Patents by Inventor Frank Stracke

Frank Stracke 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).

  • Publication number: 20230363378
    Abstract: A method for cryopreserving a plurality of cell clusters (1, 2) of biological cells includes the steps of fractionating the cell clusters (1, 2) into at least two fractions (4) in dependency on at least one property of the cell clusters (1, 2), collecting the fractions (4) in different containers (21), and cryopreserving the cell clusters (1, 2) of the at least two fractions (4), wherein specific pretreatment methods and/or freezing methods are used for each fraction. A cryopreservation apparatus (100), for cryopreserving a plurality of cell clusters (1, 2) of biological cells, having a fractionation device, is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Heiko ZIMMERMANN, Ina MEISER, Frank STRACKE
  • Patent number: 10488400
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for optical in vitro detection of a movement in a biological sample with a spatial extent in the form of a three-dimensional cell and/or tissue culture or a cell cluster or a sample made of freely swimming microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e. V., Universitaet des Saarlandes
    Inventors: Heiko Zimmermann, Frank Stracke, Ronan Le Harzic
  • Patent number: 10393653
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the optical in vitro detection of a movement in a biological sample and/or for the optical in vitro detection of a movement of a component of the biological sample. The method has the following step: (a) providing an optical wide-field illumination device for illuminating the sample, said device being designed to illuminate the entire sample, and a detector (3) for detecting radiation (9; 9a, 9b) coming from the sample. The detector (3) has a detection surface (3a) which is divided into multiple detection regions (4a). The detector is additionally designed to derive (S1) detection signals (4c) of individual detection regions (4a) with respect to time, subsequently rectify (S2) the signals, preferably by generating an absolute value or squaring, and summing or averaging (S3) the derived and rectified detection signals of all of the detection regions and then providing same as an output signal (6c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e. V.
    Inventors: Heiko Zimmermann, Frank Stracke, Ronan Le Harzic
  • Publication number: 20180321219
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the optical in vitro detection of a movement in a biological sample and/or for the optical in vitro detection of a movement of a component of the biological sample. The method has the following step: (a) providing an optical wide-field illumination device for illuminating the sample, said device being designed to illuminate the entire sample, and a detector (3) for detecting radiation (9; 9a, 9b) coming from the sample. The detector (3) has a detection surface (3a) which is divided into multiple detection regions (4a). The detector is additionally designed to derive (S1) detection signals (4c) of individual detection regions (4a) with respect to time, subsequently rectify (S2) the signals, preferably by generating an absolute value or squaring, and summing or averaging (S3) the derived and rectified detection signals of all of the detection regions and then providing same as an output signal (6c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Heiko ZIMMERMANN, Frank STRACKE, Ronan LE HARZIC
  • Publication number: 20180038845
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for optical in vitro detection of a movement in a biological sample with a spatial extent in the form of a three-dimensional cell and/or tissue culture or a cell cluster or a sample made of freely swimming microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Heiko ZIMMERMANN, Frank STRACKE, Ronan LE HARZIC
  • Patent number: 9851304
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring a cryopreserved biological sample (1), comprising the steps of providing the biological sample (1) in a cryopreserved state, measuring at least one Raman spectroscopic sample characteristic by means of a Raman spectroscopic measuring apparatus (10, 20), comparing the at least one sample characteristic with a reference characteristic by means of an evaluating apparatus (30), and providing a state characteristic that depends on the result of the comparison and that is characteristic of a storage state of the biological sample (1). The invention further relates to a monitoring device for cryopreserved samples, in particular for performing said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Guenter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann, Frank Stracke, Daniel Doerr
  • Publication number: 20140260346
    Abstract: A cryopreservation device (100) which is arranged for cryopreservation of a biological sample (1) comprises a pressure vessel (10) with a vessel wall (11) and an internal space (12) which is arranged to receive the biological sample (1), wherein the pressure vessel (10) is equipped with an actuating device (20) for cooling by lowering the temperature and raising the pressure in the pressure vessel (10) and configured for the cryopreservation of the biological sample (1). Said actuating device (20) is connected to the vessel wall (11) and comprises at least one pressure setting element (21-23, 31) and at least one of at least one cooling element (34) and at least one heat conducting element (35-38), wherein the actuating device (20) is configured for a time-dependent and/or location-dependent setting of the temperature and of the pressure in the pressure vessel (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
    Inventors: Guenter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann, Frank Stracke, Markus Grabenbauer, Jan Huebinger, Philippe Bastiaens, Frank Wehner
  • Publication number: 20130244271
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring a cryopreserved biological sample (1), comprising the steps of providing the biological sample (1) in a cryopreserved state, measuring at least one Raman spectroscopic sample characteristic by means of a Raman spectroscopic measuring apparatus (10, 20), comparing the at least one sample characteristic with a reference characteristic by means of an evaluating apparatus (30), and providing a state characteristic that depends on the result of the comparison and that is characteristic of a storage state of the biological sample (1). The invention further relates to a monitoring device for cryopreserved samples, in particular for performing said method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Guenter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann, Frank Stracke, Daniel Doerr