Patents by Inventor Heiko Zimmermann

Heiko Zimmermann 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: 20140000307
    Abstract: A cooling system (1), especially for cryopreserving biological samples (2), comprises a cooling chamber (100) delimited by a bottom area (110), side walls (120), and a top area (130), and a cooling device (200) for cooling the cooling chamber (100) using liquid nitrogen (220). The bottom area (110) is designed for direct cooling using the liquid nitrogen, and the cooling chamber (100) is dimensioned such that an operator (3) can access and move around in the cooling chamber (100). The bottom area (110) has a platform (111) which is permeable to vapor of the liquid nitrogen (220) and forms a support zone for the operator (3). Methods for operating the cooling system are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicants: Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen Deutsches Forschungszentrum fuer Gesundheit und Umwelt GmbH, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e. V.
    Inventors: Guenter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann, Bernd R. Kranz, Tomm Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20130305746
    Abstract: A cooling system (1), especially for cryopreserving biological samples (2), comprises a cooling chamber (100) delimited by a bottom area (110), side walls (120), and a top area (130), and a cooling device (200) for cooling the cooling chamber (100) using liquid nitrogen (220). At least one of the side walls (120) includes at least one predetermined wall element (125) which is a portion of at least one of the side walls and can be moved relative to the associated side wall (120) in such a way that a wall opening can be formed in said side wall (120). Methods for operating the cooling system (1) in case of an emergency are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: Guenter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20130305438
    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: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewan dten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Guenter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann, Klaus-Peter Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8586341
    Abstract: A method for moving a probe (10, 91) through a cell material (20), which is formed from biological cells (21), is described, the probe (10) displacing the cells (21) without injury. A probe (10, 91) for performing the method and a cell manipulator, which is equipped with at least one probe of this type, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Günter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 8584473
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling apparatus, especially for cryogenically preserving biological samples, comprising a duct (5) for delivering a coolant (3) to a cooling chamber (1), a heater (6) that has an adjustable first heating performance (P2) for heating the coolant (3) delivered to the cooling chamber (1), a first temperature sensor (8-10) for measuring the temperature (T2-T4) in the cooling chamber (1), a second temperature sensor (7) for measuring the temperature (T1) of the coolant (3) delivered to the cooling chamber (1), and a regulator (11) for regulating the temperature. Said regulator (11) is embodied as a multiple regulator which detects several temperatures (T1-T4) as control variables and/or adjusts several heating performances (P1, P2) as manipulated variables. The invention further relates to a corresponding operating method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung, e.V.
    Inventors: Uwe Schon, Heiko Zimmermann, Gunter Fuhr
  • Patent number: 8563082
    Abstract: A device for producing a crosslinked substance, e.g., of crosslinked microcapsules (1) of a crosslinkable capsule substance, in particular crosslinked alginates, is described, having a first dispensing device (2) for dispensing a jet of the crosslinkable capsule substance and a crosslinking device for applying a crosslinking agent to the capsule substance, whereby the crosslinking device has a second dispensing device (5) which directs a jet (9, 13) of the crosslinking agent at the jet or at a layer of the capsule substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Ulrich Zimmermann, Heiko Zimmermann
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130198529
    Abstract: A sample carrier unit (100), in particular for biological samples, is described which comprises a sample uptake unit (10) which is equipped for taking up at least one sample, a data storage unit (20) which is equipped for the storage of sample data that relate to the at least one sample, and to a key storage unit (30) having at least one key store (31, 32, 33), wherein the key storage unit (30) is equipped for storing key data in the at least one key store (31, 32, 33). At least one key store (31, 32, 33) of the key storage unit (30) can be arranged so as to be separable from the sample carrier unit (100). In addition, a data processing unit (200) which is configured for coupling to the sample carrier unit (100) and a method for processing sample data are described, which sample data are encrypted using at least one cryptological key which is stored in the key storage unit (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Guenter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann, Haiko Wick, Frank Ihmig
  • Patent number: 8451138
    Abstract: A method for operating a cryostorage device (100), especially for biological samples, is described which comprises a sample carrier (10) to receive at least one sample (11) and a data storage (20), wherein data are inductively transmitted from the data storage device (20) into a wireless transmission channel (40) and/or conversely using a resonant circuit (30) connected to the data storage device (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Heiko Zimmermann, Guenter R. Fuhr, Rolf Hagedorn
  • Patent number: 8304228
    Abstract: A manipulation tool is disclosed for producing cell material having multiple biological cells, which have a predefined geometrical arrangement. The tool includes a tool body, whose surface at least partially contacts the cell material, and a setting device for adjusting the tool body by a continuous expansion, so that geometrical properties of the surface change and an interior of the tool body is enlarged. The setting device is adapted to expand the tool body at an advance velocity in a range from 0.1 ?m/h to 1 mm/h.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Günter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20120079990
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for conserving at least one biological deep-sea organism (1) comprising the steps of collecting the biological organism (1) in a deep-sea trapping device (110); cooling the biological organism (1) with a cooling device (120), wherein the biological organism (1) is put in a frozen condition; and moving the frozen biological organism (1), preferably with the trapping device (110), to a normal-pressure environment. The invention further relates to a conservation apparatus (100) for conserving at least one biological deep-sea organism (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Guenter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann, Charli Kruse, Robert Lemor
  • Publication number: 20110308333
    Abstract: An adapter device includes a receptacle including at least one receiving element that detachably secures a sample chamber for cryoconservation of a biological sample, and a coupling device that connects the receptacle to a base section which can be secured in a cooling device, wherein the receiving element is 1) immobile in a holding state at a cryoconservation temperature and secures the sample chamber and 2) at least one of deformable and movable in a release state at a temperature above the cryoconservation temperature so that the sample chamber is detachable from the adapter device or can be inserted into the adapter device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Günter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann, Hagen von Briesen, Anja Germann
  • Publication number: 20110277486
    Abstract: A method for operating a cryostorage device (100), especially for biological samples, is described which comprises a sample carrier (10) to receive at least one sample (11) and a data storage (20), wherein data are inductively transmitted from the data storage device (20) into a wireless transmission channel (40) and/or conversely using a resonant circuit (30) connected to the data storage device (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Heiko ZIMMERMANN, Guenter R. FUHR, Rolf HAGEDORN
  • Publication number: 20110219788
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cryogenic storage device and to a method for operating a cryogenic storage device, particularly for cryogenic storage of biological samples, comprising a sample carrying device that is set up to accommodate samples, a cryogenic container that is set up to accommodate the sample carrying device, a container cooling device with which the cryogenic container can be cooled, an intermediate storage container that is set up for intermediate storage of the sample carrying device, a transport device with which the sample carrying device can be moved between the cryogenic container and the intermediate storage container and a sensor device with which at least one operating parameter of the cryogenic storage device can be registered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Heiko Zimmermann, Uwe Schoen, Guenter R. Fuhr, Dirk Leuthold, Marianne Belke
  • Publication number: 20110209668
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aquarium with a pressure-tight aquarium tank (7-12), which during operation is filled with a liquid, and with a pressure-resistant rising pipe (1), which opens out into the aquarium tank (7-12) and is intended for producing an increased hydrostatic pressure in the aquarium tank (7-12) by a liquid column located in the rising pipe (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Günter R. Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7984616
    Abstract: A cryostorage device (100) is described that includes at least one data storage device (200) and at least one sample receptacle device (300) with at least one sample chamber (301, 302, etc.) for the uptake of a suspension sample, the at least one sample chamber (301, 302, etc.) being connected to the data storage device (200) and having a elongated, hollow shape that extends from an inlet end (320) over a predetermined length to an outlet end (330) and being attached to the at least one data storage device (200) in a flexible and movably hanging manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Günter Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7958791
    Abstract: A method for operating a cryostorage device (100), especially for biological samples, is described which comprises a sample carrier (10) to receive at least one sample (11) and a data storage (20), wherein data are inductively transmitted from the data storage device (20) into a wireless transmission channel (40) and/or conversely using a resonant circuit (30) connected to the data storage device (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forshung e.V.
    Inventors: Heiko Zimmermann, Günter R. Fuhr, Rolf Hagedorn
  • Patent number: 7892815
    Abstract: A conditioning device (100) for biological cells includes a support (10), adapted to support at least one biological cell (1) in a supporting zone (11), and a contact device (20), adapted to support at least one conditioning sample (3) and to displace the at least one conditioning sample (3) relative to the support (10) in such a manner that the at least one conditioning sample (3) touches the at least one biological cell (1), the contact device (20) including at least two mechanical supporting elements (21, 22) that can be displaced from various spatial directions towards the support (10). The invention also relates to methods for conditioning, especially imprinting or differentiating biological cells and to uses of the conditioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Guenter Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20100196946
    Abstract: A conditioning device (100) for biological cells includes a support (10), adapted to support at least one biological cell (1) in a supporting zone (11), and a contact device (20), adapted to support at least one conditioning sample (3) and to displace the at least one conditioning sample (3) relative to the support (10) in such a manner that the at least one conditioning sample (3) touches the at least one biological cell (1), the contact device (20) including at least two mechanical supporting elements (21, 22) that can be displaced from various spatial directions towards the support (10). The invention also relates to methods for conditioning, especially imprinting or differentiating biological cells and to uses of the conditioning device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Guenter Fuhr, Heiko Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20100167382
    Abstract: A manipulation tool is disclosed for producing cell material having multiple biological cells, which have a predefined geometrical arrangement. The tool includes a tool body, whose surface at least partially contacts the cell material, and a setting device for adjusting the tool body by a continuous expansion, so that geometrical properties of the surface change and an interior of the tool body is enlarged. The setting device is adapted to expand the tool body at an advance velocity in a range from 0.1 ?m/h to 1 mm/h.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Günter R. FUHR, Heiko ZIMMERMANN