Patents by Inventor Heiko Zimmermann

Heiko Zimmermann 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: 20200230054
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a sensor for tumor tissue and a local release system for releasing therapeutic agents/diagnostic agents for targeted tumor therapy and diagnosis. More specifically, the invention relates to a cation-stabilised biopolymer gel, in particular an alginate gel, for use as a carrier matrix for a tumor therapeutic agent and/or tumor diagnostic agent, characterised in that the gel destabilises in the presence of a stimulus, in particular lysyl oxidase (LOX), generated by tumor cells or tumor tissue and the tumor therapeutic agent and/or tumor diagnostic agent can be released, and a pharmaceutical composition that comprises this cation-stabilised biopolymer gel with incorporated tumor therapeutic agent and/or tumor diagnostic agent and optionally an additional reporter substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Heiko ZIMMERMANN, Hagen VON BRIESEN, Andre SCHULZ, Linda ELBERSKIRCH, Sylvia WAGNER, Benjamin FISCHER
  • Publication number: 20200029551
    Abstract: The invention relates to a low temperature indicator mixture for indicating/monitoring a temperature transition within a temperature range of between ?20° C. and ?160° C., which comprises at least one dye, e.g. oil red, methyl rot, brilliant green, rhodamine B, and at least one alcohol selected from the group that comprises octane-1-ol, nonan-1-ol, propane-1,2-diol, propane-1,3-diol, butane-1,2-diol, butane-1,3-diol, butane-2-ol, pentane-1,5- diol, pentane-1-ol, cyclopentanol, benzyl alcohol, wherein the melt temperature of the mixture is within the aforementioned temperature range. Further aspects of the invention relate to devices and methods for indicating/monitoring a temperature transition within the aforementioned temperature range, in which devices and methods the aforementioned low temperature indicator mixture is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Guenter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Patent number: 10488400
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for optical in vitro detection of a movement in a biological sample with a spatial extent in the form of a three-dimensional cell and/or tissue culture or a cell cluster or a sample made of freely swimming microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e. V., Universitaet des Saarlandes
    Inventors: Heiko Zimmermann, Frank Stracke, Ronan Le Harzic
  • Patent number: 10393653
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the optical in vitro detection of a movement in a biological sample and/or for the optical in vitro detection of a movement of a component of the biological sample. The method has the following step: (a) providing an optical wide-field illumination device for illuminating the sample, said device being designed to illuminate the entire sample, and a detector (3) for detecting radiation (9; 9a, 9b) coming from the sample. The detector (3) has a detection surface (3a) which is divided into multiple detection regions (4a). The detector is additionally designed to derive (S1) detection signals (4c) of individual detection regions (4a) with respect to time, subsequently rectify (S2) the signals, preferably by generating an absolute value or squaring, and summing or averaging (S3) the derived and rectified detection signals of all of the detection regions and then providing same as an output signal (6c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e. V.
    Inventors: Heiko Zimmermann, Frank Stracke, Ronan Le Harzic
  • Publication number: 20190193075
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sample container that is designed to accommodate a cryogenically preserved biological sample, and to a method for producing the sample container. The invention further relates to a method for monitoring the temperature of a cryogenically preserved biological sample. The sample container that is designed to accommodate a cryogenically preserved biological sample has, on a region of its outer surface, a frozen-solid indicator substance whose melting point is in a range from ?20° C. to ?140° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Guenter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Publication number: 20190184399
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sample collection kit (100) for collecting plant samples, in particular algae samples for biomedical applications, which sample collection kit comprises at least one sample container for holding plant samples, a plurality of sensors, by means of which sample data can be captured, a data-recording apparatus for recording the sample data, an arrangement of tools, which has collection tools designed for harvesting the plant samples and processing tools designed for processing the plant samples, an arrangement of devices, which has auxiliary devices that can be used in the collection, transport, and processing of the plant samples, a container apparatus (70), which is designed to hold the arrangement of tools and the arrangement of devices in isolation from the environment, and identification markings (80), which contain identification data and are applied to the at least one sample container (70) to the collection tools, and to the processing tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventor: Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Publication number: 20190133111
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample, comprising a sample container (1) having a receiving space (2) for receiving a biological sample (6) and a cover (3) for closing the receiving space. The device also comprises a chamber arranged inside the sample container, in particular in the receiving space and/or in the cover, the interior (12; 22; 32; 42) of which is not fluidically connected to the receiving space (2) and is only partially filled with at least one indicator substance (7) having a melting temperature in the region between ?20° C. and ?140 ° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Guenter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Publication number: 20190113396
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample. The invention also relates to a device for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample. The device (10) for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample comprises a sample container (1) having a receiving space (2) for receiving a biological sample (6). The device also comprises at least one chamber (11) having an interior that is not fluidically connected to the receiving space (2) and is only partially filled with an indicator substance (7) with a melting temperature in a region of ?20° C. to ?140° C. The chamber (11) has a barrier (13) that causes the indicator substance (7) to move into a second sub-region (12b) of the chamber (11) when the indicator substance (7) in a first sub-region (12a) of the chamber is in the fluid aggregate state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Guenter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Publication number: 20190113397
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for monitoring the temperature of a cryogenically preserved biological sample. The device (10) comprises a sample container (1) having a receptacle space (2) for accommodating a biological sample (6). The device further comprises at least one chamber (11), the interior (12) of which is not fluidically connected to the receptacle space, and which is at least partially filled with an indicator substance (7) having a boiling point or sublimation temperature in a range from ?10° C. to ?140° C. The chamber (11) further has at least one opening via which the indicator substance (7) can escape from the interior (12) of the chamber (11) upon exceeding its boiling point or sublimation point. The invention further relates to a method for monitoring the temperature of a cryogenically preserved biological sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Guenter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Patent number: 10264057
    Abstract: In one embodiment, first and second computer systems are integrated to exchange information and coordinate processing of data. A first computer system may access data in a database for a document ready for external processing. The data may be stored in a queue and retrieved by the second system using a request. The second system sends an acknowledgement when the data is received. The data in the queue may be locked until a confirmation is received in the first system that processing on the second system is complete. In particular embodiments, the first system may be a cloud computer system and the second system a backend computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Gunilla Carbol, Gisella Dominguez Anzuinelli, Matthias Richter, Mathias Schoenecker, Heiko Zimmermann, Bob Cummings, Todd Carmichael, Richard Boulton, Aneetha Dorairaj
  • Publication number: 20190082681
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the temperature monitoring of a cryopreserved biological sample, comprising a sample container (in particular a cryotube) having a holding space for holding a biological sample and comprising at least one chamber, the interior of which is not fluidically connected to the holding space and is filled only partially with an indicator substance, the melting temperature of which lies in a range of ?20° C. to ?140° C. In particular, the chamber can be formed by a container that is detachably or pivotably fastened to the sample container. Alternatively, the chamber is formed by a double-walled slide-on part or the holding space of the sample container is double-walled, wherein an intermediate space between the inner wall and the outer wall is partially filled with the indicator substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Guenter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Publication number: 20190082682
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the temperature monitoring of a cryopreserved biological sample, comprising a sample container having an accommodating space (2) for accommodating the sample and comprising an indicating apparatus, which can be arranged on the outside of the sample container, for monitoring at least one temperature limit value. The indicating apparatus has at least one cavity, which is only partially filled with an indicating substance, the melting temperature of which lies in a range from ?20 ° C. to ?140 ° C. The indicating apparatus can be designed, in particular, as a cylindrical body, which can be fastened to a cryotube as a bottom part, or alternatively as a double-walled hollow cylinder, which can be slid onto an outer lateral surface of the cryotube. The indicating apparatus can also be fastened to a lateral outer wall of the sample container, e.g. as a hollow body that can be inserted into a sleeve or insertion pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Guenter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Publication number: 20180321219
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the optical in vitro detection of a movement in a biological sample and/or for the optical in vitro detection of a movement of a component of the biological sample. The method has the following step: (a) providing an optical wide-field illumination device for illuminating the sample, said device being designed to illuminate the entire sample, and a detector (3) for detecting radiation (9; 9a, 9b) coming from the sample. The detector (3) has a detection surface (3a) which is divided into multiple detection regions (4a). The detector is additionally designed to derive (S1) detection signals (4c) of individual detection regions (4a) with respect to time, subsequently rectify (S2) the signals, preferably by generating an absolute value or squaring, and summing or averaging (S3) the derived and rectified detection signals of all of the detection regions and then providing same as an output signal (6c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Heiko ZIMMERMANN, Frank STRACKE, Ronan LE HARZIC
  • Patent number: 10017725
    Abstract: A culture vessel (100), which is designed for culturing biological cells (1) in hanging drops (2), comprises a vessel wall (10), which has a cover portion (11) and a floor portion (12), wherein the cover portion (11) is designed to provide a culturing surface (13), and the floor portion (12) is designed to receive a liquid (3), the vessel wall (10) encloses an interior (20) of the culture vessel on all sides, the culturing surface (13) has holding elements (14), which are designed to position the drops (2), wherein the culturing surface (13) can receive the drops (2) hanging freely in the interior (20), and the vessel wall (10) is movable such that the holding elements (14) can be wetted with the liquid (3) from the floor portion (12). A method for culturing biological cells (1) in hanging drops (2) in the culture vessel (100) is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Heiko Zimmermann, Guenter R. Fuhr, Julia Neubauer
  • Publication number: 20180167443
    Abstract: In one embodiment, first and second computer systems are integrated to exchange information and coordinate processing of data. A first computer system may access data in a database for a document ready for external processing. The data may be stored in a queue and retrieved by the second system using a request. The second system sends an acknowledgement when the data is received. The data in the queue may be locked until a confirmation is received in the first system that processing on the second system is complete. In particular embodiments, the first system may be a cloud computer system and the second system a backend computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Gunilla Carbol, Gisella Dominguez Anzuinelli, Matthias Richter, Mathias Schoenecker, Heiko Zimmermann, Bob Cummings, Todd Carmichael, Richard Boulton, Aneetha Dorairaj
  • Patent number: 9926551
    Abstract: The invention relates to an encapsulating device (100), which is designed to encapsulate a sample (1, 2) in a polymer capsule, comprising a drop generator (10), which is designed to provide a drop (3) of a suspension, which drop contains the sample (1), and a cross-linking device (20), which is designed to polymerize the drop (3), wherein the drop generator (10) has a retaining device (11), which is designed to accommodate the drop (3) in a hanging state, and the cross-linking device (20) is designed to feed a polymerization substance to the hanging drop (3) on the retaining device (11) and to form the polymer capsule. The invention further relates to a method for encapsulating a sample (1, 2) in a polymer capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e. V.
    Inventors: Heiko Zimmermann, Julia Neubauer
  • Publication number: 20180038845
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for optical in vitro detection of a movement in a biological sample with a spatial extent in the form of a three-dimensional cell and/or tissue culture or a cell cluster or a sample made of freely swimming microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Heiko ZIMMERMANN, Frank STRACKE, Ronan LE HARZIC
  • Patent number: 9851304
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring a cryopreserved biological sample (1), comprising the steps of providing the biological sample (1) in a cryopreserved state, measuring at least one Raman spectroscopic sample characteristic by means of a Raman spectroscopic measuring apparatus (10, 20), comparing the at least one sample characteristic with a reference characteristic by means of an evaluating apparatus (30), and providing a state characteristic that depends on the result of the comparison and that is characteristic of a storage state of the biological sample (1). The invention further relates to a monitoring device for cryopreserved samples, in particular for performing said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Guenter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann, Frank Stracke, Daniel Doerr
  • Publication number: 20170333905
    Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature-control element (4) for a multiwell plate (1), which comprises a plurality of cavities (2) arranged in rows and columns for freezing and/or thawing biological samples. The temperature-control element (4) comprises a base body (6) which is made of a thermally conductive material and is flown through by a temperature-control fluid; and a plurality of protruding temperature-control fingers (5) arranged in rows and columns on an upper side of the base body (6), which are connected in a thermally conductive manner to the base body (6), wherein a grid spacing of the temperature control fingers (5) corresponds to a grid spacing of the cavities (2) of the multiwell plate (1). The invention further relates to a device and method for freezing biological samples, in particular for cryopreservation, and/or thawing biological samples, in particular a cryopreserved sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Guenter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Patent number: 9781918
    Abstract: A substrate unit for cryopreservation of a biological sample includes: a substrate platform having on a front side thereof a cultivation surface for receiving the biological sample; a first chamber including the cultivation surface of the substrate platform, wherein the first chamber is configured for receiving a cultivation liquid; a second chamber configured for receiving a temperature control medium; and a chamber bracket for receiving the substrate unit in a cryopreservation device in a pivotable manner, wherein the first and second chambers are connected to each other in an adjacent manner, and the substrate platform forms a separating wall between the first chamber and the second chamber, and wherein the back side of the substrate platform faces the second chamber. The invention further relates to a cryopreservation device, wherein the substrate unit is arranged in a rotatable manner, and a method for the cryopreservation of a biological sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Heiko Zimmermann, Axel Beier, Julia Neubauer, Guenter R. Fuhr