Patents by Inventor Shigeru Yano

Shigeru Yano 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: 20240103029
    Abstract: There are provided a sample conveying device and a sample conveyance method capable of determining a cause of an abnormality in a conveyance speed more quickly than in the related art. In a conveying device 501, a general conveyance speed of a conveying container 102 is obtained from a position of the conveying container 102 detected by a position detection unit 110 to determine whether the general conveyance speed is abnormal, and when it is determined that the general conveyance speed is abnormal, an inspection conveying container 105 is conveyed, and the cause of the abnormality in the general conveyance speed is determined based on the conveyance speed of the inspection conveying container 105.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Saori CHIDA, Shigeru YANO, Takeshi TAMAKOSHI
  • Publication number: 20240067467
    Abstract: There are provided a sample conveyance system and a sample conveyance method capable of conveying a sample in a more stable manner than in the related art corresponding to a conveyance method using an electromagnetic actuator. A driving unit 208 applies a first voltage to a first coil 207a located on a front side in a traveling direction of a holder 202, which is selected to attract or repel the holder 202, to excite the first coil 207a and applies a second voltage having a polarity opposite to a polarity of the first voltage to at least one or more of second coils 207b among coils 207 adjacent to the first coil 207a except for the coils 207 in the front side in the traveling direction to excite the second coil 207b, and a control unit 210A estimates a position of the holder 202 based on a value of a current flowing through a winding 206 of the first coil 207a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Takeshi TAMAKOSHI, Shigeru YANO, Shinji AZUMA, Yuichiro SHIGA, Daigo SHISHIDO
  • Publication number: 20240036068
    Abstract: In a two-dimensional conveyance line employing an electromagnetic conveyance technique, carriers are conveyed in consideration of the length of a group of stagnated carriers, so as to reduce idle positions and ensure conveyance efficiency of a specimen inspection system and maximize the number of carriers conveyed simultaneously. Current is supplied to a winding of an electromagnetic circuit and an electromagnetic force is generated between the winding and a carrier with a magnet that holds a test tube to move the carrier. The processing efficiency of a specimen inspection system is improved by changing the current of the electromagnetic circuit to change a conveyance speed of the carrier to which the specimen sample is mounted, and by shortening the conveyance time, and reducing the conveyance speed of the carrier and increasing the number of carriers that are conveyed simultaneously as an alternative to detouring the carrier during congestion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2021
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Shigeru YANO, Shinji AZUMA, Takeshi MATSUKA
  • Publication number: 20230123687
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic analysis system which, even when a large number of quality control samples is necessary, reduces the time necessary for quality control. To this end, this automatic analysis system is provided with multiple analysis devices (190), a conveyance unit (120) to which the analysis devices (190) are connected, and an operation unit (101) which operates the conveyance unit (120) to convey samples to the analysis device (190), wherein the automatic analysis system has a common storage cabinet (210) for storing the quality control samples that can be supplied to the multiple analysis devices (190), and in accordance with a rule registered in advance for each of the multiple analysis devices (190), the operation unit (101) operates the storage cabinet (210) to automatically convey a quality control sample to an analysis device (190).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Shigeru YANO, Kenta IMAI, Hideto TAMEZANE, Saori CHIDA
  • Patent number: 11467173
    Abstract: The sample container loading or storing unit includes a sample rack tray and a sample rack tray installation portion on which the sample rack tray is installed, the sample rack tray installation portion includes a claw portion that moves in a contact direction with a sidewall portion of the sample rack tray, the sample rack tray includes a claw guard portion provided on the sidewall portion of the sample rack tray, and the claw guard portion is configured to be separated from the sidewall portion of the sample rack tray by being pushed by a sample rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Endo, Katsuhiro Kambara, Shigeru Yano
  • Publication number: 20220285014
    Abstract: A time period that is required for dealing with the need to access another place in advance of a device which is generating an alarm is reduced. Information of a task being presently executed by a laboratory technician present in a clinical laboratory is acquired from a responsible person schedule management table. Information based on a distance between the present position of the laboratory technician present in the clinical laboratory and a positional information reference point that indicates the position first accessed by the laboratory technician to deal with the alarm and that is specified from an alarm information management table and an alarm handling access position management table is also acquired. Based on the acquired information, ordering for issuing a notification of the alarm of which generation has been detected is performed for the laboratory technician present in the clinical inspection room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Yoshihiro SEKI, Tomoakira KAWAI, Shigeru YANO, Misato FUKAMI, Ai MASUDA
  • Publication number: 20220252626
    Abstract: A management unit 101 for integrally managing a sample conveyance system 100 generates conveyance path information for conveying a holder 30 on the basis of conditions of conveyance tiles 401 detected by control drivers 301, 302, 303, 304 that perform detection of conditions and driving of the conveyance tiles 401, and control units 201, 202, 203 that manage operations of the plurality of conveyance tiles 401 and that can move the holder 30 in a planar two-dimensional direction, generate a conveyance path of the holder 30 on the basis of the conveyance path information, generate command signals for the conveyance tiles 401, and output the signals to the control drivers 301, 302, 303, 304.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Shigeru YANO, Takeshi MATSUKA, Satohiro HAMANO
  • Publication number: 20220244280
    Abstract: An inspection result of a specimen inspection automation system can be reported within a prescribed time, even if a large number of urgent specimens have been input. An instruction reception unit receives turn around time (TAT) information and a discharge instruction. The necessity of discharging a specimen for which the instruction was issued with the discharge instruction is determined and a discharge instruction unit creates a discharge destination and a conveyance route to the discharge destination for the specimen. A discharge mechanism discharges the specimen for which the instruction was issued. Even for a specimen which is caused to wait for processing due to the occurrence of specimen congestion and for which there is a risk of an inspection result reporting delay, an inspection result can be reported within a prescribed time by switching from automatic processing by the system to manual processing by an operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Satohiro HAMANO, Shigeru YANO, Misato FUKAMI, Ai MASUDA
  • Publication number: 20210270858
    Abstract: Provided is an automatic analysis system that reduces a personnel burden and increases an operating rate using an autonomous mobile robot while suppressing an initial cost. The automatic analysis system includes: a plurality of devices that are disposed in an automatic analysis area 101 and includes analyzing units 103 and 104 included in an automatic analyzer; and a robot 102 that moves in the automatic analysis area, in which an operation screen of the analyzing unit has a first screen mode for an operator and a second screen mode for the robot and is switchable between the first screen mode and the second screen mode, and the robot obtains state information of the analyzing unit from the operation screen in the second screen mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Kenta Imai, Tomoakira Kawai, Taku Sakazume, Shigeru Yano, Manabu Minegishi, Takahiro Suzuki, Atsushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11073527
    Abstract: An automated sample inspection system is provided with a conveyance line for conveying sample carriers; an empty sample carrier line for conveying empty sample carriers; and a buffer line for temporarily holding empty sample carriers supplied from the empty sample carrier line to the conveyance line. According to the depletion status of the buffer line of each processing system, and the depletion status of other processing systems adjacent to each processing system, the number of empty sample carriers to be conveyed from the empty sample carrier line to the buffer line of each processing system, and the number of empty sample carriers to be conveyed from the empty sample carrier line of each processing system to the empty sample carrier line of another adjacent processing system are determined. Consequently, delays in the processes in the system can be suppressed due to the suppression of the depletion of sample carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Matsuka, Shigeru Yano, Masaki Chikahisa
  • Publication number: 20210208174
    Abstract: A specimen conveyance system and a specimen conveyance method are realized, in which a conveyance route of a specimen can be reset even when information about an additional request is received after loading of the specimen. When an abnormality occurs in the analysis result, a notification of the abnormality is sent to an operation control unit and a host computer through a communication cable and information about the additional request for changing the conveyance route is created. After the specimen is conveyed from the analysis device to the transfer machine, information about the additional request is checked at a destination determination point, and the conveyance route is changed according to the additional request. Accordingly, the specimen container can be conveyed to the appropriate analysis device without being returned to the storage unit once, and thus the specimen analysis time can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Akihiro SHIMODA, Shigeru YANO
  • Patent number: 10816564
    Abstract: A sample test automation system which is capable of reducing the workload of an operator and precisely carrying out necessary processes of each of samples without stagnation. In the sample test automation system, a sample tray 120 on which a plurality of samples 150 can be installed is prepared, an identifier for distinguishing the sample tray 120 is attached to the sample tray 120, a sample introducing unit 10 is provided with an identifier reading apparatus 111 which reads the identifier of the sample tray 120, and information about the samples 150 is switched based on the read identifier of the sample tray 120.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Sasaki, Kenichi Takahashi, Hiroshi Ohga, Tatsuya Fukugaki, Shigeru Yano, Kenichi Yasuzawa, Nozomi Hasegawa, Masaaki Hanawa
  • Publication number: 20200225252
    Abstract: The sample container loading or storing unit includes a sample rack tray and a sample rack tray installation portion on which the sample rack tray is installed, the sample rack tray installation portion includes a claw portion that moves in a contact direction with a sidewall portion of the sample rack tray, the sample rack tray includes a claw guard portion provided on the sidewall portion of the sample rack tray, and the claw guard portion is configured to be separated from the sidewall portion of the sample rack tray by being pushed by a sample rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Masashi ENDO, Katsuhiro KAMBARA, Shigeru YANO
  • Publication number: 20200200782
    Abstract: Provided is a specimen processing system which can contribute to space saving. The specimen processing system includes a put-in module which puts a specimen on a put-in tray in a holder, a housing module which houses the specimen from the holder in a housing tray, and a stock module which stocks the holder, in which an empty holder which is generated because the specimen is housed is directly conveyed to the put-in module without being conveyed to the stock module and is used for putting a new specimen therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taro UMEKI, Shigeru YANO
  • Patent number: 10684302
    Abstract: This specimen inspection automation system is provided with: a processing unit which processes a specimen; a conveying line which conveys carriers; a control device which controls the conveying of the carriers; and external connection modules which deliver the carriers to and from external devices. The control device controls the number of carriers in the specimen inspection automation system within a fixed range on the basis of the number of carriers conveyed into and out of the system by the external connection modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeki Yamaguchi, Shigeru Yano, Toshiki Yamagata, Hiroki Ihara
  • Publication number: 20190170780
    Abstract: An automated sample inspection system is provided with a conveyance line for conveying sample carriers; an empty sample carrier line for conveying empty sample carriers; and a buffer line for temporarily holding empty sample carriers supplied from the empty sample carrier line to the conveyance line. According to the depletion status of the buffer line of each processing system, and the depletion status of other processing systems adjacent to each processing system, the number of empty sample carriers to be conveyed from the empty sample carrier line to the buffer line of each processing system, and the number of empty sample carriers to be conveyed from the empty sample carrier line of each processing system to the empty sample carrier line of another adjacent processing system are determined. Consequently, delays in the processes in the system can be suppressed due to the suppression of the depletion of sample carriers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Takeshi MATSUKA, Shigeru YANO, Masaki CHIKAHISA
  • Patent number: 10071385
    Abstract: A sample preprocessing system is capable of reducing centrifuging time, which accounts for the majority of time required for a preprocessing step, and at the same time, performing centrifuging under various conditions. A system management unit ascertains the states of a plurality of centrifuge devices, particularly comparing centrifuging start times and centrifuging termination times for the respective centrifuge devices, and selects the centrifuge device for which the processing time is shortest. Specifically, the system includes an adapter that forms a plurality of batches, a gripper to transfer a sample to the adapter, a plurality of centrifuge rotors that centrifuge the adapter in batch units, and a computer programmed to calculate, in advance, a start timing and a termination timing of the centrifuging in batch units, and the batch, into which samples are transferred, is controlled on the basis of at least one of the calculated start timing and termination timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Yano, Osamu Watabe, Kenichi Takahashi, Takahiro Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20180246131
    Abstract: This specimen inspection automation system is provided with: a processing unit which processes a specimen; a conveying line which conveys carriers; a control device which controls the conveying of the carriers; and external connection modules which deliver the carriers to and from external devices. The control device controls the number of carriers in the specimen inspection automation system within a fixed range on the basis of the number of carriers conveyed into and out of the system by the external connection modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Shigeki YAMAGUCHI, Shigeru YANO, Toshiki YAMAGATA, Hiroki IHARA
  • Patent number: 9952239
    Abstract: The invention provides a sample inspection automation system capable of easily, reliably, and efficiently responding to requests for reinspection or addition of inspection items. The sample inspection automation system includes a storage unit having a sample replacing mechanism for transferring a sample from a tray to a sample transfer line. When the system receives sample retrieval information through the communication between an operating unit and a laboratory information system (LIS), or a host system of the sample inspection automation system, the sample is transferred to the appropriate sample treatment unit through the transfer line. Thus, when a request for reinspection or an addition inspection is issued, the sample inspection automation system can efficiently respond to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Yasuzawa, Kenichi Takahashi, Koji Kamoshida, Masashi Akutsu, Shigeru Yano
  • Publication number: 20170328926
    Abstract: A sample test automation system which is capable of reducing the workload of an operator and precisely carrying out necessary processes of each of samples without stagnation. In the sample test automation system, a sample tray 120 on which a plurality of samples 150 can be installed is prepared, an identifier for distinguishing the sample tray 120 is attached to the sample tray 120, a sample introducing unit 10 is provided with an identifier reading apparatus 111 which reads the identifier of the sample tray 120, and information about the samples 150 is switched based on the read identifier of the sample tray 120.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Takahiro SASAKI, Kenichi TAKAHASHI, Hiroshi OHGA, Tatsuya FUKUGAKI, Shigeru YANO, Kenichi YASUZAWA, Nozomi HASEGAWA, Masaaki HANAWA