Patents by Inventor Norito Sato

Norito Sato 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: 11622678
    Abstract: A control method for an endoscope reprocessor is a control method for an endoscope reprocessor that includes a treatment tank, a circulation conduit that links a circulation opening and a discharge opening opened in the treatment tank to each other, a first pump that feeds liquid from the circulation opening towards the discharge opening, an atmospheric open conduit including a first end portion open to an atmosphere and a second end portion connected between the circulation opening and the first pump in the circulation conduit, a filter that filtrates a liquid flowing from the treatment tank through the circulation opening into the circulation conduit, and a sensor that detects a liquid feeding state in the circulation conduit, where the liquid feeding state in the circulation conduit is measured by the sensor during operation of the first pump in a state where the inside of the atmospheric open conduit is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norito Sato
  • Publication number: 20200163540
    Abstract: A control method for an endoscope reprocessor is a control method for an endoscope reprocessor that includes a treatment tank, a circulation conduit that links a circulation opening and a discharge opening opened in the treatment tank to each other, a first pump that feeds liquid from the circulation opening towards the discharge opening, an atmospheric open conduit including a first end portion open to an atmosphere and a second end portion connected between the circulation opening and the first pump in the circulation conduit, a filter that filtrates a liquid flowing from the treatment tank through the circulation opening into the circulation conduit, and a sensor that detects a liquid feeding state in the circulation conduit, where the liquid feeding state in the circulation conduit is measured by the sensor during operation of the first pump in a state where the inside of the atmospheric open conduit is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norito SATO
  • Patent number: 9872603
    Abstract: A connector functioning as an endoscope connector includes an outer cylinder member, an inner cylinder member, and an urging member. The outer cylinder member includes a channel, an inner circumferential section provided in an inner circumference of the channel, and an inner circumferential section provided further on the outflow port side than the inner circumferential section. The inner cylinder member includes an advancing/retracting section disposed to be capable of advancing and retracting along the channel and having an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the inner circumferential section, an O-shaped ring disposed in an outer circumference of the advancing/retracting section and configured to fill a gap between the advancing/retracting section and the inner circumferential section when the advancing/retracting section is disposed in the inner circumferential section, and a through-path that pierces through the advancing/retracting section along the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norito Sato, Masayoshi Aono
  • Patent number: 9770164
    Abstract: An endoscope reprocessor includes an immersion tank, a convex-shaped groove, a lid portion, a liquid supply section, a discharge port as an opening from which the liquid is discharged and which is provided at the liquid supply section, the discharge port being arranged such that a part of the opening is opposed to a side surface of the convex-shaped groove, and a control section that drives the liquid supply section to allow the liquid to be introduced into the immersion tank up to a first water level at which a flat portion of the lid portion is immersed in the liquid, and to allow the liquid to be discharged toward the flat portion and the side surface through the discharge port at the first water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norito Sato
  • Publication number: 20170087263
    Abstract: An endoscope reprocessor includes: a liquid supply nozzle including a lifting conduit configured to feed a liquid in a direction against gravity and a turndown conduit; a liquid ejection port; a treatment tank configured to receive the liquid ejected from the liquid ejection port, the treatment tank allowing an endoscope to be placed inside; a liquid sampling port provided in a connection portion; and a relief cap including a cover configured to cover the liquid sampling port, a fitting portion configured to make the cover be detachably attachable to the connection portion, and an opening/closing portion configured to, if an inner pressure of the liquid supply nozzle exceeds a predetermined value, eject the liquid in a direction with gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norito SATO
  • Publication number: 20160309989
    Abstract: A connector functioning as an endoscope connector includes an outer cylinder member, an inner cylinder member, and an urging member. The outer cylinder member includes a channel, an inner circumferential section provided in an inner circumference of the channel, and an inner circumferential section provided further on the outflow port side than the inner circumferential section. The inner cylinder member includes an advancing/retracting section disposed to be capable of advancing and retracting along the channel and having an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the inner circumferential section, an O-shaped ring disposed in an outer circumference of the advancing/retracting section and configured to fill a gap between the advancing/retracting section and the inner circumferential section when the advancing/retracting section is disposed in the inner circumferential section, and a through-path that pierces through the advancing/retracting section along the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norito SATO, Masayoshi AONO
  • Patent number: 9414742
    Abstract: A fitting pressing member includes: a first opening that opens inside a fitting of an endoscope; a second opening that is communicably connected to the first opening and is connectable to a fluid supply source; a cylindrical portion formed from the first opening to a predetermined position, the cylindrical portion covering a part of a hollow portion communicably connected to the first opening and the second opening; a narrowing portion including a side face whose outer diameter increases from the predetermined position toward the second opening, the narrowing portion covering the other part of the hollow portion; and a plurality of grooves formed over a predetermined area from the predetermined position in an outer surface of the narrowing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norito Sato
  • Publication number: 20160058900
    Abstract: An endoscope reprocessor includes an immersion tank, a convex-shaped groove, a lid portion, a liquid supply section, a discharge port as an opening from which the liquid is discharged and which is provided at the liquid supply section, the discharge port being arranged such that a part of the opening is opposed to a side surface of the convex-shaped groove, and a control section that drives the liquid supply section to allow the liquid to be introduced into the immersion tank up to a first water level at which a flat portion of the lid portion is immersed in the liquid, and to allow the liquid to be discharged toward the flat portion and the side surface through the discharge port at the first water level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norito SATO
  • Publication number: 20150173597
    Abstract: A fitting pressing member includes: a first opening that opens inside a fitting of an endoscope; a second opening that is communicably connected to the first opening and is connectable to a fluid supply source; a cylindrical portion formed from the first opening to a predetermined position, the cylindrical portion covering a part of a hollow portion communicably connected to the first opening and the second opening; a narrowing portion including a side face whose outer diameter increases from the predetermined position toward the second opening, the narrowing portion covering the other part of the hollow portion; and a plurality of grooves formed over a predetermined area from the predetermined position in an outer surface of the narrowing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventor: Norito SATO
  • Patent number: 8840733
    Abstract: An endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus includes: a medicinal solution storage portion; a cleaning/disinfecting tank; a medicinal solution supplying conduit having one end communicating with the medicinal solution storage portion and the other end opening toward the cleaning/disinfecting tank; a medicinal solution supplying member; a medicinal solution receiving member provided inside the medicinal solution supplying member; and a medicinal solution collecting port which is openable/closable by a lid body, and formed at a position between the medicinal solution receiving member and the opening of the other end in the medicinal solution supplying conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Jiro Komiya, Norito Sato, Hisashi Kuroshima