Patents Assigned to Tecan Trading AG
  • Publication number: 20220001376
    Abstract: A pipette tip extension having a proximal end, a distal end, and an exterior wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end is disclosed. The exterior wall has an outer side and an inner side and encloses an inner cavity which is delimited by the inner side of the exterior wall. The exterior wall forms at the proximal end a reception aperture. The pipette tip extension further has one or more distance elements arranged at the inner side of the exterior wall and protruding into the inner cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Patrick KINNEY, Sujata IYER, Philipp OTT, Adrian SAGER
  • Patent number: 11149245
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the automated maintenance of cells particularly reprogrammed somatic cells into iPSCs to enable the large-scale culture and passaging of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) that can be adapted to a Freedom EVO®.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Alice Pebay, Alex Hewitt, Duncan Crombie, Helena Liang, Raymond Wong, Maciej Daniszewski, Marco Zalivani
  • Patent number: 10962560
    Abstract: A pipetting arrangement includes at least two sets of pipettes (9a; 9b; 9c; 9d). Each set of pipettes (9a; 9b; 9c; 9d) is operationally connected, via a controllable ON/OFF valve (11a; 11b; 11e; 11d) to a common aspiration port (7). Latter is connectable to a pumping arrangement. The valves (11a; 11b; 11e; 11d) are controlled by a timing-control unit (15) conceived to establish, by control of the valves (11a; 11b; 11e; 11d), the operational connections of the at least two sets of pipettes (9a; 9b; 9c; 9d) to the aspiration port (7) in a time-multiplexed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventor: Pius Fink
  • Patent number: 10357773
    Abstract: A cartridge has a container with at least one well, protrusions distributed on the container base side, and a flat polymer film having a lower surface and a hydrophobic upper surface kept at a distance (d) to the container base side by the protrusions. The container and the film are reversibly attachable to a liquid droplet manipulation instrument so that the lower surface of the film abuts at least one electrode array of the instrument. The container enables displacement of at least one liquid droplet from a well onto the hydrophobic upper surface of the flat polymer film and above the electrode array. The liquid droplet manipulation instrument comprises a control unit with a voltage control and an electrode selector for individually selecting each electrode of the electrode array and for providing the selected electrode with a voltage and thus controlling a guided movement of a liquid droplet on the hydrophobic upper surface of the flat polymer film by electrowetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventor: Marc N. Feiglin
  • Patent number: 10161780
    Abstract: A device (100) which comprises a deliverable sensor (202), a container (101) for receiving a liquid (1), a container environment (103) and a signal processing circuit (2), the input side (11) of which can be connected circuitry-wise to the sensor (102). The device (100) is designed to perform a capacitive liquid level measurement in normal operation using the sensor (102), wherein a threshold value can be predefined for the signal processing circuit (2) for normal operation, the device (100) comprises a classification module (104), i. which can be connected with an input side or line connection (105) circuitry-wise to the sensor (102), ii. which is designed to make a capacitive measurement of the liquid (1) in the container (101) using the sensor (102), and iii. which can be connected circuitry-wise (106) to the signal processing circuit (2) in order to trigger the specification of a threshold value using the sensor (102) for capacitive measurement of the liquid (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Markus Wiggli, Nicolas Cors
  • Publication number: 20180214862
    Abstract: Aspiration of a pipette arrangement is initiated. A sensor arrangement senses a least one prevailing first parameter that is dependent from the effect in the pipette arrangement during initiating and upholding the suctioning action. This at least one parameter is analyzed in an analyzing stage. From a result of this analysis and in a determining stage at least one test criterium TC for at least one further parameter as sensed by the sensor arrangement is determined. In a checking stage there is checked whether this further parameter fulfills the at least one test criterium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: TECAN Trading AG
    Inventors: Michael HORSLEY, Kevin TRUEMPI, Sukesh GOPINATHAN
  • Patent number: 9993824
    Abstract: A microplate reader comprises a housing; at least one optical measuring/detection device; a microplate support; a moving unit; and an integrated lid holding apparatus. The lid holding apparatus is arranged to move the microplate lid and/or the microplate support is arranged to move the microplate in one respective, in an at least approximately vertical direction for moving the microplate lid away from the microplate. The lid holding apparatus is arranged inside the housing as a magnetic lifter and comprises a non-array arrangement of at least one permanent magnet, or at least three electromagnets, or at least one switchable permanent magnet. Each microplate lid to be moved away from the microplate comprises magnetizable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Friedrich Menges, Harald Gebetsroither, Gyoergy Wenczel
  • Patent number: 9915631
    Abstract: A digital microfluidics system for manipulating samples in liquid droplets within a gap between a first hydrophobic surface of a bottom layer and a second hydrophobic surface of at least one disposable cartridge. Disposable cartridges comprise a body and/or a rigid cover plate. The bottom layer of each disposable cartridge is a flexible film that is sealingly attached to the body or plate. The cartridge has no spacer between the first and second hydrophobic surfaces. When using these cartridges, the bottom layers configured as a working film for manipulating samples in liquid droplets thereon, is placed on an electrode array of a digital microfluidics system. The array has individual electrodes. The digital microfluidics system also comprises a central control unit for controlling the selection of the individual electrodes of the electrode array and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Daniel Hoffmeyer, Tiffany Lay, Travis Lee
  • Patent number: 9823628
    Abstract: A laboratory system and a method for controlling a laboratory system comprises multiple subsystems; each subsystem being configured to receive and carry out a command; and a master control device configured to process command groups and/or command(s) within the same command group simultaneously; to process command groups and/or command(s) of different command groups sequentially; and within a command group, to process command group(s) and/or command(s) grouped into a command group before processing other commands command group(s) and/or command(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventor: Mark Ma
  • Patent number: 9783842
    Abstract: In a method of deducing the number of repeat units in a selected short tandem repeat (STR) in a genomic sample, at least a single stranded target DNA generated from a genomic sample comprising a selected STR, an STR probe (P1,P1?), a reference probe (P2), and two blockers (B1,B2) are provided, and at least three differential hybridization experiments are carried out, based on which the number of STR probe oligonucleotides (P1,P1?) bound per target DNA strand in each differential hybridization experiment is determined. The method further comprises the step of comparing these numbers of STR probe oligonucleotides (P1,P1?) bound per target DNA strand in the differential hybridization experiments for deducing the number of repeat units in the selected STR on the single stranded target DNA strand. Also disclosed are kits for carrying out STR genotyping by differential hybridization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Joseph Mamone, Marc N. Feiglin, Howard Gamper
  • Patent number: 9545631
    Abstract: Cartridge has a container with at least one well having a channel from a well opening to a container base side, protrusions on the container base side, and a flat polymer film with a hydrophobic upper surface kept at a distance from the base side by the protrusions. The container and film are reversibly attachable to a liquid droplet manipulation instrument so the lower surface of the film abuts at least one electrode array of the instrument. The container enables displacement of a liquid droplet from a well through the channel onto the hydrophobic upper surface and above the electrode array. The instrument has a control unit with a voltage control and an electrode selector for individually selecting each electrode of the electrode array and for providing the selected electrode with a voltage to controlling guided movement of a liquid droplet by electrowetting. A kit and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventor: Marc N. Feiglin
  • Patent number: 9530053
    Abstract: A method of detecting an original arrangement of laboratory articles of a laboratory work station records reference digital images with a digital camera. An image is displayed and visible regions with characteristic features are selected by a user within an input device. Reference image sections and corresponding reference image parameter files are produced and stored. A current arrangement of laboratory articles is compared with a previously recorded original arrangement. Detection of the current arrangement occurred by recording current digital images with a digital camera and creating current image sections defined by X/Y parameters of the reference image parameter files from the current digital images. A computer-based comparison of the processed current image sections with the processed reference image sections occurred and an analysis of this comparison and the display of agreements, deviations and errors is found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Simon M. Eckard, Nikolaus Ingenhoven
  • Publication number: 20160356737
    Abstract: A capacitively operating apparatus (100) has a container, a probe (3) movable into and/or out of the container, an input signal generator connectable to the probe (3) to provide an input signal (sin(t)) which produces at least one output signal (sout(t) in the probe (3), and a measuring apparatus (M) connectable to the probe (3) to tap the output signal (sout(t)) from the probe (3), and wherein the probe (3) is periodically chargeable and dischargeable, the output signal (sout(t)) corresponds to the time progression of a charging/discharging curve which is produced by the periodic charging and discharging of the probe (3). The apparatus (100) also includes a circuit module (10, 11) with two comparators for providing a first comparator output signal (PWM1) and a second comparator output signal (PWM2) from the output signal (sout(t)) and to correlate them with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Markus SCHOENI, Philipp OTT, Lars KAMM, Paul ZBINDEN
  • Patent number: 9435765
    Abstract: A cartridge manipulates samples in liquid droplets with an electrode array when a working film is placed on the array. The cartridge has a body with lower surface and wells to hold samples, each with a bottom opening to release liquid. A piercable bottom structure seals the bottom openings. A working film below the body has a hydrophobic upper surface. A peripheral spacer connects the working film to the body and forms a gap is between the body and surface. A top piercing system located in at least one of the wells has a piston and a piercing element, the piston being movable in the well and the piercing element piercing the piercable bottom structure for releasing a sample from a well into the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: S. Nicholas Reimitz, Bruce Richardson, Marc N. Feiglin, Anne R. Kopf-Sill
  • Publication number: 20160025546
    Abstract: A method and device for distinguishing between a contacting of foam (2) or of liquid (1) in a liquid container (5) of a device (100) by employing a capacitively operating measuring device (M) having a sensor (3) which can be moved up and down in the liquid container (5), in which at least one output signal (sout(t)) is processed by the measuring device (M).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: TECAN Trading AG
    Inventors: Philipp OTT, Lars KAMM, Markus SCHÖNI, Remo KELLER, Paul ZBINDEN
  • Publication number: 20160018261
    Abstract: A monochromator has at least one optical grating which is rotatable in relation to incident light of a source of light, a drive unit to rotate the optical grating by a connected drive rod around a longitudinal axis, and a control unit to control the drive unit and thereby the rotation of the optical grating. The drive unit further has a first damping element with at least one electrical conductive surface, and a second damping element which provides at least one magnetic field having a magnetic axis which penetrates the electrical conductive surface. One of the first and second damping elements is fixed to the drive rod and is rotatable along with the drive rod around the longitudinal axis thereof in relation to the other one of the second or first damping element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: TECAN Trading AG
    Inventors: Lutz NIGGL, Andreas STEINBACHER
  • Publication number: 20160016170
    Abstract: A disposable cartridge configured as a digital microfluidics system for manipulating samples in liquid portions having a cartridge accommodation site and a central control unit for controlling selection of individual electrodes of an electrode array located at the site and for providing plural electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid portions by electrowetting. The cartridge has a hydrophobic working surface and a rigid cover with a second hydrophobic surface, the hydrophobic surfaces facing each other and being separated in parallel planes by a gap. The cartridge has plural pipetting guides for safe entering/withdrawing liquids into/from the gap with a pipette tip. At least one of the pipetting guides provides an abutting surface sealingly admittable by a counter surface of a pipette tip, located at a pipetting orifice that reaches through the rigid cover, and configured to prevent a pipette tip from touching the hydrophobic working surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Tiffany LAY, Daniel HOFFMEYER, Anne R. KOPF-SILL
  • Patent number: D1021135
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Sven Pflumm, Jan Beeli
  • Patent number: D1038431
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventor: Adrian Sager
  • Patent number: D1044028
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventor: Claudio Bohli