Patents by Inventor Wakako Shinobu

Wakako Shinobu 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: 10620199
    Abstract: A sensing sensor includes a wiring board, a piezoelectric resonator, and a gel-like protective agent. The piezoelectric resonator has one surface side on which an adsorbing film is formed. The adsorbing film is constituted of biomolecules. The protective agent is disposed so as to cover a surface of the adsorbing film. The protective agent is configured to suppress an inactivation of the biomolecules. The channel forming member is disposed so as to cover a region of the one surface side of the wiring board including the piezoelectric resonator. The channel forming member includes an injection port of the sample solution. The flow passage is disposed between the wiring board and the channel forming member. The flow passage is configured to allow the sample solution supplied to the injection port to flow from one end side to another end side on the one surface side of the piezoelectric resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wakako Shinobu
  • Patent number: 10613008
    Abstract: A sensing sensor includes a main body portion, a piezoelectric resonator, a connecting terminal, and an information storage. The main body portion includes a supply region to which the sample solution is supplied. The piezoelectric resonator is disposed to face the supply region and includes a capturing layer that captures a sensing object. The connecting terminal is configured to attachably/detachably connect a conductive path connected to an electrode of the piezoelectric resonator to a frequency measuring unit. The information storage stores calibration curve information to specify a calibration curve that indicates a relationship between a density of the sensing object and a frequency variation amount of the piezoelectric resonator before and after supplying the sample solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunichi Wakamatsu, Wakako Shinobu
  • Patent number: 10126268
    Abstract: A sensing sensor includes a first vibrating region, a second vibrating region, an adsorbing film, a blocking layer, a wiring board, a channel forming member arranged to cover a region of the one surface side of the wiring board to form a channel. The adsorbing film is arranged such that the adsorbing film is located in a region including the central portion in the front-rear direction of the one vibrating region. Assuming that the front end portion of the vibrating region is P1, the front end portion of the adsorbing film is P2, and the central portion of the vibrating region is C, the front end portion of the adsorbing film P2 satisfies a relational expression expressed as follows: (a distance from C to P1)×0.4?(a distance from P1 to P2)?(a distance from C to P1)×0.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wakako Shinobu, Hiroyuki Kukita, Shunichi Wakamatsu
  • Publication number: 20180195942
    Abstract: A sensing sensor includes a main body portion, a piezoelectric resonator, a connecting terminal, and an information storage. The main body portion includes a supply region to which the sample solution is supplied. The piezoelectric resonator is disposed to face the supply region and includes a capturing layer that captures a sensing object. The connecting terminal is configured to attachably/detachably connect a conductive path connected to an electrode of the piezoelectric resonator to a frequency measuring unit. The information storage stores calibration curve information to specify a calibration curve that indicates a relationship between a density of the sensing object and a frequency variation amount of the piezoelectric resonator before and after supplying the sample solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunichi WAKAMATSU, Wakako SHINOBU
  • Publication number: 20170322130
    Abstract: To provide a technique for performing a highly reliable measurement in sensing a sensing object in a sample solution based on a frequency variation of the crystal resonator 4. In a sensing method that causes the sensing object to attach to the crystal resonator 4 and measures an amount of the sensing object from the frequency variation caused by an effect of mass addition, an oscillation frequency is measured before a measurement region is caused to be in a liquid phase, and subsequently the sample solution is supplied to the measurement region. Thereafter, a liquid component in the measurement region is removed to cause the measurement region to be in a gas phase. An oscillation frequency is measured to measure a frequency difference from the oscillation frequency before the sample solution is supplied to the measurement region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wakako SHINOBU
  • Patent number: 9791412
    Abstract: A sensing device is provided that has satisfactory sensing accuracy when a crystal unit where an excitation electrode is formed on both upper and lower surfaces of a piezoelectric piece is used to sense a sensing object. Adsorption regions are arranged in two places so as to intersect a direction of flow of a fluid, thus each of the adsorption regions senses the sensing object and reference regions are individually provided in these adsorption regions. A difference ?f1 between the oscillation frequencies of the regions and a difference ?f2 between the oscillation frequencies of the regions are added, and based on the result of the addition, whether the sensing object is present or not and its concentration are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kukita, Shunichi Wakamatsu, Wakako Shinobu
  • Publication number: 20170248591
    Abstract: A sensing sensor includes a wiring board, a piezoelectric resonator, and a gel-like protective agent. The piezoelectric resonator has one surface side on which an adsorbing film is formed. The adsorbing film is constituted of biomolecules. The protective agent is disposed so as to cover a surface of the adsorbing film. The protective agent is configured to suppress an inactivation of the biomolecules. The channel forming member is disposed so as to cover a region of the one surface side of the wiring board including the piezoelectric resonator. The channel forming member includes an injection port of the sample solution. The flow passage is disposed between the wiring board and the channel forming member. The flow passage is configured to allow the sample solution supplied to the injection port to flow from one end side to another end side on the one surface side of the piezoelectric resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wakako SHINOBU
  • Publication number: 20170146490
    Abstract: A sensing sensor includes a first vibrating region, a second vibrating region, an adsorbing film, a blocking layer, a wiring board, a channel forming member arranged to cover a region of the one surface side of the wiring board to form a channel. The adsorbing film is arranged such that the adsorbing film is located in a region including the central portion in the front-rear direction of the one vibrating region. Assuming that the front end portion of the vibrating region is P1, the front end portion of the adsorbing film is P2, and the central portion of the vibrating region is C, the front end portion of the adsorbing film P2 satisfies a relational expression expressed as follows: (a distance from C to P1)×0.4?(a distance from P1 to P2)?(a distance from C to P1)×0.8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wakako SHINOBU, Hiroyuki KUKITA, Shunichi WAKAMATSU
  • Patent number: 9164063
    Abstract: A sensing device is to be connected to a piezoelectric resonator for sensing a target substance in a sample fluid based on oscillation frequency of the piezoelectric resonator. The sensing device includes an oscillator circuit, a voltage supply unit, an information obtaining unit, and a voltage adjusting unit. The oscillator circuit is commonalized for a plurality kinds of piezoelectric resonators. The voltage supply unit is configured to supply a DC drive voltage to the oscillator circuit. The information obtaining unit is configured to obtain type information of a piezoelectric resonator which is connected to the oscillator circuit. The voltage adjusting unit is configured to adjust the DC drive voltage to a voltage corresponding to the connected piezoelectric resonator based on the type information obtained by the information obtaining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kukita, Shunichi Wakamatsu, Wakako Shinobu
  • Patent number: 9103748
    Abstract: It is possible to determine the presence of bacteria in a sample solution in a shorter period of time without changing a conventional incubating method. Bacteria in a sample solution are incubated in, for example, a sterilized agar medium 10 having a layer thickness of 0.1 ?m to 1 ?m formed on an electrode of a crystal resonator 2, and an oscillation frequency is measured. When the bacteria proliferate, the mass of the entire crystal resonator 2 increases, and the oscillation frequency decreases. Therefore, by monitoring presence of such a change over time, presence of bacteria in the sample solution can be determined quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Koyama, Shunichi Wakamatsu, Wakako Shinobu
  • Patent number: 9086338
    Abstract: To provide a sensing device that holds a piezoelectric sensor and a channel forming member placed on the sensor in a closely contacted state while maintaining a shape of space of a passage space formed inside the device. In a sensing device 1100 that senses a substance to be sensed based on a variation in an oscillation frequency caused by an absorption of the substance to be sensed in an absorption layer provided on a piezoelectric resonator 1720 of a piezoelectric sensor 1700, a holding member 1600 holds the piezoelectric sensor 1700 and a channel forming member 1730 that forms a passage space through which a sample fluid passes on an upper surface side of the sensor, in a vertically stacked state. A cover member 1510 is placed on the channel forming member 1730, and a pressing part 1350 which is raised/lowered by a first raising/lowering mechanism 1300 presses the cover member 1510 placed on the channel forming member 1730 downward with a previously set force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wakako Shinobu, Hiroyuki Kukita, Tomoya Yorita, Shunichi Wakamatsu
  • Publication number: 20140366611
    Abstract: A sensing device is provided that has satisfactory sensing accuracy when a crystal unit where an excitation electrode is formed on both upper and lower surfaces of a piezoelectric piece is used to sense a sensing object. Adsorption regions are arranged in two places so as to intersect a direction of flow of a fluid, thus each of the adsorption regions senses the sensing object and reference regions are individually provided in these adsorption regions. A difference ?f1 between the oscillation frequencies of the regions and a difference ?f2 between the oscillation frequencies of the regions are added, and based on the result of the addition, whether the sensing object is present or not and its concentration are detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: HIROYUKI KUKITA, SHUNICHI WAKAMATSU, WAKAKO SHINOBU
  • Publication number: 20140250985
    Abstract: A sensing sensor includes a crystal element having a first excitation electrode, a second excitation electrode, and a common electrode, an adsorbing layer, a wiring board, and a channel forming member. The crystal element is secured to the wiring board so as to form a space at one surface side of the first vibrating region and the second vibrating region. The channel forming member is disposed to form a supply channel of sample solution upward of each of the first vibrating region and the second vibrating region. The channel forming member is disposed such that an inferior surface of a left edge and a right edge of the channel forming member is positioned on the common electrode. The channel forming member is formed such that an injection port of the sample solution and a discharge port of the sample solution are opposed to the crystal element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: WAKAKO SHINOBU, HIROYUKI KUKITA, SHUNICHI WAKAMATSU
  • Patent number: 8802428
    Abstract: It is possible to determine the presence of bacteria in a sample solution in a shorter period of time without changing a conventional incubating method. Bacteria in a sample solution are incubated in, for example, a sterilized agar medium 10 having a layer thickness of 0.1 ?m to 1 ?m formed on an electrode of a crystal resonator 2, and an oscillation frequency is measured. When the bacteria proliferate, the mass of the entire crystal resonator 2 increases, and the oscillation frequency decreases. Therefore, by monitoring presence of such a change over time, presence of bacteria in the sample solution can be determined quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Koyama, Shunichi Wakamatsu, Wakako Shinobu
  • Patent number: 8646317
    Abstract: To provide a sensing device having a high processing power and capable of high-accuracy measurement. It is determined whether or not an oscillation frequency is stabilized while a buffer solution is supplied to a quartz-crystal resonator 4. from a syringe pump 10. When it is determined that the frequency is stabilized, a second valve 14. is switched to a sample solution supply mode to supply a sample solution in an injection loop 14a. to the quartz-crystal resonator 4. An instant at which the sample solution reaches the quartz-crystal resonator 4. and an instant at which the sample solution finishes passing through the quartz-crystal resonator 4. are automatically found based on a supply flow rate of the buffer solution, a volume of the injection loop 14a, a volume of a supply channel supplying the sample solution to the quartz-crystal resonator 4, and an instant at which the second valve 14. is switched to the sample solution supply mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunichi Wakamatsu, Tomoya Yorita, Hiroyuki Kukita, Wakako Shinobu
  • Publication number: 20140004529
    Abstract: A sensing method includes supplying the sample solution to the adsorbing layer; subsequently supplying a first liquid to the adsorbing layer, the first liquid including a first sensitizer to bind with the object; subsequently discharging the first liquid from the adsorbing layer; subsequently supplying a second liquid to the adsorbing layer, the second liquid including a second sensitizer, the second sensitizer reacting to the first sensitizer to generate an insoluble material; obtaining a first frequency signal corresponding to an oscillation frequency of the oscillator circuit, the oscillation frequency being obtained by oscillating the piezoelectric resonator after liquid is supplied to the adsorbing layer and before the second liquid is supplied to the adsorbing layer; and obtaining a second frequency signal corresponding to an oscillation frequency of an oscillator circuit, the oscillation frequency being obtained by oscillating the piezoelectric resonator after the second liquid is supplied to the adsor
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Wakako SHINOBU, Hiroyuki KUKITA, Shunichi WAKAMATSU
  • Patent number: 8454902
    Abstract: A sensing device is configured that a first piezoelectric vibrator and a second piezoelectric vibrator, changing over a connection to an oscillation circuit, have the oscillation circuit in common, that an impedance of a conductive path including a first one-surface-side electrode constituting the first piezoelectric vibrator from the oscillation circuit and an impedance of a conductive path including a second one-surface-side electrode constituting the second piezoelectric vibrator from the oscillation circuit are uniform with each other, and that an impedance of a conductive path including a first other-surface-side electrode constituting the first piezoelectric vibrator from the oscillation circuit and an impedance of a conductive path including a second other-surface-side electrode constituting the second piezoelectric vibrator from the oscillation circuit are uniform with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kukita, Shunichi Wakamatsu, Wakako Shinobu
  • Publication number: 20130042672
    Abstract: A sensing device is to be connected to a piezoelectric resonator for sensing a target substance in a sample fluid based on oscillation frequency of the piezoelectric resonator. The sensing device includes an oscillator circuit, a voltage supply unit, an information obtaining unit, and a voltage adjusting unit. The oscillator circuit is commonalized among a plurality kinds of piezoelectric resonators. The voltage supply unit is configured to supply a DC drive voltage to the oscillator circuit. The information obtaining unit is configured to obtain type information of a piezoelectric resonator which is connected to the oscillator circuit. The voltage adjusting unit is configured to adjust the DC drive voltage to a voltage corresponding to the connected piezoelectric resonator based on the type information obtained by the information obtaining unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: HIROYUKI KUKITA, SHUNICHI WAKAMATSU, WAKAKO SHINOBU
  • Publication number: 20120219458
    Abstract: A sensing device is configured that a first piezoelectric vibrator and a second piezoelectric vibrator, changing over a connection to an oscillation circuit, have the oscillation circuit in common, that an impedance of a conductive path including a first one-surface-side electrode constituting the first piezoelectric vibrator from the oscillation circuit and an impedance of a conductive path including a second one-surface-side electrode constituting the second piezoelectric vibrator from the oscillation circuit are uniform with each other, and that an impedance of a conductive path including a first other-surface-side electrode constituting the first piezoelectric vibrator from the oscillation circuit and an impedance of a conductive path including a second other-surface-side electrode constituting the second piezoelectric vibrator from the oscillation circuit are uniform with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki KUKITA, Shunichi Wakamatsu, Wakako Shinobu
  • Publication number: 20120070850
    Abstract: It is possible to determine the presence of bacteria in a sample solution in a shorter period of time without changing a conventional incubating method. Bacteria in a sample solution are incubated in, for example, a sterilized agar medium 10 having a layer thickness of 0.1 ?m to 1 ?m formed on an electrode of a crystal resonator 2, and an oscillation frequency is measured. When the bacteria proliferate, the mass of the entire crystal resonator 2 increases, and the oscillation frequency decreases. Therefore, by monitoring presence of such a change over time, presence of bacteria in the sample solution can be determined quickly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Koyama, Shunichi Wakamatsu, Wakako Shinobu