Patents by Inventor Masato Ishizawa
Masato Ishizawa 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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Publication number: 20110294131Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an automatic analyzer using a disc, which treats samples with different pretreatment times or samples with different measurement times requested at random with high throughput. The present invention relates to performing adjustment rotation, rotation returning to origin, and measurement rotation in specimen analysis using a disc having a plurality of sample positions on a circumference. The adjustment rotation is an operation for placing a desired sample position in a particular position for introducing a sample into the disc or discarding the sample. The rotation returning to origin is an operation for placing an origin of the disc in a particular position. The measurement rotation is an operation for rotating the disc at a predetermined speed for measuring a plurality of samples held by the disc.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2009Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventors: Kohshi Maeda, Takehiko Hosoiri, Minoru Sano, Masato Ishizawa
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Publication number: 20110267198Abstract: Pressure fluctuations are sampled at fixed time intervals and subjected to arithmetic processing, using as a trigger the event (or a sign temporally close to that event) of the reverse motor rotation for the backlash correction, thereby discriminating normal suction from suction of sample liquid with undesirable air bubbles.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2011Publication date: November 3, 2011Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi OHGA, Masato ISHIZAWA
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Publication number: 20110256532Abstract: An object of the present invention relates to providing a nucleic acid analyzer capable of testing a plurality of test items in parallel, and of obtaining high efficiency of specimen processing even if the test item or a measuring object is changed. The present invention relates to an analyzer including a carousel rotatable about a rotation axis, a plurality of reaction containers held along a circumferential edge of the carousel, and at least one detector having a light source for irradiating the reaction container with excitation light and a detection element for detecting fluorescence from a reaction liquid in the reaction container. The detector is removable. By attaching a desired detector, it is possible to perform fluorescence measurement in response to the test item. According to the present invention, it is possible to test a plurality of test items in parallel, and even if the test item or the measuring object is changed, the high efficiency of specimen processing can be obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2009Publication date: October 20, 2011Inventors: Minoru Sano, Masato Ishizawa, Shuhei Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20110158848Abstract: An automatic analyzer, which prevents cross contamination, has a sample dispensing probe washing mechanism 81, a reagent dispensing probe washing mechanism 82 and an agitation mechanism washing mechanism 83 that are individually controlled. A washing liquid discharge quantity for dispensing probes 42 and 52 and a reserved quantity of the washing liquid for a washing bath are acquired on the basis of detection signals fed from corresponding liquid flow detectors 111, 112, 113, 114, 115 and 116 and liquid level detectors 121 and 122. The washing liquid discharge quantity and the reserved liquid quantity are compared with predetermined reference values thereby monitoring whether or not the feed of the washing liquid to the dispensing probes 42 and 52 and the reservation and discharge of the washing liquid in the washing bath are abnormal. An anomaly is reported by a printer 108 or a CRT 106.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2011Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Norikazu ARIMA, Masato ISHIZAWA
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Patent number: 7903248Abstract: To increase the direct light received by the detector and decrease reflections from the detection component support structures, the luminescent substance is placed as close to the detector as possible. More specifically, the apparatus is configured so as to slide out a structure shielding the detector from light and at the same time slide in the vessel containing the luminescent substance therein until the vessel comes right under the detector. The invention can detect trace luminescence from a small-volume sample by maximizing the amount of direct light received from the sample and minimizing the decay of indirect light received from the sample attributable to interactions with the vessel for containing the sample therein, the structure for collecting light, and the structure for supporting other detection components.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2008Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Hidetsugu Tanoue, Masato Ishizawa, Yoichiro Suzuki
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Patent number: 7521703Abstract: In an automatic analyzer which includes a reaction container which contains reaction solution therein, a light source which emit light to be transmitted through the reaction solution, a spectral detector which measures the light transmitted through the reaction solution, a memory which stores light measurement data measured by the spectral detector and a CPU which calculates the light measurement data stored in the memory to obtain a light intensity, wherein the spectral detector measures the light over an entirety of an area from one end to the other end of the reaction container at a portion where the reaction solution reserves, the memory stores the light measurement data measured by the spectral detector, and light measurement data in an area where the reaction solution exists is obtained from the memory to calculate a light intensity.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2007Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corp.Inventors: Kenichi Nishigaki, Masato Ishizawa, Shigenori Watari
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Publication number: 20090074614Abstract: Pressure fluctuations are sampled at fixed time intervals and subjected to arithmetic processing, using as a trigger the event (or a sign temporally close to that event) of the reverse motor rotation for the backlash correction, thereby discriminating normal suction from suction of sample liquid with undesirable air bubbles.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2008Publication date: March 19, 2009Inventors: Hiroshi OHGA, Masato Ishizawa
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Publication number: 20080225279Abstract: To increase the direct light received by the detector and decrease reflections from the detection component support structures, the luminescent substance is placed as close to the detector as possible. More specifically, the apparatus is configured so as to slide out a structure shielding the detector from light and at the same time slide in the vessel containing the luminescent substance therein until the vessel comes right under the detector. The invention can detect trace luminescence from a small-volume sample by maximizing the amount of direct light received from the sample and minimizing the decay of indirect light received from the sample attributable to interactions with the vessel for containing the sample therein, the structure for collecting light, and the structure for supporting other detection components.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Inventors: Hidetsugu TANOUE, Masato ISHIZAWA, Yoichiro SUZUKI
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Patent number: 7425303Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic analyzer that includes a reagent vessel for containing a reagent, a pipette probe that has a liquid surface detection function and dispenses a reagent from the reagent vessel, a reaction vessel for containing a reagent that is dispensed from the pipette probe, an analysis mechanism for measuring a reaction between a reagent and a sample within the reaction vessel, a storage means for memorizing liquid surface position information that is acquired by the liquid surface detection function, a liquid surface estimation mechanism for estimating the current liquid surface position in accordance with time-sequential changes in liquid surface information stored by the storage means, and a function for controlling a dispensing operation of the pipette probe in accordance with the result of liquid surface estimation by the liquid surface estimation mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2003Date of Patent: September 16, 2008Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Masato Ishizawa, Yohichi Aruga, Kazumi Kusano
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Publication number: 20080056942Abstract: An automatic analyzer, which prevents cross contamination, has a sample dispensing probe washing mechanism 81, a reagent dispensing probe washing mechanism 82 and an agitation mechanism washing mechanism 83 that are individually controlled. A washing liquid discharge quantity for dispensing probes 42 and 52 and a reserved quantity of the washing liquid for a washing bath are acquired on the basis of detection signals fed from corresponding liquid flow detectors 111, 112, 113, 114, 115 and 116 and liquid level detectors 121 and 122. The washing liquid discharge quantity and the reserved liquid quantity are compared with predetermined reference values thereby monitoring whether or not the feed of the washing liquid to the dispensing probes 42 and 52 and the reservation and discharge of the washing liquid in the washing bath are abnormal. An anomaly is reported by a printer 108 or a CRT 106.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2007Publication date: March 6, 2008Inventors: Norikazu ARIMA, Masato ISHIZAWA
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Publication number: 20070181787Abstract: In an automatic analyzer which includes a reaction container which contains reaction solution therein, a light source which emit light to be transmitted through the reaction solution, a spectral detector which measures the light transmitted through the reaction solution, a memory which stores light measurement data measured by the spectral detector and a CPU which calculates the light measurement data stored in the memory to obtain a light intensity, wherein the spectral detector measures the light over an entirety of an area from one end to the other end of the reaction container at a portion where the reaction solution reserves, the memory stores the light measurement data measured by the spectral detector, and light measurement data in an area where the reaction solution exists is obtained from the memory to calculate a light intensity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2007Publication date: August 9, 2007Inventors: Kenichi Nishigaki, Masato Ishizawa, Shigenori Watari
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Patent number: 6890761Abstract: In order to reduce carry-over of sample liquids in an automatic analyzer by a pipeting probe and resulting contamination of sample liquids by immersing the pipeting probe into sample liquids as shallow as possible, said pipeting probe is moving down to a position which is calculated and determined according to the detected height of a container temporarily stopping said probe there, and further moving down said probe to immerse said probe into the liquid in said container.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2001Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Masato Ishizawa, Hideyuki Yanami
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Publication number: 20040101440Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic analyzer that includes a reagent vessel for containing a reagent, a pipette probe that has a liquid surface detection function and dispenses a reagent from the reagent vessel, a reaction vessel for containing a reagent that is dispensed from the pipette probe, an analysis mechanism for measuring a reaction between a reagent and a sample within the reaction vessel, a storage means for memorizing liquid surface position information that is acquired by the liquid surface detection function, a liquid surface estimation mechanism for estimating the current liquid surface position in accordance with time-sequential changes in liquid surface information stored by the storage means, and a function for controlling a dispensing operation of the pipette probe-in accordance with the result of liquid surface estimation by the liquid surface estimation mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Masato Ishizawa, Yohichi Aruga, Kazumi Kusano
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Patent number: 6413475Abstract: An automatic analysis apparatus with a liquid level detection function includes a pipetting device for pipetting a liquid sample from a sample cup to a reaction container by using a pipetting probe that serves as a first capacitor electrode. A sample cup holding means serves as a second capacitor electrode having a ground potential. The conductor material is arranged along a direction in which the pipetting probe moves down for pipetting and is separate from the pipetting device. The conductor material has the same ground potential as that of the sample cup holding means and also serves as a second electrode whereby at any one time either of the sample cup holding means and the conductive material serves as a second capacitor electrode in combination with the first capacitor electrode.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1998Date of Patent: July 2, 2002Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Masato Ishizawa, Akira Inagaki, Ryuji Tao
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Publication number: 20020064481Abstract: In order to reduce carry-over of sample liquids in an automatic analyzer by a pipeting probe and resulting contamination of sample liquids by immersing the pipeting probe into sample liquids as shallow as possible, said pipeting probe is moving down to a position which is calculated and determined according to the detected height of a container temporarily stopping said probe there, and further moving down said probe to immerse said probe into the liquid in said container.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2001Publication date: May 30, 2002Inventors: Masato Ishizawa, Hideyuki Yanami
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Publication number: 20020009393Abstract: In order to surely and correctly detect the liquid level of the sample even if the sample cup (5) is not directly set on the sample disk (105), the cup (5) is mounted on the test tube (6) set on the sample disk (105) and moved to a sample pipetting position. A conductive material served as a liquid level detecting electrode is provided between the sample pipetting probe and said sample disk (105). The sample pipetting probe start to move down, and when tip of the sample pipetting probe contact with the liquid level, and change of an electrostatic capacitance between the conductive material and the sample pipetting probe is detected, the moving down motion of the sample pipetting probe is stopped.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 1998Publication date: January 24, 2002Inventors: MASATO ISHIZAWA, AKIRA INAGAKI, RYUJI TAO
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Patent number: 6107810Abstract: A liquid level detecting circuit is pattern-printed on a board. The liquid level detecting circuit has a pair of discharge elements and an electrostatic capacitance change detecting circuit. One of the discharge elements is grounded, and the other of the discharge elements is connected to a pipetting probe and the electrostatic capacitance change detecting circuit. When an extraneous noise signal such as a noise signal caused by static electricity charged on the surface of a container is input through the pipetting probe while the pipetting probe is being moved toward the container containing a liquid the liquid surface of which is to be detected, the extraneous noise signal is discharged to the ground through the pair of discharge elements to suppress the transmission of the noise signal to be transmitted to the electrostatic capacitance change detecting circuit.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 1997Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Masato Ishizawa, Nobuo Suzuki
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Patent number: 4970468Abstract: Analytical equipment, in which liquid substances in sample containers and reagent containers are delivered to reaction cells by a vertically movable probe. The sample containers and the reagent containers are supported on a rotatable metal plate. The metal plate is rotated to place one of the sample containers or reagent containers at a sample or reagent pipetting position. The probe transmits a high-frequency signal to detect a change in electrostatic capacitance between itself and the metal plate at a time the probe is put in contact with a liquid substance in the sample or reagent container. A spline shaft for moving the probe in a vertical direction has a detection plate, and a control signal is generated when the detection plate reaches a predetermined position. The generation of the high-frequency signal is stopped when the probe begins to make a descending motion until the control signal is generated, to reduce the adverse effect of disturbing waves on various parts.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 1989Date of Patent: November 13, 1990Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Masato Ishizawa, Hiroshi Hashimoto
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Patent number: D638952Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2010Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Mitsuru Oonuma, Akira Omachi, Masato Ishizawa, Yoshiyuki Shoji