Patents by Inventor Stefan Thiem
Stefan Thiem 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: 6887428Abstract: An apparatus for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, having multiple processing stations (2) and a transport device (4) for delivering the objects into and out of the processing stations (2), is characterized in that the transport device (4) comprises a robot arm (5) that is movable in three dimensions and provides for arbitrary positioning of the objects.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2001Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Martin Wernz, Stefan Thiem, Eric Barth
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Patent number: 6858183Abstract: An apparatus for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, having multiple processing stations and a transport device for delivering the objects into and out of the processing stations, is characterized in that at least one running-water station (1), having an inflow (2) and an outflow (3), is provided as a processing station.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2001Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Stefan Thiem, Stefan Kuenkel, Eric Barth
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Publication number: 20040261597Abstract: A rotary microtome (1) is disclosed, having a base part (2) on which a microtome housing (4) and a knife holder (6) are arranged. Also provided is a collection element (8) that surrounds the knife holder on three sides, the collection element having a U-shaped base outline. Also provided are several clamping levers that are associated with the knife holder, at least one clamping lever for the knife holder being arranged operably on a first or a second outer side wall (18a, 18b). In addition, the bottom (12) of the collection element (8) has shaped on it an elevation (22) under which a mechanical coupling is guided from the clamping lever (10c) to the knife holder.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Applicant: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Stefan Thiem, Roland Walter, Rolf Metzner
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Patent number: 6827900Abstract: An automatic stainer for staining specimens that are arranged on specimen slides and embedded in a medium, preferably in paraffin, is described. The automatic stainer has multiple reagent containers arranged one behind another for treating the specimens. During staining, the specimen slides pass successively through the reagent containers. There are transport baskets for receiving multiple specimen slides, multiple transport baskets being received simultaneously each in different reagent containers. A motorized transport mechanism, with a lifting device that lifts all the transport baskets simultaneously out of the respective reagent container and transports them on into the respective adjacent reagent container, is provided. A heating station for heating the specimens and melting the embedding medium is arranged in front of the row of reagent containers. The heating station has at least one melting container for simultaneously receiving multiple transport baskets.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2001Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: Leica Microsystems Nussloch, GmbHInventors: Stefan Thiem, Charilaos Dalkidis
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Publication number: 20040239024Abstract: A device for signaling the position of an orientable sample holder for a microtome is described. The drive system (2) for moving the sample holder is arranged in a housing. At least one rotatably mounted spindle (4), and a nut (5) running on the spindle (4), are provided for moving the sample holder in one spatial direction. The nut (5) comprises a position element (6) identifying the zero position, and an indicating element (11) is associated with the position element (6).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventor: Stefan Thiem
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Patent number: 6821072Abstract: A system for staining and coverslipping specimen slides, having a stainer (1) and a coverslipper (3) that are arranged next to one another. A transfer device (2), which transports racks with specimen slides from the stainer (1) to the coverslipper (3), is provided between the stainer (1) and the coverslipper (3). Transport is automated so that operation by the user is substantially reduced.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2002Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Stefan Thiem, Anton Lang, Heinz Plank
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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
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Publication number: 20040005244Abstract: For automatic transportation and lifting and lowering of specimens in an automatic stainer, a drive system comprises a motor (16) and a side wall (40), the motor (16) being coupled on the drive side to a first (12) and a second (14) crank system. The first (12) and second (14) crank systems are respectively coupled to the side wall (40).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2003Publication date: January 8, 2004Inventor: Stefan Thiem
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Patent number: 6635225Abstract: An automatic stainer for staining objects, arranged on slides for microscopic examination is described. The automatic stainer has multiple reagent containers arranged one behind another for treating the objects. The slides pass through the reagent containers in succession, a transport basket for receiving multiple slides being provided. Multiple transport baskets can be received simultaneously in respective different reagent containers, and are simultaneously lifted out of the respective reagent container by way of a motorized transport mechanism having a lifting device and are respectively transported on into an adjacent reagent container. A removal station that has a collecting reagent container for the simultaneous reception of multiple transport baskets is arranged at the end of the row of reagent containers.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2000Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Leica Microsystem Nussloch GmbHInventors: Stefan Thiem, Ralf Kaltenmeier, Eric Barth, Joachim Glasenapp, Stefan Kunkel
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Publication number: 20030049104Abstract: A system for staining and coverslipping specimen slides, having a stainer (1) and a coverslipper (3) that are arranged next to one another. A transfer device (2), which transports racks with specimen slides from the stainer (1) to the coverslipper (3), is provided between the stainer (1) and the coverslipper (3). Transport is automated so that operation by the user is substantially reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Inventors: Stefan Thiem, Anton Lang, Heinz Plank
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Publication number: 20030049172Abstract: A system (100) for staining and coverslipping specimen slides comprises a first part (the stainer (1)) and a second part (the coverslipper (20)). A transport device (5), with which racks (4) carrying specimen slides are transferred directly from the stainer (1) into the coverslipper (20), is provided in the stainer (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Inventor: Stefan Thiem
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Publication number: 20020098118Abstract: An apparatus for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, having multiple processing stations (2) and a transport device (4) for delivering the objects into and out of the processing stations (2), the processing station (2) comprising a container (3) for receiving liquids, in particular reagents, and for immersion of the objects or of the object holders (7) carrying the objects, is characterized, in order to increase the flexibility of the apparatus, in that an insert (8) that fits into the container (3) and reduces the maximum capacity of the container (3) is provided, a rack (7) that carries the object carrier (9) and serves for immersion into the container (3) being adapted in terms of its dimensions in accordance with the remaining volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2001Publication date: July 25, 2002Applicant: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Ralf Eckert, Charilaos Dalkidis, Stefan Kuenkel, Stefan Thiem
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Publication number: 20020076351Abstract: An apparatus for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, having multiple processing stations (2) and a transport device (4) for delivering the objects into and out of the processing stations (2), is characterized in that the transport device (4) comprises a robot arm (5) that is movable in three dimensions and provides for arbitrary positioning of the objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2001Publication date: June 20, 2002Applicant: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Martin Wernz, Stefan Thiem, Eric Barth
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Publication number: 20020054829Abstract: An apparatus for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, having multiple processing stations (3) arranged in a housing (2) and having a transport device (5) for delivering the objects, or the object carriers (4) carrying the objects, into and out of the processing stations (3), is characterized by a region, coordinated with the processing stations (3), for the reception of modular treatment stations (10) having permanently definable functions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2001Publication date: May 9, 2002Applicant: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Charilaos Dalkidis, Peter Scheck, Stefan Thiem
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Publication number: 20020051735Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, having multiple processing stations (2) and a transport device (4) for delivering the objects into and out of the processing stations (2), a loading station (6) for loading with objects to be treated or object carriers (5) carrying the objects to be treated, and a removal station (7) for removing the treated objects or object carriers carrying the treated objects, being provided, which is characterized in that a definable number of processing stations can be allocated in fixed or variable fashion to the loading station (6) and/or the removal station (7).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2001Publication date: May 2, 2002Applicant: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Claudia Dorenkamp, Stefan Kuenkel, Andreas Kapplein, Stefan Thiem
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Publication number: 20020031445Abstract: An apparatus for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, having multiple processing stations and a transport device for delivering the objects into and out of the processing stations, is characterized in that at least one running-water station (1), having an inflow (2) and an outflow (3), is provided as a processing station.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Applicant: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Stefan Thiem, Stefan Kuenkel, Eric Barth
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Publication number: 20020025276Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2001Publication date: February 28, 2002Applicant: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbHInventors: Charilaos Dalkidis, Stefan Kuenkel, Ralf Eckert, Stefan Thiem
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Publication number: 20010019703Abstract: An automatic stainer for staining specimens that are arranged on specimen slides and embedded in a medium, preferably in paraffin, is described. The automatic stainer has multiple reagent containers arranged one behind another for treating the specimens. During staining, the specimen slides pass successively through the reagent containers. There are transport baskets for receiving multiple specimen slides, multiple transport baskets being received simultaneously each in different reagent containers. A motorized transport mechanism, with a lifting device that lifts all the transport baskets simultaneously out of the respective reagent container and transports them on into the respective adjacent reagent container, is provided. A heating station for heating the specimens and melting the embedding medium is arranged in front of the row of reagent containers. The heating station has at least one melting container for simultaneously receiving multiple transport baskets.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2001Publication date: September 6, 2001Inventors: Stefan Thiem, Charilaos Dalkidis
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Patent number: 6080365Abstract: A description is given of an automatic embedding machine (1) for treating samples for histological examinations, having a plurality of containers (4, 5) which are arranged one beside the other. The containers (4, 5) are each assigned an object holder (6), the object holders (6) being fastened on a turntable (7) provided over the containers (4, 5). The turntable (7) is connected to a central guide rod (8). The guide rod (8) is designed such that it can be moved perpendicularly with respect to the direction of rotation of the turntable (7). A vacuum device (9) for producing a vacuum in at least one of the containers (4, 5) is integrated in the automatic embedding machine (1).Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1997Date of Patent: June 27, 2000Assignee: Leica Instruments GmbHInventors: Stefan Thiem, Eric Barth
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Patent number: 6058788Abstract: A description is given of a drive device for an automatic embedding machine (1) for treating samples (17) for histological examinations, having a plurality of containers (4, 5) which are arranged one beside the other and are each assigned an object holder (6). The object holders (6) are fastened, on a lifting device (18), over the containers (4, 5), the lifting device (18) having a turntable (7) and a rotatably mounted guide rod (8). The guide rod (8) is designed such that it can be moved by a motor, perpendicularly with respect to the direction of rotation of the turntable (7), via the lifting device (18). Provided for the purpose of driving the guide rod (8) is an open-ended, flexibly designed drive element (21) which, at its first end, is arranged between two rollers (26, 27) of the motor drive (20) and, by means of its second end, is connected fixedly to the housing (24) of the automatic embedding machine (1).Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1997Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Leica Instruments GmbHInventors: Stefan Thiem, Bernd Guenther