Patents Assigned to Tecan AG
  • Patent number: 6368561
    Abstract: A holder (2) for sample liquid containers, e.g. Eppendorf vessels (15), is horizontally displaceable between a working position above a magnetic arrangement (4) and a heating position above a hotplate (5). The latter are supported on a baseplate (3) which can be vertically displaced by means of a lifting device (9) between a lowered passive position and a raised active position in which the magnetic arrangement (4) and the hotplate (5) act on the sample liquid in the Eppendorf vessels (15) and attract ferromagnetic particles suspended there. To improve the interaction between the ferromagnetic particles and the sample liquid, the magnetic arrangement (4) can be transversely moved by a stepping motor (6) between a first position, in which, for example, a magnetic plate (14) acts on a row of Eppendorf vessels (15) from the right side, and a second position, in which said magnetic plate (14) acts on the same row of Eppendorf vessels (15) from the left side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Tecan AG
    Inventors: Marcel Rutishauser, Ralf Bartl
  • Patent number: 5763278
    Abstract: A device for automated pipetting of small volumes of liquid has a pipetting needle, a diluter having a liquid output with a syringe and a valve, the syringe including a piston and a piston drive. Tubing interconnects the needle and the liquid output of the diluter, the tubing and diluter containing a substantially incompressible liquid. An impulse generator is connected in the device and coupled to the incompressible liquid in the tubing for generating and applying directly to the liquid in the tubing a mechanical impulse force of at least 0.01 N.multidot.s for separating liquid from the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Tecan AG
    Inventors: Anselm Sickinger, Johannes Konrad Balmer
  • Patent number: 4931402
    Abstract: A photometric analyzer includes a primary rack (1) for holding a number of sample tubes (2), and a work table (3) located alongside the primary rack (1) for supporting a microtitration plate (4), the work table being positionable in any x/y direction desired in a horizontal plane. A sample distribution arm (5) is located above the primary rack (1) and the work table and can be positioned in any x/y direction in the horizontal plane. A photometer (6) is located in the positioning sector of the work table (3) whose beam path (7) vertically intersects the x/y plane of the work table (3). A programmable computer (8) is provided for controlling the entire photometric analysis equipment. The device is particularly suitable for performing enzyme immune tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Tecan AG Analytische Instrumente
    Inventor: Heinz Abplanalp
  • Patent number: 4897548
    Abstract: An apparatus for the multiple analysis of gases which can react with another gas to produce emission of light has at least two reaction chambers (1a, 1b), a single photodetector (3) and an optical redirection system (2) with a reflection surface movably mounted between the reaction chambers for sequentially and rapidly redirecting the light from the two reaction chambers onto the single photodetector for evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Tecan AG Analytische Instrumente
    Inventors: Peter Dome, Heinz Wagner, Alfred Meier