inlet, reaches a branch point between the first branch channel and the main channel flows into the first branch channel and the liquid reservoir, and then passes through the high inflow-withstanding pressure section to a branch point between the next branch channel and the main channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Kanai, Takahiro Nishimoto, Masakazu Akechi, Nobuhiro Hanafusa
  • Publication number: 20140079603
    Abstract: A dispensing device for reducing the dead volume of a liquid sample includes a main channel connected to a sample inlet and a sample outlet, and branch channels connected to the main channel. Each branch channel is connected to a different liquid reservoir. High inflow-withstanding pressure sections are provided in the main channel between the branch channels and between the branch channel and the sample outlet. Each high inflow-withstanding pressure section has a channel inner wall forming a contact angle of 90° or larger with a liquid sample. A liquid sample enters the main channel through the sample inlet, reaches a branch point between the first branch channel and the main channel, flows into the first branch channel and the liquid reservoir, and then passes through the high inflow-withstanding pressure section to a branch point between the next branch channel and the main channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Kanai, Takahiro Nishimoto, Masakazu Akechi, Nobuhiro Hanafusa
  • Publication number: 20140051160
    Abstract: Micro droplets are accurately placed in a reaction well. The reaction well (5) is formed in one surface of a well base (3). A channel base (11) is placed on the well base (3). The channel base (11) has, in its surface joined to the well base (3), a liquid introduction channel (12a) and a reaction well air vent channel (18a). The channel base (11) also has a recess (27) formed opposite to the reaction well (5) and recessed upward from the upper surface of the liquid introduction channel (12a). When viewed from above, a shoulder part (26) of the recess (27) is placed near the connection part between the reaction well (5) and the liquid introduction channel (12a) and is closer to the center of the reaction well (5) than a shoulder part (16) of the reaction well (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Akechi, Masaki Kanai, Takahiro Nishimoto, Nobuhiro Hanafusa
  • Patent number: 8568668
    Abstract: Micro droplets are accurately placed in a reaction well. The reaction well (5) is formed in one surface of a well base (3). A channel base (11) is placed on the well base (3). The channel base (11) has, in its surface joined to the well base (3), a liquid introduction channel (12a) and a reaction well air vent channel (18a). The channel base (11) also has a recess (27) formed opposite to the reaction well (5) and recessed upward from the upper surface of the liquid introduction channel (12a). When viewed from above, a shoulder part (26) of the recess (27) is placed near the connection part between the reaction well (5) and the liquid introduction channel (12a) and is closer to the center of the reaction well (5) than a shoulder part (16) of the reaction well (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Akechi, Masaki Kanai, Takahiro Nishimoto, Nobuhiro Hanafusa
  • Patent number: 8557597
    Abstract: A total organic carbon measuring instrument including a measuring unit composed of, integrated together, organic substance oxidation part and carbon dioxide separation part and conductivity measuring part, control unit and data processing unit. In order to enhance the accuracy of conductivity measurement, the control unit is constructed so as to stop feeding of a sample water at the time of oxidation of organic substance and carry out feeding of the sample water at the time of sample water moving to the organic substance oxidation decomposition part and carbon dioxide separation part. The data processing unit is constructed so as to measure the total organic carbon concentration on the basis of conductivity at the time of arriving of sample water irradiated with ultraviolet rays of which relative intensity is a given value or higher at the carbon dioxide separation part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Akechi, Hirohisa Abe, Yoichi Fujiyama
  • Publication number: 20130164848
    Abstract: A well has a pair of side surfaces, and one of the side surfaces is in contact with a compartment of a first channel with a gas-permeable membrane being interposed therebetween and the other side surface is in contact with a compartment of a second channel with a gas-permeable membrane being interposed therebetween. The well is filled with a liquid cell culture medium, and in such a state, a high-concentration gas and a low-concentration gas, which are different in the concentration of a specific component from each other, are allowed to flow through the first and second channels, respectively, to form a concentration distribution of the specific component in the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicants: SHIMADZU CORPORATION, WASEDA UNIVERSITY, KYOTO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tatsuya Munaka, Hirohisa Abe, Masaki Kanai, Masakazu Akechi, Taira Maekawa, Shinya Kimura, Eishi Asihara, Shuichi Shoji, Kentaro Kawai
  • Patent number: 8361414
    Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To increase the rate of gas transfer in gas exchangers. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A gas exchange chip comprises substrates (1,2); two flow channels (3,4) formed in the substrates (1,2) and each having an inlet port and an outlet port; and multiple grooves (9) interlinking the flow channels (3,4). The grooves (9) have the size of their sectional area predetermined and have at least a part of the internal surface thereof rendered hydrophobic so as to permit the transfer of gas component while inhibiting any liquid passage. A sample water containing carbon dioxide is caused to flow through one of the flow channels (3) while pure water is caused to flow through the other flow channel (4) to thereby transfer the carbon dioxide contained in the sample water into the pure water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Akechi, Yoichi Fujiyama, Hirohisa Abe, Masaki Kanai
  • Publication number: 20120107947
    Abstract: A total organic carbon measuring instrument including a measuring unit composed of, integrated together, organic substance oxidation part and carbon dioxide separation part and conductivity measuring part, control unit and data processing unit. In order to enhance the accuracy of conductivity measurement, the control unit is constructed so as to stop feeding of a sample water at the time of oxidation of organic substance and carry out feeding of the sample water at the time of sample water moving to the organic substance oxidation decomposition part and carbon dioxide separation part. The data processing unit is constructed so as to measure the total organic carbon concentration on the basis of conductivity at the time of arriving of sample water irradiated with ultraviolet rays of which relative intensity is a given value or higher at the carbon dioxide separation part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Masakazu Akechi, Hirohisa Abe, Yoichi Fujiyama
  • Patent number: 7993586
    Abstract: Disclosed is a total organic carbon (TOC) measurement apparatus capable of facilitating reduction in size of the apparatus and achieving enhanced measurement accuracy. The TOC measurement apparatus includes an organics oxidation unit, a carbon-dioxide separation unit and a conductivity measurement unit, which are integrally formed by laminating a plurality of plates to define therebetween and incorporate therein an oxidizing flow passage, an aqueous-sample flow passage, a gas permeable membrane, a measurement-water flow passage and a conductivity measuring electrode. The TOC measurement apparatus is designed such that carbon oxide in an aqueous sample is transferred from the aqueous-sample flow passage to the measurement-water flow passage through the gas permeable membrane, and a conductivity of measurement water which contains the carbon oxide and flows through a flow passage facing the conductivity measuring electrode is determined and converted to a TOC content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Fujiyama, Masakazu Akechi, Masaki Kanai
  • Patent number: 7931865
    Abstract: An apparatus which comprises: an organic-substance oxidation part in which organic substances contained in a sample water supplied are oxidized into carbon dioxide; a carbon dioxide separation part in which the carbon dioxide contained in the sample water is caused to permeate and come into a measurement water; and a conductivity measurement part in which the conductivity of the measurement water is measured. The carbon dioxide separation part comprises: a sample water channel in which sample water flows; an intermediate water part in which intermediate water having a higher pH value in a neutral region than the sample water is present; and a measurement water channel through which the measurement water comprising deionized water flows. The sample water channel is in contact with the intermediate water part through a gas-permeable membrane, and the intermediate water part is in contact with the measurement water channel through a gas-permeable membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Fujiyama, Hirohisa Abe, Masakazu Akechi, Takeaki Inoue, Takeshi Iharada
  • Publication number: 20110036862
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dispensing device capable of reducing the dead volume of a liquid sample. The dispensing device includes a main channel (3) whose one end is connected to a sample inlet (13) and whose other end is connected to a sample outlet (15), and a plurality of branch channels (5) connected to the main channel (3). The branch channels (5) are each connected to different liquid reservoirs (7) at their ends located on the opposite side from the main channel (3). A plurality of high inflow-withstanding pressure sections (17) having a higher inflow-withstanding pressure than the branch channel (5) are provided in the main channel (3) between the branch channels (5) and (5) and between the branch channel (5) and the sample outlet (15). Each of the high inflow-withstanding pressure sections (17) has a channel inner wall which forms a contact angle of 90° or larger with a liquid sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Masaki Kanai, Takahiro Nishimoto, Masakazu Akechi, Nobuhiro Hanafusa