Patents by Inventor Markus Schürf
Markus Schürf 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: 11442260Abstract: A system 100 and method are provided for imaging a sample in a sample holder. For providing autofocus, a 2D pattern is projected onto the sample holder 050 via an astigmatic optical element 120. Image data 172 of the sample is acquired by an image sensor 140 via magnification optics 150. A difference in sharpness of the two-dimensional pattern in the image data is measured along a first axis and a second axis. Based on the difference, a magnitude and direction of defocus of the camera subsystem is determined with respect to the sample holder. This enables the sample holder, and thereby the sample, to be brought into focus in a fast and reliable manner.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2018Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Andreas Erlbacher, Markus Schürf, Josef Grassl, Alexander Kaser
-
Patent number: 10841507Abstract: An imaging system and method are provided in which a well of a microplate 050 is imaged by a camera 110 comprising magnification optics 112. The camera is controlled to acquire a series of images of the well with different exposures. The series of images comprise a base image with a base exposure and at least one further image with a larger exposure than the base exposure. The series of images are then merged into an output image which comprises in a center region of the well image content from the base image and at a peripheral region of the well image content from the at least one further image. Advantageously, the output image may allow for better assaying or analysis of the samples in the well than any of the individual images.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2018Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Markus Schürf, Frank Münchow, Christian Oberdanner, Alexander Kaser
-
Publication number: 20190049708Abstract: A system 100 and method are provided for imaging a sample in a sample holder. For providing autofocus, a 2D pattern is projected onto the sample holder 050 via an astigmatic optical element 120. Image data 172 of the sample is acquired by an image sensor 140 via magnification optics 150. A difference in sharpness of the two-dimensional pattern in the image data is measured along a first axis and a second axis. Based on the difference, a magnitude and direction of defocus of the camera subsystem is determined with respect to the sample holder. This enables the sample holder, and thereby the sample, to be brought into focus in a fast and reliable manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2018Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventors: Andreas ERLBACHER, Markus SCHÜRF, Josef GRASSL, Alexander KASER
-
Publication number: 20180376048Abstract: An imaging system and method are provided in which a well of a microplate 050 is imaged by a camera 110 comprising magnification optics 112. The camera is controlled to acquire a series of images of the well with different exposures. The series of images comprise a base image with a base exposure and at least one further image with a larger exposure than the base exposure. The series of images are then merged into an output image which comprises in a center region of the well image content from the base image and at a peripheral region of the well image content from the at least one further image. Advantageously, the output image may allow for better assaying or analysis of the samples in the well than any of the individual images.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Markus SCHÜRF, Frank MÜNCHOW, Christian OBERDANNER, Alexander KASER
-
Patent number: 9322784Abstract: A microplate reader and method has at least one measuring device and a holding device for accommodating at least one microplate and for positioning samples-containing wells of microplates in relation to the measuring device. The at least one measuring device is used for detecting light emitted by samples in wells of a microplate and/or which is influenced by samples transilluminated by light in the wells. The microplate reader has a control unit for controlling the composition of a gas atmosphere surrounding the wells containing the samples. A respective use is characterized particularly in that living cells are measured in a controlled gas atmosphere, wherein the living cells are chosen from microaerophilic, optionally anaerobic and obligatorily anaerobic microorganisms as well as fungi and eukaryotic cells.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2011Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Josef Grassl, Gerald Probst, Markus Schürf
-
Patent number: 8692988Abstract: Micro cuvette assembly for examining biological samples has a first partial plate with one or more first cuvette surfaces and a second partial plate opposite the first and which also has one or more second cuvette surfaces. In an active position of the assembly, the second cuvette surfaces are arranged parallel and in register with the first cuvette surfaces and are spaced apart from the first cuvette surfaces whereby one or more micro cuvettes are formed. The first and second partial plates also have openings arranged in register with the cuvette surfaces and transparent bodies are provided as the cuvette surfaces. The first and second plates are completely penetrated by these openings and the transparent bodies are manufactured from a different material than the partial plates and span the openings close to a first surface of the partial plates.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Tecan Trading AGInventors: Walter Gotschy, Josef Grassel, Fritz Payr, Markus Schürf
-
Patent number: 8605279Abstract: Relates to a micro cuvette assembly (1), comprising a first partial plate (2) with one or more first cuvette surfaces (3) and a second partial plate (4) which is arrangeable relative to the first partial plate and has at least one or more second cuvette surfaces (5) which, in an active position of the micro cuvette assembly (1), are arranged in register plane-parallel to the first cuvette surfaces (3) and spaced apart by a distance (6), thus forming, in the active position of the micro cuvette assembly (1), one or more micro cuvettes (7) in which a liquid volume (8) applied previously to one of the cuvette surfaces (3,5) is held between these two cuvette surfaces (3,5).Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2008Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Tecan Trading AGInventors: Walter Gotschy, Josef Grassl, Fritz Payr, Markus Schürf
-
Publication number: 20120064564Abstract: A microplate reader and method has at least one measuring device and a holding device for accommodating at least one microplate and for positioning samples-containing wells of microplates in relation to the measuring device. The at least one measuring device is used for detecting light emitted by samples in wells of a microplate and/or which is influenced by samples transilluminated by light in the wells. The microplate reader has a control unit for controlling the composition of a gas atmosphere surrounding the wells containing the samples. A respective use is characterized particularly in that living cells are measured in a controlled gas atmosphere, wherein the living cells are chosen from microaerophilic, optionally anaerobic and obligatorily anaerobic microorganisms as well as fungi and eukaryotic cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Inventors: JOSEF GRASSL, Gerald Probst, Markus Schürf
-
Publication number: 20110292383Abstract: Micro cuvette assembly for examining biological samples has a first partial plate with one or more first cuvette surfaces and a second partial plate opposite the first and which also has one or more second cuvette surfaces. In an active position of the assembly, the second cuvette surfaces are arranged parallel and in register with the first cuvette surfaces and are spaced apart from the first cuvette surfaces whereby one or more micro cuvettes are formed. The first and second partial plates also have openings arranged in register with the cuvette surfaces and transparent bodies are provided as the cuvette surfaces. The first and second plates are completely penetrated by these openings and the transparent bodies are manufactured from a different material than the partial plates and span the openings close to a first surface of the partial plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Applicant: TECAN TRADING AGInventors: Walter Gotschy, Josef Grassl, Fritz Payr, Markus Schürf
-
Patent number: 7419836Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for observing reactions in samples (2), to which a reagent (3) is added, and/or a method which is based on the use of this device. The device includes at least one first optical device (4) for observing samples (2) in the direction of a first optical axis (5) and in a first observation region (6) penetrated by the first optical axis; a first device (7) for receiving receptacles (8) containing samples (2) and for aligning samples in these receptacles in relation to the first optical axis (5); and an injection device (10) for adding liquids (3) to samples (2) and an illumination device (17) for irradiating the samples (2) with excitation light of a first wavelength.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2004Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: Tecan Trading AGInventors: Markus Schuerf, Harald Gebetsroither, Andreas Erlbacher
-
Publication number: 20040197926Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for observing reactions in samples (2), to which a reagent (3) is added, and/or a method which is based on the use of this device. The device includes at least one first optical device (4) for observing samples (2) in the direction of a first optical axis (5) and in a first observation region (6) penetrated by the first optical axis; a first device (7) for receiving receptacles (8) containing samples (2) and for aligning samples in these receptacles in relation to the first optical axis (5); and an injection device (10) for adding liquids (3) to samples (2) and an illumination device (17) for irradiating the samples (2) with excitation light of a first wavelength.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2004Publication date: October 7, 2004Inventors: Markus Schuerf, Harald Gebetsroither, Andreas Erlbacher