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).

  • Patent number: 11369264
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: KYOTO PREFECTURAL PUBLIC UNIVERSITY CORPORATION, KOWA COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiko Yokoi, Yuka Sugiura, Katsumi Yabusaki
  • Patent number: 11107214
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignees: KYOTO PREFECTURAL PUBLIC UNIVERSITY CORPORATION, KOWA COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiko Yokoi, Katsumi Yabusaki
  • Patent number: 11058295
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: ELRISE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiro Okazaki, Mamoru Iwabuchi, Toshiyuki Ookubo, Tatsuki Takenaga, Taku Miyake, Norihiko Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20200367743
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Norihiko YOKOI, Yuka SUGIURA, Katsumi YABUSAKI
  • Publication number: 20200074627
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Norihiko YOKOI, Katsumi YABUSAKI
  • Publication number: 20190374100
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: ELRISE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiro Okazaki, Mamoru Iwabuchi, Toshiyuki Ookubo, Tatsuki Takenaga, Taku Miyake, Norihiko Yokoi
  • Patent number: 9028065
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignees: Kowa Company, Ltd., Kyoto Prefetural Public University Corporation
    Inventors: Norihiko Yokoi, Yutaka Mizukusa, Shigeru Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8996097
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Kowa Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiko Yokoi, Shigeru Kinoshita, Takayoshi Suzuki, Yutaka Mizukusa, Osamu Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20120300174
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Norihiko Yokoi, Yutaka Mizukusa, Shigeru Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20120276080
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Shigeru Kinoshita, Takahiro Nakamura, Norihiko Yokoi, Eiji Kurihara
  • Patent number: 8231908
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignees: ArBlast Co., Ltd., Shigeru Kinoshita
    Inventors: Shigeru Kinoshita, Takahiro Nakamura, Norihiko Yokoi, Eiji Kurihara
  • Publication number: 20090175954
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicants: ArBlast Co., Ltd., Shigeru Kinoshita
    Inventors: Shigeru Kinoshita, Takahiro Nakamura, Norihiko Yokoi, Eiji Kurihara
  • Patent number: 7413304
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignees: Kowa Company Ltd
    Inventors: Takayoshi Suzuki, Norihiko Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20070282012
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: HOUSE FOODS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeru Kinoshita, Norihiko Yokoi, Hisayo Higashihara, Nobuo Shiomi, Shinsuke Imai, Nobuaki Tsuge, Kentaro Horie
  • Patent number: 7278740
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignees: Kowa Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Suzuki, Norihiko Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20060263297
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Inventors: Norihiko Yokoi, Shigeru Kinoshita, Takayoshi Suzuki, Yutaka Mizukusa, Osamu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7119065
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Nagoya Industrial Science Research Institute
    Inventors: Takafumi Ueno, Yoshihito Watanabe, Masataka Ohashi, Tomomi Koshiyama, Norihiko Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20050096260
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Applicant: NAGOYA INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Takafumi Ueno, Yoshihito Watanabe, Masataka Ohashi, Tomomi Koshiyama, Norihiko Yokoi