Patents by Inventor Robert Gropp

Robert Gropp 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: 7713476
    Abstract: An apparatus for preferably automatic handling and/or processing of objects (1), in particular in the field of medical technology, having at least one processing station (3) and one object carrier (2) for bringing the object (1) to the processing station (3), optionally through the processing station (3), and away from the processing station (3), is characterized in that the object carrier (2) has a code; that data concerning the object (1) and/or the handling or processing of the object (1) can be assigned to the code; and that the data can be read or retrieved by way of the code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Käpplein, Robert Gropp, Peter Scheck
  • Publication number: 20100099199
    Abstract: A method for determining reagent quality in a device having multiple treatment stations for the treatment of at least one of cytological and histological prepared specimens and an apparatus for performing this method are described. The method comprises providing a carrier element that comprises at least one test material; transferring and treating the carrier element having test material according to a predefined sequence in a plurality of the treatment stations together with the specimens; and evaluating the test material by means of an evaluation device after treatment in the last treatment station in sequence. The described method and apparatus achieve that reagent quality can be determined automatically and the reagents can be replaced at an optimum point in time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Egle, Robert Gropp, Stefan Künkel, Karl-Heinz Westerhoff
  • Patent number: 6916659
    Abstract: A method for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, for example in an automatic stainer, the objects being delivered, preferably on object carriers and in object carrier magazines, by means of a transport device to various processing stations, inserted therein, and treated in accordance with a definable treatment program, and the transport device being capable, during the treatment, of moving further objects or object carriers to other processing stations so that a parallel processing or treatment is possible in various processing stations, is characterized by an optimized automatic program sequence according to which identically operating processing stations are defined as backup stations and are correspondingly occupied if a concretely required processing station is occupied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Gropp
  • Publication number: 20030219358
    Abstract: A device (1) for embedding specimens in paraffin wax is described. The device (1) is equipped with a pouring station (2) in which liquid paraffin wax is delivered onto the specimen. The device (1) comprises a heated working plate (3) in which an opening (4) is provided for the runoff of overflowing paraffin wax. A collection container (5) embodied as a drawer is arranged below that opening (4) for collection of the overflowing paraffin wax. A circuit arrangement (6) for signaling a filled collection container (5) is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Claudia Dorenkamp, Stefan Kuenkel, Robert Gropp, Charilaos Dalkidis
  • Publication number: 20020111743
    Abstract: A method for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, for example in an automatic stainer, the objects being delivered, preferably on object carriers and in object carrier magazines, by means of a transport device to various processing stations, inserted therein, and treated in accordance with a definable treatment program, and the transport device being capable, during the treatment, of moving further objects or object carriers to other processing stations so that a parallel processing or treatment is possible in various processing stations, is characterized by an optimized automatic program sequence according to which identically operating processing stations are defined as backup stations and are correspondingly occupied if a concretely required processing station is occupied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Gropp
  • Publication number: 20020090731
    Abstract: A method for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, for example in an automatic stainer, the objects being delivered, preferably on object carriers and in object carrier magazines, by means of a transport device to various processing stations, inserted therein, and treated in accordance with a selectable or a definable or programmable treatment program, is characterized by unequivocal allocation of the object carriers or object carrier magazines, or clips or labeling fields to be attached thereon, to specific treatment programs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Robert Gropp, Stefan Kuenkel
  • Publication number: 20020090730
    Abstract: A method for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, for example in an automatic stainer, the objects being delivered, preferably on object carriers and in object carrier magazines, by means of a transport device to various processing stations, inserted therein, and treated in accordance with a selectable treatment program, is characterized by automatic monitoring of the processing stations, in particular of the reagents, definable parameters being taken into consideration in the monitoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Eckert, Robert Gropp
  • Publication number: 20020057992
    Abstract: A method for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, for example in an automatic stainer or in a tissue processor, the objects, preferably on object carriers and optionally in object carrier magazines, being delivered by means of a transport device to various processing stations, inserted there, and treated in accordance with a definable treatment program, is characterized by a throughput optimization on the basis of minimal movement distances of the transport device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Applicant: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Eckert, Robert Gropp
  • Publication number: 20020018733
    Abstract: An apparatus for preferably automatic handling and/or processing of objects (1), in particular in the field of medical technology, having at least one processing station (3) and one object carrier (2) for bringing the object (1) to the processing station (3), optionally through the processing station (3), and away from the processing station (3), is characterized in that the object carrier (2) has a code; that data concerning the object (1) and/or the handling or processing of the object (1) can be assigned to the code; and that the data can be read or retrieved by way of the code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Kapplein, Robert Gropp, Peter Scheck