Patents by Inventor Minoru Yamazaki

Minoru Yamazaki 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: 5924977
    Abstract: In an endoscope system including an endoscope having an insertion section insertable into a cavity under inspection and an operation section having at least one operation switch, the operation section being connected to a proximal end of the insertion section and a disposable protection cover having an insertion section cover for covering said insertion section of the endoscope and an operation section cover for covering the operation section of the endoscope, the insertion section cover includes a forceps channel through which existing forceps for use in ordinary coverless endoscopes can be inserted. An inner diameter of the forceps channel is determined to be slightly larger than an outer diameter of most frequently used forceps or standard forceps whose number is maximized in the outer diameter series of the forceps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Yabe, Yoshihiro Iida, Akira Suzuki, Hideo Ito, Yoshio Tashiro, Minoru Yamazaki, Osamu Tamada, Keiichi Arai
  • Patent number: 5879288
    Abstract: An endoscope system provided with an electronic or optical endoscope is provided therein with an illuminating optical system, an observation optical system, a flow passage system and a forceps channel. Cleaning and disinfection operations are performed on the endoscope so that the endoscope is reusable. An electronic or optical cover type endoscope is provided therein with an illuminating optical system and an observation optical system. The cover type endoscope is used with an endoscope cover having a flow passage system and a forceps channel mounted on the cover type endoscope. The endoscope cover is discarded and replaced whereby the cover type endoscope is reused. Peripheral equipment for endoscope inspection used in combination with the endoscopes is capable of being selectively connected to any of the endoscopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Suzuki, Hisao Yabe, Yoshihiro Iida, Hideo Itoh, Yoshio Tashiro, Minoru Yamazaki, Osamu Tamada, Keiichi Arai, Hiroshi Ishii, Masaaki Nakazawa, Koji Yamaya, Yasuhito Kura
  • Patent number: 5863286
    Abstract: In an endoscope system including an endoscope having an insertion section and an operation section and a disposable protection cover having an insertion section cover having formed therein a forceps channel and a forceps inlet opening through which a forceps can be inserted into the forceps channel, the forceps inlet opening is selectively closed by a forceps plug which is made of resilient material and separately formed from the insertion section cover. The forceps plug is preferably formed such that it can be detachably secured to a forceps inlet opening of an ordinary coverless (without-cover} endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Yabe, Yoshihiro Iida, Akira Suzuki, Hideo Ito, Yoshio Tashiro, Minoru Yamazaki, Osamu Tamada, Masaaki Nakazawa, Koji Yamaya
  • Patent number: 5814217
    Abstract: A magnetic separator for purifying coolant including sludge mainly comprising needle-shaped chips for the purpose of recycling. A comb-type guide plate formed of a magnetic substance material is provided before a squeezing roller, in such a manner that convex and concave portions are in conformity with the magnetic lines of force produced by the arrangement of magnets of a fixed magnet-group cylinder stored in a rotary cylinder. Thus, magnetic flux curtains are formed between the convex portions and the rotary cylinder. Needle-shaped chips which have come as attracted sludge standing in the shape of a jet on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary cylinder are interrupted from going ahead by the magnetic flux curtains, and become accumulated sludge, and are led to lying attracted sludge on the left and right sides. Thus, the attracted sludge is prevented from stabbing a squeezing roller, and operations of extracting liquid from the sludge are continued without causing any trouble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: CNK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Yamazaki, Hidenori Sano
  • Patent number: 5793639
    Abstract: An airport baggage receiving and handling method receives a passenger's baggage, identifies the baggage and processes the baggage for the passenger's flight. The method includes providing identification information, storing a result of a baggage security check, retrieving the baggage security check result, conveying the baggage security check result to the passenger, and forwarding the baggage after the baggage security check is satisfied. The identification information identifies the passenger, the baggage, and the passenger and the baggage with respect to each other, when the passenger undergoes a check-in procedure. The baggage security check result is retrieved based on the identification information of the passenger at the time of the passenger's security check. If the baggage security check result is a rejection, the passenger is permitted to satisfy the rejection. As a result, only baggage that has satisfied the security check is forwarded to a sorting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minoru Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 5779625
    Abstract: An endoscope system including an endoscope having an insertion section which extends from a proximal end to a distal end and is inserted into a cavity under inspection and an operation section connected to the proximal end of the insertion section, and a protection cover including an insertion section inserting channel which extends from a proximal end to a distal end and into which said insertion section of the endoscope is insertable and a conduit channel which extends from the proximal end to the distal end, the improvement being characterized in that a distal end portion of the insertion section has a non-circular cross section such as a semicircular or oval cross section and a proximal end portion of the insertion section has a substantially circular cross section. A distal end member of the insertion section inserting channel has an accommodating portion which is a corresponding non-circular cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Suzuki, Hisao Yabe, Yoshihiro Iida, Hideo Ito, Yoshio Tashiro, Minoru Yamazaki, Osamu Tamada, Hiroshi Ishii, Jin Kira, Takeshi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 5738630
    Abstract: An endoscope system including an endoscope having an insertion section which extends from a proximal end to a distal end and is inserted into a cavity under inspection and an operation section connected to the proximal end of the insertion section, and a protection cover including an insertion section inserting channel which extends from a proximal end to a distal end and into which said insertion section of the endoscope is insertable and a conduit channel which extends from the proximal end to the distal end, the improvement being characterized in that a distal end portion of the insertion section has a non-circular cross section such as a semicircular or oval cross section and a proximal end portion of the insertion section has a substantially circular cross section. A distal end member of the insertion section inserting channel has an accommodating portion which is a corresponding non-circular cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Suzuki, Hisao Yabe, Yoshihiro Iida, Hideo Ito, Yoshio Tashiro, Minoru Yamazaki, Osamu Tamada, Hiroshi Ishii, Jin Kira, Takeshi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 5733243
    Abstract: A cover system endoscope apparatus in which an insert part cover sheath for isolating the insert part of a cover endoscope is airtightly connected to a distal end constructive part of a tip part of an insert part cover. The insert part cover sheath is composed of a soft resin such as polyurethane exhibiting an excellent chemical resistance and a relatively high flexibility. The tip side of the cover sheath is connectively covered on an outer peripheral edge of the rear end of the distal end constructive part. The insert part cover sheath is formed with a forceps inlet on its near-at-hand side. Connected airtightly thereto is an endoscope manipulation part fixing mouth part having an expansion tube mouth for connecting an expansion tube and further a connecting part connected to a cover holding tool. An opening of an endoscope insert channel provided in an interior of the insert part cover sheath is formed on the near-at-hand side of the endoscope manipulation part fixing mouth part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Yabe, Minoru Yamazaki, Yoshihiro Iida, Akira Suzuki, Hideo Ito, Osamu Tamada, Yoshio Tashiro
  • Patent number: 5722933
    Abstract: A cover-fit endoscope can be used while being covered with a cover so that it is watertight. An appliance channel is extended through the cover and an appliance insertion inlet of the channel is open. This opening of the appliance insertion inlet is provided with an integral appliance plug. It is therefore possible to prevent the contaminated appliance plug from being fitted to the sterilized cover by mistake, and also to prevent leakage of the body fluids. Thus, the cover-fit endoscope is kept from contamination. The cover and the appliance plug are both discarded after use. The need for washing and disinfecting the cover-fit endoscope is eliminated, and use of the sterilized appliance plug is always ensured to reduce a fear of infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Yabe, Minoru Yamazaki, Hideo Ito, Yoshio Tashiro, Yoshihiro Iida, Akira Suzuki, Osamu Tamada
  • Patent number: 5702347
    Abstract: In an endoscope system including an endoscope having an insertion section and an operation section and a disposable protection cover having an insertion section cover having formed therein a forceps channel and a forceps inlet opening through which a forceps can be inserted into the forceps channel, said forceps inlet opening is selectively closed by a forceps plug which is made of resilient material and separately formed from the insertion section cover. The forceps plug is preferably formed such that it can be detachably secured to a forceps inlet opening of an ordinary coverless (without-cover) endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Yabe, Yoshihiro Iida, Akira Suzuki, Hideo Ito, Yoshio Tashiro, Minoru Yamazaki, Osamu Tamada, Masaaki Nakazawa, Koji Yamaya
  • Patent number: 5697887
    Abstract: An endoscope cover apparatus including a joint portion for fixing a control portion of an endoscope disposed adjacent to an operator, and extending insertion-portion cover disposed in front of the joint portion, a cover leading member disposed in the leading portion of the insertion-portion cover, a first tubular passage member passing through the cover-type endoscope from the joint portion to the cover leading member to continuously connect opening portions respectively formed in the cover leading member and the joint portion, and a second tubular passage member for continuously connecting the tubular passage of the joint portion to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Yabe, Yoshio Tashiro, Yoshihiro Iida, Akira Suzuki, Hideo Itoh, Minoru Yamazaki, Osamu Tamada, Yasuhito Kura
  • Patent number: 5695447
    Abstract: In an endoscope system including an endoscope having an insertion section to be inserted into a cavity under inspection, a bending portion which is provided in the insertion section near a distal end thereof and is bent in at least up and down directions and an operation section to which a proximal end of the insertion section is connected and a disposable protection cover having an insertion section dover for covering the insertion section of the endoscope and having formed therein an insertion section inserting channel into which the insertion section of the endoscope is insertable and conduit channels, the insertion section inserting channel and conduit channels are both crossed by a line which is parallel with the up and down directions, so that the distal end of the insertion section can be correctly bent in the up and down directions without being influenced by the conduit channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Yabe, Yoshihiro Iida, Akira Suzuki, Hideo Ito, Yoshio Tashiro, Minoru Yamazaki, Osamu Tamada, Hiroki Hibino
  • Patent number: 5695450
    Abstract: A cover-type endoscope apparatus comprises a cover and a covering endoscope used by being inserted into the cover. At least one hand-side tube line of tube lines forming a plurality of channels provided in the cover has a thickness larger than a thickness of an inserting-side tube line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Yabe, Yoshihiro Iida, Akira Suzuki, Hideo Itoh, Yoshio Tashiro, Minoru Yamazaki, Osamu Tamada
  • Patent number: 5688221
    Abstract: An endoscope cover according to the present invention has an arrangement that at least a portion of a control-portion cover for covering the control portion of a cover-type endoscope that corresponds to a soft portion of the cover-type endoscope has uniform flexibility that does not deteriorate the flexibility of said soft portion so that the insertion facility at the time of an inspection with the endoscope is maintained. An endoscope system of a type having an endoscope cover according to the present invention has a warp control knob disposed away from the body of a control portion also serving as a holding portion of the cover-type endoscope, the system having an arrangement that a warping mechanism included in the body of the control portion and the warp control knob are connected to each other by a connection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Yabe, Yoshihiro Iida, Akira Suzuki, Hideo Ito, Yoshio Tashiro, Minoru Yamazaki, Osamu Tamada, Tatsuya Furukawa
  • Patent number: 5674180
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope and a disposable protection cover for covering the endoscope and provided with at least one channel tube. The endoscope has an insertion section which is insertable into a cavity to be inspected, and an operation section connected to a proximal end of the insertion section. The channel tube is arranged relative to the protection cover with a first layout at the operation section and at the proximal end of the protection cover, and with a second layout at the distal end of the protection cover to provide a natural operation feel. A package cover assembly includes package covers for covering the protection cover and the operation section of the endoscope, respectively, and these package covers are detachably attached to a mouthpiece at the proximal end of the insertion section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Yabe, Yoshihiro Iida, Akira Suzuki, Hideo Ito, Yoshio Tashiro, Minoru Yamazaki, Osamu Tamada, Hiroshi Ishii
  • Patent number: 5674182
    Abstract: An endoscope system including an endoscope having an insertion section which extends from a proximal end to a distal end and is inserted into a cavity under inspection and an operation section connected to the proximal end of the insertion section, and a protection cover including an insertion section inserting channel which extends from a proximal end to a distal end and into which said insertion section of the endoscope is insertable and a conduit channel which extends from the proximal end to the distal end, the improvement being characterized in that a distal end portion of the insertion section has a non-circular cross section such as a semicircular or oval cross section and a proximal end portion of the insertion section has a substantially circular cross section. A distal end member of the insertion section inserting channel has an accommodating portion which is a corresponding non-circular cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Suzuki, Hisao Yabe, Yoshihiro Iida, Hideo Ito, Yoshio Tashiro, Minoru Yamazaki, Osamu Tamada, Hiroshi Ishii, Jin Kira, Takeshi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 5630787
    Abstract: An endoscope system for use in an endoscopic procedure including a plurality of endoscopes each having an insertion section to be inserted into a cavity under inspection and an operation section to which the insertion section is connected, and a plurality of disposable protection covers each having an insertion section cover for covering said insertion section of the endoscope and an operation section cover for covering said operation section of the endoscope. The operation section of the endoscope is provided with angle knobs for bending a distal end of the insertion section into a desired direction and said angle knobs are detachably secured to a shaft. In said operation section cover, there is formed an aperture through which said shaft is protruded from the operation section cover. All the angle knobs and shafts of all the endoscopes are constructed such that all the angle knobs can be detachably secured to any of the shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Yabe, Yoshihiro Iida, Akira Suzuki, Hideo Ito, Yoshio Tashiro, Minoru Yamazaki, Osamu Tamada, Naruto Shinkai
  • Patent number: 5575753
    Abstract: An covered endoscope type of endoscopic apparatus has a covered endoscope and a cover for covering the covered endoscope. The covered endoscope has an elongated flexible inserted portion, an operated portion formed on the base end side of the inserted portion, and a universal cord extending from a side portion of the operated portion. The cover is formed of an inserted portion cover member, an operated portion cover member and a cord cover which cover the inserted portion, the operated portion and the universal cord of the covered endoscope, respectively. An operated endoscope portion fixation mouth member having a forceps inlet and an expansion tube mouth to which an expansion tube provided on an expander is connected is provided at a base end of the inserted portion cover member. An air supply tube, a water supply tube and an aspiration tube are inserted through the inserted portion cover member, the operated portion cover member and the cord cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Yabe, Yoshihiro Iida, Akira Suzuki, Hideo Itoh, Yoshio Tashiro, Minoru Yamazaki, Osamu Tamada
  • Patent number: 5575752
    Abstract: An endoscope system detachably provided with a cover endoscope possible of being fitted with a cover and used by covering its outer surface with the cover and a coverless endoscope used without being fitted with the cover. A display range and a visual field range of an image that are obtained in the cover endoscope have substantially the same configurations as those of a display range and a visual field range of an image that are obtained in the coverless endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Yabe, Akira Suzuki, Minoru Yamazaki, Hideo Ito, Yoshihiro Iida, Yoshio Tashiro, Osamu Tamada, Hiroshi Ishii
  • Patent number: 5573494
    Abstract: In an endoscope cover-sheathed endoscope which is used for endoscopic examination with an insertional part of an endoscope sheathed with an endoscope cover, the surfaces of the insertional part, operational part, and universal cord of the endoscope are all structured to tightly shut out water. Even when contaminated, the endoscope can be immersed in chemical and thus disinfected effortlessly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Yabe, Yoshihiro Iida, Akira Suzuki, Hideo Ito, Yoshio Tashiro, Minoru Yamazaki, Osamu Tamada, Takahiro Kishi