Patents by Inventor Tetsuharu Fukushima

Tetsuharu Fukushima 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: 20230293249
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing device (300) including a control unit (324) that controls a medical arm (102) to autonomously operate using a first learning model generated by machine learning a plurality of state information concerning an operation of the medical arm labeled as an operation that should be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: KAZUTO YOKOYAMA, YOHEI KURODA, TETSUHARU FUKUSHIMA, YUKI ITOTANI, KATSUFUMI SUGIMOTO
  • Patent number: 11696814
    Abstract: Proposed is a mechanism capable of securing both convenience and safety in regard to surgery performed by inserting an endoscope into a human body. A medical arm system including a multi-joint arm which has a plurality of links connected by joints and a distal end to which an endoscope is connectable and a control unit which sets a virtual plane in a body cavity of a patient and controls the multi-joint arm so as to constrain a predetermined point of the endoscope in the body cavity on the virtual plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Nagao, Toshimitsu Tsuboi, Yasuhiro Matsuda, Tetsuharu Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20230126611
    Abstract: To support easy arrangement of a robot, an information processing apparatus includes: a projection image generating section which generates a projection image that projects information specifying a range of motion of a target part of a medical arm onto the range of motion on the basis of first information regarding the range of motion and second information regarding a position and a posture of a projection device that projects an image in an operating room; and an output instruction section that outputs a projection instruction for the projection image to the projection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: YUKI ITOTANI, TETSUHARU FUKUSHIMA, YOHEI KURODA, KAZUTO YOKOYAMA, KATSUFUMI SUGIMOTO
  • Patent number: 11633245
    Abstract: There is provided is a robot arm apparatus including an arm unit made up of a plurality of links joined to each other by one or a plurality of a joint unit, the arm unit being connectable to an imaging unit; and a drive control unit that controls driving of the arm unit by causing each joint unit to be driven cooperatively. The drive control unit uses relative position information of a reference position with respect to the arm unit, the relative position information being based on a state of the arm unit and distance information about a distance between the imaging unit and the reference position, to control the driving of the arm unit in a manner that the reference position is positioned on an optical axis of the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takara Kasai, Yasuhisa Kamikawa, Yohei Kuroda, Wataru Kokubo, Toshimitsu Tsuboi, Tetsuharu Fukushima, Yasuhiro Matsuda, Atsushi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 11583348
    Abstract: Provided is a medical robot arm apparatus including a plurality of joint units configured to connect a plurality of links and implement at least 6 or more degrees of freedom in driving of a multi-link structure configured with the plurality of links, and a drive control unit configured to control driving of the joint units based on states of the joint units. A front edge unit attached to a front edge of the multi-link structure is at least one medical apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuharu Fukushima, Wataru Kokubo, Toshimitsu Tsuboi, Atsushi Miyamoto, Kenichiro Nagasaka, Kenji Hirose
  • Patent number: 11553838
    Abstract: There is provided an endoscope including a main body including a coupler to which a cable is attached, a tubular section having a tubular form, a reflector having a reflection surface that reflects light introduced from the coupler to inside of the main body and introduces the light to inside of the tubular section, a first optical system that transmits the light introduced by the reflector to the inside of the tubular section to a front-end portion of the tubular section and irradiates a subject with the light from the front-end portion, and a second optical system that transmits reflected light of the subject from the front-end portion of the tubular section to the main body side. The coupler is provided to be rotatable in the main body around a central axis of the tubular section with respect to another portion. The cable is coupled to a light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Arai, Yohei Kuroda, Masaru Usui, Tetsuharu Fukushima, Daisuke Nagao
  • Patent number: 11540701
    Abstract: There is provided a medical holding apparatus including: a first actuator configured to cause a medical optical tool that guides light from a body cavity of a subject to a camera head during a surgical operation, to rotate about an optical axis of the medical optical tool and a rotation mechanism configured to support the camera head that acquires an image of the body cavity of the subject via the medical optical tool, the camera head being rotatable about the optical axis of the medical optical tool independently from the medical optical tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Arai, Yohei Kuroda, Masaru Usui, Tetsuharu Fukushima
  • Patent number: 11458637
    Abstract: [Object] To enable further suppression of the movement amount of an arm section when switching states. [Solution] There is provided a control apparatus configured to execute a current tracking control on a basis of a measurement value of a torque sensor of an actuator provided in at least one of multiple joint sections included in an arm section of a medical support arm apparatus, the current tracking control causing a motor of the actuator to output torque by which a position and an attitude of the arm section are maintained, and switch a first state in which the motor is driven in accordance with a predetermined control method, and a second state in which the joint section is locked using a brake of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yohei Kuroda, Tetsuharu Fukushima, Fumiyasu Suzuki, Toshimitsu Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 11287599
    Abstract: A medical observation device includes an imaging unit configured to photograph an image of an operation site, and a holding unit configured to be connected with the imaging unit and have rotary shafts which are operable with at least six degrees of freedom. Among the rotary shafts, at least two shafts are active shafts whose driving is controlled based on states of the rotary shafts, and at least one shaft is a passive shaft which is rotated according to direct external manipulation accompanying contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC., SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Hirose, Tetsuharu Fukushima, Atsushi Miyamoto, Wataru Kokubo, Toshimitsu Tsuboi
  • Publication number: 20210369363
    Abstract: Provided is a surgical imaging apparatus that includes a multi-link, multi-joint structure including a plurality of joints that interconnect a plurality of links to provide the multi-link, multi-joint structure with a plurality of degrees of freedom, at least one video camera being disposed on a distal end of the multi-link, multi-joint structure; at least one actuator that drives at least one of the plurality of joints; and circuitry that detects a joint force experienced at the at least one of the plurality of joints in response to an applied external force, and controls the at least one actuator based on the joint force so as to position the video camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuharu FUKUSHIMA, Wataru KOKUBO, Toshimitsu TSUBOI, Atsushi MIYAMOTO, Kenichiro NAGASAKA, Kenji HIROSE
  • Publication number: 20210369092
    Abstract: There is provided a medical holding apparatus including: a first actuator configured to cause a medical optical tool that guides light from a body cavity of a subject to a camera head during a surgical operation, to rotate about an optical axis of the medical optical tool and a rotation mechanism configured to support the camera head that acquires an image of the body cavity of the subject via the medical optical tool, the camera head being rotatable about the optical axis of the medical optical tool independently from the medical optical tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Jun ARAI, Yohei KURODA, Masaru USUI, Tetsuharu FUKUSHIMA
  • Patent number: 11129682
    Abstract: Provided is a surgical imaging apparatus that includes a multi-link, multi joint structure including a plurality of joints that interconnect a plurality of links to provide the multi-link, multi joint structure with a plurality of degrees of freedom, at least one video camera being disposed on a distal end of the multi-link, multi-joint structure; at least one actuator that drives at least one of the plurality of joints; and circuitry that detects a joint force experienced at the at least one of the plurality of joints in response to an applied external force, and controls the at least one actuator based on the joint force so as to position the video camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuharu Fukushima, Wataru Kokubo, Toshimitsu Tsuboi, Atsushi Miyamoto, Kenichiro Nagasaka, Kenji Hirose
  • Patent number: 11109927
    Abstract: A joint driving actuator that includes an ultrasonic motor that generates driving force for driving a joint, the ultrasonic motor including a stator fixed to a side of one arm that relatively rotates in the joint and a rotor fixed to a side of another arm that relatively rotates in the joint, the stator including a piezoelectric element that generates ultrasonic vibration, a torque sensor that detects external force applied to the joint, and an encoder that detects a rotational angle of the ultrasonic motor, the encoder being mounted on the one arm, the stator being fixed on the side thereof, and the torque sensor being mounted on the another arm, the rotor being fixed on the side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Kokubo, Tetsuharu Fukushima, Toshimitsu Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 11033340
    Abstract: To make it possible to configure a medical support arm apparatus which does not impair operability for the surgeon, and which is also compact. Provided is a medical support arm apparatus including: an arm section configured so that a medical tool is provided on a front end, and movable axes are arranged so that the arm section has at least six degrees of freedom. Among the movable axes, a movable axis provided on the front end side that prescribes an attitude of the medical tool is a passive axis that rotates by following an external force, and at least one axis provided on a base end side that prescribes a position of the medical tool is a drive axis driven by an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Kamikawa, Tetsuharu Fukushima, Wataru Kokubo, Yasuhiro Matsuda
  • Patent number: 10898293
    Abstract: There is provided a medical support arm device including a brake provided in at least one joint of a plurality of joints that define a deployment configuration of a multi-joint arm, and configured to release a rotation shaft of the at least one joint when electricity is supplied to the multi-joint arm and lock the rotation shaft when electricity is not supplied to the multi joint arm. When electricity is not supplied the brake is configured to exert a brake force that supports a weight of the multi-joint arm to maintain the deployment configuration of the multi-joint arm, but also permits rotation of the rotation shaft by an external manually applied force equal to or larger than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuharu Fukushima, Wataru Kokubo, Toshimitsu Tsuboi, Yohei Kuroda, Yasuhisa Kamikawa
  • Publication number: 20210015346
    Abstract: A support unit for a medical camera head is described. The support unit is configured to rotate about an axis and including: an adapter configured to detachably mount a plurality of different medical scopes thereon; a light source supply system configured to supply light to the medical scope when mounted, the light source supply system being configured to pass through the axis; and an image sensor configured to capture an image from the medical scope, and wherein the axis is in the imaging direction of the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yohei KURODA, Kei TOMATSU, Tetsuharu FUKUSHIMA, Jun ARAI
  • Publication number: 20210007593
    Abstract: [Overview] [Problem to be Solved] To make it possible to appropriately rotate an endoscope. [Solution] There is provided an endoscope including: a main body including a coupler to which a cable is attached; a tubular section having a tubular form; a reflector having a reflection surface that reflects light introduced from the coupler to inside of the main body and introduces the light to inside of the tubular section; a first optical system that transmits the light introduced by the reflector to the inside of the tubular section to a front-end portion of the tubular section and irradiates a subject with the light from the front-end portion; and a second optical system that transmits reflected light of the subject from the front-end portion of the tubular section to the main body side. The coupler is provided to be rotatable in the main body around a central axis of the tubular section with respect to another portion. The cable being coupled to a light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: JUN ARAI, YOHEI KURODA, MASARU USUI, TETSUHARU FUKUSHIMA, DAISUKE NAGAO
  • Publication number: 20200400911
    Abstract: A medical observation device includes an imaging unit configured to photograph an image of an operation site, and a holding unit configured to be connected with the imaging unit and have rotary shafts which are operable with at least six degrees of freedom. Among the rotary shafts, at least two shafts are active shafts whose driving is controlled based on states of the rotary shafts, and at least one shaft is a passive shaft which is rotated according to direct external manipulation accompanying contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicants: Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc., Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji HIROSE, Tetsuharu FUKUSHIMA, Atsushi MIYAMOTO, Wataru KOKUBO, Toshimitsu TSUBOI
  • Patent number: 10856726
    Abstract: The present invention aims to make it capable of holding organs more safely. Provided is a medical support arm apparatus, including: an arm unit (510) whose driving is controlled by force control; and a retractor, provided on a front end of the arm unit (510), that holds an organ of a patient during surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Arai, Yasuhisa Kamikawa, Kiyokazu Miyazawa, Yohei Kuroda, Yasuhiro Matsuda, Tetsuharu Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20200324419
    Abstract: [Object] To enable further suppression of the movement amount of an arm section when switching states. [Solution] There is provided a control apparatus configured to execute a current tracking control on a basis of a measurement value of a torque sensor of an actuator provided in at least one of multiple joint sections included in an arm section of a medical support arm apparatus, the current tracking control causing a motor of the actuator to output torque by which a position and an attitude of the arm section are maintained, and switch a first state in which the motor is driven in accordance with a predetermined control method, and a second state in which the joint section is locked using a brake of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yohei KURODA, Tetsuharu FUKUSHIMA, Fumiyasu SUZUKI, Toshimitsu TSUBOI