Patents by Inventor Takehiro Ando

Takehiro Ando 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: 20250235279
    Abstract: A washing nozzle for washing a manipulator includes: a nozzle main body having a distal end portion insertable into an opening of the manipulator, a first distal end opening provided on the distal end portion, and a proximal end portion having a first proximal end opening and a second proximal end opening that are connectable with an external instrument. A first flow passage is formed inside the nozzle main body having a distal end communicating with the first distal end opening and a proximal end communicating with the first proximal end opening. A second flow passage is formed inside the nozzle main body having a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the first flow passage. A second distal end opening communicates with a distal end of the second flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2025
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Applicant: ASAHI SURGICAL ROBOTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keita AWANO, Takehiro Ando, Hiroyuki Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20250186153
    Abstract: A manipulator attachable to and detachable from a medical device includes: a manipulator main body having a distal end portion attached to an end effector and a proximal end portion connectable to the medical device; and a mechanical counter mechanism disposed on the manipulator main body. The counter mechanism shifts from a first state to a second state by a first operation for the counter mechanism and shifts from the second state to the first state by a second operation for the counter mechanism, and counts each shift from the second state to the first state by the second operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2025
    Publication date: June 12, 2025
    Applicant: ASAHI SURGICAL ROBOTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keita AWANO, Takehiro ANDO, Hiroyuki MIYAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20250187174
    Abstract: A manipulator assisting device includes a manipulator assisting device main body connectable to a proximal end portion of a manipulator with the proximal end portion attachable to and detachable from a medical device, the manipulator having a driven gear that engages with a gear in the medical device when connected to the medical device, and an end effector that operates by a power transmitted from the driven gear. The manipulator assisting device main body includes an assisting gear that engages with the driven gear when the manipulator assisting device main body is connected to the manipulator, a handle that transmits a drive force to the assisting gear, and a main body portion attached to the assisting gear and the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2025
    Publication date: June 12, 2025
    Applicant: ASAHI SURGICAL ROBOTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keita AWANO, Takehiro Ando, Hiroyuki Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 11883953
    Abstract: A passive joint device for supporting a rotation-side member rotatably about a horizontal axis in a vertical direction with respect to a fixed-side member, includes: a cylindrical cam member having a pair of cam surfaces symmetrically arranged about a horizontal axis, a pedestal slidably disposed along the horizontal axis fixed to the rotation-side member, the pedestal having a pair of cam followers that contact with each of the pair of cam surfaces, a spring disposed inside the horizontal axis and biasing the pedestal toward the fixed-side member along the horizontal axis, wherein the spring force causes the pair of cam followers to come into contact with the pair of cam surfaces, and provide upward rotational force to the rotation-side member to reduce the downward rotational force of the rotation-side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: A-TRACTION INC.
    Inventors: Takehiro Ando, Keita Awano
  • Publication number: 20230218354
    Abstract: A surgery supporting apparatus is capable of controlling a posture of a surgical instrument that is inserted into a body cavity and mechanically drivable. The apparatus includes a robot arm that can control the posture of the surgical instrument, which is attached to the robot arm via a gimbal mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: A-TRACTION INC.
    Inventors: Keita AWANO, Takehiro ANDO, Hiroyuki MIYAMOTO, Yoshihide SUGIURA, Yuta FUKUSHIMA
  • Patent number: 11653980
    Abstract: A surgery supporting apparatus capable of performing a manipulation using a surgical instrument to be inserted into a body cavity, comprises a measurement device configured to measure an insertion depth and an insertion angle, with respect to the body cavity, of a shaft of the surgical instrument inserted into the body cavity, as input of the manipulation, wherein the measurement device measures the insertion depth by measuring a sound wave propagating in a space between a transmitter attached to one of the surgical instrument and a position within a predetermined range from a position of insertion to the body cavity, and a receiver attached to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: A-TRACTION INC.
    Inventors: Takehiro Ando, Hiroyuki Miyamoto, Keita Awano, Yoshihide Sugiura, Yuta Fukushima
  • Patent number: 11622822
    Abstract: A surgery supporting apparatus is capable of controlling a posture of a first surgical instrument that is inserted into a body cavity and mechanically drivable, by using a second surgical instrument to be inserted into the body cavity. The apparatus comprises a robot arm configured to control the posture of the first surgical instrument attached to the robot arm. Instructions stored in a memory cause the apparatus to function as a control unit configured to control the motion of the robot arm such that the posture of the first surgical instrument is controlled in accordance with the posture of the second surgical instrument, in a case of a first mode, and controls the motion of the robot arm in accordance with a manipulation including contact to the robot arm, in a case of a second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: A-TRACTION INC.
    Inventors: Keita Awano, Takehiro Ando, Hiroyuki Miyamoto, Yoshihide Sugiura, Yuta Fukushima
  • Patent number: 11406460
    Abstract: A surgery assisting apparatus for controlling a posture of a first surgical tool to be inserted into a body cavity and mechanically driven, by using a second surgical tool to be inserted into the body cavity, comprises: a mode switch configured to switch a first mode and a second mode, the second surgical tool being used to control the first surgical tool in the second mode; one or more sensors configured to measure an angle and depth of insertion of a shaft of the second surgical tool into the body cavity; and at least one memory and at least one processor which function as a computing unit configured to determine a target position of a control point that is a point for specifying the posture of the first surgical tool in order to control the posture of the first surgical tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: A-TRACTION INC.
    Inventors: Takehiro Ando, Hiroyuki Miyamoto, Keita Awano, Yoshihide Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20210170608
    Abstract: A passive joint device for supporting a rotation-side member rotatably about a horizontal axis in a vertical direction with respect to a fixed-side member, includes: a cylindrical cam member having a pair of cam surfaces symmetrically arranged about a horizontal axis, a pedestal slidably disposed along the horizontal axis fixed to the rotation-side member, the pedestal having a pair of cam followers that contact with each of the pair of cam surfaces, a spring disposed inside the horizontal axis and biasing the pedestal toward the fixed-side member along the horizontal axis, wherein the spring force causes the pair of cam followers to come into contact with the pair of cam surfaces, and provide upward rotational force to the rotation-side member to reduce the downward rotational force of the rotation-side member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: A-Traction Inc.
    Inventors: Takehiro Ando, Keita Awano
  • Publication number: 20200346110
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and medium for controlling a progress of a video game are provided. A user interface element of the video game is displayed on a display screen. The user interface element is displayed with transparency determined during the progress of the video game. An operation to the user interface element displayed on the display screen is received regardless of the transparency. The progress of the video game is controlled in accordance with the operation to the user interface element displayed on the display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX (also trading as SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.)
    Inventors: Takehiro ANDO, Hidetoshi AOYAGI
  • Publication number: 20200297423
    Abstract: A surgery assisting apparatus comprises: a distance measuring unit configured to measure a distance to an object in a body cavity; a hollow tube including a cylindrical portion to be partially inserted into the body cavity and a portion that performs distance measurement by the distance measuring unit, the hollow tube enabling distance measurement in a given position on a circumference at a predetermined distance from a major axis of the cylindrical portion; and a controller configured to control the position on the circumference around the major axis where the distance measuring unit performs distance measurement, such that approach of a medical instrument inserted into the body cavity to the object is sensed, wherein the controller controls the position on the circumference around the major axis in accordance with an advancing direction of a distal end of the medical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: A-Traction Inc.
    Inventors: Takehiro Ando, Hiroyuki Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 10751615
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and medium for controlling a progress of a video game are provided. A user interface element of the video game is displayed on a display screen. The user interface element is displayed with transparency determined during the progress of the video game. An operation to the user interface element displayed on the display screen is received regardless of the transparency. The progress of the video game is controlled in accordance with the operation to the user interface element displayed on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX
    Inventors: Takehiro Ando, Hidetoshi Aoyagi
  • Publication number: 20200179056
    Abstract: A surgery assisting apparatus comprises: a distance measuring unit configured to measure a distance to an object in a body cavity; a hollow tube including a cylindrical portion to be partially inserted into the body cavity and a portion that performs distance measurement by the distance measuring unit, the hollow tube enabling distance measurement in a given position on a circumference at a predetermined distance from a major axis of the cylindrical portion; and a controller configured to control the position on the circumference around the major axis where the distance measuring unit performs distance measurement, such that approach of a medical instrument inserted into the body cavity to the object is sensed, wherein the controller controls the position on the circumference around the major axis in accordance with an advancing direction of a distal end of the medical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: A-Traction Inc.
    Inventors: Takehiro Ando, Hiroyuki Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20200121403
    Abstract: A surgery supporting apparatus is capable of controlling a posture of a first surgical instrument that is inserted into a body cavity and mechanically drivable, by using a second surgical instrument to be inserted into the body cavity. The apparatus comprises a robot arm configured to control the posture of the first surgical instrument attached to the robot arm. Instructions stored in a memory cause the apparatus to function as a control unit configured to control the motion of the robot arm such that the posture of the first surgical instrument is controlled in accordance with the posture of the second surgical instrument, in a case of a first mode, and controls the motion of the robot arm in accordance with a manipulation including contact to the robot arm, in a case of a second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: A-Traction Inc.
    Inventors: Keita Awano, Takehiro Ando, Hiroyuki Miyamoto, Yoshihide Sugiura, Yuta Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20200093546
    Abstract: A surgery supporting apparatus capable of performing a manipulation using a surgical instrument to be inserted into a body cavity, comprises a measurement device configured to measure an insertion depth and an insertion angle, with respect to the body cavity, of a shaft of the surgical instrument inserted into the body cavity, as input of the manipulation, wherein the measurement device measures the insertion depth by measuring a sound wave propagating in a space between a transmitter attached to one of the surgical instrument and a position within a predetermined range from a position of insertion to the body cavity, and a receiver attached to the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: A-Traction Inc.
    Inventors: Takehiro Ando, Hiroyuki Miyamoto, Keita Awano, Yoshihide Sugiura, Yuta Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20190328469
    Abstract: A surgery assisting apparatus for controlling a posture of a first surgical tool to be inserted into a body cavity and mechanically driven, by using a second surgical tool to be inserted into the body cavity, comprises: a mode switch configured to switch a first mode and a second mode, the second surgical tool being used to control the first surgical tool in the second mode; one or more sensors configured to measure an angle and depth of insertion of a shaft of the second surgical tool into the body cavity; and at least one memory and at least one processor which function as a computing unit configured to determine a target position of a control point that is a point for specifying the posture of the first surgical tool in order to control the posture of the first surgical tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: A-Traction Inc.
    Inventors: Takehiro Ando, Hiroyuki Miyamoto, Keita Awano, Yoshihide Sugiura
  • Patent number: 9656170
    Abstract: The present invention provides a game apparatus in which the variation width of a computation result in a battle between a player character and an enemy character is increased, and a difference in result can be brought about even with the same attack by a player's operation, and furthermore, a player can play a game while he/she feels the sense of realism and tension where he/she manipulates the character that is difficult to manipulate as intended. A chain used by a main character to manipulate a dragon is displayed on a display screen. A player manipulates the dragon by loosening or tightening the chain by performing an operation on a touch panel. The control level of the dragon is represented by an uncontrollability parameter. A status such as the offensive power of the dragon changes according to the uncontrollability parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX
    Inventors: Takehiro Ando, Hiroaki Iwano
  • Publication number: 20170043250
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and medium for controlling a progress of a video game are provided. A user interface element of the video game is displayed on a display screen. The user interface element is displayed with transparency determined during the progress of the video game. An operation to the user interface element displayed on the display screen is received regardless of the transparency. The progress of the video game is controlled in accordance with the operation to the user interface element displayed on the display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX (also trading as SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.)
    Inventors: Takehiro ANDO, Hidetoshi AOYAGI
  • Patent number: 9517411
    Abstract: A user interface processing apparatus is provided. A user interface element such as a virtual controller is displayed on a display screen. When an operation to the displayed user interface element is received from a player, the application is controlled in accordance with the received operation. A learning level of the player is determined in accordance with a control state of the application, such as utilization time of the application and the number of executions of a predetermined function in the application. The transparency is increased in accordance with the determined learning level. In a case where it is detected that an operation state of the user interface element continues for a certain period of time, transparency of the user interface element to increase is determined. The user interface element is displayed with the determined transparency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX
    Inventors: Takehiro Ando, Hidetoshi Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 9174131
    Abstract: A user interface processing apparatus for controlling an application is provided. In the user interface processing apparatus, a touch on a display screen by means of a contact operation by a user on a touch panel is received. A touched position on the touch panel is detected when the touch on the display screen is received. The touched position is a position touched by the player on the display screen. A virtual controller is displayed at a predetermined position on the display screen corresponding to the detected touched position in a case where the touch on the display screen is received. An operation of the virtual controller displayed on the display screen is received from the player. The application is controlled in accordance with the operation received from the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SQUARE ENIX
    Inventors: Kouichi Shirasaka, Takao Suzuki, Okinori Yasuta, Takehiro Ando, Hidetoshi Aoyagi