Patents by Inventor Tetsu HIRAYAMA

Tetsu HIRAYAMA 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: 11559187
    Abstract: In a multistage pushbutton switch device, n pushbutton switches and at least one load absorption spring are movably arranged in between a pushbutton member and a reaction force wall in the same axial line, each of the n pushbutton switches is composed of an electrical switch member and a pressing member that operates the electrical switch member, and (n?1) that is one less than n, or more pushbutton switches is arranged with an intermediate spring member, when the pushbutton member is pressed and displaced, the n electrical switch members are sequentially turned on, the load absorption spring is arranged in at least one of between the pushbutton member and the pushbutton switch that is the nearest to the pushbutton member, between pushbutton switches that are adjacent, and between the reaction force wall and the pushbutton switch that is the nearest to the reaction force wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsu Hirayama
  • Publication number: 20220395165
    Abstract: The endoscope includes an insertion portion, a hand-operating unit, a first treatment-instrument conduit, and a second treatment-instrument conduit. One end of the insertion portion is coupled to the hand-operating unit. The first treatment-instrument conduit passes through insides of the insertion portion and the hand-operating unit. A treatment instrument is inserted into the first treatment-instrument conduit from an upper end of the hand-operating unit. The second treatment-instrument conduit passes through insides of the insertion portion and the hand-operating unit and includes a branching portion that branches off into a first branching path and a second branching path at the hand-operating unit, a treatment instrument is inserted into the second treatment-instrument conduit from the first branching path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsu HIRAYAMA, Takahiro KOBAYASHI, Naoyuki NAITO
  • Publication number: 20220369896
    Abstract: Provided is an endoscope capable of effectively suppressing breakage of a channel while sufficiently exhibiting performance of a plurality of portions having different degrees of bending. The endoscope includes an insertion portion and a channel arranged inside the insertion portion. The insertion portion includes a bending section that is bendable based on an operation, and a flexible tube portion that is bendable by an external force unrelated to the operation. The channel includes an inner layer and an outer layer formed outside the inner layer, the inner layer is made of polytetrafluoroethylene having a solid structure, and the outer layer is made of polytetrafluoroethylene having a porous structure. A porosity of the outer layer in the bending section is smaller than a porosity of the outer layer in the flexible tube portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventor: Tetsu HIRAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220296085
    Abstract: An endoscope system is provided. The system comprises an endoscope having a hollow tube formed therein; and an instrument for insertion through the hollow tube, wherein the instrument has a first end for operational control and a second distal end for instrument operation at a distal end of the endoscope, wherein the distal end of the endoscope has an illumination device and a vision device for providing illuminated vision at the distal end of the endoscope for operational control of the instrument operation at the distal end of the instrument, and wherein the distal end of the instrument and the distal end of the endoscope are interoperably coupled for rotational control of the instrument with respect to the endoscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Tomonori YAMAMOTO, Isaac David PENNY, Boon Hang NG, Naoyuki NAITO, Takahiro KOBAYASHI, Tetsu HIRAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220287585
    Abstract: Pliability of a tube is ensured while preventing deformation of the tube, occurrence of air leakage, and the like. An endoscope includes an insertion portion and a tube arranged inside the insertion portion. The insertion portion includes a bending section that is bendable based on an operation, a distal tip connected to a distal tip of the bending section, and a flexible tube portion that is bendable by external force independent of the operation. The tube includes an inner layer and an outer layer formed outside the inner layer. The inner layer is formed from polytetrafluoroethylene having solid structure. The outer layer is positioned at an end portion on a side of the distal tip and includes a first portion formed from polytetrafluoroethylene having solid structure and a second portion formed from polytetrafluoroethylene having porous structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsu HIRAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220241035
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is an endoscopy system with newly designed docking block, brake control, wire tension adjustment, bending angle sensor, memory chip data storage, valve control, imaging lens cleaning, optimized lumen arrangement and distal position sensor. The docking block can have a one-touch retaining mechanism. Braking control can be accessed by the endoscopist at the hand grip or knobs. Wire tension can be relaxed or tightened in response to surgeon or endoscopist control. Bending angle sensors can protect surgical instruments. Memory chip can store usage data of the endoscope. Multiple valves can have priority control. Lenses can be cleaned with one touch of a button. Lumens can be arranged to maximize imaging and lighting angles. Position markers accompanied with sensors can position the distal end of the endoscope automatically in the optimal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Tomonori Yamamoto, Christopher Lee Shih Hao Sam Soon, Isaac David Penny, Naoyuki Naito, Tetsu Hirayama, Takahiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11311343
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is an endoscopy system with newly designed docking block, brake control, wire tension adjustment, bending angle sensor, memory chip data storage, valve control, imaging lens cleaning, optimized lumen arrangement and distal position sensor. The docking block can have a one-touch retaining mechanism. Braking control can be accessed by the endoscopist at the hand grip or knobs. Wire tension can be relaxed or tightened in response to surgeon or endoscopist control. Bending angle sensors can protect surgical instruments. Memory chip can store usage data of the endoscope. Multiple valves can have priority control. Lenses can be cleaned with one touch of a button. Lumens can be arranged to maximize imaging and lighting angles. Position markers accompanied with sensors can position the distal end of the endoscope automatically in the optimal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignees: ENDOMASTER PTE LTD, HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tae Zar Lwin, Isaac David Penny, Christopher Lee Shih Hao Sam Soon, Tomonori Yamamoto, Naoyuki Naito, Tetsu Hirayama, Takahiro Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20200315720
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is an endoscopy system with newly designed docking block, brake control, wire tension adjustment, bending angle sensor, memory chip data storage, valve control, imaging lens cleaning, optimized lumen arrangement and distal position sensor. The docking block can have a one-touch retaining mechanism. Braking control can be accessed by the endoscopist at the hand grip or knobs. Wire tension can be relaxed or tightened in response to surgeon or endoscopist control. Bending angle sensors can protect surgical instruments. Memory chip can store usage data of the endoscope. Multiple valves can have priority control. Lenses can be cleaned with one touch of a button. Lumens can be arranged to maximize imaging and lighting angles. Position markers accompanied with sensors can position the distal end of the endoscope automatically in the optimal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicants: ENDOMASTER PTE LTD, HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tae Zar Lwin, Isaac David Penny, Christopher Lee Shih Hao Sam Soon, Tomonori Yamamoto, Naoyuki Naito, Tetsu Hirayama, Takahiro Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20200221935
    Abstract: An endoscope system is provided. The system comprises an endoscope having a hollow tube formed therein; and an instrument for insertion through the hollow tube, wherein the instrument has a first end for operational control and a second distal end for instrument operation at a distal end of the endoscope, wherein the distal end of the endoscope has an illumination device and a vision device for providing illuminated vision at the distal end of the endoscope for operational control of the instrument operation at the distal end of the instrument, and wherein the distal end of the instrument and the distal end of the endoscope are interoperably coupled for rotational control of the instrument with respect to the endoscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Tomonori YAMAMOTO, Boon Hang NG, Isaac David PENNY, Naoyuki NAITO, Takahiro KOBAYASHI, Tetsu HIRAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20190053861
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is an endoscopy system with newly designed docking block, brake control, wire tension adjustment, bending angle sensor, memory chip data storage, valve control, imaging lens cleaning, optimized lumen arrangement and distal position sensor. The docking block can have a one-touch retaining mechanism. Braking control can be accessed by the endoscopist at the hand grip or knobs. Wire tension can be relaxed or tightened in response to surgeon or endoscopist control. Bending angle sensors can protect surgical instruments. Memory chip can store usage data of the endoscope. Multiple valves can have priority control. Lenses can be cleaned with one touch of a button. Lumens can be arranged to maximize imaging and lighting angles. Position markers accompanied with sensors can position the distal end of the endoscope automatically in the optimal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Tae Zar Lwin, Isaac Davis Penny, Christopher Lee Shih Hao Sam Soon, Tomonori Yamamoto, Naoyuki Naito, Tetsu Hirayama, Takahiro Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20180325358
    Abstract: In a multistage pushbutton switch device, n pushbutton switches and at least one load absorption spring are movably arranged in between a pushbutton member and a reaction force wall in the same axial line, each of the n pushbutton switches is composed of an electrical switch member and a pressing member that operates the electrical switch member, and (n?1) that is one less than n, or more pushbutton switches is arranged with an intermediate spring member, when the pushbutton member is pressed and displaced, the n electrical switch members are sequentially turned on, the load absorption spring is arranged in at least one of between the pushbutton member and the pushbutton switch that is the nearest to the pushbutton member, between pushbutton switches that are adjacent, and between the reaction force wall and the pushbutton switch that is the nearest to the reaction force wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsu HIRAYAMA
  • Patent number: 8591406
    Abstract: An endoscope is provided having an observation port, a fluid supply pipe, a cap, a fluid ejection channel, and a direction adjustment protrusion. The observation port is provided at the distal end of the endoscope, and collects light reflected from an object. The fluid supply pipe transmits gas and/or liquid to the distal end. The cap blocks the distal end of the fluid supply pipe and is configured so that a partially enclosed semispherical space is created between the distal end of the fluid supply pipe and the inner surface of the cap. The fluid ejection channel has an outlet in the direction of the observation port, and extends from the edge of the opening at the distal end of the fluid supply pipe to the outlet and occupies the semispherical space inside the cap. The direction adjustment protrusion extends over the outlet in the lengthwise direction of the fluid ejection channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsu Hirayama
  • Publication number: 20110046446
    Abstract: An endoscope is provided having an observation port, a fluid supply pipe, a cap, a fluid ejection channel, and a direction adjustment protrusion. The observation port is provided at the distal end of the endoscope, and collects light reflected from an object. The fluid supply pipe transmits gas and/or liquid to the distal end. The cap blocks the distal end of the fluid supply pipe and is configured so that a partially enclosed semispherical space is created between the distal end of the fluid supply pipe and the inner surface of the cap. The fluid ejection channel has an outlet in the direction of the observation port, and extends from the edge of the opening at the distal end of the fluid supply pipe to the outlet and occupies the semispherical space inside the cap. The direction adjustment protrusion extends over the outlet in the lengthwise direction of the fluid ejection channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsu HIRAYAMA