Patents Assigned to Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
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Publication number: 20120170256Abstract: The present invention relaters to a cryostat (1) having a cryostat chamber (2) containing a microtome (3) for cutting frozen specimens, and further containing an illumination device (4) for illuminating the cryostat chamber (2); the illumination device (4) providing safelight illumination.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2012Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventor: Claudia Dorenkamp
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Publication number: 20120148380Abstract: The invention relates to apparatuses for turning racks (1) for specimen slides (4), having a rack receptacle for at least one rack, the rack (1) being oriented in the rack receptacle horizontally in a first position such that specimen slides in the rack are arranged vertically next to one another relative to a longitudinal axis of the rack, and the rack receptacle being pivotable around a rotation axis (8) into a second position in which the rack (1) is oriented vertically. The rotation axis (8) of the rack (1) extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis (5) of the horizontally oriented rack (1), so that the rack (1) can be pivoted back and forth between the first and the second position by means of a 180-degree rotation around the rotation axis (8).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2011Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBHInventor: Christian WILKE
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Publication number: 20120138499Abstract: The present invention relates to a holding apparatus (10) for receiving specimen slides (1), having a holder (3, 4, 5) for handling the holding apparatus (10) and having at least two identification units (2a, 2b) that make available different information items to enable characterization of the orientation of the holding apparatus (10) in a stainer or coverslipper.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2011Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBHInventors: Markus BERBERICH, Christian WILKE, Jürgen TENHAEF
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Patent number: 8192136Abstract: An apparatus for storing at least one specimen slide and at least one cassette comprising a sample that is embedded in a sample block and that is to be processed, a microtome comprising this apparatus, and a method for handling multiple cassettes and multiple specimen slides are described. A cassette magazine receives at least one cassette having at least one sample block. A slide magazine receives at least one specimen slide. At least one connecting element for connecting the cassette magazine and the slide magazine mechanically with each other is provided. This allows handling at least one cassette and at least one specimen slide together in a simple and efficient manner.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2009Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Roland Walter, Christoph Schmitt
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Publication number: 20120134893Abstract: An apparatus (10, 60, 70, 100, 110, 120) for handling specimen slides (21) encompasses a coverslipping module (14) for coverslipping thin sections arranged on the specimen slides (21), the coverslipping module (14) applying first a mounting medium and then a coverslipping means onto the specimen slides (21). The apparatus (10, 60, 70, 100, 110, 120) further has an output unit (18) for outputting the specimen slides (21), which unit encompasses a drying unit (32) for at least partial extraction of at least one solvent from the applied mounting medium of the specimen slides (21) arranged in the output unit (18).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2011Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBHInventor: Bernhard NEEF
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Publication number: 20120134894Abstract: An apparatus (10) for handling specimen slides (32, 78, 80) has at least one coverslipping module (14) for coverslipping thin sections arranged on specimen slides (32, 78, 80). The apparatus (10) further encompasses a drying unit (16, 70, 90) for extracting solvent from the mounting medium applied onto the specimen slides (32, 78, 80). The drying unit (16, 70, 90) has an air delivery unit (40) for delivering an air flow to the specimen slides (32, 78, 80).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2011Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Bernhard Neef, Simon Keimer, Karl-Heinz Westerhoff
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Patent number: 8187536Abstract: A system (100) and a method for the unequivocal allocation of histological cassettes (30) and specimen slides (60) is described. The system encompasses a microtome (1) and at least one reading unit (80). The data (33) of the histological cassette (30) and the data (33) of the at least one specimen slide (60) are read by means of the reading unit (80). The reading unit (80) is provided with at least one indicating element (83) that outputs a signal in accordance with the degree of correspondence between the data (33) of the histological cassette (30) and the data (33) on the specimen slide (60).Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2010Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Dag Graupner, Rolf Metzner
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Patent number: 8187157Abstract: A microtome blade changing apparatus for a knife holder (1) of a microtome comprises a blade dispenser (4) storing unused blades and a blade container (5) for receiving used blades. The blade dispenser (4) and blade container (5) are respectively arranged adjacent to the knife holder (1). To reduce the risk of injury to an operator in the context of a blade changing operation, enable operation of the microtome blade changing apparatus reliably and in simple fashion, and allow economical manufacture of the microtome blade changing apparatus, the microtome blade changing apparatus is characterized in that an entraining element (13) manually actuable by an operator is provided, and is configured in such a way that an unused blade is transferable with the entraining element (13) from the blade dispenser (4) to the knife holder (1), and a used blade is thereby conveyable into the blade container (5).Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2007Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Stefan Thiem, Rolf Metzner, Christoph Schmitt
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Patent number: 8172927Abstract: An apparatus and a method for filtering sectioning wastes of a microtome that are present in an air stream are described. The apparatus has an aspiration device with which sectioning waste can be aspirated from a blade region of the microtome with an air stream. A main filter and a prefilter are provided. A valve is provided for opening and closing an opening so that the air stream so that if desired an air stream can be directed through a filter insert in the prefilter for emptying the prefilter into the main filter. According to the method, an air stream that is used for aspirating sectioning waste from a blade region of the microtome is shut off immediately before emptying the prefilter.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2011Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Christoph Schmitt, Roland Walter
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Publication number: 20120090726Abstract: An apparatus for safety-compliant emptying and filling of a reagent container (24, 40) for a tissue processor (20) comprises a suction line (30, 42) for aspirating a reagent out of the reagent container (24, 40) and a delivery line (32, 44) for filling the reagent container (24, 40) with the reagent, a terminating opening (31, 43) of the suction line (30, 42) being spaced away from a terminating opening (33, 45) of the delivery line (32, 44).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2011Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBHInventors: Claus HABERKORN, Hermann ULBRICH
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Patent number: 8152906Abstract: An apparatus and a method for filtering sectioning wastes of a microtome that are present in an air stream are described. The apparatus has an aspiration device with which sectioning waste can be aspirated from a blade region of the microtome with an air stream. A main filter and a prefilter are provided. The direction of the air stream can be reversed and a filter insert in the prefilter can be rotated for emptying the prefilter into the main filter. According to the method, the prefilter is only emptied to the main filter after all the sections of a block that are to be produced with the microtome have been produced.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2011Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Christoph Schmitt, Roland Waller
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Publication number: 20120052526Abstract: A tissue infiltration apparatus (1) for specimens present in cassettes (5) comprises at least two liquid containers (7, 11, 13, 15) and a transport apparatus (6). Multiple cassettes (5) are receivable in a transport basket (4). The transport apparatus (6) is configured in such a way that at least two transport baskets (4) are transportable in the tissue infiltration apparatus (1). A transport basket (4) is deliverable to, and/or movable away from, a liquid container (7, 11, 13, 15) with the transport apparatus (6). An execution sequence (21) in which the transport baskets (4) pass through the liquid containers (7, 11, 13, 15) is definable. To enable accelerated or preferred processing of a transport basket (4) with the tissue infiltration apparatus (1), at least one means (8) is provided with which the order of two transport baskets (4) is definably modifiable.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBHInventors: Hermann Ulbrich, Karl-Heinz Westerhoff, Stefan Künkel, Janet I. Minshew
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Patent number: 8104389Abstract: A vibrating microtome and measuring device for measuring the transverse offset of a vibrating knife comprises a light barrier into which the knife is placeable and a control application signal (pklo, pkhi) that describes the time course of the vibration of the knife and an electronic measurement system of the measuring device measures the coverage of the light barrier as an oscillating signal (tpm), and determines the transverse offset from the signal values at points in time that are defined by the control application signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2011Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Siegfried Tanki, Felix Redl
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Publication number: 20120009620Abstract: During operation of a staining device (20) including a first container (22) filled with a first process medium (23) and a second container (24) filled with a second process medium (25), samples (26) to be stained are immersed in the first process medium (23). A speed representative of how fast the samples (26) are to be withdrawn from the first process medium (23) is determined according to the first process medium (23) and/or according to the samples (26). Subsequently, the samples (26) are withdrawn from the first process medium (23) at the determined speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBHInventors: Markus Berberich, Christian Wilke
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Publication number: 20120009101Abstract: A sensor device (45) for calibrating a staining device (20) has a coupling unit (46) which is configured to be attachable to a transport device (22) of the staining device (20). A sensor unit (48) of the sensor device (45) is adapted to detect the presence of components of the staining device (20).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBHInventors: Markus Berberich, Christian Wilke
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Publication number: 20120006807Abstract: A staining device for staining samples has a heating device including a first heating element and a second heating element. A switch arrangement allows the two heating elements to be connected in parallel or in series. A power connection supplies power to the heating elements. A sensor is designed and located to detect a current supplied to the heating elements. A switching unit is coupled to the sensor and determines a voltage causing the current. Depending on the voltage, the switching unit connects the heating elements in parallel or in series.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBHInventor: Markus Berberich
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Publication number: 20120003679Abstract: A sensor module (38, 40, 42) for a tissue processor (20) has a thermal sensor (66) for measuring a temperature of a container (30, 32, 34) of the tissue processor (20), and further has a position sensor for detecting a working position of the container (30, 32, 34).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2011Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventor: Claus Haberkorn
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Patent number: 8071026Abstract: A tissue processor is described that comprises a retort for processing histological samples using various reagents, a plurality of exchangeable reagent supply containers that each comprise at least one container opening, a system of conduits, a control device for conveying reagents out of the reagent supply containers through at least one reagent conduit into the retort, and system bottles. The reagent supply containers and the system bottles are connected via the pertinent reagent conduits to at least one valve. The valve is electrically connected to the control device such that at least one of filling and emptying of the system bottles with reagents from the reagent supply containers is controlled. This design allows differently dimensioned reagent supply containers while at the same time minimizing the space requirement for the reagent containers.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2009Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Michael Rapp, Marc Konrad, Markus Dobusch, Stefan Kuenkel
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Patent number: 8056456Abstract: An apparatus for producing flat thin sections of a specimen (3) comprises a blade edge (7), a specimen carrier (4), a drive device (14) for producing a relative motion between the blade edge (7) and the specimen carrier (4) in a sectioning plane (5), and a light light-ribbon micrometer (8) arranged between the blade edge (7) and the specimen (3), wherein the light-ribbon micrometer (8) is arranged at a fixed distance (d) relative to the blade edge (7) and generates a light-ribbon in a plane perpendicular to the sectioning plane. A coding device (13) may be associated with the drive device (14) for controlling an alternating drive as a function of the distance (d) and of signals generated by the light-ribbon micrometer (8).Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2008Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventor: Roland Walter
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Patent number: 8052928Abstract: A tissue infiltration apparatus (1) for specimens present in cassettes (5). comprises at least two liquid containers (7, 11, 13, 15) and a transport apparatus (6). A liquid having a definable property is introducible into a liquid container (7, 11, 13, 15). Multiple cassettes (5) are receivable in a transport basket (4). The transport apparatus (6) is configured in such a way that with it, at least two transport baskets (4) are transportable in the tissue infiltration apparatus (1). A transport basket (4) is deliverable to a liquid container (7, 11, 13, 15) and/or movable away from a liquid container (7, 11, 13, 15) with the transport apparatus (6). An execution sequence (21) in which the transport baskets (4) pass through the liquid containers (7, 11, 13, 15) of the tissue infiltration apparatus (1) is definable.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2008Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Hermann Ulbrich, Karl-Heinz Westerhoff, Stefan Künkel, Janet I. Minshew