Patents by Inventor Annette Pfennig

Annette Pfennig 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: 20090148937
    Abstract: The invention relates to a micro-fluidic system including a fluid medium channel that holds a fluid medium containing particles in suspension. According to the invention, the fluid medium channel has an expanded section with an enlarged cross-section along part of its length, in order to reduce the flow speed to allow the analysis of the particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: PERKINELMER CELLULAR TECHNOLOGIES,
    Inventors: Thomas Schnelle, Torsten Müller, Annette Pfennig
  • Patent number: 7510685
    Abstract: The invention relates to a particle injector for introducing particles into a carrier flow of a microfluidic system, especially for injecting biological cells into the carrier flow of a cell sorter. The particle injector includes an inlet for receiving the carrier flow, an outlet for discharging the carrier flow including the introduced particles, a carrier flow channel which connects the inlet to the outlet, and an injection channel flowing into the carrier flow channel for introducing the particles into the carrier flow. The inventive particle injector is characterized in that the carrier flow channel has substantially no dead volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Evotec Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Müller, Stefan Hummel, Annette Pfennig
  • Patent number: 7475916
    Abstract: A coupling device (100), particularly for liquid-tight coupling of at least one liquid line (10) to a fluidic system (20), is described, which comprises: at least one sealing device (30), which is implemented to receive an end region (11) of the liquid line (10) and has a first sealing surface (31) for placement on an external surface (22) of the fluidic system in such a way that the end of the liquid line (10) is laterally enclosed by the first sealing surface (31) and points toward an opening (23) in the external surface (22), and a clamping device (40), using which the sealing device (30) may be pressed against the fluidic system (20), so that the first sealing surface (31) produces a liquid-tight connection with the external surface (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Perkinelmer Cellular Technologies
    Inventors: Torsten Müller, Annette Pfennig, Stephen Shirley, Stefan Hummel, Martin Reichel
  • Publication number: 20070163883
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic system, in particular in a cell sorter, including a first carrier power supply (1) which is used to supply a first carrier flow having particles (4) suspended therein, a first carrier power output line (15) which is used to withdraw at least one part of the carrier flow having particles (4) suspended therein, a process chamber (3) which is used to examine, observe, manipulate and/or select the particle (4). The first carrier power supply (1) flows into the process chamber (3) when the first carrier power output line (15) is discharged from the process chamber (3). According to the invention, at least one second carrier power supply (2) flows into the process chamber (3) in order to supply a second carrier flow having particles (5) suspended therein. The invention also relates to a corresponding operational method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: Evotec Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Schnelle, Annette Pfennig, Torsten Muller
  • Publication number: 20070111298
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sample depositing device, particularly for a cell sorter, comprising a sample supply (38, 39) for supplying samples to be deposited and comprising a sample storage element (36) for storing the samples. Said sample storage element (36) has a number of sample containers for storing the samples separately. The invention provides that the sample storage element (36) is mounted in a displaceable manner in order to select a sample container whereas the sample supply (38, 39) is stationary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Torsten Muller, Stefan Hummel, Annette Pfennig
  • Publication number: 20060198766
    Abstract: The invention relates to a docking device (100) for retaining a fluidic microsystem (10), comprising a base plate (20) and a retaining frame (30), movable relative to the base plate (20) and used to fasten the microsystem (10) on the base plate (20). The retaining frame (30) is adapted to detachably receive the microsystem (10) and can be detached from the base plate (20) together with the microsystem (10). The device is also provided with a clamping device (40) with which the microsystem (10) on the retaining frame (30) can be pushed against the base plate (20). The invention also relates to methods for operating a fluidic microsystem (10) using said docking device (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Torsten Muller, Stefan Hummel, Annette Pfennig
  • Publication number: 20060152708
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for measuring properties of particles that move through a fluidic microsystem, the particles being suspended in a liquid. According to the inventive method, a first parameter of a specific particle is first measured at a first test station (11). A second parameter of the particle is then measured at an interval from the first measurement at a second test station (12) which is spatially separated from the first test station (11), and the first and second parameters are jointly evaluated in a correlated manner, the first and second parameters being characteristic of different properties of the tested particle. The evaluation comprises a comparison of the first and second parameters with predetermined expected values. Another measurement is taken or manipulations are performed on the tested particle according to the result of the comparison. Also disclosed is a fluidic microsystem that is designed for implementing the inventive method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Torsten Muller, Stefan Hummel, Annette Pfennig, Gabriele Gradl, Axel Bonsen, Thomas Schnelle, Rudiger Meyer
  • Publication number: 20060139638
    Abstract: The invention relates to an method of analysing biological particles, in particular to be conducted in a cell sorter, with following steps: placing the particles to be analysed into a carrier flow, carrying out a first analysis of the particles moving with the carrier flow, selecting at least one particle in dependence on the result of the first analysis, carrying out a second analysis of the selected particle in a decelerated condition. Furthermore, the invention comprises a corresponding analysis device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: Torsten Muller, Stefan Hummel, Annette Pfennig, Gabriele Gradl, Axel Bonsen, Rudiger Meyer
  • Publication number: 20060115890
    Abstract: The invention relates to a particle injector for introducing particles into a carrier flow of a microfluidic system, especially for injecting biological cells into the carrier flow of a cell sorter. The particle injector includes an inlet for receiving the carrier flow, an outlet for discharging the carrier flow including the introduced particles, a carrier flow channel which connects the inlet to the outlet, and an injection channel flowing into the carrier flow channel for introducing the particles into the carrier flow. The inventive particle injector is characterized in that the carrier flow channel has substantially no dead volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Applicant: EVOTEC TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Torsten Muller, Stefan Hummel, Annette Pfennig
  • Publication number: 20060012167
    Abstract: A coupling device (100), particularly for liquid-tight coupling of at least one liquid line (10) to a fluidic system (20), is described, which comprises: at least one sealing device (30), which is implemented to receive an end region (11) of the liquid line (10) and has a first sealing surface (31) for placement on an external surface (22) of the fluidic system in such a way that the end of the liquid line (10) is laterally enclosed by the first sealing surface (31) and points toward an opening (23) in the external surface (22), and a clamping device (40), using which the sealing device (30) may be pressed against the fluidic system (20), so that the first sealing surface (31) produces a liquid-tight connection with the external surface (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Applicant: EVOTEC OAI AG
    Inventors: Torsten Muller, Annette Pfennig, Stephen Shirley, Stefan Hummel, Martin Reichel