Patents by Inventor Tobias Rodenfels

Tobias Rodenfels 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: 8974751
    Abstract: Sample liquid is collected in a chamber downstream of a separating device. Adjoining the chamber are a plurality of channels which guide the sample liquid to one or more investigating regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Microparts GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Rodenfels, Gert Blankenstein
  • Patent number: 8919383
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for manipulating a liquid in a channel, wherein a body, which forms a capillary intermediate space with respect to the channel wall, is moved in the channel and the channel is filled with liquid only up to the body. Preferably, the body can also bridge an area of the channel that cannot be wetted for the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
    Inventor: Tobias Rodenfels
  • Patent number: 8916110
    Abstract: A device and a process are proposed for separating constituents of a sample fluid, wherein the sample fluid is supplied by capillary force to a receiving region (7) for metering, stopping or delaying the sample fluid and the sample fluid is pre-treated with a soluble chemical (13) in the receiving region (7) before the sample fluid is supplied to a separating device (5) for separating off constituents of the sample fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Microparts GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Rodenfels, Gert Blankenstein
  • Publication number: 20140166108
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic platform (1) having at least one means (12) for initiating a movement of a liquid (P), in particular a sample liquid, between at least two locations (100, 101) of the microfluidic platform (1). It is proposed according to the invention that the means (12) is embodied as an element of changeable volume and/or shape and is mounted on a cover-like component (11) that is movably connected to the microfluidic platform (1). By moving of the component (11) the element (12) can be brought into a position such that, by changing its volume and/or shape, it causes the liquid (P) situated at the location (100) to be moved at least partly from this location (100) to the other location (101). In this way a sample liquid (P) can be transferred from a sample application point (100) to a sample utilisation area (101) in a very simple and reliable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM MICROPARTS GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Rodenfels, Thanh Tu Hellmich-Duong, Gert Blankenstein
  • Patent number: 8709353
    Abstract: A device, particularly a microfluidic system, is proposed, in which two cavities are arranged spatially close to one another and are sealed off from one another by a common cover. A fluidic connection can be produced between the cavities by movement of a pin-shaped body towards the cover. In this way it is possible to release a reagent in controlled manner without having to put it under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Microparts GmbH
    Inventors: Berthold Lange, Tobias Rodenfels, Wolfgang Stoeters, Markus Voigt
  • Publication number: 20140000223
    Abstract: A method for filling a cavity, of a packaging, particularly a blister packaging, with a liquid and a packaging suitable for this purpose are proposed. The cavity is completely filled with the liquid by an acceleration force or by continuous throughflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM MICROPARTS GMBH
    Inventors: Dirk Osterloh, Dirk Kurowski, Tobia Rodenfels, Gert Blankenstein, Tobias Eichmann, Thanh Tu Hellmich-Duong
  • Patent number: 8580209
    Abstract: A microfluidic device meters liquids into a network of channels or chambers partly formed by a film partly attached to and above a substrate, the network permitting flow of fluid above the substrate. To form a channel or chamber, the edge zone between unattached and attached portions of the film forms a wedge of material by viscous flow of film material as the film is laminated to the substrate, this wedge forming a transition between the chamber wall and the substrate, raising the wall above the plane of the substrate. Film is laminated with a mask having an opening, the mask pressed onto the film under pressure and/or with heat. The film is brought to a temperature to produce a viscous flow of film and/or substrate medium into the region of the opening, forming a wedge of material as the film bulges up at the opening to form a chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Microparts GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Kurowski, Mario Hempel, Gert Blankenstein, Tobias Rodenfels
  • Patent number: 8580072
    Abstract: A device for the intake or manipulation of a fluid, in particular, a liquid, and a method for the production of a device of this type in which a flat, non-preformed covering film is laminated onto a carrier, a three-dimensionally shaped or convex chamber wall being formed solely by means of the laminating process. The chamber wall which forms a boundary of a chamber for the fluid is partially deformable. The device is simple to produce and can be used universally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim microParts GmbH
    Inventors: Gert Blankenstein, Tobias Rodenfels, Dirk Kurowski, Mario Hempel
  • Publication number: 20130209331
    Abstract: A device and a process are proposed for separating constituents of a sample fluid, wherein the sample fluid is supplied by capillary force to a receiving region (7) for metering, stopping or delaying the sample fluid and the sample fluid is pre-treated with a soluble chemical (13) in the receiving region (7) before the sample fluid is supplied to a separating device (5) for separating off constituents of the sample fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Boehringer Ingelheim Micropaths GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Rodenfels, Gert Blankenstein
  • Publication number: 20130206264
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for manipulating a liquid in a channel, wherein a body, which forms a capillary intermediate space with respect to the channel wall, is moved in the channel and the channel is filled with liquid only up to the body. Preferably, the body can also bridge an area of the channel that cannot be wetted for the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventor: Tobias Rodenfels
  • Publication number: 20130202500
    Abstract: Sample liquid is collected in a chamber downstream of a separating device. Adjoining the chamber are a plurality of channels which guide the sample liquid to one or more investigating regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM MICROPARTS GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Rodenfels, Gert Blankenstein
  • Publication number: 20130156643
    Abstract: A device and a method for manipulating or analysing a liquid sample in a microfluidic channel are proposed. In order to implement an immunoassay, a movable substrate having a binding region is inserted in the channel. The substrate is embodied as a plate-like plastic part and is microstructured in the binding region. It is magnetically movable in the channel and for optical detection can be moved into a gas space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Rodenfels, Gert Blankenstein, Dirk Osterloh
  • Publication number: 20130071302
    Abstract: A device, particularly a microfluidic system, is proposed, in which two cavities are arranged spatially close to one another and are sealed off from one another by a common cover. A fluidic connection can be produced between the cavities by movement of a pin-shaped body towards the cover. In this way it is possible to release a reagent in controlled manner without having to put it under pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM MICROPARTS GMBH
    Inventors: Berthold LANGE, Tobias RODENFELS, Wolfgang STOETERS, Markus VOIGT
  • Publication number: 20110135546
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic device for metering liquids into a microfluidic network. The microfluidic channels or chambers are at least partly formed by the introduction of suitable structures into a film above the substrate carrier, so that at least some of the flow of fluid through the network takes place above the plane of the substrate. In order to form a stable channel structure or chamber structure in the film, it is envisaged that in the edge zone between the unattached and attached portions a wedge of material is formed by the viscous flow of the film material as the film is bonded to the substrate, this wedge forming a transition between the chamber wall and the substrate and raising the chamber wall above the plane of the substrate. In one method of producing a finished microfluidic structure a flat planar film is laminated onto a flat sheet-like substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM MICROPARTS GMBH
    Inventors: Dirk Kurowski, Mario Hempel, Gert Blankenstein, Tobias Rodenfels
  • Publication number: 20100126927
    Abstract: A device for the intake or manipulation of a fluid, in particular, a liquid, and a method for the production of a device of this type in which a flat, non-preformed covering film is laminated onto a carrier, a three-dimensionally shaped or convex chamber wall being formed solely by means of the laminating process. The chamber wall which forms a boundary of a chamber for the fluid is partially deformable. The device is simple to produce and can be used universally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM MICROPARTS GMBH
    Inventors: Gert Blankenstein, Tobias Rodenfels, Dirk Kurowski, Mario Hempel