Patents by Inventor Susumu Aono

Susumu Aono 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: 11805977
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes a processor configured to generate a clock at predetermined timing, a light source apparatus configured to irradiate white light and excitation light in a time division manner in synchronization with the clock, and an endoscope configured to perform image pickup based on irradiation timing of the light source apparatus. The processor generates a first white light image at a first clock, generates a first fluorescent image at a second clock, generates a second white light image at a third clock, and generates a third white light image at a fourth clock and superimposes the second white light image and the first fluorescent image at the fourth clock and superimposes the third white light image and the first fluorescent image at a fifth clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Mizoguchi, Toshiaki Watanabe, Satoshi Takekoshi, Susumu Aono
  • Publication number: 20210099645
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope, an image generating unit, a display unit, a displayed-image controlling unit, and a distance sensing unit. The endoscope includes an image pickup optical system including a first image pickup device and a second image pickup device. The distance sensing unit senses distance information. Based on the distance information, the displayed-image controlling unit controls a first picked-up image so as to change a position of a first output region included in an entire image pickup region of the first image pickup device and in which an image pickup signal for the first picked-up image is outputted, and controls a second picked-up image so as to change a position of a second output region included in an entire image pickup region of the second image pickup device and in which an image pickup signal for the second picked-up image is outputted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori USHIJIMA, Susumu AONO
  • Patent number: 10951800
    Abstract: An endoscope system is provided with: a processor; a light source; and an image pickup device. The processor performs control for causing reflected light images corresponding to a predetermined period before start of the fluorescence occurrence period during the fluorescence non-occurrence period, among the reflected light images, to be recorded to the first storage medium; and, furthermore, performs control for causing the reflected light images to be recorded to the first storage medium during an after-end-of-fluorescence-occurrence period corresponding to a predetermined period with an end of the fluorescence occurrence period as a start point, and performs control for causing the reflected light images not to be recorded to the first storage medium during the fluorescence non-occurrence period after an end of the after-end-of-fluorescence-occurrence period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susumu Aono, Toshiaki Watanabe, Satoshi Takekoshi, Masakazu Mizoguchi, Junichi Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20200322512
    Abstract: An endoscope system is provided with: a processor; a light source; and an image pickup device. The processor performs control for causing reflected light images corresponding to a predetermined period before start of the fluorescence occurrence period during the fluorescence non-occurrence period, among the reflected light images, to be recorded to the first storage medium; and, furthermore, performs control for causing the reflected light images to be recorded to the first storage medium during an after-end-of-fluorescence-occurrence period corresponding to a predetermined period with an end of the fluorescence occurrence period as a start point, and performs control for causing the reflected light images not to be recorded to the first storage medium during the fluorescence non-occurrence period after an end of the after-end-of-fluorescence-occurrence period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susumu AONO, Toshiaki WATANABE, Satoshi TAKEKOSHI, Masakazu MIZOGUCHI, Junichi TASHIRO
  • Publication number: 20200315439
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes a processor configured to generate a clock at predetermined timing, a light source apparatus configured to irradiate white light and excitation light in a time division manner in synchronization with the clock, and an endoscope configured to perform image pickup based on irradiation timing of the light source apparatus. The processor generates a first white light image at a first clock, generates a first fluorescent image at a second clock, generates a second white light image at a third clock, and generates a third white light image at a fourth clock and superimposes the second white light image and the first fluorescent image at the fourth clock and superimposes the third white light image and the first fluorescent image at a fifth clock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu MIZOGUCHI, Toshiaki WATANABE, Satoshi TAKEKOSHI, Susumu AONO
  • Publication number: 20180332271
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is provided with: an objective optical system; at least one image pickup device configured to pick up two subject images; at least one moving lens portion configured to change optical characteristics of the two subject images; and at least one actuator configured to drive the moving lens portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Susumu AONO
  • Publication number: 20180221599
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus includes: a pipe sleeve section through which gas can circulate; a first seal section provided on a proximal end side of the pipe sleeve section; a second seal section provided on an insertion opening side of the pipe sleeve section; and a sheath provided with, between the first seal section and the second seal section, a hole portion through which gas circulates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunitoshi HIRAGA, Nobuyuki FURUKAWA, Satoshi HOMMA, Susumu AONO, Takanori USHIJIMA
  • Publication number: 20180214197
    Abstract: A circulation smoke discharging system includes: a circulation smoke discharging apparatus configured to receive setting output information of a treatment instrument apparatus including a treatment instrument, feed predetermined gas, and perform circulation smoke discharging by sucking smoke generated in a body cavity and gas in the body cavity; a pump for the circulation smoke discharging; an input voltage determination unit configured to determine a pump input voltage corresponding to a circulation flow rate of the circulation smoke discharging in accordance with the setting output information of the treatment instrument apparatus; and a circulation flow rate control unit configured to control the circulation flow rate by outputting the pump input voltage to the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunitoshi HIRAGA, Nobuyuki FURUKAWA, Satoshi HOMMA, Susumu AONO, Takanori USHIJIMA
  • Publication number: 20170209030
    Abstract: An endoscope includes: an insertion portion including a distal end rigid portion, a bending portion, and an endoscope tube portion; an image pickup apparatus including an image pickup device; a first optical system having a first optical axis which is in parallel with a longitudinal axis; a second optical system including a first objective optical system having a second optical axis intersecting with the first optical axis, the second optical system being configured to bend the second optical axis to make the second optical axis coincident with the first optical axis; and a rotation driving apparatus that rotates the image pickup device, the first optical system, and the second optical system together around a rotation axis which is in parallel with the first optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke NAKAO, Susumu AONO
  • Patent number: 9072450
    Abstract: A distal end barrel that holds a light guide bundle and an electronic image pickup unit inside a distal end portion is formed in such a manner that the distal end barrel is divided in a first distal end barrel arranged on the distal end side of the distal end portion and a second distal end barrel supported via the first distal end barrel so as not to be exposed at an outer surface of the distal end portion, the second distal end barrel holding the light guide bundle and the electronic image pickup unit, and the second distal end barrel includes a member having a thermal conductivity higher than the thermal conductivity of the first distal end barrel, thereby protecting the image pickup device from thermal damage without an increase in temperature of the outer surface of the distal end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Takanori Ushijima, Susumu Aono, Toshihiro Matsui, Mitsutaka Kokubo, Natsuki Hori
  • Publication number: 20150018617
    Abstract: A stereoscopic endoscope includes an insertion portion, an objective optical system provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion, an objective optical system provided at the distal end portion, a first opening portion provided a predetermined distance apart from an optical axis center of the objective optical system and configured to deliver fluid to the objective optical system, and a second opening portion provided a distance equivalent to the predetermined distance apart from an optical axis center of the objective optical system and configured to deliver the fluid in a supply direction same as a supply direction of the first opening portion to the objective optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventor: Susumu AONO
  • Patent number: 8142351
    Abstract: An endoscope insertion portion includes an imaging unit including a distal end optical member arranged at a distal end portion of the imaging unit and a movable optical member configured to be moved relative to the distal end optical member, an actuator unit arranged in a position relative to the distal end optical member, configured to drive the movable optical member and including a shape memory member configured to deform according to temperature, and a heater unit including a heating member configured to heat the distal end optical member wherein the heater unit is arranged on one side opposite to other side on which the actuator unit is arranged and the heating member is configured to heat the distal end optical member from the one side to the other side, relative to the optical axis of the imaging unit, when viewing in the axial direction of the insertion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Susumu Aono, Mitsutaka Kokubo
  • Patent number: 7833154
    Abstract: An endoscope is provided with a bending tube including sequentially connected plural bending pieces constituting a bending section which is provided in a slim and elongated insertion portion and which is brought into a bending operation by remote control, a distal end section which is provided in the front end side of this bending tube and which constitutes the front end side of the insertion portion, a flexible tube section which is provided in the base end side of the bending tube and which constitutes the rear end side of the insertion portion, and a covering member which is disposed to cover the bending tube and which has elasticity in order that both end portions of the covering member are fixed to the distal end section or the flexible tube section by being fastened radially inward, wherein the relationship represented by 0.3D<d<1.0D is established between a thickness d of the covering member fixed by fastening and the thickness D of the covering member before being fixed by fastening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu Aono, Toshiyuki Nihei, Jun Matsumoto, Ichiro Kagawa, Hiroshi Endo
  • Publication number: 20100268027
    Abstract: An endoscope insertion portion includes an imaging unit including a distal end optical member arranged at a distal end portion of the imaging unit and a movable optical member configured to be moved relative to the distal end optical member, an actuator unit arranged in a position relative to the distal end optical member, configured to drive the movable optical member and including a shape memory member configured to deform according to temperature, and a heater unit including a heating member configured to heat the distal end optical member wherein the heater unit is arranged on one side opposite to other side on which the actuator unit is arranged and the heating member is configured to heat the distal end optical member from the one side to the other side, relative to the optical axis of the imaging unit, when viewing in the axial direction of the insertion portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Susumu Aono, Mitsutaka Kokubo
  • Publication number: 20050209508
    Abstract: An endoscope is provided with a bending tube including sequentially connected plural bending pieces constituting a bending section which is provided in a slim and elongated insertion portion and which is brought into a bending operation by remote control, a distal end section which is provided in the front end side of this bending tube and which constitutes the front end side of the insertion portion, a flexible tube section which is provided in the base end side of the bending tube and which constitutes the rear end side of the insertion portion, and a covering member which is disposed to cover the bending tube and which has elasticity in order that both end portions of the covering member are fixed to the distal end section or the flexible tube section by being fastened radially inward, wherein the relationship represented by 0.3D<d<1.0D is established between a thickness d of the covering member fixed by fastening and the thickness D of the covering member before being fixed by fastening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu Aono, Toshiyuki Nihei, Jun Matsumoto, Ichiro Kagawa, Hiroshi Endo
  • Patent number: 6716161
    Abstract: An endoscope suitable for autoclave sterilization includes an insertion section having an objective lens section disposed at the extreme end thereof for focusing a subject image and an eyepiece section located on the base end side of the inserting section and including at least an eyepiece lens. an image guide fiber is disposed in the bundle for transmitting the subject image in an observation section focused by the objective lens section. An eyepiece lens unit is disposed in the eyepiece section, the eyepiece lens unit causing the eyepiece lens to confront the base end structure whose hermetic seal level is higher than the watertight seal level of the shell of the endoscope. A focus position changing means is disposed to the eyepiece lens unit to change the focus position of the eyepiece lens. The eyepiece section is so constructed and/or assembled that the autoclave sterilization process does not cause water vapor or the like to adversely affect the operability of the eyepiece section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Higuma, Yasuyuki Futatsugi, Ichiro Nakamura, Yosuke Yoshimoto, Hidetoshi Saito, Susumu Aono, Takao Yamaguchi, Yutaka Tatsuno, Takahiro Kishi, Yasuhito Kura, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi, Takeaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6572537
    Abstract: An endoscope includes an image pickup unit 30 having a solid-state image pickup device 32 such as a CCD on a tip end side of an elongate insertion section. This image pickup unit 30 constitutes a tip end side unit 36U and a rear end side unit 43U by conducting a surface treatment (metallization) to nonmetal members such as a tip end cover glass 31 and a rear end cover glass 35, and by airtight coupling surface-treated portions of the nonmetal members to metal members such as a tip end cover glass frame 36 and a rear end cover glass frame 43 by brazing using soldering, and constitutes an optical system unit 60 by airtight coupling the metal members to metal members of an insulating unit 38U formed by airtight coupling a pipe member 41 and a ring member 42 to an insulating frame 38 by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Futatsugi, Hidetoshi Saito, Yosuke Yoshimoto, Susumu Aono, Satoshi Honma, Hitoshi Karasawa
  • Patent number: 6547721
    Abstract: An endoscope capable of being autoclaved in accordance with the present invention includes an insertion unit, an internal endoscope space, and contents. The insertion unit has a soft member, which is made of a soft polymeric material, as at least part of a casing thereof. The internal endoscope space includes the internal space of the insertion unit that is formed at a first sealing level at which the internal space is sealed in a watertight manner relative to an outside. The contents include at least one hermetically sealed unit composed of a plurality of airtight partition members and formed at a second sealing level higher than the first sealing level by joining the meeting portions of the airtight partition members using an airtight joining material. All or part of the airtight partition members is stowed in the internal endoscope space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Higuma, Yasuyuki Futatsugi, Takeaki Nakamura, Yosuke Yoshimoto, Takahiro Kishi, Yasuhito Kura, Yutaka Tatsuno, Takao Yamaguchi, Susumu Aono, Ichiro Nakamura, Jun Hiroya, Hidetoshi Saito, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Patent number: 6547722
    Abstract: An endoscope having resistance to high-temperature and high-pressure steam including an optical unit having at least one optical member; and optical unit supporting frame for supporting the optical unit so that its position can be adjusted in the direction of the optical axis; and a hermetic optical covering member joined to the optical unit supporting frame and having an optical window for covering at least an end portion of the optical unit when it is joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Higuma, Yasuyuki Futatsugi, Susumu Aono
  • Patent number: RE43281
    Abstract: An endoscope capable of being autoclaved in accordance with the present invention includes an insertion unit, an internal endoscope space, and contents. The insertion unit has a soft member, which is made of a soft polymeric material, as at least part of a casing thereof. The internal endoscope space includes the internal space of the insertion unit that is formed at a first sealing level at which the internal space is sealed in a watertight manner relative to an outside. The contents include at least one hermetically sealed unit composed of a plurality of airtight partition members and formed at a second sealing level higher than the first sealing level by joining the meeting portions of the airtight partition members using an airtight joining material. All or part of the airtight partition members is stowed in the internal endoscope space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventors: Masakazu Higuma, Yasuyuki Futatsugi, Takeaki Nakamura, Yosuke Yoshimoto, Takahiro Kishi, Yasuhito Kura, Yutaka Tatsuno, Takao Yamaguchi, Susumu Aono, Ichiro Nakamura, Jun Hiroya, Hidetoshi Saito, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi