Patents by Inventor Toru Shinmura

Toru Shinmura 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: 9901243
    Abstract: A valve unit is switchable to an open position at which an outside of an exterior portion and an inner cavity communicate with each other and a closed position at which a communication between the outside of the exterior portion and the inner cavity is blocked in an endoscope. In the endoscope, an electric power is supplied to a drive force generation section only when a connection portion of an universal cord is connected to a peripheral device, and the drive force generation section generates a drive force to drive the valve unit by a supply of the electric power. The valve unit moves from the closed position to the open position by the drive force generated by the drive force generation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori Yajima, Toru Shinmura
  • Publication number: 20160309990
    Abstract: A valve unit is switchable to an open position at which an outside of an exterior portion and an inner cavity communicate with each other and a closed position at which a communication between the outside of the exterior portion and the inner cavity is blocked in an endoscope. In the endoscope, an electric power is supplied to a drive force generation section only when a connection portion of an universal cord is connected to a peripheral device, and the drive force generation section generates a drive force to drive the valve unit by a supply of the electric power. The valve unit moves from the closed position to the open position by the drive force generated by the drive force generation section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori YAJIMA, Toru SHINMURA
  • Patent number: 9345384
    Abstract: An endoscope includes a first breakable portion provided between a part of an outer peripheral surface of a distal rigid section main body and a second inner peripheral surface, and including a fragile portion which is formed in a concaved-shape and which is more easy to break than any other part of the outer peripheral surface except for thereof. The endoscope includes a second breakable portion provided between a first inner peripheral surface and the second inner peripheral surface, and a third breakable portion provided between the first inner peripheral surface and a part of the outer peripheral surface of the distal rigid section main body, which differs from the fragile portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motohiro Kuroda, Toru Shinmura, Hiroaki Kagawa, Hiroyuki Nagamizu
  • Patent number: 8827897
    Abstract: An endoscope includes a curving operation portion which performs a curving operation of a curving portion by rotating around a pivot shaft in a first rotation direction and in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction from a neutral position where the curving portion is in a non-curved neutral state, a first operation wire which is pulled by the curving operation in the curving operation portion to curve the curving portion in the second curving direction, and a second operation wire which is pulled by the curving operation in the curving operation portion to curve the curving portion in the first curving direction. The endoscope includes a wire crossing portion in which the second operation wire crosses the first operation wire, and a movement regulating portion which regulates the movement of the wire crossing portion from within the operation portion into the insertion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Sato, Eiji Matsuda, Toru Shinmura
  • Patent number: 8425407
    Abstract: An endoscope insertion portion includes an image pick-up assembly including an image pick-up unit and an image pick-up cable provided in order from the distal end portion to the proximal end side wherein the outer diameter of the image pick-up unit is larger than the outer diameter of the image pick-up cable, and a channel assembly arranged side by side with the image pick-up assembly and including a thin outer diameter portion and a thick outer diameter portion provided in order from the distal end portion to the proximal end side wherein a distal end portion of the thick outer diameter portion is arranged on more proximal end side than a proximal end portion of the image pick-up unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Eijiro Sato, Eiji Matsuda, Toru Shinmura
  • Publication number: 20120323078
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a resin molded article, includes a primary molding step of molding a primary compact having an optical element and a protruding portion by using a light transmissive molding material, and a secondary molding step of molding a secondary compact that supports the primary compact by using a molding material different from the molding material and integrating the primary compact with the secondary compact. The protruding portion is molded to protrude on the secondary compact side, and at the primary molding step, the molding material of the primary compact is supplied into a molding space for the optical element and it is thereby supplied into a cavity of a molding die for the primary compact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicants: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP., Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kikumori, Wataru Nonaka, Toru Shinmura
  • Patent number: 8317803
    Abstract: A surgery equipment holding device including a holder for holding surgical equipment, a bar connected to the holder, a brake which operatively engages the bar for stopping movement of the bar, and a pair of switches for switching being an active state and an inactive state of the brake. The surgery equipment holding device is characterized in the operation thereof at the time of disengaging the fixation state, and exhibits excellent operability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Otsuka, Toru Shinmura, Kenji Omachi
  • Patent number: 8221304
    Abstract: There is disclosed an operation microscope in which an observing and displaying system of an operating instrument are selected, and an endoscope image for observing a dead angle of the microscope and a navigation image are selectively displayed in a microscope observation field, so that a tomographic image, three-dimensionally constructed image, and the like can be selectively displayed in a display screen in accordance with a treatment position displayed in a monitor or an observation position of the operation microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Shioda, Kazuhito Nakanishi, Masakazu Mizoguchi, Takashi Fukaya, Wataru Ohno, Masahiko Kinukawa, Masaaki Ueda, Motokazu Nakamura, Toru Shinmura, Kazuo Morita
  • Publication number: 20120089155
    Abstract: A surgery equipment holding device including a holder for holding surgical equipment, a bar connected to the holder, a brake which operatively engages the bar for stopping movement of the bar, and a pair of switches for switching being an active state and an inactive state of the brake. The surgery equipment holding device is characterized in the operation thereof at the time of disengaging the fixation state, and exhibits excellent operability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Otsuka, Toru Shinmura, Kenji Omachi
  • Patent number: 8100919
    Abstract: A surgery equipment holding device including a holder for holding surgical equipment, a bar connected to the holder, a brake which operatively engages the bar for stopping movement of the bar, and a pair of switches for switching being an active state and an inactive state of the brake. The surgery equipment holding device is characterized in the operation thereof at the time of disengaging the fixation state, and exhibits excellent operability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Otsuka, Toru Shinmura, Kenji Omachi
  • Publication number: 20110237891
    Abstract: An endoscope includes a curving operation portion which performs a curving operation of a curving portion by rotating around a pivot shaft in a first rotation direction and in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction from a neutral position where the curving portion is in a non-curved neutral state, a first operation wire which is pulled by the curving operation in the curving operation portion to curve the curving portion in the second curving direction, and a second operation wire which is pulled by the curving operation in the curving operation portion to curve the curving portion in the first curving direction. The endoscope includes a wire crossing portion in which the second operation wire crosses the first operation wire, and a movement regulating portion which regulates the movement of the wire crossing portion from within the operation portion into the insertion portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Yoshinori SATO, Eiji MATSUDA, Toru SHINMURA
  • Patent number: 7833153
    Abstract: An endoscope includes an operation portion side member, an insertion portion side member rotatable integrally with the insertion portion, an elastic member provided in one of the operation portion side member and the insertion portion side member, a frictional surface which is provided in the other of the operation portion side member and the insertion portion side member and which generates a frictional force between the frictional surface and the elastic member when the frictional surface is pressed onto the elastic member and the insertion portion is rotated, and a movement adjusting mechanism which relatively moves the operation portion side member and the insertion portion side member to continuously adjust press force acting between the elastic member and the frictional surface while deforming the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Takeuchi, Toru Shinmura, Kaoru Tsuruoka
  • Publication number: 20100069714
    Abstract: An endoscope insertion portion includes an image pick-up assembly including an image pick-up unit and an image pick-up cable provided in order from the distal end portion to the proximal end side wherein the outer diameter of the image pick-up unit is larger than the outer diameter of the image pick-up cable, and a channel assembly arranged side by side with the image pick-up assembly and including a thin outer diameter portion and a thick outer diameter portion provided in order from the distal end portion to the proximal end side wherein a distal end portion of the thick outer diameter portion is arranged on more proximal end side than a proximal end portion of the image pick-up unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Eijiro SATO, Eiji MATSUDA, Toru SHINMURA
  • Patent number: 7556626
    Abstract: A medical instrument holding apparatus includes a supporting mechanism, a moving mechanism, a basal portion and a counterweight. The supporting mechanism supports a medical instrument. The moving mechanism which has first and second sides, and a shaft portion located between the first and second sides. The moving mechanism supports the supporting mechanism, allowing the medical instrument and the supporting mechanism to be moved around the shaft portion. The basal portion is coupled to the shaft portion. The basal portion supports the moving mechanism, allowing the moving mechanism to rotate around the shaft portion. The counterweight is located on the second side of the moving mechanism. The counterweight generates a first rotation moment being smaller than a second rotation moment generated from the weights of the medical instrument and the supporting mechanism and acting around the shaft portion in the opposite direction to the second rotation moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Ueda, Satoshi Otsuka, Tomoaki Yamashita, Hisao Isobe, Kenji Hirose, Toru Shinmura
  • Patent number: 7309311
    Abstract: An endoscope is connected optically removably to a TV camera through an adapter. A plurality of fixing pins is arranged on both sides of an insertion axis of an insertion part of the endoscope. A fixing unit to fix the endoscope removably is provided at the front end of an arm unit of an endoscope holder which supports the endoscope movably. The fixing unit has a claw and a movable claw, and grips the fixing pins of the endoscope releasably between the claw and the movable claw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Otsuka, Toru Shinmura, Tomoaki Yamashita, Kenji Hirose, Hisao Isobe, Masaaki Ueda
  • Publication number: 20070212913
    Abstract: An endoscope includes an operation portion side member, an insertion portion side member rotatable integrally with the insertion portion, an elastic member provided in one of the operation portion side member and the insertion portion side member, a frictional surface which is provided in the other of the operation portion side member and the insertion portion side member and which generates a frictional force between the frictional surface and the elastic member when the frictional surface is pressed onto the elastic member and the insertion portion is rotated, and a movement adjusting mechanism which relatively moves the operation portion side member and the insertion portion side member to continuously adjust press force acting between the elastic member and the frictional surface while deforming the elastic member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Yasuo Takeuchi, Toru Shinmura, Kaoru Tsuruoka
  • Publication number: 20070080272
    Abstract: A surgery equipment holding device comprises a holder for holding surgical equipment, a bar connected to the holder, a brake which operatively engages the bar for stopping movement of the bar, and a pair of switches for switching being an active state and an inactive state of the brake. The surgery equipment holding device is characterized in the operation thereof at the time of disengaging the fixation state, and exhibits excellent operability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Otsuka, Toru Shinmura, Kenji Omachi
  • Patent number: 7160308
    Abstract: A surgery equipment holding device comprises a holder for holding surgical equipment, a bar connected to the holder, a brake which operatively engages the bar for stopping movement of the bar, and a pair of switches for switching being an active state and an inactive state of the brake. The surgery equipment holding device is characterized in the operation thereof at the time of disengaging the fixation state, and exhibits excellent operability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Otsuka, Toru Shinmura, Kenji Omachi
  • Patent number: 7122032
    Abstract: An operation system and a connecting adapter are provided. The operation system includes an operation microscope, an external device connectable to the operation microscope, and a connecting adapter for electrically connecting the operation microscope and the external device without bringing the operation microscope and the external device into contact with each other, which maintains a state of sterilization of the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Shinmura, Gakuji Higuchi, Tomoaki Yamashita, Kenji Omachi
  • Publication number: 20050075536
    Abstract: A medical device supporting apparatus for supporting a medical device in a three-dimensional space, in which a holding device for holding the medical device is supported by a supporting mechanism three-dimensionally, and the state of the supporting unit is switched between the movable state and the locked state by operating a plurality of final control elements. Operation is stabilized by differentiating the amount of operating force of the plurality of final control elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Publication date: April 7, 2005
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Otsuka, Toru Shinmura, Tomoaki Yamashita