Patents by Inventor Dietmar Reisch
Dietmar Reisch 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).
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Patent number: 9851369Abstract: An automated system and method for processing vessels containing biological samples are presented. The system comprises vessel holders, a transport medium for transporting the vessel holders between the components of the system, a work cell for processing, a storage module for empty vessel holders, wherein the storage module is connected to the transport medium, a robotic manipulator for engaging and/or disengaging the vessels with empty vessel holders, an empty vessel holder transfer unit for introducing empty vessel holders into or retrieving them from the storage module, and an empty vessel holder detection unit, including an empty vessel holder detector for discriminating between filled and empty vessel holders as well as a transfer initiator configured to initiate the introduction or re-introduction of an empty vessel holder detected in or on the transport medium into the storage module by the empty vessel holder transfer unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2017Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.Inventors: Dietmar Reisch, Gottlieb Schacher
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Publication number: 20170254825Abstract: An automated system and method for processing vessels containing biological samples are presented. The system comprises vessel holders, a transport medium for transporting the vessel holders between the components of the system, a work cell for processing, a storage module for empty vessel holders, wherein the storage module is connected to the transport medium, a robotic manipulator for engaging and/or disengaging the vessels with empty vessel holders, an empty vessel holder transfer unit for introducing empty vessel holders into or retrieving them from the storage module, and an empty vessel holder detection unit, including an empty vessel holder detector for discriminating between filled and empty vessel holders as well as a transfer initiator configured to initiate the introduction or re-introduction of an empty vessel holder detected in or on the transport medium into the storage module by the empty vessel holder transfer unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2017Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: Dietmar Reisch, Gottlieb Schacher
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Patent number: 9684007Abstract: An automated system and method for processing vessels containing biological samples are presented. The system comprises vessel holders, a transport medium for transporting the vessel holders between the components of the system, a work cell for processing, a storage module for empty vessel holders, wherein the storage module is connected to the transport medium, a robotic manipulator for engaging and/or disengaging the vessels with empty vessel holders, an empty vessel holder transfer unit for introducing empty vessel holders into or retrieving them from the storage module, and an empty vessel holder detection unit, including an empty vessel holder detector for discriminating between filled and empty vessel holders as well as a transfer initiator configured to initiate the introduction or re-introduction of an empty vessel holder detected in or on the transport medium into the storage module by the empty vessel holder transfer unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2014Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.Inventors: Dietmar Reisch, Gottlieb Schacher
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Patent number: 9297728Abstract: A storage unit for biological samples has a horizontal footprint and multiple storage compartments separated by partitions and enclosed by a frame. The storage compartments have first and second openings and are fitted to the shape of a biopsy cassette or a glass slide and have a retention mechanism preventing the substantially vertical cassettes or slides in the storage compartments from falling out through the first opening and/or the second opening. A transfer system allows at least two storage units or at least one storage unit and one collection unit to be situated one above the other in alignment and displaced in relation to one another. The transfer system has a manipulator by which a biopsy cassette or a glass slide may be pushed from one storage unit to another, or into the collection unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2010Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventors: Donat Elsener, Dietmar Reisch
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Patent number: 9267957Abstract: A junction for transporting sample racks in an analytical system having one or more work cells for processing samples are disclosed. In one embodiment, the junction may include a main transport line, a turntable having a rotatable transport line, and one or more bypass transport lines. The main transport line can transport first sample racks and second sample racks having different sizes via the turntable. The turntable further comprises a recess for diverting second sample racks from the main transport line to the bypass transport line or vice versa when rotated.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2013Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.Inventors: Joerg Haechler, Dietmar Reisch, Gottlieb Schacher
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Publication number: 20150177268Abstract: An automated system and method for processing vessels containing biological samples are presented. The system comprises vessel holders, a transport medium for transporting the vessel holders between the components of the system, a work cell for processing, a storage module for empty vessel holders, wherein the storage module is connected to the transport medium, a robotic manipulator for engaging and/or disengaging the vessels with empty vessel holders, an empty vessel holder transfer unit for introducing empty vessel holders into or retrieving them from the storage module, and an empty vessel holder detection unit, including an empty vessel holder detector for discriminating between filled and empty vessel holders as well as a transfer initiator configured to initiate the introduction or re-introduction of an empty vessel holder detected in or on the transport medium into the storage module by the empty vessel holder transfer unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2014Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Dietmar Reisch, Gottlieb Schacher
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Publication number: 20140072473Abstract: A junction for transporting sample racks in an analytical system having one or more work cells for processing samples are disclosed. In one embodiment, the junction may include a main transport line, a turntable having a rotatable transport line, and one or more bypass transport lines. The main transport line can transport first sample racks and second sample racks having different sizes via the turntable. The turntable further comprises a recess for diverting second sample racks from the main transport line to the bypass transport line or vice versa when rotated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Inventors: Joerg Haechler, Dietmar Reisch, Gottlieb Schacher
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Publication number: 20110121001Abstract: A storage unit for biological samples has a horizontal footprint and multiple storage compartments separated by partitions and enclosed by a frame. The storage compartments have first and second openings and are fitted to the shape of a biopsy cassette or a glass slide and have a retention mechanism preventing the substantially vertical cassettes or slides in the storage compartments from falling out through the first opening and/or the second opening. A transfer system allows at least two storage units or at least one storage unit and one collection unit to be situated one above the other in alignment and displaced in relation to one another. The transfer system has a manipulator by which a biopsy cassette or a glass slide may be pushed from one storage unit to another, or into the collection unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2010Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: Nexus Biosystems, Inc.Inventors: Donat Elsener, Dietmar Reisch
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Patent number: 7829028Abstract: A storage unit for biological samples has a horizontal footprint and multiple storage compartments separated by intermediate walls and enclosed by a peripheral frame. The storage compartments have first and second openings and are tailored to the shape of a biopsy cassette or a glass slide and have a retention mechanism preventing the essentially vertical cassettes or slides in the storage compartments through the first opening and/or the second opening from falling out through the first opening and/or the second opening. A transfer system allows at least two storage units or at least one storage unit and one collection unit to be situated one above the other in register and displaced in relation to one another. The transfer system has a manipulator by which a biopsy cassette or a glass slide may be pushed from one storage unit to another, or into the collection unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2007Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: REMP AGInventors: Donat Elsener, Dietmar Reisch
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Publication number: 20080213080Abstract: The invention relates to a compact storage system and a corresponding method for storing frozen specimens. The compact storage system comprises one storage area, a housing with thermal insulation and at least one refrigeration unit, with which at least the storage area is coolable down to a temperature of at least ?15° C. The compact storage system also comprises storage shelves arranged completely within the refrigerated storage area and a transfer area arranged above this storage area. An essentially horizontally moving robot is arranged within the transfer area. The compact storage system is characterised in that it comprises at least one essentially vertical paternoster device, with a plurality of essentially horizontally oriented storage shelves circulating on an essentially oval path. The robot working in conjunction with the paternoster device is accomplished for removing or depositing a storage shelf and/or objects from/onto a storage shelf respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2007Publication date: September 4, 2008Inventors: Christian Cachelin, Bernhard Iseli, Dietmar Reisch, Jurg Steck, Thomas Stucki, Andre Wasserfallen, Lorenz Zellweger
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Publication number: 20070205126Abstract: A storage unit for biological samples has a horizontal footprint and multiple storage compartments separated by intermediate walls and enclosed by a peripheral frame. The storage compartments have first and second openings and are tailored to the shape of a biopsy cassette or a glass slide and have a retention mechanism preventing the essentially vertical cassettes or slides in the storage compartments through the first opening and/or the second opening from falling out through the first opening and/or the second opening. A transfer system allows at least two storage units or at least one storage unit and one collection unit to be situated one above the other in register and displaced in relation to one another. The transfer system has a manipulator by which a biopsy cassette or a glass slide may be pushed from one storage unit to another, or into the collection unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2007Publication date: September 6, 2007Inventors: Donat Elsener, Dietmar Reisch