Patents by Inventor Shigenori Watari

Shigenori Watari 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: 9291634
    Abstract: Chemical analysis apparatus for inserting a sample serving as an analyzable substance and a reagent into a reaction container and agitating by irradiating sound waves to the reaction container, the chemical analysis apparatus including: a piezoelectric element generating sound waves; and a driver for driving the piezoelectric element, and including: a wave form producing device for producing an oscillation waveform having a fundamental frequency of the sound waves to be irradiated; an auxiliary waveform producing device for producing an oscillation wave form having a frequency lower than that of the oscillation waveform; a multiplying circuit creating a multiplied waveform between the waveform and the wave form; and, a power amplifier for power-amplifying the multiplied waveform, wherein it is intermittently irradiated with the sound wave in the reaction container, and further, the wave form producing device has a function capable of frequency-modulation with a prescribed frequency width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime Katou, Ryo Miyake, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kambara, Takenori Okusa, Shigenori Watari, Yoichiro Suzuki, Tomonori Mimura, Miki Taki, Akira Inagaki
  • Patent number: 8765474
    Abstract: An automatic analyzer which assures uniformity in mixing effects regardless of sample quantity and test item and thus produces analysis results with high repeatability. The automatic analyzer includes a device for adding a conditioning liquid into a reaction chamber so that the quantity of liquid in the reaction chamber becomes a predetermined quantity prior to being mixed. The conditioning liquid may be a diluent or physiological saline as used for dilution of a sample or any other special liquid that adjusts the properties such as viscosity, surface tension, etc. of liquid to be mixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Kambara, Shigenori Watari, Hidetoshi Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20140147348
    Abstract: Chemical analysis apparatus for inserting a sample serving as an analyzable substance and a reagent into a reaction container and agitating by irradiating sound waves to the reaction container, the chemical analysis apparatus including: a piezoelectric element generating sound waves; and a driver for driving the piezoelectric element, and including: a wave form producing device for producing an oscillation waveform having a fundamental frequency of the sound waves to be irradiated; an auxiliary waveform producing device for producing an oscillation wave form having a frequency lower than that of the oscillation waveform; a multiplying circuit creating a multiplied waveform between the waveform and the wave form; and, a power amplifier for power-amplifying the multiplied waveform, wherein it is intermittently irradiated with the sound wave in the reaction container, and further, the wave form producing device has a function capable of frequency-modulation with a prescribed frequency width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime KATOU, Ryo MIYAKE, Hiroyasu UCHIDA, Katsuhiro KAMBARA, Takenori OKUSA, Shigenori WATARI, Yoichiro SUZUKI, Tomonori MIMURA, Miki TAKI, Akira INAGAKI
  • Patent number: 8658102
    Abstract: A chemical analysis apparatus comprising reaction containers containing therein a substance to be analyzed; an agitating mechanism spaced from the substance to be analyzed and agitating said substance to be analyzed with a liquid in said reaction container; and, a measuring portion for measuring physical properties of the substance to be analyzed, said agitating mechanism having a sound supply portion supplying sound waves to the substance to be analyzed, wherein said sound supply portion comprises a mechanism changing, in time, intensity of ultrasonic waves to be irradiated so as to apply pulsation to a swirl flow in the reaction container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Katou, Ryo Miyake, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kambara, Takenori Okusa, Shigenori Watari, Yoichiro Suzuki, Tomonori Mimura, Miki Taki, Akira Inagaki
  • Patent number: 7964140
    Abstract: An automatic analyzer is disclosed that has a structure capable of using reagent containers each having an ID, such as a barcode, attached either on the top surface or the undersurface thereof, or alternatively on each of them. This automatic analyzer, therefore, allows information about the reagent ID to be read or written at an arbitrary timing even if the mounting density of reagent containers of the automatic analyzer is increased, thereby improving the function and performance of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Shigenori Watari
  • Patent number: 7955557
    Abstract: Multiple piezoelectric elements 35 are arranged in a row along the top of liquid level in the reaction vessel 11. An ultrasonic reflecting material 38 is installed on the bottom of the portion of the heat insulating bath 12 where heat insulating medium 13 is stored. A lateral ultrasonic wave 9b is generated on the lower side is generated by actuation of the piezoelectric element 35. Wave 9b is reflected by the ultrasonic reflecting material 38. As a lower ultrasonic wave 8 advances along the wall surface of the reaction vessel, it collides with the specimen liquid level, thereby causing a portion of the liquid level closer to the piezoelectric element 35 to be raised. When the lateral ultrasonic wave 9a is applied to this portion, it reaches the inclined portion of the raised liquid level of the specimen. Swirling flow by agitation 36 is produced by the acoustic radiation pressure of the ultrasonic wave. The specimen and reagent are mixed and agitated by this swirling flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigenori Watari, Hajime Katou, Katsuhiro Kambara, Hiroyasu Uchida, Takeshi Shibuya
  • Publication number: 20100288830
    Abstract: An automatic analyzer is disclosed that has a structure capable of using reagent containers each having an ID, such as a barcode, attached either on the top surface or the undersurface thereof, or alternatively on each of them. This automatic analyzer, therefore, allows information about the reagent ID to be read or written at an arbitrary timing even if the mounting density of reagent containers of the automatic analyzer is increased, thereby improving the function and performance of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigenori Watari
  • Publication number: 20100233027
    Abstract: A chemical analysis apparatus comprising reaction containers containing therein a substance to be analyzed; an agitating mechanism spaced from the substance to be analyzed and agitating said substance to be analyzed with a liquid in said reaction container; and, a measuring portion for measuring physical properties of the substance to be analyzed, said agitating mechanism having a sound supply portion supplying sound waves to the substance to be analyzed, wherein said sound supply portion comprises a mechanism changing, in time, intensity of ultrasonic waves to be irradiated so as to apply pulsation to a swirl flow in the reaction container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Hajime KATOU, Ryo Miyake, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kambara, Takenori Okusa, Shigenori Watari, Yoichiro Suzuki, Tomonori Mimura, Miki Taki, Akira Inagaki
  • Patent number: 7785534
    Abstract: An automatic analyzer is disclosed that has a structure capable of using reagent containers each having an ID, such as a barcode, attached either on the top surface or the undersurface thereof, or alternatively on each of them. This automatic analyzer, therefore, allows information about the reagent ID to be read or written at an arbitrary timing even if the mounting density of reagent containers of the automatic analyzer is increased, thereby improving the function and performance of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Shigenori Watari
  • Patent number: 7722815
    Abstract: Provided is a chemical analysis apparatus comprising a mechanism which can efficiently agitate a substance to be agitated so that a sample and a reagent are agitated and mixed together in a shorter time with a saved consumption power, incorporating a plurality of sound sources or reflecting plates, and a reaction container is located between one of the sound sources and another of the sound sources or one of the reflecting plates, whereby sound waves can be irradiated toward the reaction container in several directions in order to efficiently fluidize a solution in the reaction container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Katou, Ryo Miyake, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kambara, Takenori Okusa, Shigenori Watari, Yoichiro Suzuki, Tomonori Mimura, Miki Taki, Akira Inagaki
  • Patent number: 7670558
    Abstract: A chemical analysis apparatus in which a sample to be analyzed and a reagent are placed into a reaction container, and sound waves are irradiated to said reaction container so as to agitate them, wherein said chemical analysis apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element producing said sound waves, and drivers for driving said piezoelectric element, said sound waves being intermittently irradiated into said reaction container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Katou, Ryo Miyake, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kambara, Takenori Okusa, Shigenori Watari, Yoichiro Suzuki, Tomonori Mimura, Miki Taki, Akira Inagaki
  • Patent number: 7521703
    Abstract: In an automatic analyzer which includes a reaction container which contains reaction solution therein, a light source which emit light to be transmitted through the reaction solution, a spectral detector which measures the light transmitted through the reaction solution, a memory which stores light measurement data measured by the spectral detector and a CPU which calculates the light measurement data stored in the memory to obtain a light intensity, wherein the spectral detector measures the light over an entirety of an area from one end to the other end of the reaction container at a portion where the reaction solution reserves, the memory stores the light measurement data measured by the spectral detector, and light measurement data in an area where the reaction solution exists is obtained from the memory to calculate a light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nishigaki, Masato Ishizawa, Shigenori Watari
  • Publication number: 20080213903
    Abstract: An automatic analyzer which assures uniformity in mixing effects regardless of sample quantity and test item and thus produces analysis results with high repeatability. The analyzer includes a device for adding a conditioning liquid into a reaction chamber so that the quantity of liquid in the reaction chamber becomes a predetermined quantity at latest just before mixing. The conditioning liquid may be a diluent or physiological saline as used for dilution of a sample or any other special liquid that adjusts the properties such as viscosity, surface tension, etc. of liquid to be mixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Katsuhiro KAMBARA, Shigenori WATARI, Hidetoshi SUGIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20080213132
    Abstract: In an automatic analyzer, effect is reduced or prevented of a change in temperature and volume of components making up a mechanism for dispensing a reagent and a sample or a system liquid on an amount of sample and reagent per one dispensing cycle. One or a plurality of components making up the mechanism for dispensing the reagent and the sample is mounted with a sensor for measuring a temperature of the component. The dispensing mechanism further includes a sensor for measuring a temperature of the system liquid at one or a plurality of locations. Control is thereby provided, based on temperature information provided by the temperature sensor, to vary an amount of operation of a component that varies an amount of reagent and sample to be dispensed or to make the temperature of the system liquid equal to, or close to, the temperature of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Shigenori Watari, Tetsuji Kawahara, Kunihiko Soma
  • Publication number: 20080063563
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sample transport rack that is capable of steadily transmitting information stored in an RFID tag or another storage medium to an analyzer, sample pretreatment apparatus, or another apparatus when the RFID tag or another storage medium is attached to a sample cup mounted in the sample transport rack. The information stored in an information storage medium attached to the sample cup, which is mounted in the sample transport rack, is transmitted to an automated analyzer that uses the sample transport rack by a storage medium transmission/reception coil of the information storage medium, a sample transmission/reception coil of the sample transport rack, an apparatus transmission/reception coil, and an apparatus side transmission/reception coil of the automated analyzer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: Shigenori WATARI
  • Publication number: 20070181787
    Abstract: In an automatic analyzer which includes a reaction container which contains reaction solution therein, a light source which emit light to be transmitted through the reaction solution, a spectral detector which measures the light transmitted through the reaction solution, a memory which stores light measurement data measured by the spectral detector and a CPU which calculates the light measurement data stored in the memory to obtain a light intensity, wherein the spectral detector measures the light over an entirety of an area from one end to the other end of the reaction container at a portion where the reaction solution reserves, the memory stores the light measurement data measured by the spectral detector, and light measurement data in an area where the reaction solution exists is obtained from the memory to calculate a light intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: Kenichi Nishigaki, Masato Ishizawa, Shigenori Watari
  • Publication number: 20070009387
    Abstract: A chemical analysis apparatus in which a sample to be analyzed and a reagent are placed into a reaction container, and sound waves are irradiated to said reaction container so as to agitate them, wherein said chemical analysis apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element producing said sound waves, and drivers for driving said piezoelectric element, said sound waves being intermittently irradiated into said reaction container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Hajime Katou, Ryo Miyake, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kambara, Takenori Okusa, Shigenori Watari, Yoichiro Suzuki, Tomonori Mimura, Miki Taki, Akira Inagaki
  • Patent number: 6891182
    Abstract: In the automatic analyzer, the height of the test tubes is measured using the function of the optical information reader installed for discrimination of a sample. Various sensors installed so as to measure the height of the test tubes of the automatic analyzer can be omitted and decrease in cost, improvement of reliability, and improvement of maintenance capacity result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Optoelectronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigenori Watari, Haruo Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 6875401
    Abstract: A sample, a reagent, etc. in a reaction container 132 is agitated with an ultrasonic wave generated from a piezoelectric transducer (141, 142). A power supply unit (144) applies, to the piezoelectric transducer, a voltage having been subjected to frequency modulation at frequencies over an optional frequency range. An analyzing section (130) measures a reaction product produced as an analysis target from the reagent, etc. and the sample under agitation, and then analyzes components of the sample. With such a construction, adjustment work needed in an agitating section can be simplified, and satisfactory analyzed results can be obtained regardless of differences in frequency characteristics of ultrasonic wave generators used for ultrasonic agitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Shigenori Watari, Hajime Kato, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kanbara
  • Publication number: 20040258565
    Abstract: An automatic analyzer is disclosed that has a structure capable of using reagent containers each having an ID, such as a barcode, attached either on the top surface or the undersurface thereof, or alternatively on each of them. This automatic analyzer, therefore, allows information about the reagent ID to be read or written at an arbitrary timing even if the mounting density of reagent containers of the automatic analyzer is increased, thereby improving the function and performance of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: Shigenori Watari