Patents by Inventor Nobuhiro Kitagawa

Nobuhiro Kitagawa 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: 20120028343
    Abstract: There is provided a sample processing apparatus capable of detecting the push-up type sample container including a recess on the outer side of the bottom portion of the container and performing an appropriate sample processing while alleviating the load of the user with a simple configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20110290040
    Abstract: A sample processing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of sample processing units each configured to process a sample; at least one transport device configured to provide a transport path along which a rack is transported to or from one of the plurality of sample processing units, wherein a rack comprises a plurality of positions configured to hold containers thereat, and at least some of the positions are correlated to at least some of the sample processing units; a controller comprising at least one processor and at least one memory that stores computer programs executed by the at least one processor to: direct the at least one transport device to transport the rack to deliver a container held therein to a sample processing unit correlated to a position of the container at which the container is held in the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Hiroo Tatsutani, Nobuyoshi Yamakawa, Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Tomoyuki Asahara
  • Publication number: 20110158851
    Abstract: A transport apparatus includes: a first transport line configured to transport a rack downstream along the transporting route; a second transport line configured to transport the rack upstream along the transporting route; and a controller including a processor and a memory that stores programs executable by the processor to: determine where to transport a post-tested rack according to whether or not retesting is necessary on any sample held in the post-tested rack; and according to a determination, instruct the transport apparatus to transport the post-tested rack selectively (i) along the first transport line either back to first sample processing unit, where the rack has been tested, or to a second sample processing unit located downstream of the first sample processing unit, or (ii) along the second transport line back from the first sample processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 7940517
    Abstract: There is provided an electronic device including: a housing included in an exterior package; and a plate-like cover that is provided for one face of the housing and is movable between a close position and an open position. The one face includes an open/close face and a non-open/close. The open/close face is hidden by the cover at a close position of the cover and is exposed from the cover at an open position of the cover. The non-open/close face is exposed from the cover at the close position of the cover and is hidden by the cover at the open position of the cover. A support mechanism is provided to movably support the cover between the close position and the open position. The non-open/close face protrudes frontward from the face for a thickness of the cover in comparison with the open/close face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Michinobu Yanagisawa, Mamoru Abe, Takashi Uchiumi, Naoko Sema
  • Patent number: 7931863
    Abstract: The present invention is to present a sample analyzer which is able to move a reagent container containing a reagent which a user desires to replace to a pick up position. The sample analyzer comprises: a holding section comprising a plurality of holding regions for holding reagent containers, and being capable of moving the holding regions; analyzing means for analyzing a measurement sample prepared by mixing a sample and the reagent contained in the reagent container held by the holding section; receiving means for receiving a specification of a holding region from the plurality of holding regions to replace or add a reagent; and control means for controlling the holding section so as to move the specified holding region to a replacement-addition position at which the reagent is replaced or added, when the receiving means receives the specification of the holding region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Shuhei Kaneko, Kyozo Fujita
  • Patent number: 7931861
    Abstract: The present invention is to present a sample analyzer which can conduct a stable feeding of container used for preparing a measuring sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20110076194
    Abstract: A rack collecting unit including: a transport path capable of transporting a sample rack in a first direction; a transport path capable of transporting the sample rack in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a storing section for storing therein the sample rack; and a transferring section for transferring the sample rack carried onto the transport paths to the storing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Yuichiro Ohmae
  • Publication number: 20110076193
    Abstract: A rack transporting apparatus including: a first transport path for transporting a sample rack to the sample processing unit; a second transport path for transporting the sample rack, without passing through the sample processing unit, in the same direction as a transport direction of the sample rack by the first transport path; a third transport path for transporting the sample rack in the opposite direction of the transport direction by the first transport path and the second transport path; a first rack transferring mechanism for transferring the sample rack from the second transport path to the first transport path through a first holding region being capable of holding the sample rack; and a second rack transferring mechanism for transferring the sample rack from the first transport path to the second transport path or the third transport path through a second holding region being capable of holding the sample rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Kei Takai, Hiroo Tatsutani
  • Publication number: 20110065193
    Abstract: A sample processing apparatus including: a preprocessing unit for performing predetermined preprocessing on a sample container; a transporting unit for transporting the sample container on which the preprocessing unit has performed the predetermined preprocessing; a sample processing unit for processing a sample contained in the sample container transported by the transporting unit; a plurality of container collection units for collecting respective sample containers transported by the transporting unit; and a collection controller for controlling, according to a result of the predetermined preprocessing by the preprocessing unit, at least one of the transporting unit and the plurality of container collection units such that the sample container transported by the transporting unit is collected in one of the plurality of container collection units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Koichi Okubo
  • Patent number: 7850921
    Abstract: The present invention is to present a dispenser which is capable of heating a liquid to an approximately constant temperature in the same time regardless of an aspiration amount of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Iguchi, Takashi Yamato, Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Akio Toyoda
  • Publication number: 20100248374
    Abstract: The present invention is to present a sample testing apparatus comprising: a transport unit for transporting a sample container through a first position and a second position; a testing unit for performing a test on the sample in the sample container transported to the first position; a determination result obtainer for obtaining one of a first determination result indicating that a second test is required and a second determination result indicating that the second test is not required; and a transport controller for controlling the transport unit so as to transport the sample container back to the first position, if the first determination result has been obtained, wherein the sample container is not transported beyond the second position from the first position side before any one of the first and the second determination result has been obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiro KITAGAWA, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Hiroo Tatsutani, Tomoyuki Asahara
  • Patent number: 7787116
    Abstract: A cuvette capable of suppressing the complication of the structure of each part of an analyzer and enabling the stirring of a specimen in a short time. The cuvette comprises: a first body part positioned on a bottom part side, having inner and outer surfaces of circular shape in horizontal cross section, and receiving a measuring beam; and a second body part positioned on an opening side, having an inner surface of non-circular shape in horizontal cross section and an outer surface of circular shape in horizontal cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventors: Norimasa Yamamoto, Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Takashi Yamato
  • Publication number: 20100107744
    Abstract: A specimen analyzing apparatus comprising: a detector for detecting component information regarding a component in a specimen contained in each of analyzing containers, the analyzing containers comprising first and second analyzing containers; an analyzing part for analyzing the component information detected by the detector; a transporting device for transporting specimen containers each containing a specimen, the specimen containers comprising first and second specimen containers; an operation mode selector for selecting one of a first operation mode and a second operation mode; a first supplying device for supplying the specimen of a first amount; a second supplying device for supplying the specimen of a second amount grater than the first amount; and a supply controller for controlling the first and second supplying devices in accordance with an operation mode selected by the operation mode selector, is disclosed. A specimen analyzing method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya FUKUDA, Hiroki Koike, Hironori Katsumi, Takashi Yamato, Masayuki Ikeda, Tsuyoshi Fukuzaki, Daisuke Nakano, Masanori Imazu, Nobuhiro Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 7647847
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid sample suctioning device capable of simplifying a structure thereof, preventing clogging of a pipette and contamination of a liquid sample, and closing a hole formed in a lid after the liquid sample is suctioned. The liquid sample suctioning device is adapted to suction the liquid sample in the container by piercing through the lid mounted on an opening of the container, comprising a piercer having a leading end insertable into the container by piercing through the lid and forming a deformation piece deformable toward an inner side of the container in the lid, a pipette configured for suctioning the liquid sample in the container, a first driving part for moving up and down the piercer, and a second driving part for moving up and down the pipette along the piercer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Shuhei Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20090103914
    Abstract: There is provided an electronic device including: a housing included in an exterior package; and a plate-like cover that is provided for one face of the housing and is movable between a close position and an open position. The one face includes an open/close face and a non-open/close. The open/close face is hidden by the cover at a close position of the cover and is exposed from the cover at an open position of the cover. The non-open/close face is exposed from the cover at the close position of the cover and is hidden by the cover at the open position of the cover. A support mechanism is provided to movably support the cover between the close position and the open position. The non-open/close face protrudes frontward from the face for a thickness of the cover in comparison with the open/close face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Michinobu Yanagisawa, Mamoru Abe, Takashi Uchiumi, Naoko Sema
  • Publication number: 20080241939
    Abstract: The present invention is to present a sample analyzer which is capable of respond immediately when a need to perform analysis of multiple items arises. The sample analyzer 1 includes a table 12 capable of holding a first rack 320 and a second rack 330; a reagent dispensing arm 120 which comprises a pipette part 121; a reagent dispensing driving section 120a for moving the reagent dispensing arm 120; a reagent barcode reader 350; and a control section 501 for controlling the reagent dispensing driving section 120a so as to move the pipette part 121 to a predetermined reagent aspirating position according to the identification information obtained by the reagent barcode reader 350.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Naohiko Matsuo, Hiroyuki Fujino, Takamichi Naito, Nobuhiro Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20080123091
    Abstract: A cuvette capable of suppressing the complication of the structure of each part of an analyzer and enabling the stirring of a specimen in a short time. The cuvette comprises: a first body part positioned on a bottom part side, having inner and outer surfaces of circular shape in horizontal cross section, and receiving a measuring beam; and a second body part positioned on an opening side, having an inner surface of non-circular shape in horizontal cross section and an outer surface of circular shape in horizontal cross section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norimasa Yamamoto, Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Takashi Yamato
  • Publication number: 20080044311
    Abstract: The present invention is to present a dispenser which is capable of heating a liquid to an approximately constant temperature in the same time regardless of an aspiration amount of the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Satoshi Iguchi, Takashi Yamato, Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Akio Toyoda
  • Patent number: D583481
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventors: Norimasa Yamamoto, Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Takashi Yamato, Shuji Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: D650910
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventors: Fumie Shibata, Nobuhiro Kitagawa