Patents by Inventor Robert Liebhard

Robert Liebhard 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: 8551788
    Abstract: A method of selecting pipetting parameters of a pipetting device for dispensing or pipetting a specific volume of a liquid sample, includes a fluid column of a fluid chamber of the pipetting device set into oscillation at the beginning of the aspiration, the pressure is monitored with the pressure transducer in the fluid chamber, and the pressure changes generated during aspiration into measuring signals are recorded. These measuring signals are processed by a computer or micro-processor and reproduced as a pressure curve, which is characteristic for the fluid column with the aspirated liquid sample, and which is compared with known pressure curves. Based on this comparison, pipetting parameters of the pipetting device are selected for the dispense or for pipetting a specific volume of the liquid sample. Selectable pipetting parameters include a speed of a movement of a pump piston of the pipetting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Nikolaus Ingenhoven, Robert Liebhard, Adi Zuppiger, Werner Hälg
  • Patent number: 8357544
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for classifying a liquid (1) in a known pipetting system for this liquid (1), the method being characterized in that the changes of a selected, measurable, and physically founded virtual parameter are detected as a data set typical for this liquid (1); this typical data set of the selected virtual parameter is compared to corresponding data sets of known liquids, and the liquid (1) is classified on the basis of this comparison. An especially preferred method and a device for classifying a liquid (1) relate to a device which comprises a fluid chamber (2), to which a measuring chamber (3) is connected, whose internal pressure is monitored using a pressure transducer (4). At least a first part (5) of this fluid chamber (2) may be brought into fluid connection with a sample (6) of this liquid (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Nikolaus Ingenhoven, Robert Liebhard, Adi Zuppiger, Werner Hälg
  • Patent number: 8287806
    Abstract: A pipetting apparatus has a fluidic space to which a pressure transducer with a pressure sensor is attached with a gas filled space. The fluidic space is defined by a pipette tip, a first tubing that connects the pipette tip to a pump, and an active part of the pump. The pipetting apparatus further has an impulse generating mechanism that is in operative contact with a column of system liquid inside the fluidic space. The impulse generating mechanism induces a vertical movement in the system liquid column, which results in a pressure variation in the gas filled space that is pneumatically connected with the fluidic space. This pressure variation, as recorded with the pressure transducer and as processed by a first data processing unit during utilization of this pipetting apparatus, is taken as an indicator for the detection of penetration or of quitting of a surface of a liquid, with an orifice of the pipette tip, of which liquid an amount is to be aspirated and dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Torleif Ove Bjornson, Robert Liebhard, Adi Zuppiger, Dirk Heerklotz
  • Publication number: 20090117010
    Abstract: A pipetting apparatus has a fluidic space to which a pressure transducer with a pressure sensor is attached with a gas filled space. The fluidic space is defined by a pipette tip, a first tubing that connects the pipette tip to a pump, and an active part of the pump. The pipetting apparatus further has an impulse generating mechanism that is in operative contact with a column of system liquid inside the fluidic space. The impulse generating mechanism induces a vertical movement in the system liquid column, which results in a pressure variation in the gas filled space that is pneumatically connected with the fluidic space. This pressure variation, as recorded with the pressure transducer and as processed by a first data processing unit during utilization of this pipetting apparatus, is taken as an indicator for the detection of penetration or of quitting of a surface of a liquid, with an orifice of the pipette tip, of which liquid an amount is to be aspirated and dispensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Torleif Ove Bjorson, Robert Liebhard, Adi Zuppiger, Dirk Heerklotz
  • Patent number: 7479391
    Abstract: A pipetting apparatus (1) comprises a fluidic space (7), to which a pressure transducer (11) with a pressure sensor (12) is attached with a gas filled space (15). The fluidic space (7) is defined by a pipette tip (2), a first tubing (5) that connects the pipette tip (2) to a pump (4), and an active part (6) of the pump (4). The pipetting apparatus (1) according to the present invention is characterized in that the pipetting apparatus (1) further comprises an impulse generating means (16, 18, 19) that is in operative contact with a column (10) of system liquid (8) inside the fluidic space (7). The impulse generating means (16, 18, 19) is designed to induce a vertical movement in this system liquid column (10), which results in a pressure variation in the gas filled space (15) that is pneumatically connected with the fluidic space (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Torleif Ove Bjornson, Robert Liebhard, Adi Zuppiger, Dirk Heerklotz
  • Publication number: 20070020763
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for classifying a liquid (1) in a known pipetting system for this liquid (1), the method being characterized in that the changes of a selected, measurable, and physically founded virtual parameter are detected as a data set typical for this liquid (1); this typical data set of the selected virtual parameter is compared to corresponding data sets of known liquids, and the liquid (1) is classified on the basis of this comparison. An especially preferred method and a device for classifying a liquid (1) relate to a device which comprises a fluid chamber (2), to which a measuring chamber (3) is connected, whose internal pressure is monitored using a pressure transducer (4). At least a first part (5) of this fluid chamber (2) may be brought into fluid connection with a sample (6) of this liquid (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventors: Nikolaus Ingenhoven, Robert Liebhard, Adi Zuppiger, Werner Halg
  • Publication number: 20060127281
    Abstract: A pipetting apparatus (1) comprises a fluidic space (7), to which a pressure transducer (11) with a pressure sensor (12) is attached with a gas filled space (15). The fluidic space (7) is defined by a pipette tip (2), a first tubing (5) that connects the pipette tip (2) to a pump (4), and an active part (6) of the pump (4). The pipetting apparatus (1) according to the present invention is characterized in that the pipetting apparatus (1) further comprises an impulse generating means (16,18,19) that is in operative contact with a column (10) of system liquid (8) inside the fluidic space (7). The impulse generating means (16,18,19) is designed to induce a vertical movement in this system liquid column (10), which results in a pressure variation in the gas filled space (15) that is pneumatically connected with the fluidic space (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Torleif Bjornson, Robert Liebhard, Adi Zuppiger, Dirk Heerklotz