Patents by Inventor Fritz Goedl

Fritz Goedl 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: 9297822
    Abstract: A laboratory system for handling sample tube racks, an alignment element for sample tube racks and a rack tray receiver assembly are disclosed. The laboratory system to handle laboratory sample tube racks includes a robotic arm (220) with a gripper (222) for gripping primary racks (PR), the primary racks (PR) to be handled include a first end surface (76) and a second end surface (78), the first end surface (76) having a first surface geometry and the second end surface (78) having a second surface geometry, and the gripper (222) includes a first gripping arm (226) and a second gripping arm (228), with the first gripping arm (226) having a gripping surface being complementary to the first surface geometry, and the second gripping arm (228) having a gripping surface being complementary to the second surface geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Rolf Frey, Fritz Goedl, Bruno Koch, Joachim Lackner, Ueli Stettler, Beat Widmer
  • Publication number: 20140037420
    Abstract: A laboratory system for handling sample tube racks, an alignment element for sample tube racks and a rack tray receiver assembly are disclosed. The laboratory system to handle laboratory sample tube racks comprises a robotic arm (220) with a gripper (222) for gripping primary racks (PR), wherein the primary racks (PR) to be handled comprise a first end surface (76) and a second end surface (78), the first end surface (76) having a first surface geometry and the second end surface (78) having a second surface geometry, and wherein the gripper (222) comprises a first gripping arm (226) and a second gripping arm (228), with the first gripping arm (226) having a gripping surface being complementary to the first surface geometry, and the second gripping arm (228) having a gripping surface being complementary to the second surface geometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Rolf Frey, Fritz Goedl, Bruno Koch, Joachim Lackner, Ueli Stettler, Beat Widmer
  • Patent number: 8580195
    Abstract: A laboratory system for handling sample tube racks, an alignment element for sample tube racks and a rack tray receiver assembly are disclosed. The laboratory system to handle laboratory sample tube racks comprises a robotic arm (220) with a gripper (222) for gripping primary racks (PR), wherein the primary racks (PR) to be handled comprise a first end surface (76) and a second end surface (78), the first end surface (76) having a first surface geometry and the second end surface (78) having a second surface geometry, and wherein the gripper (222) comprises a first gripping arm (226) and a second gripping arm (228), with the first gripping arm (226) having a gripping surface being complementary to the first surface geometry, and the second gripping arm (228) having a gripping surface being complementary to the second surface geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Rolf Frey, Fritz Goedl, Bruno Koch, Joachim Lackner, Beat Widmer, Lydia Stettler
  • Publication number: 20100028203
    Abstract: A laboratory system for handling sample tube racks, an alignment element for sample tube racks and a rack tray receiver assembly are disclosed. The laboratory system to handle laboratory sample tube racks comprises a robotic arm (220) with a gripper (222) for gripping primary racks (PR), wherein the primary racks (PR) to be handled comprise a first end surface (76) and a second end surface (78), the first end surface (76) having a first surface geometry and the second end surface (78) having a second surface geometry, and wherein the gripper (222) comprises a first gripping arm (226) and a second gripping arm (228), with the first gripping arm (226) having a gripping surface being complementary to the first surface geometry, and the second gripping arm (228) having a gripping surface being complementary to the second surface geometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Rolf Frey, Fritz Goedl, Bruno Koch, Joachim Lackner, Ueli Stettler, Beat Widmer, Lydia Stettler
  • Patent number: 6456944
    Abstract: An automatic analyzer for the assay of liquid samples pipetted from a container into a mixing chamber includes a controller for controlling the operation of the analyzer in response to sensors that monitor the functions of the analyzer. Within the analyzer, the responses of the sensors are evaluated and, when such responses do not meet prescribed criteria, error messages are provided. In the disclosed embodiments, the controller is implemented using at least one program-controlled processor. In order to monitor the pipetting operations in an effective manner, the automatic analyzer, in one embodiment, uses a plurality of operation and monitoring control units which operate independently of one another. Each of these units is by a central processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Corporation
    Inventors: Claudius Burkhardt, Fritz Gödl
  • Patent number: 6281517
    Abstract: The present invention refers to an apparatus for monitoring pipetting operations, and in particular the ejection of a first liquid from a pipetting needle having a tip immersed in a second liquid. The apparatus comprises a light source that irradiates the second liquid with a light beam, and light receiver which receives the light beam emerging from the second liquid and delivers an output signal which corresponds to the received light intensity. To improve the accuracy and reliability of pipetting operations, the apparatus is provided with a light receiver adapted for continuously delivering intensity signals (Un); first storage means for storing previously determined threshold values (S); second storage means for storing intensity signals (Un) delivered by the light receiver and evaluation parameters (Bm, Am/Atot) derived therefrom; and at least one logic circuit for comparing the evaluation parameters (Bm, Am/Atot) with the threshold values (S) and for delivering a resulting output signal (E, F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Corporation
    Inventors: Claudius Burkhardt, Fritz Gödl, Reto Seeholzer