Patents by Inventor Masako Ishimaru

Masako Ishimaru 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).

  • Publication number: 20240117406
    Abstract: Provided is a technique for reducing false positives and false negatives in a microbial test. A centrifugal filtration cartridge of the present disclosure includes: a filter cup including a filter that captures a microorganism and a nozzle that discharges a liquid that has passed through the filter; and a contamination prevention box connectable to the filter cup and internally storing a measurement container configured to store the liquid discharged from the nozzle. The contamination prevention box includes a partition wall disposed between the filter cup and an opening surface of the measurement container. The partition wall has an opening through which the nozzle can pass. The nozzle has a length in which a tip of the nozzle is located below a lower end of the opening and enters inside of the measurement container when the contamination prevention box is connected to the filter cup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Shunsuke KAWABE, Masako ISHIMARU
  • Publication number: 20230193345
    Abstract: Provided is a technique for detecting a cell-derived substance with high sensitivity without destroying cells. A cell detection device of the present disclosure includes: a medium adding device configured to add a part of a prepared culture medium to a culture container holding cells to be detected; a medium collection device configured to collect the culture medium from the culture container; and a detection device configured to detect light from the luminescent reagent mixed with the collected culture medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Masako ISHIMARU, Hideyuki NODA
  • Publication number: 20230160796
    Abstract: Provided is a technique for suppressing false positives due to environmental contamination and easily performing a highly sensitive and highly accurate microbial test. A filtration cartridge according to the present disclosure includes a filter cup with a filter capturing microorganisms, a first filter cup attachment that covers a lower portion of the filter sup and at least one through-hole in a bottom surface portion, and a second filter cup attachment, being connected to the first filter cup attachment, that covers an upper portion of the filter cup, and that has a lid installed at a position away from an opening surface of the filter cup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki NODA, Masako ISHIMARU
  • Publication number: 20220170068
    Abstract: Provided is a technique capable of easily performing a microbial test with high accuracy. A microbial test kit of the present disclosure includes: a first syringe capable of collecting a specimen and having a first syringe needle; a second syringe containing an ATP extraction reagent and having a second syringe needle; a sealed reaction container having a first opening, a first sealing member fitted to the first opening, a nozzle, a nozzle cap covering the nozzle, and a filter disposed so as to partition the first opening and the nozzle; a waste liquid container including a second opening and a second sealing member fitted to the second opening, and sealed under reduced pressure; and a luminescence measurement container that includes a third opening and a third sealing member fitted to the third opening, stores a luminescent reagent that emits light in presence of ATP, and is sealed under reduced pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki NODA, Masako ISHIMARU
  • Publication number: 20220154245
    Abstract: A cell detection device that detects a cell in a specimen with high sensitivity and includes a sealed container having a sealable specimen introduction portion, a culture portion that holds a culture solution, an extraction reagent portion that holds an extraction reagent, and a luminescent reagent portion that holds a luminescent reagent, a contact mechanism that controls contact between the culture solution, the extraction reagent, and the luminescent reagent, a photodetector that detects luminescence from the luminescent reagent portion, and a calculator that determines growth of a cell based on a detection signal of the photodetector. The culture solution, the extraction reagent, and the luminescent reagent are separately disposed in the sealed container, and the contact mechanism brings the culture solution to which a specimen is added and the extraction reagent into contact to obtain an extraction solution, and intermittently brings the extraction solution and the luminescent reagent into contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Masako Ishimaru, Hideyuki Noda
  • Publication number: 20210207072
    Abstract: A cell detector and detecting method enhance detection sensitivity for microbes according to the ATP method and reduce the detection period. The cell detector includes a sealing container having a culture portion for containing a culture medium containing the specimen, a sealable specimen introducing portion, and a luminescent reagent portion that emits light upon contact with the culture medium, a contact mechanism for controlling the contact between the culture medium and the luminescent reagent portion, a photodetector for detecting a luminescence resulting from the contact between the culture medium and the luminescent reagent portion, and a calculation unit for calculating a luminescent quantity from detection signals of the photodetector to determine cell proliferation on the basis of change in the luminescent quantity over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masako ISHIMARU, Hideyuki NODA
  • Patent number: 10921296
    Abstract: A separation column connecting device includes: a column holder for retaining a separation column; a first fitting holder carrying a first fitting which includes a seal portion to be connected to an upstream seal portion of the separation column and connected with an upstream pipe; a second fitting holder carrying a second fitting which includes a seal portion to be connected to a downstream seal portion of the separation column and connected with a downstream pipe; a body member to which either one of the first fitting holder and the second fitting holder is fixed; a driver for moving, relative to the body member, the first fitting holder or the second fitting holder not fixed to the body member; a guide for guiding the column holder in a direction of movement driven by the driver; and an elastic body disposed between the column holder and the second fitting holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Hasegawa, Masako Ishimaru, Masuyuki Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20200025727
    Abstract: A separation column connecting device includes: a column holder for retaining a separation column; a first fitting holder carrying a first fitting which includes a seal portion to be connected to an upstream seal portion of the separation column and connected with an upstream pipe; a second fitting holder carrying a second fitting which includes a seal portion to be connected to a downstream seal portion of the separation column and connected with a downstream pipe; a body member to which either one of the first fitting holder and the second fitting holder is fixed; a driver for moving, relative to the body member, the first fitting holder or the second fitting holder not fixed to the body member; a guide for guiding the column holder in a direction of movement driven by the driver; and an elastic body disposed between the column holder and the second fitting holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Hideki HASEGAWA, Masako ISHIMARU, Masuyuki SUGIYAMA
  • Patent number: 10466214
    Abstract: In order to implement a high-sensitivity mass spectrometry through an improvement in solvent removal efficiency during electrospray ionization and the like, an ionization device is provided with a light guide path 28 which guides light from a light source to sample microparticles generated by a micronization device to irradiate the microparticles. A closest distance d2 between a spatial area 34 in which the sample microparticles are present and a distal end 29 of the light guide path is greater than or equal to 0.1 mm and less than or equal to 20 mm. A closest distance d1 between an area of light irradiation 35 by the light guide path and any of a sample surface, a micronization device, and a sample holding unit that is the closest is greater than or equal to 0.01 mm and less than or equal to 10 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Masako Ishimaru, Masao Kamahori, Masuyuki Sugiyama, Kazushige Nishimura, Hiroyuki Satake, Hideki Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20180284083
    Abstract: In order to implement a high-sensitivity mass spectrometry through an improvement in solvent removal efficiency during electrospray ionization and the like, an ionization device is provided with a light guide path 28 which guides light from a light source to sample microparticles generated by a micronization device to irradiate the microparticles. A closest distance d2 between a spatial area 34 in which the sample microparticles are present and a distal end 29 of the light guide path is greater than or equal to 0.1 mm and less than or equal to 20 mm. A closest distance d1 between an area of light irradiation 35 by the light guide path and any of a sample surface, a micronization device, and a sample holding unit that is the closest is greater than or equal to 0.01 mm and less than or equal to 10 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Masako ISHIMARU, Masao KAMAHORI, Masuyuki SUGIYAMA, Kazushige NISHIMURA, Hiroyuki SATAKE, Hideki HASEGAWA
  • Patent number: 8368013
    Abstract: An analyzer performs dielectric barrier discharge and ionization of a sample by a reaction between the sample and excited molecules or ions generated by the dielectric barrier discharge at a pressure lower than an atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Masako Ishimaru, Yuichiro Hashimoto, Hideki Hasegawa, Masuyoshi Yamada, Masuyuki Sugiyama, Hidetoshi Morokuma
  • Patent number: 8253097
    Abstract: In a mass spectrometer having ion sources capable of switching between atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and electron impact ionization, a first gas chromatography device capable of separating a sample to meet a condition suitable for atmospheric pressure chemical ionization measurement is connected to upstream of an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization ion source. Part of the sample separated by the first gas chromatography device is introduced to a second gas chromatography device by distributing a flow channel. In the second gas chromatography device, a target substance and background ingredients contained in the sample are further separated and are introduced to an electron impact ionization ion source. By separating the target substance from the background ingredients, an electron impact ionization spectrum of the target substance is obtained without an effect of the background ingredients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masako Ishimaru, Masuyoshi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20110253889
    Abstract: An analyzer performs dielectric barrier discharge and ionization of a sample by a reaction between the sample and excited molecules or ions generated by the dielectric barrier discharge at a pressure lower than an atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masako ISHIMARU, Yuichiro HASHIMOTO, Hideki HASEGAWA, Masuyoshi YAMADA, Masuyuki SUGIYAMA, Hidetoshi MOROKUMA
  • Publication number: 20110101215
    Abstract: In quantitation without using the isotope labeling technique, there is no means to detect the presence/absence and the time region of the occurrence of quantitative analysis-inhibitory factors in data for the analysis, and the reliability of the data for the analysis cannot be evaluated. Also, the error of the data due to the occurrence of the quantitative analysis-inhibitory factors cannot be evaluated. In order to solve the problems, first, an internal standard to be detected simultaneously with a component for the analysis is mixed in a mobile phase or an eluate of a liquid chromatograph; under the condition where no quantitative analysis-inhibitory factors occur, a blank sample is analyzed to acquire a mass chromatogram of ions originated from the internal standard; and the result is stored in a data storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Atsumu Hirabayashi, Masako Ishimaru, Kiyomi Yoshinari, Naomi Manri
  • Patent number: 7538321
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a mass spectrometry system capable of improving an efficiency of obtaining information on a structure of substances, shortening a time taken for a measurement and substance identification, and improving identification accuracy. The system comprises: a process of mass analyzing an ionized analyte; a first fragmentation process where a first ion is selected from the ions observed in a mass spectrometry to fragment it; a process of mass analyzing a plurality of the ions generated in the first fragmentation process; a process of determining fragment ion combination capable of reconstructing the first ion using a result of the mass spectrometry; a second fragmentation process where the fragment ions contained in the fragment ion combination are fragmented; and a process of mass analyzing the fragment ions generated in the second fragmentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Masako Ishimaru, Atsumu Hirabayashi, Kinya Kobayashi, Kisaburo Deguchi
  • Publication number: 20090039250
    Abstract: In a mass spectrometer having ion sources capable of switching between atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and electron impact ionization, a first gas chromatography device capable of separating a sample to meet a condition suitable for atmospheric pressure chemical ionization measurement is connected to upstream of an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization ion source. Part of the sample separated by the first gas chromatography device is introduced to a second gas chromatography device by distributing a flow channel. In the second gas chromatography device, a target substance and background ingredients contained in the sample are further separated and are introduced to an electron impact ionization ion source. By separating the target substance from the background ingredients, an electron impact ionization spectrum of the target substance is obtained without an effect of the background ingredients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Masako ISHIMARU, Masuyoshi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20080128615
    Abstract: An analyzer carrying out analysis with a high degree of qualitative accuracy by separating impurities which hinder the analysis while analyzing in real time. An introducing tube is branched with one branched tube directly leading to an ion source for real time analysis. The other branched tube leads to the ion source so as to introduce the sample gas into the ion source at a later time. When a result of the real time analysis shows that a spectrum pattern on a MS spectrum is changed and an increase in the concentration of an impurity is observed, the introducing path for the sample gas is changed so that the sample gas is introduced into the ion source after the impurity is separated at the separation part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Masuyoshi Yamada, Masako Ishimaru
  • Publication number: 20060255263
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a mass spectrometry system capable of improving an efficiency of obtaining information on a structure of substances, shortening a time taken for a measurement and substance identification, and improving identification accuracy. The system comprises: a process of mass analyzing an ionized analyte; a first fragmentation process where a first ion is selected from the ions observed in a mass spectrometry to fragment it; a process of mass analyzing a plurality of the ions generated in the first fragmentation process; a process of determining fragment ion combination capable of reconstructing the first ion using a result of the mass spectrometry; a second fragmentation process where the fragment ions contained in the fragment ion combination are fragmented; and a process of mass analyzing the fragment ions generated in the second fragmentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventors: Masako Ishimaru, Atsumu Hirabayashi, Kinya Kobayashi, Kisaburo Deguchi
  • Patent number: 6989531
    Abstract: The invention relates to an LC/MS interface provided with structure that the end of a spray capillary is rarely damaged and the object is to provide the LC/MS interface which a general user can easily operate, which inhibits the extension of a separation band and the deterioration of detection sensitivity and which enables high separation and sensitive analysis. A metallic member having a hole for connecting a separation column and a spray capillary and a resin member for fixing the upstream side of the short spray capillary are used. Further, to enhance operability, spray ionization using gas spraying is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsumu Hirabayashi, Masako Ishimaru, Masahiro Yamaoka
  • Publication number: 20050092917
    Abstract: The invention relates to an LC/MS interface provided with structure that the end of a spray capillary is rarely damaged and the object is to provide the LC/MS interface which a general user can easily operate, which inhibits the extension of a separation band and the deterioration of detection sensitivity and which enables high separation and sensitive analysis. A metallic member having a hole for connecting a separation column and a spray capillary and a resin member for fixing the upstream side of the short spray capillary are used. Further, to enhance operability, spray ionization using gas spraying is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Atsumu Hirabayashi, Masako Ishimaru, Masahiro Yamaoka