Patents by Inventor Norihiko Yokoi
Norihiko Yokoi 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: 20240215820Abstract: Classifying dry eye syndrome using a measurement comprising a light-projecting unit projecting a predetermined pattern onto a cornea surface, an image capturing unit that repeatedly captures a reflected images of the pattern reflected off the cornea surface, an acquiring unit that acquires blurriness information according to a value indicating a blurriness level at a maximum portion of luminance values in a reflected image, for each of the captured multiple reflected images, and a classifying unit that acquires a classification result of a dry eye syndrome by applying multiple pieces of time-series blurriness information acquired by the acquiring unit to a learning model trained using multiple pairs of training input information. Providing a classification result of a dry eye syndrome corresponding to the training input information, and an output unit that outputs the classification result acquired by the classifying unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2022Publication date: July 4, 2024Applicants: KYOTO PREFECTURAL PUBLIC UNIVERSITY CORPORATION, Rexxam Co., Ltd.Inventors: Norihiko YOKOI, Jun KAWAI, Reiji YOSHIOKA, Ken-ichi YOSHIDA, Daichi YAMAMOTO
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Patent number: 11369264Abstract: A method for dynamically evaluating a tear fluid layer using an interference fringe image of the tear fluid layer composed of a plurality of consecutive frames, and includes: an image creation step of creating at least one break detection image of a first break detection image, a second break detection image, a third break detection image, and a fourth break detection image, which are images for detecting a breaking site of the tear fluid layer; a determination step of determining whether the break detection image created by the image creation step corresponds to a predetermined breakup pattern; a tally step of tallying the determination results determined by the determination step; and an evaluation step of evaluating, on the basis of a tallied result by the tally step, a breakup pattern of the interference fringe image of the tear fluid layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2018Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignees: KYOTO PREFECTURAL PUBLIC UNIVERSITY CORPORATION, KOWA COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Norihiko Yokoi, Yuka Sugiura, Katsumi Yabusaki
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Patent number: 11107214Abstract: A method and device for evaluating the dynamics of a tear fluid layer to objectively and accurately evaluate breakdown of the tear fluid layer, which is a core mechanism of dry eye, are provided. The method includes a step of acquiring color information of each pixel in a predetermined region of a tear fluid layer interference fringe image, which is a moving image or a plurality of static images, a step of calculating a numerical value indicating the diversity of color from the acquired color information, a step of calculating the average value of the color information, and a step of calculating a coefficient of variation on the basis of the calculated numerical value indicating the diversity of color and the calculated average value of the color information. The coefficient of variation is used as an index for evaluating the dynamics of the tear fluid layer.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignees: KYOTO PREFECTURAL PUBLIC UNIVERSITY CORPORATION, KOWA COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Norihiko Yokoi, Katsumi Yabusaki
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Patent number: 11058295Abstract: An ophthalmic measurement device and measurement system include a projection unit projecting an image on tear fluid accumulated at an edge of an eyelid and a surface of a cornea and conjunctiva; an imager takes a picture of the tear fluid accumulated at an edge of an eyelid and the surface of a cornea and conjunctiva; and a calculator determines a physical quantity of the tear fluid accumulated at an edge of an eyelid. The calculator acquires a physical quantity of a first reflection of the image projected on the tear fluid accumulated at an edge of an eyelid, and calculates a curvature radius of the surface of the tear fluid, from a distance between the projection unit and the surface of the tear fluid obtained by distance measurement, a physical quantity of the image, and the physical quantity of the first reflection.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2018Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: ELRISE CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshiro Okazaki, Mamoru Iwabuchi, Toshiyuki Ookubo, Tatsuki Takenaga, Taku Miyake, Norihiko Yokoi
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Publication number: 20200367743Abstract: A method for dynamically evaluating a tear fluid layer using an interference fringe image of the tear fluid layer composed of a plurality of consecutive frames, and includes: an image creation step of creating at least one break detection image of a first break detection image, a second break detection image, a third break detection image, and a fourth break detection image, which are images for detecting a breaking site of the tear fluid layer; a determination step of determining whether the break detection image created by the image creation step corresponds to a predetermined breakup pattern; a tally step of tallying the determination results determined by the determination step; and an evaluation step of evaluating, on the basis of a tallied result by the tally step, a breakup pattern of the interference fringe image of the tear fluid layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2018Publication date: November 26, 2020Inventors: Norihiko YOKOI, Yuka SUGIURA, Katsumi YABUSAKI
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Publication number: 20200074627Abstract: A method and device for evaluating the dynamics of a tear fluid layer to objectively and accurately evaluate breakdown of the tear fluid layer, which is a core mechanism of dry eye, are provided. The method includes a step of acquiring color information of each pixel in a predetermined region of a tear fluid layer interference fringe image, which is a moving image or a plurality of static images, a step of calculating a numerical value indicating the diversity of color from the acquired color information, a step of calculating the average value of the color information, and a step of calculating a coefficient of variation on the basis of the calculated numerical value indicating the diversity of color and the calculated average value of the color information. The coefficient of variation is used as an index for evaluating the dynamics of the tear fluid layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2018Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventors: Norihiko YOKOI, Katsumi YABUSAKI
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Publication number: 20190374100Abstract: An ophthalmic measurement device and measurement system include a projection unit projecting an image on tear fluid accumulated at an edge of an eyelid and a surface of a cornea and conjunctiva; an imager takes a picture of the tear fluid accumulated at an edge of an eyelid and the surface of a cornea and conjunctiva; and a calculator determines a physical quantity of the tear fluid accumulated at an edge of an eyelid. The calculator acquires a physical quantity of a first reflection of the image projected on the tear fluid accumulated at an edge of an eyelid, and calculates a curvature radius of the surface of the tear fluid, from a distance between the projection unit and the surface of the tear fluid obtained by distance measurement, a physical quantity of the image, and the physical quantity of the first reflection.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2018Publication date: December 12, 2019Applicant: ELRISE CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshiro Okazaki, Mamoru Iwabuchi, Toshiyuki Ookubo, Tatsuki Takenaga, Taku Miyake, Norihiko Yokoi
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Patent number: 9028065Abstract: A ophthalmologic method and apparatus for processing a captured image of a tear film lipid layer on a cornea of a patient's eye to be examined and for classifying types of dry eye of the patient's eye. The captured image of the tear film lipid layer is processed to measure a movement speed of the tear film lipid layer at the time of opening of the patient's eyelid. The captured image of the tear film lipid layer is further processed to measure a time until the tear film lipid layer is broken up after the patient's eyelid has been opened and a break up region is detected. The type of dry eye of the patient's eye is classified based on the two measurement results.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2011Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignees: Kowa Company, Ltd., Kyoto Prefetural Public University CorporationInventors: Norihiko Yokoi, Yutaka Mizukusa, Shigeru Kinoshita
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Patent number: 8996097Abstract: In an ophthalmic measuring method, a traceable marker in particulate form is administered to the lachrymal fluid of a subject's eye, and the lachrymal fluid is irradiated with illuminating light. Images of the illuminated lachrymal fluid are electronically captured respectively at different times. Two images from among the captured images are selected, with each of the two selected images displaying the traceable marker. A characteristic point of each of the two selected images is specified. A movement speed of the traceable marker is measured based on positions thereof in the two selected images and on a time difference from specifying the characteristic point of one of the two selected images to specifying the characteristic point of the other of the two selected images. The measured movement speed of the traceable marker is outputted as the movement speed of the lachrymal fluid of the subject's eye.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2006Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignees: Kowa Company Ltd.Inventors: Norihiko Yokoi, Shigeru Kinoshita, Takayoshi Suzuki, Yutaka Mizukusa, Osamu Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20120300174Abstract: An illumination light is projected onto a tear film lipid layer on a cornea of an eye to be examined, and the reflected light is received and the tear film lipid layer is imaged. The image of the tear film lipid layer that has been captured is processed, and the initial spread speed H? of the tear film lipid layer at the time the eyelid has been opened is measured. The image of the tear film lipid layer that has been captured is processed, and the time until the tear film lipid layer is broken up after the eyelid has been opened and a dark area T appears is measured. The appearance time of the dark area is plotted on the Y-axis and the initial spread speed H?(0) of the tear film lipid layer is plotted on the X-axis, and the type of dry eye is classified. In such a configuration, since the type of dry eye can be classified and determined, diagnosis and treatment in accordance with the type of dry eye are made possible.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Inventors: Norihiko Yokoi, Yutaka Mizukusa, Shigeru Kinoshita
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Publication number: 20120276080Abstract: A sheet-shaped composition is provided which has an improved preservability and handling readiness, as well as a high flexibility in use. Amnion with trehalose added thereto is utilized. Addition of trehalose improves the flexibility of the amnion, and prevents basal membrane and stratum compactum from being damaged during lyophilization process.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2012Publication date: November 1, 2012Inventors: Shigeru Kinoshita, Takahiro Nakamura, Norihiko Yokoi, Eiji Kurihara
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Patent number: 8231908Abstract: A sheet-shaped composition is provided which has an improved preservability and handling readiness, as well as a high flexibility in use. Amnion with trehalose added thereto is utilized. Addition of trehalose improves the flexibility of the amnion, and prevents basal membrane and stratum compactum from being damaged during lyophilization process.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2006Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignees: ArBlast Co., Ltd., Shigeru KinoshitaInventors: Shigeru Kinoshita, Takahiro Nakamura, Norihiko Yokoi, Eiji Kurihara
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Publication number: 20090175954Abstract: A sheet-shaped composition is provided which has an improved preservability and handling readiness, as well as a high flexibility in use. Amnion with trehalose added thereto is utilized. Addition of trehalose improves the flexibility of the amnion, and prevents basal membrane and stratum compactum from being damaged during lyophilization process.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2006Publication date: July 9, 2009Applicants: ArBlast Co., Ltd., Shigeru KinoshitaInventors: Shigeru Kinoshita, Takahiro Nakamura, Norihiko Yokoi, Eiji Kurihara
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Patent number: 7413304Abstract: A grid formed with apertures of a predetermined shape is illuminated with light from a lamp and projected onto a tear meniscus accumulated on the lower eyelid. The aperture image projected on the tear film is imaged by a CCD camera. The tear meniscus functions as a concave mirror, so that the magnification factor depends on the radius of meniscus curvature. A processor calculates the magnitude of the grid image and evaluates the radius of meniscus curvature. Since the volume of lacrimal fluid varies depending upon the radius of meniscus curvature, the latter is used as a value representing the lacrimal fluid volume for dry eye diagnose purposes.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2007Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignees: Kowa Company LtdInventors: Takayoshi Suzuki, Norihiko Yokoi
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Publication number: 20070282012Abstract: A new application of the dacryogenic component of onions and analogues of the component in the medicinal field. It is a reagent for lacrimation examination which contains as an active ingredient a compound represented by the following chemical formula: wherein R represents a C1-5 alkyl chain.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2005Publication date: December 6, 2007Applicant: HOUSE FOODS CORPORATIONInventors: Shigeru Kinoshita, Norihiko Yokoi, Hisayo Higashihara, Nobuo Shiomi, Shinsuke Imai, Nobuaki Tsuge, Kentaro Horie
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Patent number: 7278740Abstract: A grid formed with apertures of a predetermined shape is illuminated with light from a lamp and projected onto a tear meniscus accumulated on the lower eyelid. The aperture image projected on the tear film is imaged by a CCD camera. The tear meniscus functions as a concave mirror, so that the magnification factor depends on the radius of meniscus curvature. A processor calculates the magnitude of the grid image and evaluates the radius of meniscus curvature. Since the volume of lacrimal fluid varies depending upon the radius of meniscus curvature, the latter is used as a value representing the lacrimal fluid volume for dry eye diagnose purposes.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1999Date of Patent: October 9, 2007Assignees: Kowa Company Ltd.Inventors: Takayoshi Suzuki, Norihiko Yokoi
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Publication number: 20060263297Abstract: A CCD camera captures an image of the lachrymal fluid layer in a prescribed position of a subject's eye to which a target substance is administered. Images are selected from a plurality of images captured, and the positions of the target substance in the selected images and the capturing times thereof are used to compute the movement speed of the target substance. The computed movement speed of the target substance is then outputted as the movement speed of the lachrymal fluid of the subject's eye. This arrangement allows the movement speed of lachrymal fluid to be reliably measured, assuring quantitative diagnosis even of severe dry eye.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2006Publication date: November 23, 2006Inventors: Norihiko Yokoi, Shigeru Kinoshita, Takayoshi Suzuki, Yutaka Mizukusa, Osamu Yamamoto
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Patent number: 7119065Abstract: We claim a metal complex-protein composite comprising a salen metal complex and an apoprotein having a cavity, wherein the salen metal complex has a structure given by the following formula: R1 and R5 each independently represents an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms; and R2 through R4 and R6 through R10 each represents a hydrogen atom.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2004Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Nagoya Industrial Science Research InstituteInventors: Takafumi Ueno, Yoshihito Watanabe, Masataka Ohashi, Tomomi Koshiyama, Norihiko Yokoi
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Publication number: 20050096260Abstract: The metal complex-protein composite of the invention has a specific structure that a salen metal complex expressed by Formula (1) given below is received in a cavity of a protein: where M in Formula (1) represents a metal ion, and R1 through R10 independently represent any of hydrogen atom, halogen atoms, alkyl groups containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and alkoxy groups containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2004Publication date: May 5, 2005Applicant: NAGOYA INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Takafumi Ueno, Yoshihito Watanabe, Masataka Ohashi, Tomomi Koshiyama, Norihiko Yokoi