Patents by Inventor Martin Schurenberg
Martin Schurenberg 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).
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Patent number: 11781952Abstract: The invention proposes preparing biological samples for spectrometry which contain cell structures and/or whole cells of human or animal origin (e.g. thin human and animal tissue sections) or prokaryotes (e.g. microorganisms), and which require constant relative humidity, in a temperature-controlled gas volume whose humidity is determined by a saturated substance solution, for example a suitable salt solution. The invention exploits a physico-chemical phenomenon called “deliquescence”, which manifests itself by keeping the relative humidity above the saturated substance solution constant with a high degree of precision when a specified temperature is maintained. Pure succinic acid exhibits deliquescence at approx. 99% relative humidity, for example. Since an enormous variety of deliquescent salts and other suitable substances are available, it is possible to find the suitable substance for almost any desired relative humidity, with adjustment of the temperature, where necessary.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Inventors: Martin Schürenberg, Sören-Oliver Deininger, Alice Ly
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Patent number: 11749514Abstract: The invention relates to methods for drawing-off liquid from individual droplets which are in a predefined arrangement on a flat substrate and have sedimented material enclosed in them. A mask of an absorbent material comprising a pattern of indentations or holes which corresponds at least partially to the regular arrangement of the individual droplets, or a stiff, rigid plate of an absorbent material is positioned above the flat substrate in such a way that the droplets come into contact with the absorbent material peripherally so that liquid is drawn off there-into. The invention also relates to a mask of an absorbent material with a substantially rectangular shape which has a predefined pattern of indentations or holes for the purpose of separating liquid and sedimented material enclosed therein.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Inventors: Martin Schürenberg, Alexander Vossgröne
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Publication number: 20230089846Abstract: The invention proposes preparing biological samples for spectrometry which contain cell structures and/or whole cells of human or animal origin (e.g. thin human and animal tissue sections) or prokaryotes (e.g. microorganisms), and which require constant relative humidity, in a temperature-controlled gas volume whose humidity is determined by a saturated substance solution, for example a suitable salt solution. The invention exploits a physico-chemical phenomenon called “deliquescence”, which manifests itself by keeping the relative humidity above the saturated substance solution constant with a high degree of precision when a specified temperature is maintained. Pure succinic acid exhibits deliquescence at approx. 99% relative humidity, for example. Since an enormous variety of deliquescent salts and other suitable substances are available, it is possible to find the suitable substance for almost any desired relative humidity, with adjustment of the temperature, where necessary.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Inventors: Martin SCHÜRENBERG, Sören-Oliver DEININGER, Alice LY
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Patent number: 11519828Abstract: The invention proposes preparing biological samples for spectrometry which contain cell structures and/or whole cells of human or animal origin (e.g. thin human and animal tissue sections) or prokaryotes (e.g. microorganisms), and which require constant relative humidity, in a temperature-controlled gas volume whose humidity is determined by a saturated substance solution, for example a suitable salt solution. The invention exploits a physico-chemical phenomenon called “deliquescence”, which manifests itself by keeping the relative humidity above the saturated substance solution constant with a high degree of precision when a specified temperature is maintained. Pure succinic acid exhibits deliquescence at approx. 99% relative humidity, for example. Since an enormous variety of deliquescent salts and other suitable substances are available, it is possible to find the suitable substance for almost any desired relative humidity, with adjustment of the temperature, where necessary.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2018Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Inventors: Martin Schürenberg, Sören-Oliver Deininger, Alice Ly
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Patent number: 11348771Abstract: The invention relates to the identification and visualization of the spatial distribution of particular tissue states in histological tissue sections from mass spectrometric signals acquired with spatial resolution. The invention proposes a method by means of which regions of the tissue with similar mass spectra are found automatically, and it is further proposed that mass spectra of these regions are summed in order to improve the spectral quality to such an extent that known markers for tissue degenerations can be identified with increased certainty. Regions of similar mass spectra can be interconnected on a large scale, but can also be isolated from each other on a small scale.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Inventors: Sören-Oliver Deininger, Martin Schürenberg
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Publication number: 20210404916Abstract: The invention proposes preparing biological samples for spectrometry which contain cell structures and/or whole cells of human or animal origin (e.g. thin human and animal tissue sections) or prokaryotes (e.g. microorganisms), and which require constant relative humidity, in a temperature-controlled gas volume whose humidity is determined by a saturated substance solution, for example a suitable salt solution. The invention exploits a physico-chemical phenomenon called “deliquescence”, which manifests itself by keeping the relative humidity above the saturated substance solution constant with a high degree of precision when a specified temperature is maintained. Pure succinic acid exhibits deliquescence at approx. 99% relative humidity, for example. Since an enormous variety of deliquescent salts and other suitable substances are available, it is possible to find the suitable substance for almost any desired relative humidity, with adjustment of the temperature, where necessary.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 4, 2018Publication date: December 30, 2021Inventors: Martin SCHÜRENBERG, Sören-Oliver DEININGER, Alice LY
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Publication number: 20210217601Abstract: The invention relates to methods for drawing-off liquid from individual droplets which are in a predefined arrangement on a flat substrate and have sedimented material enclosed in them. A mask of an absorbent material comprising a pattern of indentations or holes which corresponds at least partially to the regular arrangement of the individual droplets, or a stiff, rigid plate of an absorbent material is positioned above the flat substrate in such a way that the droplets come into contact with the absorbent material peripherally so that liquid is drawn off there-into. The invention also relates to a mask of an absorbent material with a substantially rectangular shape which has a predefined pattern of indentations or holes for the purpose of separating liquid and sedimented material enclosed therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2021Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: Martin SCHÜRENBERG, Alexander VOSSGRÖNE
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Patent number: 11017993Abstract: The invention relates to methods for drawing-off liquid from individual droplets which are in a predefined arrangement on a flat substrate and have sedimented material enclosed in them. A mask of an absorbent material comprising a pattern of indentations or holes which corresponds at least partially to the regular arrangement of the individual droplets, or a stiff, rigid plate of an absorbent material is positioned above the flat substrate in such a way that the droplets come into contact with the absorbent material peripherally so that liquid is drawn off there-into. The invention also relates to a mask of an absorbent material with a substantially rectangular shape which has a predefined pattern of indentations or holes for the purpose of separating liquid and sedimented material enclosed therein.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2018Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Inventors: Martin Schürenberg, Alexander Vossgröne
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Publication number: 20210074532Abstract: The invention relates to the identification and visualization of the spatial distribution of particular tissue states in histological tissue sections from mass spectrometric signals acquired with spatial resolution. The invention proposes a method by means of which regions of the tissue with similar mass spectra are found automatically, and it is further proposed that mass spectra of these regions are summed in order to improve the spectral quality to such an extent that known markers for tissue degenerations can be identified with increased certainty. Regions of similar mass spectra can be interconnected on a large scale, but can also be isolated from each other on a small scale.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Sören-Oliver DEININGER, Martin SCHÜRENBERG
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Patent number: 10886115Abstract: The invention relates to the identification and visualization of the spatial distribution of particular tissue states in histological tissue sections from mass spectrometric signals acquired with spatial resolution. The invention proposes a method by means of which regions of the tissue with similar mass spectra are found automatically, and it is further proposed that mass spectra of these regions are summed in order to improve the spectral quality to such an extent that known markers for tissue degenerations can be identified with increased certainty. Regions of similar mass spectra can be interconnected on a large scale, but can also be isolated from each other on a small scale.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2018Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Inventors: Sören-Oliver Deininger, Martin Schürenberg
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Patent number: 10546739Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of samples on mass spectrometric sample supports with dispensing of liquids, and particularly to devices and methods to clean the dispenser. During dispensing of hundreds of samples, solved material may crystallize over time as deposit at the capillary tip of the dispenser, which impedes the vertical detachment of the drop in the medium and long run. Therefore, frequently cleaning the capillary tip is essential for a robust operation of the preparation device. The invention proposes to automatically clean the dispenser tip by creating a drop of washing fluid, such as pure solvent, fully enclosing the dispenser tip. The washing fluid is fed through a channel outside the central dispenser capillary to a location slightly above the capillary tip. The size of the hanging drop of washing fluid is photometrically regulated and monitored to prevent it from falling off prematurely.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2018Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Inventors: Martin Schürenberg, Alexander Vossgröne
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Patent number: 10413906Abstract: An improved deposition aid for manual sample preparation, particularly on flat MALDI sample supports, comprises a holder for a sample support with several sample sites, which is adapted to standardized sample supports for ionization with matrix-assisted laser desorption and a device which projects a two-dimensional optical image, or a suitable sequence of images, onto the sample sites. The image, or sequence of images, is constructed such that a selected sample site or group of selected sample sites is highlighted in a way which can be perceived by the human eye, at least with respect to neighboring, not-selected sample sites. The deposition aid also includes an interface for confirming the manual deposition and/or a device for the automatic detection of a manual deposition process; and a guidance system which selects a sample site or group of sample sites, and controls the device accordingly.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2016Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Inventors: Christian Schmid, Martin Schürenberg
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Publication number: 20190198302Abstract: The invention relates to the identification and visualization of the spatial distribution of particular tissue states in histological tissue sections from mass spectrometric signals acquired with spatial resolution. The invention proposes a method by means of which regions of the tissue with similar mass spectra are found automatically, and it is further proposed that mass spectra of these regions are summed in order to improve the spectral quality to such an extent that known markers for tissue degenerations can be identified with increased certainty. Regions of similar mass spectra can be interconnected on a large scale, but can also be isolated from each other on a small scale.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2018Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Sören-Oliver DEININGER, Martin SCHÜRENBERG
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Patent number: 10197576Abstract: A method for the identification and localization of proteins or other biomolecules of a histologic tissue section comprises enzymatically digesting the biomolecules of two similar tissue sections while substantially preserving the biomolecule positions in the tissue sections. Next, a mass spectrometric image of the digest products in one of the tissue sections is acquired. Then, the digest products of the other tissue section are extracted and separated and the mass spectra and daughter ion spectra of all the digest products are acquired. A list of all identifiable biomolecules of the tissue section is created by comparing the mass spectra and daughter ion spectra with spectra in biomolecule structure databases or spectral libraries. Finally, the biomolecules in the list are assigned to digest products of the same mass in the mass spectra used to create the mass spectrometric image of the thin tissue section.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2011Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Inventors: Detlev Suckau, Martin Schürenberg, Rainer Paape, Christine Lübbert
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Publication number: 20180374692Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of samples on mass spectrometric sample supports with dispensing of liquids, and particularly to devices and methods to clean the dispenser. During dispensing of hundreds of samples, solved material may crystallize over time as deposit at the capillary tip of the dispenser, which impedes the vertical detachment of the drop in the medium and long run. Therefore, frequently cleaning the capillary tip is essential for a robust operation of the preparation device. The invention proposes to automatically clean the dispenser tip by creating a drop of washing fluid, such as pure solvent, fully enclosing the dispenser tip. The washing fluid is fed through a channel outside the central dispenser capillary to a location slightly above the capillary tip. The size of the hanging drop of washing fluid is photometrically regulated and monitored to prevent it from falling off prematurely.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Martin SCHÜRENBERG, Alexander VOSSGRÖNE
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Patent number: 10103017Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of samples on mass spectrometric sample supports with dispensing of liquids, and particularly to devices and methods to clean the dispenser. During dispensing of hundreds of samples, solved material may crystallize over time as deposit at the capillary tip of the dispenser, which impedes the vertical detachment of the drop in the medium and long run. Therefore, frequently cleaning the capillary tip is essential for a robust operation of the preparation device. The invention proposes to automatically clean the dispenser tip by creating a drop of washing fluid, such as pure solvent, fully enclosing the dispenser tip. The washing fluid is fed through a channel outside the central dispenser capillary to a location slightly above the capillary tip. The size of the hanging drop of washing fluid is photometrically regulated and monitored to prevent it from falling off prematurely.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2014Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Inventors: Martin Schürenberg, Alexander Vossgröne
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Publication number: 20180269050Abstract: The invention relates to methods for drawing-off liquid from individual droplets which are in a predefined arrangement on a flat substrate and have sedimented material enclosed in them. A mask of an absorbent material comprising a pattern of indentations or holes which corresponds at least partially to the regular arrangement of the individual droplets, or a stiff, rigid plate of an absorbent material is positioned above the flat substrate in such a way that the droplets come into contact with the absorbent material peripherally so that liquid is drawn off there-into. The invention also relates to a mask of an absorbent material with a substantially rectangular shape which has a predefined pattern of indentations or holes for the purpose of separating liquid and sedimented material enclosed therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventors: Martin SCHÜRENBERG, Alexander VOSSGRÖNE
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Patent number: 9891146Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of thin tissue sections for mass spectrometric (MALDI) imaging, and proposes a method wherein a microcrystalline layer of the matrix material is produced on the surface of the thin tissue sections, and soluble analyte molecules are transported orthogonally through the thin tissue section to the matrix layer, without substantial lateral diffusion, by means of a solvent flow with alternating or constant direction, and are then deposited in the matrix layer and, if possible, embedded in the matrix crystals. A solvent flow which alternates in direction can be produced by successive, alternating phases of swelling and drying, brought about by periodic changes to the thin tissue section temperature and/or the partial pressures of the solvents. A continuous solvent flow can be generated by applying the thin tissue section onto a porous support which supplies solvent to the rear surface of the thin tissue section.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Inventors: Martin Schürenberg, Jochen Franzen, Kai Rückriem, Eckhard Belau
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Patent number: 9480986Abstract: An improved deposition aid for manual sample preparation, particularly on flat MALDI sample supports, comprises a holder for a sample support with several sample sites, which is adapted to standardized sample supports for ionization with matrix-assisted laser desorption and a device which projects a two-dimensional optical image, or a suitable sequence of images, onto the sample sites. The image, or sequence of images, is constructed such that a selected sample site or group of selected sample sites is highlighted in a way which can be perceived by the human eye, at least with respect to neighboring, not-selected sample sites. The deposition aid also includes an interface for confirming the manual deposition and/or a device for the automatic detection of a manual deposition process; and a guidance system which selects a sample site or group of sample sites, and controls the device accordingly.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2012Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: BRUCKER DALTONIK GMBHInventors: Christian Schmid, Martin Schürenberg
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Publication number: 20160314954Abstract: An improved deposition aid for manual sample preparation, particularly on flat MALDI sample supports, comprises a holder for a sample support with several sample sites, which is adapted to standardized sample supports for ionization with matrix-assisted laser desorption and a device which projects a two-dimensional optical image, or a suitable sequence of images, onto the sample sites. The image, or sequence of images, is constructed such that a selected sample site or group of selected sample sites is highlighted in a way which can be perceived by the human eye, at least with respect to neighboring, not-selected sample sites. The deposition aid also includes an interface for confirming the manual deposition and/or a device for the automatic detection of a manual deposition process; and a guidance system which selects a sample site or group of sample sites, and controls the device accordingly.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2016Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventors: Christian SCHMID, Martin SCHÜRENBERG