Patents by Inventor Ralf Eckert

Ralf Eckert 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: 10481054
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for embedding a tissue sample into an embedding medium. In a first step the tissue sample is held in an intended orientation in a container by means of a holding element that presses the tissue sample against a base of the container. In a further step a liquid embedding medium that has a temperature above 64 degrees Celsius, in particular in the range from 65 degrees Celsius to 67 degrees Celsius, or a temperature of 66 degrees Celsius, is poured into the container, and the base of the container is cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Böhl, Ralf Eckert, Karin Flieger, Markus Berberich, Hermann Ulbrich, Stella Knorr, Andrew Guy
  • Patent number: 10345203
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding a tissue sample including a retaining member having a first tissue engaging surface and at least one biasing element, the first tissue engaging surface being moveably attached to the retaining member by said biasing element; and a base having a second tissue engaging surface and configured to engage the retaining member to form an interior area with the first and second tissue engaging surfaces facing each other, wherein the at least one biasing element urges the first tissue engaging surface toward the second tissue engaging surface to retain the tissue sample therebetween in the interior area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Stella Knorr, Andrew Guy, Ralf Eckert, Fiona Tarbet, Fernando Dias, Chris Ryan, Neil Sanut
  • Patent number: 10054364
    Abstract: The invention relates to a melting apparatus (100) for melting paraffin (1), having: a melting container (110) for receiving paraffin (1) to be melted; a storage container (190) for storing molten paraffin (4); having a melting container heating device (120) for heating the melting container (110), having a storage container heating device (191) for heating the storage container (190), having a fluid connection (113) fluidically connecting the melting container (110) and the storage container; the melting container (110), the storage container (190), and the fluid connection (113) being arranged so that molten paraffin (4) flows out of the melting container (110) into the storage container (190).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Berberich, Hermann Ulbrich, Florian Böhl, Ralf Eckert, Karin Flieger
  • Publication number: 20170241712
    Abstract: The invention relates to a melting apparatus (100) for melting paraffin (1), having: a melting container (110) for receiving paraffin (1) to be melted; a storage container (190) for storing molten paraffin (4); having a melting container heating device (120) for heating the melting container (110), having a storage container heating device (191) for heating the storage container (190), having a fluid connection (113) fluidically connecting the melting container (110) and the storage container; the melting container (110), the storage container (190), and the fluid connection (113) being arranged so that molten paraffin (4) flows out of the melting container (110) into the storage container (190).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Markus BERBERICH, Hermann ULBRICH, Florian BÖHL, Ralf ECKERT, Karin FLIEGER
  • Publication number: 20170067804
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for embedding a tissue sample into an embedding medium. In a first step the tissue sample is held in an intended orientation in a container by means of a holding element that presses the tissue sample against a base of the container. In a further step a liquid embedding medium that has a temperature above 64 degrees Celsius, in particular in the range from 65 degrees Celsius to 67 degrees Celsius, or a temperature of 66 degrees Celsius, is poured into the container, and the base of the container is cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Florian Böhl, Ralf Eckert, Karin Flieger, Markus Berberich, Hermann Ulbrich, Stella Knorr, Andrew Guy
  • Patent number: 9568402
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a processor for processing histological samples. The processor comprises an inlet for insertion of a closed fixing container having the samples present therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Eckert, Markus Berberich, Hermann Ulbrich
  • Patent number: 9482601
    Abstract: The invention relates, in accordance with one aspect, to a portable device for transporting at least one histological sample or at least one cassette containing a histological sample. The device is attachable to a processing station for processing 5 histological samples. In the attached state, energy for cooling the histological sample is transferred from the processing station to the device or vice versa. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a processing station for processing a histological sample is provided, which station is embodied for releasable attachment of a portable device. The processing station is further embodied to transfer energy 10 for cooling to, or receive it from, an attached device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Eckert, Michael Eberhard
  • Publication number: 20160216176
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding a tissue sample including a retaining member having a first tissue engaging surface and at least one biasing element, the first tissue engaging surface being moveably attached to the retaining member by said biasing element; and a base having a second tissue engaging surface and configured to engage the retaining member to form an interior area with the first and second tissue engaging surfaces facing each other, wherein the at least one biasing element urges the first tissue engaging surface toward the second tissue engaging surface to retain the tissue sample therebetween in the interior area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Stella KNORR, Andrew GUY, Ralf ECKERT, Fiona TARBET, Fernando DIAS, Chris RYAN, Neil SANUT
  • Patent number: 9389154
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding a tissue sample including a retaining member having a first tissue engaging surface and at least one biasing element, the first tissue engaging surface being moveably attached to the retaining member by said biasing element; and a base having a second tissue engaging surface and configured to engage the retaining member to form an interior area with the first and second tissue engaging surfaces facing each other, wherein the at least one biasing element urges the first tissue engaging surface toward the second tissue engaging surface to retain the tissue sample therebetween in the interior area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Stella Knorr, Andrew Guy, Ralf Eckert, Fiona Tarbet, Fernando Dias, Chris Ryan, Neil Sanut
  • Patent number: 9194776
    Abstract: The invention relates to a processor for working on histological samples. The processor has an inlet for the insertion of a fixing container, particularly a closed fixing container, with the samples located in the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Eckert, Hermann Ulbrich, Stella Knorr, Graeme Robertson
  • Patent number: 9052256
    Abstract: A method for treating a tissue sample including placing at least one tissue sample on an cassette which has: a retaining member, a base and at least one biasing element; placing the at least one tissue sample in the tissue cassette; attaching the base and the retaining member to retain the tissue sample; processing the tissue sample in the tissue cassette with one or more solvents; and embedding the tissue sample in a paraffin to form an portion of paraffin in which the tissue sample is embedded in the tissue cassette, wherein the embedding comprises adding molten paraffin to the interior area of the tissue cassette and allowing the paraffin to become solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Stella Knorr, Andrew Guy, Ralf Eckert, Fiona Tarbet, Fernando Dias, Chris Ryan, Neil Sanut
  • Patent number: 8959935
    Abstract: A freezing microtome for the production of microscopable thin sections of tissue samples (60), comprising a cooling device (24, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 46, 48, 50, 52) for freezing the tissue samples (60), a cutting device for cutting the frozen tissue samples (60) and a working chamber, in which the cutting device and at least a part of the cooling device (24, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 46, 48, 50, 52) are arranged is described. The part of the cooling device (24, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 46, 48, 50, 52) arranged in the working chamber contains a liquid coolant (70), in which the tissue samples (60) can be inserted for freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Höfling, Hermann Ulbrich, Ralf Eckert, Michael Eberhard
  • Publication number: 20140273085
    Abstract: The invention relates to a processor for working on histological samples. The processor has an inlet for the insertion of a fixing container, particularly a closed fixing container, with the samples located in the latter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf ECKERT, Hermann ULBRICH, Stella KNORR, Graeme ROBERTSON
  • Publication number: 20140271407
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding a tissue sample including a retaining member having a first tissue engaging surface and at least one biasing element, the first tissue engaging surface being moveably attached to the retaining member by said biasing element; and a base having a second tissue engaging surface and configured to engage the retaining member to form an interior area with the first and second tissue engaging surfaces facing each other, wherein the at least one biasing element urges the first tissue engaging surface toward the second tissue engaging surface to retain the tissue sample therebetween in the interior area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBH
    Inventors: Stella KNORR, Andrew GUY, Ralf ECKERT, Fiona TARBET, Fernando DIAS, Chris RYAN, Neil SANUT
  • Publication number: 20140273083
    Abstract: A method for treating a tissue sample including placing at least one tissue sample on an cassette which has: a retaining member, a base and at least one biasing element; placing the at least one tissue sample in the tissue cassette; attaching the base and the retaining member to retain the tissue sample; processing the tissue sample in the tissue cassette with one or more solvents; and embedding the tissue sample in a paraffin to form an portion of paraffin in which the tissue sample is embedded in the tissue cassette, wherein the embedding comprises adding molten paraffin to the interior area of the tissue cassette and allowing the paraffin to become solid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBH
    Inventors: Stella KNORR, Andrew GUY, Ralf ECKERT, Fiona TARBET, Fernando DIAS, Chris RYAN, Neil SANUT
  • Publication number: 20140186883
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a processor for processing histological samples. The processor comprises an inlet for insertion of a closed fixing container having the samples present therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Eckert, Markus Berberich, Hermann Ulbrich
  • Publication number: 20140186882
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for fixing a histological sample, in which a target fixing time for the sample is defined and the sample is exposed to the action of a fixative, the exposure start time being stored in a memory associated with the sample. The sample is no longer exposed to the fixative when an action time of the fixative on the sample is equal to or greater than the target fixing time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Berberich, Ralf Eckert
  • Publication number: 20140120011
    Abstract: The invention relates, in accordance with one aspect, to a portable device for transporting at least one histological sample or at least one cassette containing a histological sample. The device is attachable to a processing station for processing 5 histological samples. In the attached state, energy for cooling the histological sample is transferred from the processing station to the device or vice versa. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a processing station for processing a histological sample is provided, which station is embodied for releasable attachment of a portable device. The processing station is further embodied to transfer energy 10 for cooling to, or receive it from, an attached device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf ECKERT, Michael EBERHARD
  • Publication number: 20100263390
    Abstract: A freezing microtome for the production of microscopable thin sections of tissue samples (60), comprising a cooling device (24, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 46, 48, 50, 52) for freezing the tissue samples (60), a cutting device for cutting the frozen tissue samples (60) and a working chamber, in which the cutting device and at least a part of the cooling device (24, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 46, 48, 50, 52) are arranged is described. The part of the cooling device (24, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 46, 48, 50, 52) arranged in the working chamber contains a liquid coolant (70), in which the tissue samples (60) can be inserted for freezing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe HÖFLING, Hermann ULBRICH, Ralf ECKERT, Michael EBERHARD
  • Patent number: 6756015
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, having multiple processing stations and preferably a transport device for delivering the objects into and out of the processing stations, is characterized in that at least one heatable reagent station (1) is provided as a processing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Charilaos Dalkidis, Stefan Kuenkel, Ralf Eckert, Stefan Thiem