Patents by Inventor Carlo Effenhauser

Carlo Effenhauser 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).

  • Patent number: 9063038
    Abstract: A device for sampling, transporting and/or disposal of fluid media in the nl and ?l-range comprises a substrate with an open or closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively, the substrate with the open or closed groove or capillary respectively is bent or arcuated at least at one location. The substrate comprises at least one end into which the open or closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively is extended, which end is shaped according to its application or use as e.g. needle-like, straight-lined cut, tip-like, at least most half circle-shape, rounded, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo Effenhauser, Patrick Griss, Stephan Korner, Emad Sarofim
  • Patent number: 8911684
    Abstract: A microfluidic element for analyzing a bodily fluid sample for an analyte contained therein is provided, the element having a substrate, a channel structure that is enclosed by the substrate, and a cover layer, and is rotatable around a rotational axis. The channel structure of the microfluidic element includes a feed channel having a feed opening, a ventilation channel having a ventilation opening, and at least two reagent chambers. The reagent chambers are connected to one another via two connection channels in such a manner that a fluid exchange is possible between the reagent chambers, one of the reagent chambers having an inlet opening, which has a fluid connection to the feed channel, so that a liquid sample can flow into the rotational-axis-distal reagent chamber. At least one of the reagent chambers contains a reagent, which reacts with the liquid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Manfred Augstein, Christoph Boehm, Carlo Effenhauser, Rijk Edwin Oosterbroek, Susanne Wuerl
  • Patent number: 8911683
    Abstract: A microfluidic device is provided including at least one chamber accessible by microfluidic channels characterized in that the surface of the channels and the chambers are patterned and comprise hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas. The surface energy in correspondence of the areas, i.e., the capillary force, being such that a liquid can be guided along the hydrophilic path, enter the chamber from one side, wet part of one surface of the chamber as a thin layer without touching the opposite surface of the chamber, thus avoiding to fill the volume inside the chamber in correspondence of the hydrophilic pattern until a second liquid, either sequentially or in parallel, comes to wet part of the opposite surface of the chamber and eventually touches the first liquid layer, resulting in a sudden coalescence and efficient mixing between the liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Curcio, Carlo Effenhauser, Michael Glauser
  • Patent number: 8821413
    Abstract: A system is provided for withdrawing small amounts of body fluid from an animal or human. The system includes a holder and a disposable lancing unit attached to the holder. The lancing unit also includes an open capillary channel for transporting the body fluid and piercing the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo Effenhauser, Heinz-Michael Hein, Karl-Heinz Koelker, Frank Deck
  • Patent number: 8420024
    Abstract: A device for sampling, transporting and/or disposal of fluid media in the nl and ?l-range comprises a substrate with an open or closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively, the substrate with the open or closed groove or capillary respectively is bent or arcuated at least at one location. The substrate comprises at least one end into which the open or closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively is extended, which end is shaped according to its application or use as e.g. needle-like, straight-lined cut, tip-like, at least most half circle-shape, rounded, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan Korner, Patrick Griss, Emad Sarofim, Carlo Effenhauser
  • Patent number: 8388552
    Abstract: A system is provided for withdrawing small amounts of body fluid from an animal or human. The system includes a holder and a disposable lancing unit attached to the holder. The lancing unit also includes an open capillary channel for transporting the body fluid and piercing the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo Effenhauser, Heinz-Michael Hein, Karl-Heinz Koelker, Frank Deck
  • Publication number: 20120301371
    Abstract: A microfluidic element for analyzing a bodily fluid sample for an analyte contained therein is provided, the element having a substrate, a channel structure that is enclosed by the substrate, and a cover layer, and is rotatable around a rotational axis. The channel structure of the microfluidic element includes a feed channel having a feed opening, a ventilation channel having a ventilation opening, and at least two reagent chambers. The reagent chambers are connected to one another via two connection channels in such a manner that a fluid exchange is possible between the reagent chambers, one of the reagent chambers having an inlet opening, which has a fluid connection to the feed channel, so that a liquid sample can flow into the rotational-axis-distal reagent chamber. At least one of the reagent chambers contains a reagent, which reacts with the liquid sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Manfred Augstein, Christoph Boehm, Carlo Effenhauser, Rijk Edwin Oosterbroek, Susanne Wuerl
  • Publication number: 20120230885
    Abstract: A device for sampling, transporting and/or disposal of fluid media in the nl and ?l-range comprises a substrate with an open or closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively, the substrate with the open or closed groove or capillary respectively is bent or arcuated at least at one location. The substrate comprises at least one end into which the open or closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively is extended, which end is shaped according to its application or use as e.g. needle-like, straight-lined cut, tip-like, at least most half circle-shape, rounded, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Stephan Korner, Patrick Griss, Emad Sarofim, Carlo Effenhauser
  • Patent number: 8241566
    Abstract: A device for sampling, transporting and/or disposal of fluid media in the nl and ?l-range comprises a substrate with and open or closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively, the substrate with the open or closed groove or capillary respectively is bent or arcuated at least at one location. The substrate comprises at least one end into which the open closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively is extended, which end is shaped according to its application or use as e.g. needle-like, straight-lined cut, tip-like, at least most half circle-shape, rounded, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan Korner, Patrick Griss, Emad Sarofim, Carlo Effenhauser
  • Publication number: 20110257559
    Abstract: A system is provided for withdrawing small amounts of body fluid from an animal or human. The system includes a holder and a disposable lancing unit attached to the holder. The lancing unit also includes an open capillary channel for transporting the body fluid and piercing the skin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Carlo Effenhauser, Heinz-Michael Hein, Harl-Heinz Koelker, Frank Deck
  • Publication number: 20110223080
    Abstract: A micro fluidic device comprises a laminate structure, comprising a plurality of individual layers. At least one layer comprises a micro fluidic channel structure and at least on one side of said layer a further layer is arranged comprising a three-dimensional (3D) micro structure such that the 3D micro structure is influencing a flow characteristic of a fluid within the micro fluidic channel structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Roger Sandoz, Carlo Effenhauser
  • Patent number: 7993284
    Abstract: A system is provided for withdrawing small amounts of body fluid from an animal or human. The system includes a holder and a disposable lancing unit attached to the holder. The lancing unit also includes an open capillary channel for transporting the body fluid and piercing the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo Effenhauser, Heinz-Michael Hein, Karl-Heinz Koelker, Frank Deck
  • Patent number: 7977122
    Abstract: A micro fluidic device comprises a laminate structure, comprising a plurality of individual layers. At least one layer comprises a micro fluidic channel structure and at least on one side of said layer a further layer is arranged comprising a three-dimensional (3D) micro structure such that the 3D micro structure is influencing a flow characteristic of a fluid within the micro fluidic channel structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Sandoz, Carlo Effenhauser
  • Patent number: 7760346
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for analyzing a dry-chemical test element, in particular an immunological test element, wherein, in the method, a dry-chemical test element is analyzed by optical scanning, whereby measurement light beams leaving assay regions of the test element, which are loaded with one or more immobilized optically active substances, with a respective measurement light intensity are detected by a detector device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo Effenhauser, Erich Haendler, Norbert Oranth
  • Patent number: 7682430
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device which is used to separate gas or liquid from microfluidic flow-through systems. The gas or liquid separation is achieved independently of the spatial orientation of the device. In addition the invention concerns a microfluidic flow-through system in which a device according to the invention enables bubble-free fluid transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Kraemer, Carlo Effenhauser, Karl-Heinz Koelker, Gregor Ocvirk
  • Patent number: 7645369
    Abstract: A separation device and a separation method for biomolecular sample material and in particular protein mixtures. For this purpose a separation element 10 for the two-dimensional and preferable electrophoretic separation of components of the sample material is provided in area 30 of a separation plane. According to the invention it is proposed that the separation element 10 has a channel or transfer structure 14 for the locally resolved discharge of separated sample components in a transport direction that is at right angles to the separation plane onto a support surface 16 that is preferably suitable for mass spectroscopic analyses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Roche Diagnositcs Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Hoeltke, Albert Roeder, Alois Rainer, Peter Berndt, Carlo Effenhauser, Hanno Langen, Remo Anton Hochstrasser
  • Patent number: 7527740
    Abstract: A method for separating particles from a fluid dispersion, particularly for separating corpuscular components from biological samples, above all from blood. A separating module suitable for performing the method has a substrate with flow channels, comprising a feed channel for supplying the dispersion to a junction, a first drain channel for draining fluid having a reduced particle concentration away from the junction, and a second drain channel for draining fluid having an increased particle concentration away from the junction. The fluid flows so much faster in the second drain channel than in the first drain channel that due to the different flow speeds the dispersed particles preferentially flow at the junction further in the second drain channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo Effenhauser, Gregor Ocvirk, Wolfgang Fiedler
  • Publication number: 20090086195
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for analyzing a dry-chemical test element, in particular an immunological test element, wherein, in the method, a dry-chemical test element is analyzed by optical scanning, whereby measurement light beams leaving assay regions of the test element, which are loaded with one or more immobilized optically active substances, with a respective measurement light intensity are detected by a detector device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Roche Diagnostics Operations.Inc
    Inventors: Carlo Effenhauser, Erich Haendler, Norbert Oranth
  • Publication number: 20090016932
    Abstract: A microfluidic device is provided including at least one chamber accessible by microfiuidic channels characterized in that the surface of the channels and the chambers are patterned and comprise hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas. The surface energy in correspondence of the areas, i.e., the capillary force, being such that a liquid can be guided along the hydrophilic path, enter the chamber from one side, wet part of one surface of the chamber as a thin layer without touching the opposite surface of the chamber, thus avoiding to fill the volume inside the chamber in correspondence of the hydrophilic pattern until a second liquid, either sequentially or in parallel, comes to wet part of the opposite surface of the chamber and eventually touches the first liquid layer, resulting in a sudden coalescence and efficient mixing between the liquids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Mario Curcio, Carlo Effenhauser, Michael Glauser
  • Publication number: 20080009767
    Abstract: A system is provided for withdrawing small amounts of body fluid from an animal or human. The system includes a holder and a disposable lancing unit attached to the holder. The lancing unit also includes an open capillary channel for transporting the body fluid and piercing the skin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Carlo Effenhauser, Heinz-Michael Hein, Karl-Heinz Koelker, Frank Deck