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).
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Patent number: 10481054Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 1, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Florian Böhl, Ralf Eckert, Karin Flieger, Markus Berberich, Hermann Ulbrich, Stella Knorr, Andrew Guy
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Patent number: 10345203Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 6, 2016Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Stella Knorr, Andrew Guy, Ralf Eckert, Fiona Tarbet, Fernando Dias, Chris Ryan, Neil Sanut
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Patent number: 10054364Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 17, 2017Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Markus Berberich, Hermann Ulbrich, Florian Böhl, Ralf Eckert, Karin Flieger
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Publication number: 20170241712Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2017Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventors: Markus BERBERICH, Hermann ULBRICH, Florian BÖHL, Ralf ECKERT, Karin FLIEGER
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Publication number: 20170067804Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Inventors: Florian Böhl, Ralf Eckert, Karin Flieger, Markus Berberich, Hermann Ulbrich, Stella Knorr, Andrew Guy
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Patent number: 9568402Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 22, 2013Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Ralf Eckert, Markus Berberich, Hermann Ulbrich
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Patent number: 9482601Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 23, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBHInventors: Ralf Eckert, Michael Eberhard
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Publication number: 20160216176Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2016Publication date: July 28, 2016Applicant: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Stella KNORR, Andrew GUY, Ralf ECKERT, Fiona TARBET, Fernando DIAS, Chris RYAN, Neil SANUT
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Patent number: 9389154Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 11, 2014Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Stella Knorr, Andrew Guy, Ralf Eckert, Fiona Tarbet, Fernando Dias, Chris Ryan, Neil Sanut
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Patent number: 9194776Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 11, 2014Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Ralf Eckert, Hermann Ulbrich, Stella Knorr, Graeme Robertson
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Patent number: 9052256Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 11, 2014Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Stella Knorr, Andrew Guy, Ralf Eckert, Fiona Tarbet, Fernando Dias, Chris Ryan, Neil Sanut
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Patent number: 8959935Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 16, 2010Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Uwe Höfling, Hermann Ulbrich, Ralf Eckert, Michael Eberhard
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Publication number: 20140273085Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBHInventors: Ralf ECKERT, Hermann ULBRICH, Stella KNORR, Graeme ROBERTSON
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Publication number: 20140271407Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBHInventors: Stella KNORR, Andrew GUY, Ralf ECKERT, Fiona TARBET, Fernando DIAS, Chris RYAN, Neil SANUT
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Publication number: 20140273083Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBHInventors: Stella KNORR, Andrew GUY, Ralf ECKERT, Fiona TARBET, Fernando DIAS, Chris RYAN, Neil SANUT
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Publication number: 20140186883Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Ralf Eckert, Markus Berberich, Hermann Ulbrich
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Publication number: 20140186882Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Markus Berberich, Ralf Eckert
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Publication number: 20140120011Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2013Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Ralf ECKERT, Michael EBERHARD
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Publication number: 20100263390Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2010Publication date: October 21, 2010Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBHInventors: Uwe HÖFLING, Hermann ULBRICH, Ralf ECKERT, Michael EBERHARD
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Patent number: 6756015Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 16, 2001Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Charilaos Dalkidis, Stefan Kuenkel, Ralf Eckert, Stefan Thiem