Nara Institute of Science and Technology

The University of Tokyo

Nidek Co., Ltd.

Keigan Inc.

Takashi Tokuda

Jun Ohta

Kiyotaka Sasagawa

Toshihiko Noda

Hiroyuki Noji

Kenzo Shodo

Hiroyuki Tashiro

Ryota Iino

Keiichiro Kagawa

Yasuo Terasawa

Toru Yagi

Soo Hyeon Kim

Akihiro Uehara

A motor module system has a plurality of identical modules, a robot configured by connecting said plurality of motor modules directly or via connecting members, and a setting terminal. Each motor module includes a motor main body having a rotating output portion, a wireless communication function, a control unit, and a battery. The wireless communication function, the control unit, and the motor main body are in a same housing. The setting terminal has a wireless communication function and a setting function for assigning functions to the control unit of each of the plurality of motor modules using the wireless communication function in order to operate said robot. The control unit controls the driving of the motor main body based on the function set by the setting function of the setting terminal.

Motor module system

There are provided a detector and a detection method capable of detecting a biological sample with high sensitivity. A detector is provided with a microchamber array including a plurality of storage sections to be filled with a hydrophilic solvent containing a biological sample; and an image sensor in which picture elements are disposed corresponding to the storage sections, wherein the microchamber array includes a flow channel in communication with openings of the storage sections; a hydrophobic solvent supply unit arranged in continuity with the flow channel; and a through-hole which allows the hydrophilic solvent to enter and exit the flow channel, and the hydrophobic solvent supply unit flows a hydrophobic solvent into the flow channel by an externally-applied force.

Detector and detection method

Providing an electrode structure capable of realizing an electrode array which allows each of the electrodes to be individually controlled while allowing them to be densely arranged and placed in a living body. According to the present invention, an electrode control circuit electrically connected to an electrode body is fixed to a rear portion of the electrode body within a front-viewed contour of the electrode body. This electrode control circuit may be contained in a recess formed in the rear portion of the electrode body, or it may be fixed to the back face of the electrode body. Conversely, an electrically conductive material layer covering the electrode control circuit may be used as the electrode body. A plurality of such bioelectrodes may be arranged in a two-dimensional form on a substrate or connected by a connection line including an electrical wire. Such configurations allow the bioelectrodes to be densely arranged.

High-functionality bioelectrode

An intracerebral information measuring device which can be mounted on the head of a subject by simple surgery and which attains measurement of low invasion, high sensitivity, and high resolution is provided. An internally mounted unit is composed of a probe section to be inserted in the brain through a hole having a small diameter bored in the skull of the subject, and a head section integrated with the probe section and to be disposed between the skull and the scalp. The probe section includes an electrode for sensing an action potential. The head section includes a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting signals captured with the electrode to the outside. On the outside of the head, an external measuring unit for receiving the signal transmitted from the head section and reproducing the original signal is provided.

Intracerebral information measuring device

The uppermost metallic wiring layer in light-blocking layers constituted by multilevel metallic wiring that prevents light from impinging on areas other than the light-receiving area of a photodiode in each picture cell is used as a measurement electrode to be directly contacted with a specimen to measure electrical signals. Furthermore, in each picture cell including a circuit for reading out electrical signals collected through the measurement electrode, another circuit for reading out electrical signals generated by the photodiode is provided in an independent or shared form. This configuration enables the photodiode for optical measurements and the measurement electrode for electrical measurements to be provided in every picture cell. Thus, in a hybrid image sensor having an optical measurement function for obtaining optical information due to specimen and an electrical measurement functions for obtaining electrical information due to the specimen, the spatial resolution of both types of two-dimensional images can be simultaneously improved.

Image sensor with optical and electrical measurement functions

A visual restoration aiding device for restoring vision of a patient comprises: a plurality of substrates which are placed on or under a retina of a patient's eye; a plurality of electrodes which are mounted on each substrate to apply an electrical stimulation pulse signal to cells constituting the retina; and a connecting unit which has flexibility and connects the substrates.

Growing community of inventors

Kyoto, Japan

Takashi Tokuda