Patents by Inventor Franz Laermer

Franz Laermer 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: 20240201195
    Abstract: A process for detecting nucleus-containing cells in a sample liquid of a patient using a microfluidic device is disclosed. The process includes (i) providing a mixing signal to a mixing device, wherein the mixing signal causes mixing of the sample liquid with a lysis buffer in a mixing chamber of the microfluidic device in order to obtain a lysate, (ii) outputting an application signal which causes application of the lysate onto a carrier substrate of the microfluidic device in order to obtain a cell sediment and cell suspension of the lysate, and (iii) identifying the nucleus-containing cells from the cell sediment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Samir Kadic, Tianxing Du, Franz Laermer, Jochen Hoffmann, Anne Serout
  • Publication number: 20240189821
    Abstract: A method for trapping at least one nucleated cell using at least one electrode for a microfluidic device is disclosed. The method includes (i) outputting an application signal that causes a sample liquid comprising the at least one nucleated cell to be applied to a carrier substrate of the microfluidic device, and (ii) providing a current signal to an interface with the at least one electrode in order to generate, at or in a microcavity of the carrier substrate, an electric field configured to trap the at least one nucleated cell as a target cell in the microcavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Buck, Samir Kadic, Franz Laermer, Michael Dreschmann, Jochen Hoffmann, Anne Serout
  • Patent number: 11986823
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes an array unit and a nanostructure connected to the array unit, wherein the array unit comprises array cells with substances for a polymerase chain reaction. The array cells include nucleotides with stop properties according to the Sanger sequencing method and primers for an asymmetric polymerase chain reaction. The nanostructure is configured to determine lengths of nucleotide strands formed by the polymerase chain reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Laermer
  • Publication number: 20240018568
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a microfluidic analysis device and to a method for operating the microfluidic analysis device. The method comprises the following steps: providing a sample containing DNA, performing a PCR pre-amplification of the sample, dividing the sample into at least two reaction compartments, and performing at least one singleplex detection in each of the at least two reaction compartments. The singleplex detection is performed in each case by means of an isothermal amplification system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Yvonne Beyl, Franz Laermer, Stefanie Wagner, Anke Timm, Jochen Hoffmann, Martina Budde, Daniel Sebastian Podbiel
  • Patent number: 11867603
    Abstract: A mold sensor is configured with an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes an optical sensor that is configured to measure optical properties in the enclosed chamber. A controller operates the optical sensor and is programmed to detect a presence of mold growing in the chamber based on the optical properties measured by the optical sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Seow Yuen Yee, Franz Laermer, Christian Peters, Oliver Peters, Robert Duerichen, Ning Wang, Thomas Rocznik
  • Publication number: 20230357750
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for treating a biological sample contained in a transport medium. At least one complexing agent is added to the transport medium, which complexing agent forms complexes with alkaline-earth metal ions. In the method, a device can be used which comprises, in succession, a porous volume filter and a membrane filter having a pore size in the range of 0.2 ?m to 2.0 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Franz Laermer, Eva Weimer, Tanja Maucher
  • Patent number: 11726022
    Abstract: A mold sensor include a housing that defines an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes a substrate advancement mechanism that is configured to selectively move the substrate to expose a surface of the substrate within the chamber. The mold sensor includes a sensor configured to detect mold growth on the substrate within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Seow Yuen Yee, Franz Laermer, Christian Peters, Ning Wang, Thomas Rocznik
  • Publication number: 20230241602
    Abstract: A method for producing a carrier element for receiving a sample liquid is disclosed. The method includes a step of coating a carrier substrate with a light-sensitive polymer layer in order to obtain a coated carrier substrate, in particular wherein the carrier substrate has a hydrophilic surface quality. The method also includes an exposure and development step wherein the coated carrier substrate is exposed and developed in order to obtain a structured polymer layer. The method also includes a fluorination step, wherein the structured polymer layer on the carrier substrate is fluorinated in order to produce the carrier element for receiving the sample liquid, in particular wherein the structured polymer layer obtains a hydrophobic surface quality as a result of the fluorination step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Franz Laermer, Daniel Sebastian Podbiel
  • Patent number: 11567012
    Abstract: A mold sensor is configured with an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes a sensing system that is configured to measure a property of the substrate that corresponds to a pH value of the substrate. A controller operates the sensing system and is programmed to detect a presence of mold growing in the chamber by estimating the pH value from the measured property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Seow Yuen Yee, Franz Laermer, Thomas Rocznik, Ning Wang
  • Patent number: 11567092
    Abstract: A system for detecting mold includes a housing defining a chamber and an opening through a surface. The system includes a movable grate for selectively covering the opening. The system includes a substrate treated to promote mold growth. The system includes a mechanism for moving the substrate to move previously unexposed portions into the chamber. The system includes a thermal control system to maintain predetermined environmental conditions in the chamber. The system includes a sensor configured to detect mold growth in the chamber. The system includes a mold suppressor to kill mold in the chamber when activated. The system includes a controller to coordinate operation of the components to detect mold growth in an environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Seow Yuen Yee, Franz Laermer, Christian Peters, Ning Wang, Thomas Rocznik
  • Publication number: 20230002810
    Abstract: In an amplification reaction in a microfluidic apparatus, the reaction is carried out using starting substances tagged with fluorophore and quencher. The detection of reaction products occurs according to the disclosure by a separation of fluorophore and quencher occurring in the context of the amplification reaction. For the detection reaction, at least one energy-transferring substance is added and the evaluation occurs on the basis of the fluorescence emission of the fluorophores which occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Franz Laermer, Martin Schulz
  • Publication number: 20220388839
    Abstract: In a method for creating hydrophilic surfaces or surface regions on one or more silicon surfaces of a substrate, a vapour phase of hydrogen peroxide is generated in a reactor by heating an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution. The substrate having the silicon surface or surfaces to be treated is exposed to the vapour phase, whereby a hydrophilisation of the silicon surfaces in achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Volker Becker, Franz Laermer, Daniel Pantel
  • Patent number: 11499934
    Abstract: A mold sensor is configured with an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes a sensor for measuring electrical properties of the substrate. The substrate includes conductive elements to interface with a controller to measure the electrical properties. The controller operates the sensor and is programmed to detect a presence of mold growing in the chamber based on the electrical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Seow Yuen Yee, Franz Laermer, Christian Peters, Oliver Peters, Thomas Rocznik
  • Patent number: 11493423
    Abstract: A mold sensor is configured with an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes a sensing system that is configured to measure properties of pressure waves within the enclosed chamber. A controller operates the sensing system and is programmed to detect a presence of mold growing in the chamber based on the characteristics of the pressure wave response within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Seow Yuen Yee, Franz Laermer, Thomas Rocznik
  • Publication number: 20220314239
    Abstract: A centrifuge unit for a microfluidic device for processing liquid samples includes a centrifuge cup and at least one centripetal force-dependent valve function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Tanja Maucher, Franz Laermer, Hannah Bott
  • Publication number: 20220305493
    Abstract: A microfluidic device is for processing and aliquoting a sample liquid. The microfluidic device has a dividing chamber for receiving a starting volume of the sample liquid. The dividing chamber has a plurality of cavities for receiving sub-volumes of the sample liquid, the sub-volumes being usable for analytical reactions. The microfluidic device also has a microfluidic network for using the dividing chamber in a fluid-mechanical manner and at least one pump device for pumping fluids within the device. The at least one pump device and the microfluidic network are configured to pump the sample liquid, as a first phase, and a sealing liquid, as a second phase, through the microfluidic network and into the dividing chamber in order to seal the sub-volumes of the sample liquid in the cavities using the sealing liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Knapp, Franz Laermer, Jochen Hoffmann, Lorenz Boecking, Hannah Bott, Daniel Sebastian Podbiel
  • Publication number: 20210315483
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and a device for obtaining a breath sample of a test person, wherein the test person inhales a droplet mist which is preferably colder than the ambient temperature. The material exhaled and/or ejected by the test person is collected as a breath sample in one or more collection vessels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventor: Franz Laermer
  • Patent number: 11131646
    Abstract: A device to electrochemically sequence DNA that includes a redox species includes at least one edge electrode, at least one stack of insulator material, and a pair of DNA translocation electrodes including a DNA translocation working electrode and a DNA translocation counter electrode, where the thickness of the at least one edge electrode is about 0.5 nanometers, and the thickness of the at least one stack of insulator material is about 10 nanometers. Methods of electrochemically sequencing a strand of DNA are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Christopher Johnson, Habib Ahmad, Nadezda Fomina, Gary Yama, Franz Laermer, Jochen Hoffmann, Patrick Staley, Christoph Lang, Young Shik Shin
  • Publication number: 20210238029
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for producing a base of an analysis cell for analyzing a biochemical material. Here, carbon-rich precursor molecules and low-carbon precursor molecules are deposited on a substrate in a defined mixing ratio in order to form a precursor layer, wherein the low-carbon precursor molecules have a defined size and a hydrophobic end group. In a further step, the precursor layer is post-treated in a suitable manner in order to produce the base as a layer with at least one pore having a pore size dependent on the defined size and a pore count dependent on the defined mixing ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventor: Franz Laermer
  • Publication number: 20210229982
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for producing a sequencing unit for sequencing a biochemical material. In this case, at least one sequencing pore for sequencing the biochemical material in a precursor layer is created in a thermal lithography process in order to produce a pre-structured layer. The pre-structured layer is then converted into a graphene layer by heating to a conversion temperature in order to produce the sequencing unit. The sequencing pore is reduced to a size suitable for sequencing, depending on the transformation temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventor: Franz Laermer