Patents by Inventor Günter R. Fuhr

Günter R. Fuhr 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: 11606952
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the temperature monitoring of a cryopreserved biological sample, comprising a sample container (in particular a cryotube) having a holding space for holding a biological sample and comprising at least one chamber, the interior of which is not fluidically connected to the holding space and is filled only partially with an indicator substance, the melting temperature of which lies in a range of ?20° C. to ?140° C. In particular, the chamber can be formed by a container that is detachably or pivotably fastened to the sample container. Alternatively, the chamber is formed by a double-walled slide-on part or the holding space of the sample container is double-walled, wherein an intermediate space between the inner wall and the outer wall is partially filled with the indicator substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Guenter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 11549851
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample. The invention also relates to a device for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample. The device (10) for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample comprises a sample container (1) having a receiving space (2) for receiving a biological sample (6). The device also comprises at least one chamber (11) having an interior that is not fluidically connected to the receiving space (2) and is only partially filled with an indicator substance (7) with a melting temperature in a region of ?20° C. to ?140° C. The chamber (11) has a barrier (13) that causes the indicator substance (7) to move into a second sub-region (12b) of the chamber (11) when the indicator substance (7) in a first sub-region (12a) of the chamber is in the fluid aggregate state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e. V.
    Inventors: Guenter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 11366026
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample. The invention also relates to a device for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample. The device (10) for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample comprises a sample container (1) having a receiving space (2) for receiving a biological sample (6). The device also comprises at least one chamber (11) having an interior that is not fluidically connected to the receiving space (2) and is only partially filled with an indicator substance (7) with a melting temperature in a region of ?20° C. to ?140° C. The chamber (11) has a barrier (13) that causes the indicator substance (7) to move into a second sub-region (12b) of the chamber (11) when the indicator substance (7) in a first sub-region (12a) of the chamber is in the fluid aggregate state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e. V.
    Inventors: Guenter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 11166454
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the temperature monitoring of a cryopreserved biological sample, comprising a sample container having an accommodating space (2) for accommodating the sample and comprising an indicating apparatus, which can be arranged on the outside of the sample container, for monitoring at least one temperature limit value. The indicating apparatus has at least one cavity, which is only partially filled with an indicating substance, the melting temperature of which lies in a range from ?20 ° C. to ?140 ° C. The indicating apparatus can be designed, in particular, as a cylindrical body, which can be fastened to a cryotube as a bottom part, or alternatively as a double-walled hollow cylinder, which can be slid onto an outer lateral surface of the cryotube. The indicating apparatus can also be fastened to a lateral outer wall of the sample container, e.g. as a hollow body that can be inserted into a sleeve or insertion pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e. V.
    Inventors: Guenter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 11085834
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for monitoring the temperature of a cryogenically preserved biological sample. The device (10) comprises a sample container (1) having a receptacle space (2) for accommodating a biological sample (6). The device further comprises at least one chamber (11), the interior (12) of which is not fluidically connected to the receptacle space, and which is at least partially filled with an indicator substance (7) having a boiling point or sublimation temperature in a range from ?10° C. to ?140° C. The chamber (11) further has at least one opening via which the indicator substance (7) can escape from the interior (12) of the chamber (11) upon exceeding its boiling point or sublimation point. The invention further relates to a method for monitoring the temperature of a cryogenically preserved biological sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e. V.
    Inventors: Guenter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 10987673
    Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature-control element (4) for a multiwell plate (1), which comprises a plurality of cavities (2) arranged in rows and columns for freezing and/or thawing biological samples. The temperature-control element (4) comprises a base body (6) which is made of a thermally conductive material and is flown through by a temperature-control fluid; and a plurality of protruding temperature-control fingers (5) arranged in rows and columns on an upper side of the base body (6), which are connected in a thermally conductive manner to the base body (6), wherein a grid spacing of the temperature control fingers (5) corresponds to a grid spacing of the cavities (2) of the multiwell plate (1). The invention further relates to a device and method for freezing biological samples, in particular for cryopreservation, and/or thawing biological samples, in particular a cryopreserved sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e. V.
    Inventors: Guenter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20200029551
    Abstract: The invention relates to a low temperature indicator mixture for indicating/monitoring a temperature transition within a temperature range of between ?20° C. and ?160° C., which comprises at least one dye, e.g. oil red, methyl rot, brilliant green, rhodamine B, and at least one alcohol selected from the group that comprises octane-1-ol, nonan-1-ol, propane-1,2-diol, propane-1,3-diol, butane-1,2-diol, butane-1,3-diol, butane-2-ol, pentane-1,5- diol, pentane-1-ol, cyclopentanol, benzyl alcohol, wherein the melt temperature of the mixture is within the aforementioned temperature range. Further aspects of the invention relate to devices and methods for indicating/monitoring a temperature transition within the aforementioned temperature range, in which devices and methods the aforementioned low temperature indicator mixture is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Guenter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Publication number: 20190193075
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sample container that is designed to accommodate a cryogenically preserved biological sample, and to a method for producing the sample container. The invention further relates to a method for monitoring the temperature of a cryogenically preserved biological sample. The sample container that is designed to accommodate a cryogenically preserved biological sample has, on a region of its outer surface, a frozen-solid indicator substance whose melting point is in a range from ?20° C. to ?140° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Guenter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Publication number: 20190133111
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample, comprising a sample container (1) having a receiving space (2) for receiving a biological sample (6) and a cover (3) for closing the receiving space. The device also comprises a chamber arranged inside the sample container, in particular in the receiving space and/or in the cover, the interior (12; 22; 32; 42) of which is not fluidically connected to the receiving space (2) and is only partially filled with at least one indicator substance (7) having a melting temperature in the region between ?20° C. and ?140 ° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Guenter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Publication number: 20190113397
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for monitoring the temperature of a cryogenically preserved biological sample. The device (10) comprises a sample container (1) having a receptacle space (2) for accommodating a biological sample (6). The device further comprises at least one chamber (11), the interior (12) of which is not fluidically connected to the receptacle space, and which is at least partially filled with an indicator substance (7) having a boiling point or sublimation temperature in a range from ?10° C. to ?140° C. The chamber (11) further has at least one opening via which the indicator substance (7) can escape from the interior (12) of the chamber (11) upon exceeding its boiling point or sublimation point. The invention further relates to a method for monitoring the temperature of a cryogenically preserved biological sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Guenter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Publication number: 20190113396
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample. The invention also relates to a device for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample. The device (10) for monitoring the temperature of a cryopreserved biological sample comprises a sample container (1) having a receiving space (2) for receiving a biological sample (6). The device also comprises at least one chamber (11) having an interior that is not fluidically connected to the receiving space (2) and is only partially filled with an indicator substance (7) with a melting temperature in a region of ?20° C. to ?140° C. The chamber (11) has a barrier (13) that causes the indicator substance (7) to move into a second sub-region (12b) of the chamber (11) when the indicator substance (7) in a first sub-region (12a) of the chamber is in the fluid aggregate state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Guenter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Publication number: 20190082682
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the temperature monitoring of a cryopreserved biological sample, comprising a sample container having an accommodating space (2) for accommodating the sample and comprising an indicating apparatus, which can be arranged on the outside of the sample container, for monitoring at least one temperature limit value. The indicating apparatus has at least one cavity, which is only partially filled with an indicating substance, the melting temperature of which lies in a range from ?20 ° C. to ?140 ° C. The indicating apparatus can be designed, in particular, as a cylindrical body, which can be fastened to a cryotube as a bottom part, or alternatively as a double-walled hollow cylinder, which can be slid onto an outer lateral surface of the cryotube. The indicating apparatus can also be fastened to a lateral outer wall of the sample container, e.g. as a hollow body that can be inserted into a sleeve or insertion pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Guenter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Publication number: 20190082681
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the temperature monitoring of a cryopreserved biological sample, comprising a sample container (in particular a cryotube) having a holding space for holding a biological sample and comprising at least one chamber, the interior of which is not fluidically connected to the holding space and is filled only partially with an indicator substance, the melting temperature of which lies in a range of ?20° C. to ?140° C. In particular, the chamber can be formed by a container that is detachably or pivotably fastened to the sample container. Alternatively, the chamber is formed by a double-walled slide-on part or the holding space of the sample container is double-walled, wherein an intermediate space between the inner wall and the outer wall is partially filled with the indicator substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Guenter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Patent number: 10017725
    Abstract: A culture vessel (100), which is designed for culturing biological cells (1) in hanging drops (2), comprises a vessel wall (10), which has a cover portion (11) and a floor portion (12), wherein the cover portion (11) is designed to provide a culturing surface (13), and the floor portion (12) is designed to receive a liquid (3), the vessel wall (10) encloses an interior (20) of the culture vessel on all sides, the culturing surface (13) has holding elements (14), which are designed to position the drops (2), wherein the culturing surface (13) can receive the drops (2) hanging freely in the interior (20), and the vessel wall (10) is movable such that the holding elements (14) can be wetted with the liquid (3) from the floor portion (12). A method for culturing biological cells (1) in hanging drops (2) in the culture vessel (100) is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Heiko Zimmermann, Guenter R. Fuhr, Julia Neubauer
  • 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: 20170333905
    Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature-control element (4) for a multiwell plate (1), which comprises a plurality of cavities (2) arranged in rows and columns for freezing and/or thawing biological samples. The temperature-control element (4) comprises a base body (6) which is made of a thermally conductive material and is flown through by a temperature-control fluid; and a plurality of protruding temperature-control fingers (5) arranged in rows and columns on an upper side of the base body (6), which are connected in a thermally conductive manner to the base body (6), wherein a grid spacing of the temperature control fingers (5) corresponds to a grid spacing of the cavities (2) of the multiwell plate (1). The invention further relates to a device and method for freezing biological samples, in particular for cryopreservation, and/or thawing biological samples, in particular a cryopreserved sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Guenter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN
  • Patent number: 9781918
    Abstract: A substrate unit for cryopreservation of a biological sample includes: a substrate platform having on a front side thereof a cultivation surface for receiving the biological sample; a first chamber including the cultivation surface of the substrate platform, wherein the first chamber is configured for receiving a cultivation liquid; a second chamber configured for receiving a temperature control medium; and a chamber bracket for receiving the substrate unit in a cryopreservation device in a pivotable manner, wherein the first and second chambers are connected to each other in an adjacent manner, and the substrate platform forms a separating wall between the first chamber and the second chamber, and wherein the back side of the substrate platform faces the second chamber. The invention further relates to a cryopreservation device, wherein the substrate unit is arranged in a rotatable manner, and a method for the cryopreservation of a biological sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Heiko Zimmermann, Axel Beier, Julia Neubauer, Guenter R. Fuhr
  • Patent number: 9464973
    Abstract: A sample support (100, 101, 102, . . . ), in particular for cryopreservation of biological samples, is described and includes: a holder part (10) with a sample receiving chamber (11), a retaining device (12, 13) on which a sample can be disposed, and support connecting elements (14, 15) which are directed at opposite holder part ends (16, 17) and are formed to fit together so that a plurality of holder parts (16) can be put together. A sample store (200), which includes an assemblage of a large number of such sample supports, and a method for the cryopreservation of biological samples, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Günter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 9381385
    Abstract: A protective suit (100), especially for an operator (1) in a cooling chamber that is cooled using liquid nitrogen or vapor of the liquid nitrogen comprises a body suit (10) which has a thermally insulating, gas-tight cover material (20) and is designed to accommodate the operator (1), and a heating device (30) which is connected to the body suit (10) and is designed to heat the interior of the protective suit (100). A glove (70) which is made of a thermally insulating glove material (71) and includes a glove heater (77) is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Guenter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann, Klaus-Peter Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20160108352
    Abstract: A culture vessel (100), which is designed for culturing biological cells (1) in hanging drops (2), comprises a vessel wall (10), which has a cover portion (11) and a floor portion (12), wherein the cover portion (11) is designed to provide a culturing surface (13), and the floor portion (12) is designed to receive a liquid (3), the vessel wall (10) encloses an interior (20) of the culture vessel on all sides, the culturing surface (13) has holding elements (14), which are designed to position the drops (2), wherein the culturing surface (13) can receive the drops (2) hanging freely in the interior (20), and the vessel wall (10) is movable such that the holding elements (14) can be wetted with the liquid (3) from the floor portion (12). A method for culturing biological cells (1) in hanging drops (2) in the culture vessel (100) is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Heiko ZIMMERMANN, Guenter R. FUHR, Julia NEUBAUER