Patents by Inventor Bert Jungheim
Bert Jungheim 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).
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Patent number: 9435718Abstract: An automated sample tube decanting system having one or more decanting grippers, a decant waste receptacle, a transporter, and means for rotating the decanting gripper. Each decanting gripper has a respective holder configured to selectively mate with a respective interface on a tube strip. The one or more decanting grippers are rotatable between a first position in which the tube strip is upright and a second position in which the tube strip is inverted. The transporter is configured to move the one or more decanting grippers in a lateral direction from a starting location to a location above the decant waste receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2012Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Qiagen Gaithersburg, Inc.Inventors: Bradley Scott Thomas, Brian Austin Self, Andrew Leonard, Bert Jungheim, Eric Schneider, Franklin Regan, Bowen Cui, Shubing Liu, Sharon Fluss
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Patent number: 9400234Abstract: An automated sample tube decanting system having one or more decanting grippers, a decant waste receptacle, a transporter, and means for rotating the decanting gripper. Each decanting gripper has a respective holder configured to selectively mate with a respective interface on a tube strip. The one or more decanting grippers are rotatable between a first position in which the tube strip is upright and a second position in which the tube strip is inverted. The transporter is configured to move the one or more decanting grippers in a lateral direction from a starting location to a location above the decant waste receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2012Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Qiagen Gaithersburg, Inc.Inventors: Bradley Scott Thomas, Brian Austin Self, Andrew Leonard, Bert Jungheim, Eric Schneider, Franklin Regan, Bowen Cui, Shubing Liu, Sharon Fluss
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Patent number: 9260763Abstract: An automated process for converting samples includes: receiving tube strips having a number of sample tubes and samples therein, transferring multiple tube strips to a tube strip holder, dispensing sample conversion buffer into each tube, shaking the tube strip holder a first time, centrifuging the tube strip holder, removing a liquid supernatant from each tube, simultaneously inspecting the contents of each tube, dispensing a specimen transport medium and a denaturation reagent into each tube, shaking the tube strip holder a second time, heating the tube strip holder for a first length of time, shaking the tube strip holder a third time, heating the tube strip holder for a second length of time, shaking the tube strip holder a fourth time, and transferring at least a portion of each sample to a respective well on an output plate.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2012Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Qiagen Gaithersburg, Inc.Inventors: Bradley Scott Thomas, Suganthi Ramachandran, Jason Troxell, Bowen Cui, Carl Theodore Edens, Andrew Leonard, Bert Jungheim
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Patent number: 9180461Abstract: A cover for covering an array of sample tubes during an incubation process. The cover has an upper panel and protrusions extending downward from the upper panel. Each protrusion has an upper seal and a lower seal. The upper seal includes a first conical section that tapers from a first diameter that is larger than the inside diameter of a corresponding sample tube to a second diameter that is smaller than the inside diameter of the corresponding sample tube. The lower seal includes a cylindrical section extending downward from the bottom of the first conical section. The cylindrical section has a diameter selected to create a capillary seal, in the presence of a liquid, between the cylindrical section and an adjacent portion of an inner wall of the corresponding sample tube.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2012Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Qiagen Gaithersburg, Inc.Inventors: Carl Theodore Edens, Andrew Leonard, Bert Jungheim, Peter Haviernik, Bowen Cui
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Patent number: 9107652Abstract: An automated sample aspirating method in which a magnetic force is applied to a collection tube containing a sample carrier to move at least the top of the carrier to a location off the center axis of the collection tube. An aspirator is inserted into the tube at a vertical position along the sample carrier, and a fluid is aspirated from the tube. Also provided are a sample collector having a tip adapted to obtain a sample from a sample source, and a handle that extends from the tip and is magnetic at a location remote from the tip. Also provided is a sample processing system having a sample collector such as described above, a collection tube adapted to hold the sample collector with the tip at a closed lower end of the tube and the handle extending towards an open upper end of the tube, and a cap that seals the sample collector tip and at least a portion of the handle inside the tube.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2009Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: Qiagen Gaithersburg, Inc.Inventors: Yancy Kenan Ragin, Bert Jungheim
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Publication number: 20140113278Abstract: An automated process for converting samples includes: receiving tube strips having a number of sample tubes and samples therein, transferring multiple tube strips to a tube strip holder, dispensing sample conversion buffer into each tube, shaking the tube strip holder a first time, centrifuging the tube strip holder, removing a liquid supernatant from each tube, simultaneously inspecting the contents of each tube, dispensing a specimen transport medium and a denaturation reagent into each tube, shaking the tube strip holder a second time, heating the tube strip holder for a first length of time, shaking the tube strip holder a third time, heating the tube strip holder for a second length of time, shaking the tube strip holder a fourth time, and transferring at least a portion of each sample to a respective well on an output plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2012Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: QIAGEN GAITHERSBURG, INC.Inventors: BRADLEY SCOTT THOMAS, SUGANTHI RAMACHANDRAN, JASON TROXEL, BOWEN CUI, CARL THEODORE EDENS, ANDREW LEONARD, BERT JUNGHEIM
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Publication number: 20140112829Abstract: A tube strip handling and heating frame having a rectangular outer frame having two spaced longitudinal walls extending in a longitudinal direction, and two spaced lateral walls extending in a lateral direction and extending between respective ends of the longitudinal walls. The outer frame forms an enclosure having an open upper side and an open lower side. The frame also has a number of tube strip wells located inside the outer frame, each tube strip well has a slot elongated in the lateral direction, and each slot is configured to receive a respective tube strip through the open upper side and support the respective tube strip in a vertical direction. The tube strip wells are arranged in a series along the longitudinal direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2012Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: QIAGEN GAITHERSBURG, INC.Inventors: BRADLEY SCOTT THOMAS, Carl Theodore Edens, Andrew Leonard, Bert Jungheim, Peter Haviernik, Bowen Cui
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Publication number: 20140112845Abstract: A cover for covering an array of sample tubes during an incubation process. The cover has an upper panel and protrusions extending downward from the upper panel. Each protrusion has an upper seal and a lower seal. The upper seal includes a first conical section that tapers from a first diameter that is larger than the inside diameter of a corresponding sample tube to a second diameter that is smaller than the inside diameter of the corresponding sample tube. The lower seal includes a cylindrical section extending downward from the bottom of the first conical section. The cylindrical section has a diameter selected to create a capillary seal, in the presence of a liquid, between the cylindrical section and an adjacent portion of an inner wall of the corresponding sample tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2012Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: QIAGEN GAITHERSBURG, INC.Inventors: CARL THEODORE EDENS, ANDREW LEONARD, BERT JUNGHEIM, PETER HAVIERNIK, BOWEN CUI
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Publication number: 20140112843Abstract: An automated sample tube decanting system having one or more decanting grippers, a decant waste receptacle, a transporter, and means for rotating the decanting gripper. Each decanting gripper has a respective holder configured to selectively mate with a respective interface on a tube strip. The one or more decanting grippers are rotatable between a first position in which the tube strip is upright and a second position in which the tube strip is inverted. The transporter is configured to move the one or more decanting grippers in a lateral direction from a starting location to a location above the decant waste receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2012Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: QIAGEN GAITHERSBURG, INC.Inventors: Bradley Scott Thomas, Brian Austin Self, Andrew Leonard, Bert Jungheim, Eric Schneider, Franklin Regan, Bowen Cui, Shubing Liu
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Patent number: 8668878Abstract: The present invention relates to a reaction vessel for crystallization of a sample from a solution and a covering foil and an arrangement for mounting the covering foil.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2009Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Qiagen GmbHInventors: Johann Kubicek, Bert Jungheim, Rainer Dahlke
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Patent number: 8512650Abstract: The invention relates to a device for mounting pipette tips with a coupling element (4) that extends in an axial direction of the longitudinal axis (6). The coupling element (4) features a free end (8) from which a pipette tip (10) is deferrable to the coupling element (4) in an axial direction. Furthermore, the coupling element (4) features a gasket (21), at least one guiding element (25, 26), and a holding element (27). The gasket (21) consists of a flexible material which comprises an exposed sealing section (23) in an axial direction towards the free end (8) of the coupling element (4) against which a sealing section (43) of the pipette tip (10) can press axially. The guiding element (25, 26) is located on the outer side of the coupling element (4) and has the purpose of aligning the pipette tip. The holding element (27) is also located on the outer side of the coupling element (4) for interacting with holding agents (47) of the pipette tip (10).Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2007Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Qiagen GmbHInventors: Bert Jungheim, Ulf Friederichs
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Patent number: 8372359Abstract: A vial retainer system for an automated processing apparatus. The vial retainer system includes a track mounted to the processing apparatus, a rack adapted to slide in a longitudinal direction on the track, and a vial retainer positioned over the rack. The rack is movable in a distal direction to install the rack on the processing apparatus, and in a proximal direction, opposite the distal direction, to remove the rack from the processing apparatus. The rack is adapted to hold one or more vials in an upright orientation. The vial retainer has one or more a sloped surfaces inclined such that a distal end of each sloped surface is closer to the track than a proximal end of each sloped surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2009Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignees: Qiagen Gaithersburg, Inc.Inventors: Bert Jungheim, Andrew Leonard
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Publication number: 20120219472Abstract: The present invention relates to a reaction vessel for crystallization of a sample from a solution and a covering foil and an arrangement for mounting the covering foil.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2009Publication date: August 30, 2012Inventors: Johann KUBICEK, Bert JUNGHEIM, Rainer DAHLKE
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Publication number: 20110229381Abstract: The present invention relates to a reaction vessel for crystallization of a sample from a solution and a covering foil and an arrangement for mounting the covering foil (FIG. 1).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2009Publication date: September 22, 2011Inventors: Johann Kubicek, Bert Jungheim, Rainer Dahlke
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Publication number: 20110116994Abstract: A vial retainer system for an automated processing apparatus. The vial retainer system includes a track mounted to the processing apparatus, a rack adapted to slide in a longitudinal direction on the track, and a vial retainer positioned over the rack. The rack is movable in a distal direction to install the rack on the processing apparatus, and in a proximal direction, opposite the distal direction, to remove the rack from the processing apparatus. The rack is adapted to hold one or more vials in an upright orientation. The vial retainer has one or more a sloped surfaces inclined such that a distal end of each sloped surface is closer to the track than a proximal end of each sloped surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2009Publication date: May 19, 2011Inventors: Bert Jungheim, Andrew Leonard
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Publication number: 20110118626Abstract: An automated sample aspirating method in which a magnetic force is applied to a collection tube containing a sample carrier to move at least the top of the carrier to a location off the center axis of the collection tube. An aspirator is inserted into the tube at a vertical position along the sample carrier, and a fluid is aspirated from the tube. Also provided are a sample collector having a tip adapted to obtain a sample from a sample source, and a handle that extends from the tip and is magnetic at a location remote from the tip. Also provided is a sample processing system having a sample collector such as described above, a collection tube adapted to hold the sample collector with the tip at a closed lower end of the tube and the handle extending towards an open upper end of the tube, and a cap that seals the sample collector tip and at least a potion of the handle inside the tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2009Publication date: May 19, 2011Inventors: Yancy Kenan Ragin, Bert Jungheim
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Publication number: 20100196210Abstract: The invention relates to a device for mounting pipette tips with a coupling element (4) that extends in an axial direction of the longitudinal axis (6). The coupling element (4) features a free end (8) from which a pipette tip (10) is deferrable to the coupling element (4) in an axial direction. Furthermore, the coupling element (4) features a gasket (21), at least one guiding element (25, 26), and a holding element (27). The gasket (21) consists of a flexible material which comprises an exposed sealing section (23) in an axial direction towards the free end (8) of the coupling element (4) against which a sealing section (43) of the pipette tip (10) can press axially. The guiding element (25, 26) is located on the outer side of the coupling element (4) and has the purpose of aligning the pipette tip. The holding element (27) is also located on the outer side of the coupling element (4) for interacting with holding agents (47) of the pipette tip (10).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2007Publication date: August 5, 2010Inventors: Bert Jungheim, Ulf Friederichs
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Patent number: D687567Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2012Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Qiagen Gaithersburg, Inc.Inventors: Bert Jungheim, Gerhard Winkelmayer