Patents by Inventor Urs Vollenweider

Urs Vollenweider 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).

  • Publication number: 20230160915
    Abstract: A computer implemented method to allocate control samples for validating a diagnostic test within a laboratory system is provided. The laboratory system comprises a storage, a transport system, and at least two analyzers. A total number of control sample aliquots and an aliquot volume for each control sample aliquot is determined based on a validation time schedule. Information is presented for distributing the total control sample volume into the determined total number of control sample aliquots with the determined aliquot volumes. Information is also presented for distributing the control sample aliquots to one or more of the at least two analyzers according to the validation time schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Glauser, Urs Vollenweider
  • Patent number: 11579156
    Abstract: A method to provide control samples for validating a diagnostic test within a laboratory system is presented. The laboratory system comprises an aliquoting device, a storage, a transport system, at least two analyzers, and a control unit. A total number of control sample aliquots and an aliquot volume for each control sample aliquot is determined based on a validation time schedule. A provided total control sample volume is aliquoted into the determined total number of control sample aliquots with the determined aliquot volumes. The generated control sample aliquots are transported to one or more of the at least two analyzers according to the validation time schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Glauser, Urs Vollenweider
  • Patent number: 11226348
    Abstract: A storage module for a laboratory automation system, a method of operating a laboratory automation system, and a laboratory automation system are presented. Items used by laboratory stations are stored centrally in a storage module and can be transported to the laboratory stations using a laboratory sample distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Urs Vollenweider, Gottlieb Schacher, Goran Savatic, Marco Maetzler, Christoph Ludwig, Christian Loewenstein, Yves Laloux, Rik Harbers, Matthias Edelmann, Andreas Drechsler
  • Publication number: 20200393476
    Abstract: A method to provide control samples for validating a diagnostic test within a laboratory system is presented. The laboratory system comprises an aliquoting device, a storage, a transport system, at least two analyzers, and a control unit. A total number of control sample aliquots and an aliquot volume for each control sample aliquot is determined based on a validation time schedule. A provided total control sample volume is aliquoted into the determined total number of control sample aliquots with the determined aliquot volumes. The generated control sample aliquots are transported to one or more of the at least two analyzers according to the validation time schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicant: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Glauser, Urs Vollenweider
  • Publication number: 20180106821
    Abstract: A storage module for a laboratory automation system, a method of operating a laboratory automation system, and a laboratory automation system are presented. Items used by laboratory stations are stored centrally in a storage module and can be transported to the laboratory stations using a laboratory sample distribution system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Urs Vollenweider, Gottlieb Schacher, Goran Savatic, Marco Maetzler, Christoph Ludwig, Christian Loewenstein, Yves Laloux, Rik Harbers, Matthias Edelmann, Andreas Drechsler
  • Patent number: 9443058
    Abstract: A urine work area manager comprises a computing unit and a set of machine executable instructions stored in a memory for execution by the computing unit. The computing unit transfers commands and data between a urine test strip reader and the manager using a first interface, and transfers commands and data between a urine sediment analyzer and the manager using a second interface. In operation, the computing unit instructs the urine test strip reader to analyze a plurality of urine samples, receives a strip analysis result from the urine test strip reader, and generates a first set of instructions for controlling the urine sediment analyzer using the strip analysis result. The computing unit further instructs the urine sediment analyzer to analyze the plurality of urine samples with the first set of instructions and receives a sediment analysis result from the urine sediment analyzer using the second interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Busenhart, Diego Del-Grande, Antonia Voegel, Urs Vollenweider
  • Patent number: 8159658
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system for the automated analysis of samples, comprising: a first optical device including at least one receptacle for receiving at least one of said samples and a receptacle-associated optical unit including at least one receptacle-associated light source for emitting light adapted for determining a color of said sample and generating a light beam for irradiating said sample contained in said receptacle and at least one receptacle-associated light detector for detecting light transmitted through said sample and generating a receptacle-associated detection signal; a second optical device including at least one test element provided with at least one test zone for applying said sample, said test zone being subject to an optically detectable change in response to at least one characteristic of said sample being different from said color and a test element-associated optical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Fabian Durrer, Kurt Schildknecht, Urs Vollenweider
  • Publication number: 20110022327
    Abstract: A urine work area manager comprises a computing unit and a set of machine executable instructions stored in a memory for execution by the computing unit. The computing unit transfers commands and data between a urine test strip reader and the manager using a first interface, and transfers commands and data between a urine sediment analyzer and the manager using a second interface. In operation, the computing unit instructs the urine test strip reader to analyze a plurality of urine samples, receives a strip analysis result from the urine test strip reader, and generates a first set of instructions for controlling the urine sediment analyzer using the strip analysis result. The computing unit further instructs the urine sediment analyzer to analyze the plurality of urine samples with the first set of instructions and receives a sediment analysis result from the urine sediment analyzer using the second interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Mark Busenhart, Diego Del-Grande, Antonia Voegel, Urs Vollenweider
  • Publication number: 20100283995
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system for the automated analysis of samples, comprising: a first optical device including at least one receptacle for receiving at least one of said samples and a receptacle-associated optical unit including at least one receptacle-associated light source for emitting light adapted for determining a colour of said sample and generating a light beam for irradiating said sample contained in said receptacle and at least one receptacle-associated light detector for detecting light transmitted through said sample and generating a receptacle-associated detection signal; a second optical device including at least one test element provided with at least one test zone for applying said sample, said test zone being subject to an optically detectable change in response to at least one characteristic of said sample being different from said colour and a test element-associated optical unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Fabian Durrer, Kurt Schildknecht, Urs Vollenweider