Patents Assigned to Eppendorf AG
  • Patent number: 12290805
    Abstract: A multichannel pipetting head comprises a plunger actuator comprising at least one groove with an upper border, and a lower border. A plurality of plunger-cylinder units, wherein each plunger-cylinder unit comprises a cylinder and a plunger comprising a plunger head. The plunger head comprises a projecting upper abutment region adjoining the upper border, a projecting lower abutment region adjoining the lower border and laterally offset relative to the projecting upper abutment region, a plurality of guides. Each of the cylinders is coupled to a neck and held on each of the plurality of guides. During lateral movement of the plurality of guides, the plunger head is configured to tilt in the groove and to be held with the upper abutment region abutting the upper border and with the lower abutment region abutting the lower border of the groove due to restoring forces that occur during tilting in the plunger-cylinder units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventors: Marc Wilth, Holger Link
  • Patent number: 12269027
    Abstract: A pipette with an adjustable volume comprises a housing comprising an outside surface, at least one seat defining an opening, and a displacement apparatus defining a displacement chamber comprising a displacement element configured to be displaced therein. A stroke rod is coupled to the displacement element and configured to be displaced relative to the housing order to displace the displacement element. An adjusting apparatus is configured to adjust a position of an upper stop in the housing, a display apparatus is configured to display a set dosing volume, and a coupling apparatus is positioned between the adjusting apparatus and the display apparatus. The coupling apparatus is configured to couple the adjusting apparatus to the display apparatus in an engaged state and configured to uncouple the adjusting apparatus from the display apparatus in a disengaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventors: Florian Tesch, Peter Molitor
  • Publication number: 20250073700
    Abstract: A pipette tip comprises a tubular body including an inner circumference and an outer circumference. The tubular body comprises a bottom opening defined at a bottom end of the tubular body and a top opening defined at a top end and configured to clamp onto an attachment of a pipetting device. A seat region is positioned proximate the top opening on the inner circumference and configured to engage an attachment of a pipetting device. At least one groove is defined on the outer circumference. The tubular body is configured to plastically expanded in a radial direction within the at least one groove upon mounting the seat region on the attachment. The attachment comprises a larger diameter than at least part of the seat region to form an interference fit between the attachment and the at least part of the seat region when the pipette tip is clamped onto the attachment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Applicant: Eppendorf AG
    Inventor: Hanna Rethwisch
  • Patent number: 12216136
    Abstract: An automated laboratory system includes a work area with a plurality of predefined workstations. Each of the plurality of predefined workstations occupies a footprint of a standardized microtiter plate. At least one tool holder is structured to move tools above the work area and at least one transport tool is structured to be moved by the tool holder in order to relocate laboratory items within the work area. At least one pipetting tool is structured to be moved by the tool holder in order to pick up and release pipette tips. A holder for pipette tip carriers includes at least one carrying apparatus defining a rectangular through-opening, and a support apparatus connected to the carrying apparatus. An electronic control apparatus is connected to the tool holder and structured to control movements of the transport tool and at least one pipetting tool by the tool holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventor: Jens-Peter Kroog
  • Patent number: 12194455
    Abstract: A pipette tip comprises a tubular body including an inner circumference and an outer circumference. The tubular body comprises a bottom opening defined at a bottom end of the tubular body and a top opening defined at a top end and configured to clamp onto an attachment of a pipetting device. A seat region is positioned proximate the top opening on the inner circumference and configured to engage an attachment of a pipetting device. At least one groove is defined on the outer circumference. The tubular body is configured to plastically expanded in a radial direction within the at least one groove upon mounting the seat region on the attachment. The attachment comprises a larger diameter than at least part of the seat region to form an interference fit between the attachment and the at least part of the seat region when the pipette tip is clamped onto the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventor: Hanna Rethwisch
  • Patent number: 11951471
    Abstract: A pipette for use with a pipette tip or syringe including a piston positioned within a cylinder comprises a pipette housing extending between an upper end and a lower end. Two parallel rods are positioned in the pipette housing, wherein one of the two parallel rods is coupled to a lifting rod. An operating element is configured to protrude outwardly from the pipette housing and be displaced relative to the pipette housing. A gear mechanism is arranged in the pipette housing and comprises a drive comprising a moveable input member and configured to be driven by the operating element, and an output comprising at least one moveable output member and configured to drive the two parallel rods. Successive displacements of the input member by the operating element are configured to alternately displace one of the two parallel rods and then another of the two parallel rods by the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventors: Marc Wilth, Dana Tuchscherer, Matthias Kunsch, Florian Tesch, Burghardt Reichmuth
  • Patent number: 11896976
    Abstract: A lidded vessel assembly comprises a tubular vessel, a lid, and a latching device. The tubular vessel defines a vessel opening and comprises a vessel base, an inner wall, a sealing area and a parking area both defined on the inner wall and both positioned below the vessel opening. The lid comprises a lid base having an inside surface, and a plug projecting from the inside surface of the lid base. The plug is configured to be inserted through the vessel opening to engage the parking area to define a parking position, and configured to be further inserted through the vessel opening out of the parking area to bias against a portion of the sealing area to define a sealing position. The first latching device comprises a first latching element positioned on the inner wall of the vessel, and a second latching element positioned on the outside of the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventors: Michael Blumentritt, Kai Holl
  • Patent number: 11697113
    Abstract: A pipette with an adjustable dosing increment, wherein a control apparatus determines a dosing volume by a set dosing increment when a syringe is inserted in the pipette, and determines a maximum possible number of dosing steps following an execution of a reverse stroke without refilling the syringe given the set dosing increment and completely or partially filled syringe by the position of a displacement means on the path, and displays the maximum number of dosing steps on a display apparatus until the reverse stroke is executed. The control apparatus also determines the number of executed dosing steps and displays the number of executed dosing steps and/or the number of dosing steps still possible without refilling the syringe on the display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventor: Burkhardt Reichmuth
  • Patent number: 11666927
    Abstract: A centrifuge insert is provided which is not only suited for one type of sample container or sample carrier but for at least two geometrically different elements from the group consisting of sample container and sample carrier. This achieves that the same centrifuge insert can be used for different sample containers or sample carriers. This provides space savings, in particular in the lab. Furthermore acquisition cost is reduced, and handling is accelerated by reducing manual complexity which increases lab through put.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventors: Robert Goellnitz, Sebastian Ryk
  • Publication number: 20230110524
    Abstract: A pipette comprises a pipette housing, a neck configured to clamp on a pipette tip, and a drive apparatus. The drive apparatus comprises a drive element configured to displace a displacement element to draw a liquid sample into the pipette tip and to eject the liquid sample from the pipette tip. A scanning apparatus comprises a scanning element positioned proximate the neck and configured to be displaced relative to the pipette housing by a collar of the pipette tip when clamping the pipette tip onto the neck. A mechanical display apparatus is coupled to the scanning apparatus and comprises a display. When the pipette tip is clamped to the neck the scanning apparatus is configured to adjust the display depending on a height of the collar of the pipette tip relative to the neck, and the neck is configured to accommodate different collar heights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: Eppendorf AG
    Inventors: Burkhardt Reichmuth, Uwe Dunker, Jens Wilmer, Tobias David
  • Patent number: 11608484
    Abstract: The invention relates to a single-use connection device for insertion into a connection opening of a bioreactor, in particular in a connection opening of a top plate of a dimensionally-stable bioreactor or in a connection opening of a connection element of a pouch bioreactor. The single-use connection device is inserted in a connection opening of a top plate of a bioreactor and/or in a connection opening of a pouch reactor and is provided with multiple passages and an attachment section, wherein the single-use connection device is formed as a single piece and is made of plastic. The attachment section, on an outer peripheral surface, has an attachment structure for attaching the single-use connection device in the connection opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: EPPENDORF AG
    Inventors: Matthias Arnold, Sebastian Selzer, Sven Eikelmann, Jochen Beese
  • Patent number: 11602744
    Abstract: A pipette with an adjustable dosing volume comprises a housing connected to at least one seat configured to releasably hold a pipette tip. A displacement device is positioned within the housing and configured to aspirate and discharge liquid from the pipette tip. A stroke rod is coupled to the displacement element and configured to be longitudinally displaced relative to the housing to displace the displacement device. A catch sleeve is rotatably mounted within the housing and is connected to the stroke rod. An adjusting sleeve configured to engage a transducer shaft that is rotatably mounted within the housing and comprises a countershaft of a gearbox that is configured to be shifted between different shift stages. Each shift stage comprises different gear ratios between a rotational speed of the adjusting sleeve and a rotational speed of the catch sleeve. The different gear ratios enable coarse volume adjustment and fine volume adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventors: Peter Molitor, Florian Tesch
  • Patent number: 11591560
    Abstract: A manual injector for cell manipulation comprising a displacement device for displacing a fluid, an injection tube connected to the displacement device, and a capillary holder connected to the injection tube for holding a microcapillary tube or a microcapillary tube connected to the injection tube, wherein the displacement device has the following: a disk-shaped main body that, on a first end face, has an hollow cylinder space which is concentric with its middle axis, a disk-shaped adjusting wheel, a helical gear, a hollow cylindrical plunger, a rotational decoupling that connects the adjusting wheel to the plunger, and a connection connected to the cylinder space to which the injection tube is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventor: Christian Flucke
  • Patent number: 11577257
    Abstract: A centrifuge (10) and a method for preventing the ignition of combustible temperature control media in centrifuges (10) after a crash of the centrifuge rotor are presented. Ignition is prevented by the release of a protective gas in the event of a crash. More precisely, the released protective gas forms a flow that displaces the oxygen, distributes the escaping temperature control medium and fundamentally changes the momentary ratio of the concentration of oxygen to temperature control medium in such a manner that no ignition can take place either inside or outside the centrifuge (10). Thereby, combustible temperature control media can be used without safety concerns for controlling the temperature of centrifuges (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventor: Heiko Müller
  • Patent number: 11554367
    Abstract: A pipette for use with a pipette tip includes a housing, a pin on the bottom end of the housing holding a pipette tip having first means for form-fit connection and a second means for form-fit connection which can be shoved onto the pin, constricting the pin, and/or expanding the tip before form-fit connection with the pin, a drive apparatus, at least one locking sleeve arranged concentric to the pin which is guided toward the pin in the housing, wherein the locking sleeve has a locked position having a pin in the inside constricted by shoving on a pipette tip, and/or is bordered on the outside by a tip shoved onto the pin, preventing a release from the pin, and the locking sleeve is upwardly displaceable out of the locked position so that the pin, and/or the tip is released, and the tip is removable from the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventors: Martin Seippel, Matthias Kunsch, Burkhardt Reichmuth, Tobias David, Frank Horstmann, Jens Wilmer, Marc Wilth
  • Patent number: 11498083
    Abstract: A fixed-angle rotor for centrifuges includes stiffening ribs on the lower side of its rotor body. Its rotational energy is comparatively low during operation even at high speeds, whereby safety is noticeably increased without the need for a reinforced armored vessel in the centrifuge that is equipped therewith. At the same time, the drive power required to drive the fixed-angle rotor remains low. The fixed-angle rotor also withstands extreme loads over a long period of time. In addition, the fixed-angle rotor can be manufactured cost-effectively, because no additional components are required; rather, the stiffening ribs can also be manufactured during the manufacture of the rotor body. Finally, very thin rotor shells can also be used, which improves the temperature control of the samples, because the fixed-angle rotor has very good structural stability, especially in the main load directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventor: Steffen Kühnert
  • Patent number: 11485946
    Abstract: A device for storing, incubating or manipulating biological samples, in particular incubating device or shaking device, comprising a sample chamber, an irradiation chamber, and a holder with a UV light source, wherein a sidewall of the irradiation chamber comprises a first mounting member and wherein the holder comprises a second mounting member configured to interact with the first mounting member for pre-mounting the holder to the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventors: Paul Czajkowski, Erik Zamirowski
  • Patent number: 11471897
    Abstract: A centrifuge rotor for sample vessels includes a seal between a lower part and a cover. The seal comprises a gasket, which is arranged in a first groove. The first groove is arranged on one of the elements constituted by the cover and the lower part. The first groove, in relation to the axis of rotation of the centrifuge rotor, is open axially toward the other of the elements constituted by the cover and the lower part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventor: Steffen Kühnert
  • Patent number: 11426720
    Abstract: A pipette comprises a pipette housing comprising an upper end and a lower end, a nipple configured to contact and retain a pipette tip, a drive apparatus configured to aspirate a liquid specimen into the pipette tip and expel the liquid specimen from the pipette tip, and an ejection apparatus. The ejection apparatus comprises a curved support rotatably mounted within the pipette housing, an ejection rod, a first sensing element positioned on the ejection rod and configured to be guided on a first curve on a perimeter of the curved support, and an operating element coupled to the curved support and configured to rotate relative to the pipette housing. The ejection apparatus is configured to rotate the curved support out of a start position by rotating the operating element. The first curve displaces the first sensing element downward a the ejection rod moves the pipette tip off of the nipple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventor: Florian Tesch
  • Publication number: 20220241793
    Abstract: A metering head for a metering machine having a carrier having parallel attachments for picking up pipette tips wherein each attachment has a tube having a supporting protrusion at the bottom end at least one sleeve which surrounds the tube and can be axially shifted on the tube, and at least one elastomer O-ring which surrounds the tube a pressure plate above the sleeves having a plurality of first holes through which the tubes extend, wherein the pressure plate can be shifted along the tubes from a release position into a clamping position where the sleeves are pressed, at the bottom ends, against the adjacent O-rings, and the O-rings are expanded to clamp pipette tips; and a first shifting apparatus connected to the pressure plate moving the pressure plate between the release position and clamping position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: Eppendorf AG
    Inventor: Jens Wilmer