Patents by Inventor Joerg Loeffler

Joerg Loeffler 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: 20170167002
    Abstract: An alloy and an implant having a three-dimensional structure based on such alloy. The alloy comprises a MgZnCa alloy containing nanosized precipitates being less noble than the Mg matrix alloy and having a Zn content ranging 0.1 wt. % Zn to 2 wt. % Zn and a calcium content ranging from 0.2 wt. % to 0.5 wt. %, and having less than 0.04 wt. % of one or more other elements with the remainder being Mg. For these micro-alloys, any second phase generated during the solidification process can be completely dissolved by a solution heat treatment. Finely dispersed nanosized precipitates can then be generated by a subsequent aging heat treatment step. These precipitates are used to “pin” the grain boundaries and to prevent the coarsening of the grain structure during further processing to achieve grain sizes below 5 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Imwinkelried, Stefan Beck, Peter Uggowitzer, Joerg Loeffler
  • Patent number: 9677151
    Abstract: A process for producing high-purity magnesium by distillation at reduced pressure, which includes providing an apparatus having a retort formed from a material inert with respect to magnesium and an upper region defined by two vertically spaced level lines, a condensation vessel having a lower region and an upper region extending into the upper region of the retort, wherein the retort and condensation vessel are coupled to one another by an opening arranged in the upper region of the condensation vessel; providing a magnesium-containing metal melt to the retort at a level below the gap; and heating and maintaining the upper region of the retort at a temperature above the boiling point of magnesium to fill the retort with steam, thereby delivering a high purity melt into the condensation vessel via the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: ETH ZUERICH
    Inventors: Christian Wegmann, Jörg Löffler, Peter Uggowitzer, Minh Becker, Heinrich Feichtinger
  • Patent number: 9593397
    Abstract: An alloy and an implant having a three-dimensional structure based on such alloy. The alloy comprises a MgZnCa alloy containing nanosized precipitates being less noble than the Mg matrix alloy and having a Zn content ranging 0.1 wt. % Zn to 2 wt. % Zn and a calcium content ranging from 0.2 wt. % to 0.5 wt. %, and having less than 0.04 wt. % of one or more other elements with the remainder being Mg. For these micro-alloys, any second phase generated during the solidification process can be completely dissolved by a solution heat treatment. Finely dispersed nanosized precipitates can then be generated by a subsequent aging heat treatment step. These precipitates are used to “pin” the grain boundaries and to prevent the coarsening of the grain structure during further processing to achieve grain sizes below 5 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Imwinkelried, Stefan Beck, Peter Uggowitzer, Joerg Loeffler
  • Publication number: 20170000925
    Abstract: An alloy and an implant having a three-dimensional structure based on such alloy. The alloy comprises a monophasic MgZn alloy containing from 2.0 wt. % Zn to 6 wt. % Zn, having less than 0.001 wt. % of one or more other elements with the remainder being Mg. In some embodiments, the alloy is substantially free of microgalvanic elements. In some embodiments, the alloy includes a MgZnCa alloy containing nanosized precipitates being less noble than the Mg matrix alloy and having a Zn content ranging from 3.0 wt. % Zn to 6 wt. % Zn and a calcium content ranging from 0.0005 wt. % to 1.0 wt. %, having less than 0.001 wt. % of one or more other elements with the remainder being Mg. In other embodiments, the alloy includes a MgZnCa alloy containing nanosized precipitates being less noble than the Mg matrix alloy, a plurality of nanosized precipitates being more noble than the Mg matrix and having a Zn content ranging from 3.0 wt. % Zn to 6 wt. % Zn, a calcium content ranging from 0.0005 wt. % to 1.0 wt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Imwinkelried, Stefan Beck, Peter Uggowitzer, Joerg Loeffler
  • Patent number: 9469889
    Abstract: An alloy and an implant having a three-dimensional structure based on such alloy. The alloy comprises a monophasic MgZn alloy containing from 2.0 wt. % Zn to 6 wt. % Zn, having less than 0.001 wt. % of one or more other elements with the remainder being Mg. In some embodiments, the alloy is substantially free of microgalvanic elements. In some embodiments, the alloy includes a MgZnCa alloy containing nanosized precipitates being less noble than the Mg matrix alloy and having a Zn content ranging from 3.0 wt. % Zn to 6 wt. % Zn and a calcium content ranging from 0.0005 wt. % to 1.0 wt. %, having less than 0.001 wt. % of one or more other elements with the remainder being Mg. In other embodiments, the alloy includes a MgZnCa alloy containing nanosized precipitates being less noble than the Mg matrix alloy, a plurality of nanosized precipitates being more noble than the Mg matrix and having a Zn content ranging from 3.0 wt. % Zn to 6 wt. % Zn, a calcium content ranging from 0.0005 wt. % to 1.0 wt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Imwinkelried, Stefan Beck, Peter Uggowitzer, Joerg Loeffler
  • Patent number: 9345819
    Abstract: A marker alloy foreign implant made of a biodegradable metallic material and having the composition MgxYbyMz wherein x is equal to 10-60 atomic percent; y is equal to 40-90 atomic percent; z is equal to 0-10 atomic percent; M is one or more element selected from the group consisting of Ag, Zn, Au, Ga, Pd, Pt, Al, Sn, Ca, Nd, Ba, Si, and Ge; and wherein x, y, and z, together, and including contaminants caused by production, result in 100 atomic percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK VI PATENT AG
    Inventors: Bruno Zberg, Bodo Gerold, Joerg Loeffler
  • Publication number: 20160022876
    Abstract: An alloy and an implant having a three-dimensional structure based on such alloy. The alloy comprises a MgZnCa alloy containing nanosized precipitates being less noble than the Mg matrix alloy and having a Zn content ranging 0.1 wt. % Zn to 2 wt. % Zn and a calcium content ranging from 0.2 wt. % to 0.5 wt. %, and having one or more other elements, with the remainder being Mg. Any second phase generated during the solidification process may be completely dissolved by a solution heat treatment. Finely dispersed nanosized precipitates can then be generated by a subsequent aging heat treatment step. These precipitates are used to “pin” the grain boundaries and to prevent the coarsening of the grain structure during further processing to achieve grain sizes below 5 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas IMWINKELRIED, Stefan BECK, Peter UGGOWITZER, Joerg LOEFFLER
  • Publication number: 20150351161
    Abstract: A rear window of a motor vehicle includes a window pane body made of plastics and provided with a rear window heater. The window pane body includes grooves at at least one of its two large faces. The grooves are at least partially filled with a strip conductor, wherein the strip conductors form the rear window heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Andrea Kramer, Jörg Löffler, Kevin Zirnsak
  • Patent number: 9074269
    Abstract: A magnesium alloy having Y, Zn, Ca, Mn, Ag, Ce, Zr, or Si. The alloy is distinguished in that, in the event of suitable treatment, the alloy is convertible into a very fine-grained microstructure, in particular, having grain sizes less than 20 ?m. The alloy components are not or are hardly toxicologically relevant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK VI Patent AG
    Inventors: Bodo Gerold, Heinz Mueller, Joerg Loeffler, Anja Haenzi, Peter Uggowitzer
  • Publication number: 20150129092
    Abstract: A magnesium alloy includes <3% by weight of Zn, ?0.6% by weight of Ca, with the rest being formed by magnesium containing impurities, which favor electrochemical potential differences and/or promote the formation of intermetallic phases, in a total amount of no more than 0.005% by weight of Fe, Si, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Al, Zr and P, wherein the alloy contains elements selected from the group of rare earths with the atomic number 21, 39, 57 to 71 and 89 to 103 in a total amount of no more than 0.002% by weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Heinz Mueller, Peter Uggowitzer, Joerg Loeffler
  • Publication number: 20150129091
    Abstract: A magnesium alloy includes 3 to 7.0% Zn, 0.001 to 0.5% Ca, the remainder being magnesium containing impurities, which promote electrochemical potential differences and/or the formation of intermetallic phases, in a total amount of no more than 0.005 of Fe, Si, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Al, Zr and P, wherein the alloying elements are selected from the group of the rare earths having the ordinal numbers 21, 39, 57 to 71 and 89 to 103 in a total amount of no more than 0.001% by weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Heinz Mueller, Peter Uggowitzer, Joerg Loeffler
  • Publication number: 20150128765
    Abstract: A starting material 2 in the form of a magnesium-containing metal melt is present together with the upper region 32 of a condensation vessel 3 in the upper region 11 of a retort 1 heated by the external heating element 5, wherein the steam produced according to the arrows 91, according to arrow 92, enters the upper region 32 of the condensation vessel 3 through the opening 31 below the cover 4 which provides protection from unwanted ingress of contaminated magnesium melt, wherein said steam condenses in the lower region 12 of the retort which is heated by a second heating element 51, below the line 8 corresponding to the melting point isotherm of magnesium, to give the high-purity magnesium melt 21 in the lower region 33 of the condensation vessel 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Christian Wegmann, Jörg Löffler, Peter Uggowitzer, Minh Becker, Heinrich Feichtinger
  • Publication number: 20150119995
    Abstract: A magnesium alloy, implants and method for the production thereof. The magnesium alloy includes 1.5 to 7.0% by weight Zn, 0.5 to 3.5% by weight Al, the remainder being magnesium which contains impurities, which promote electrochemical potential differences and/or the formation of precipitations and/or intermetallic phases, in a total amount of no more than 0.0063% by weight of Fe, Si, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zr, Y, Sc or rare earths having the ordinal numbers 21, 57 to 71 and 89 to 103, Be, Cd, In, Sn and/or Pb as well as P.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Heinz Mueller, Peter Uggowitzer, Joerg Loeffler
  • Publication number: 20150080998
    Abstract: A magnesium alloy and to a method for the production thereof and implants made thereof. The magnesium alloy includes up to 6.0% by weight Zn, and preferably 2.0 to 4.0% by weight Zn, 2.0 to 10.0% by weight Al, and preferably 3.0 to 6.0% by weight Al, where % by weight Al?% by weight Zn shall apply, the remainder being magnesium containing impurities, which promote electrochemical potential differences and/or the formation of precipitations and/or intermetallic phases, in a total amount of no more than 0.0063% by weight of Fe, Si, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zr, Y, Sc or rare earths having the ordinal numbers 21, 57 to 71 and 89 to 103, Be, Cd, In, Sn and/or Pb as well as P, and the matrix of the alloy is solid solution hardening due to Al and An and is also particle hardening due to the intermetallic phases formed of Mg and Al.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Heinz Mueller, Peter Uggowitzer, Joerg Loeffler
  • Publication number: 20150032201
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composite material that comprises at least one magnesium component, whereby the magnesium component consists of pure magnesium or a magnesium-calcium alloy or a magnesium-calcium-X alloy, whereby X is another biodegradable element. The composite material also contains at least one organic anti-infective agent having a solubility in water at room temperature of less than 10 grams per liter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicants: MEDIZINISCHE UNIVERSITÄT GRAZ, HERAEUS MEDICAL GMBH
    Inventors: KLAUS-DIETER KÜHN, ANNELIE WEINBERG, PETER UGGOWITZER, SEBASTIAN VOGT, JÖRG LÖFFLER
  • Publication number: 20140261911
    Abstract: An alloy and an implant having a three-dimensional structure based on such alloy. The alloy comprises a MgZnCa alloy containing nanosized precipitates being less noble than the Mg matrix alloy and having a Zn content ranging 0.1 wt. % Zn to 2 wt. % Zn and a calcium content ranging from 0.2 wt. % to 0.5 wt. %, and having less than 0.04 wt. % of one or more other elements with the remainder being Mg. For these micro-alloys, any second phase generated during the solidification process can be completely dissolved by a solution heat treatment. Finely dispersed nanosized precipitates can then be generated by a subsequent aging heat treatment step. These precipitates are used to “pin” the grain boundaries and to prevent the coarsening of the grain structure during further processing to achieve grain sizes below 5 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: DePuy Synthes Products, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Imwinkelried, Stefan Beck, Peter Uggowitzer, Joerg Loeffler
  • Patent number: 8372144
    Abstract: A base body for an implant comprising a biocorrodible iron alloy including at least one of the following: (i) a biocorrodible iron alloy of formula Fe—P where P is 0.01-5 wt %, and Fe plus impurities account for the remainder up to 100 wt %; or (ii) a biocorrodible iron alloy of formula Fe—Mn—X where Mn is 5-30 wt %, X is at least one of Pt, Pd, Ir, Rh, Re, Ru and Os, and X is 0-20 wt % and Fe plus impurities account for the remainder up to 100 wt %; or (iii) a biocorrodible iron alloy of formula Fe—Z where Z is at least one of Pt, Ir and Os and Z is 5-30 wt %, and Fe plus impurities account for the remainder up to 100 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Biotronik VI Patent AG
    Inventors: Heinz Mueller, Joerg Loeffler, Peter Uggowitzer
  • Patent number: 8293031
    Abstract: A magnesium alloy, comprising: Y: 0.5-10? Zn: 0.5-6?? Ca: 0.05-1?? Mn: ??0-0.5 Ag: 0-1 Ce: 0-1 Zr: 0-1 or Si: 0-0.4, wherein the amounts are based on weight-percent of the alloy and Mg, and manufacturing-related impurities constitute the remainder of the alloy to a total of 100 weight-percent. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing such an alloy and a biodegradable implant formed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Biotronik VI Patent AG
    Inventors: Bodo Gerold, Heinz Mueller, Joerg Loeffler, Anja Haenzi, Peter Uggowitzer
  • Publication number: 20110311456
    Abstract: A marker alloy foreign implant made of a biodegradable metallic material and having the composition MgxYbyMz wherein x is equal to 10-60 atomic percent; y is equal to 40-90 atomic percent; z is equal to 0-10 atomic percent; M is one or more element selected from the group consisting of Ag, Zn, Au, Ga, Pd, Pt, Al, Sn, Ca, Nd, Ba, Si, and Ge; and wherein x, y, and z, together, and including contaminants caused by production, result in 100 atomic percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: BIOTRONIK VI PATENT AG
    Inventors: Bruno Zberg, Bodo Gerold, Joerg Loeffler
  • Patent number: 8057536
    Abstract: An implant comprising an implant material forming a base made of one or more metallic elements; a diffusion layer covering the base made of at least one of the metallic elements of the implant material and at least magnesium; and, optionally, a metal layer covering the diffusion layer made of magnesium or a biocorrodible magnesium alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Biotronik VI Patent AG
    Inventors: Heinz Mueller, Peter Uggowitzer, Joerg Loeffler