Patents by Inventor Ralf Hoffmann

Ralf Hoffmann 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: 8946580
    Abstract: The present invention relates to contactors for unidirectional DC operation with permanent magnetic arc extinguishing. In addition to the blow magnets, the contactors are equipped with compensatory permanent magnets for compensating the magnetic field in the vicinity of the contact bridge in order to prevent contact levitation, i.e., an uncontrolled opening of the contacts that is due to a magnetic force generated by a strong current flowing through the contact bridge. To this end, the compensatory permanent magnets are arranged in the vicinity of the contact bridge and polarized in the opposite direction of the blow magnets. The magnetic field of the compensatory magnets and the current flowing through the contact bridge are generating a magnetic force that acts on the contact bridge and tends to keep the electrical contacts closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Matthias Kroeker
  • Patent number: 8937155
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a antimicrobial peptide or peptide derivative comprising the following sequence: Sub1-X1-D2-K3-P4-P5-Y6-L7-P8-R9-P10-X2-P12-P13-R14-X3-T16-P17-N18-N19-X4-Sub2. The invention further relates to multimers comprising said peptides or peptide derivatives. Moreover, the invention provides a peptide or peptide derivative for use in the treatment of a disease. The peptide or peptide derivative may also be used in the screening for novel antimicrobial compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: AMP Therapeutics GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Daniel Knappe
  • Publication number: 20140367055
    Abstract: A connecting means provides a connecting passage between a first compartment of a vehicle and a storage means located in a second compartment of the vehicle. The first and the second compartment are separated by a wall. A catering system for a vehicle includes the connecting means. A method provides a sealed connecting passage between a first compartment of a vehicle and a storage means located in second compartment of a vehicle. The connecting means includes a frame, a hatch arrangement for selectively closing and opening a frame aperture with a hatch cover and a bellows arrangement including a flexible bellows. The flexible bellows can be extended from the frame to a storage means located in the second compartment of the vehicle. A continuous passage defined by the flexible bellows and the frame provides a sealed connecting passage between the first compartment and the storage means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Stefan Ebeling, Jens Gärtner, Andreas Köhler, Raj Kotian, Ralf Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20140370720
    Abstract: A self-aligning connector for data and/or power transmission includes a base plate, a plurality of data and/or power contact elements arranged on the base plate, first and second positioning means attached to the base plate, a mounting means and a frame assembly connecting the base plate to the mounting means and comprising a plurality of frames. Each frame is directly connected to exactly two elements selected from a group consisting of the plurality of frames, the mounting means and the base plate. Each frame is tiltable at least about one axis and/or displaceable in at least one direction with respect to each element it is directly connected to. A connector assembly includes a first self-aligning connector and a second connector. A vehicle includes a first compartment and a second compartment separated by a wall, a bellows assembly and the connector assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Roland Lange, Stefan Ebeling, Jens Gärtner, Andreas Köhler, Raj Kotian, Ralf Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20140309161
    Abstract: The invention relates to modified antibiotic peptides, in particular derivatives of apidaecin and oncocin, preferably having increased stability, reduced immunoreaction, and improved pharmacokinetics. In the invention, the peptide antibiotics are reversibly protected by means of a linker having the polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG). The peptide linker contains a recognition sequence for trypsin-like serum proteases. In the apidaecin derivatives, the linker and the PEG are bonded to a side chain. In the serum, the linker is cut by serum proteases and PEG is separated off. The released peptide still contains remnants of the linker, which are still bonded to the amino group in the side chain. Astonishingly, said remaining remnants of the linker impair the activity of the antimicrobial peptide only a little or not at all.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Universitat Leipzig
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Nicole Berthold, Friederike Nollmann
  • Patent number: 8778621
    Abstract: The present invention relates to phosphodiesterase 4D7 (PDE4D7) for use as a marker for malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, wherein the expression of the marker is increased when comparing the expression in malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer tissue, to the expression in normal tissue or benign prostate tumor tissue, and the use of PDE4D7 as a diagnostic marker for malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. The present invention also relates to a composition for diagnosing, detecting, monitoring or prognosticating malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, a corresponding detection method, a method allowing to discriminate between a benign and malignant hormone-sensitive prostate cancer and a method of data acquisition, as well as corresponding immunoassays. The present invention also relates to a method of identifying an individual for eligibility for malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer as well as an immunoassay for stratifying an individual with such prostate cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Miles Douglas Houslay, David James Peter Henderson
  • Patent number: 8753892
    Abstract: The present invention relates to phosphodiesterase 4D7 (PDE4D7) for use as a marker for prostate cancer, and the use of PDE4D7 as a marker for diagnosing, detecting, monitoring or prognosticating prostate cancer or the progression of prostate cancer. The present invention also relates to a composition for diagnosing, detecting, monitoring or prognosticating prostate cancer or the progression of prostate cancer, a corresponding method and immunoassay, a method for diagnosing, monitoring or prognosticating hormone-resistant prostate cancer vs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Miles Douglas Houslay, David James Peter Henderson
  • Patent number: 8749330
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an electric contact element from a semifinished product and to the electric contact element and the corresponding semifinished product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Umicore AG & Co. KG, Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Heinrich, Ralf Hoffmann, Peter Sandeck, Martin Wieberger, Peter Braumann, Andreas Koffler, Bernd Kempf, Allen Molvar
  • Publication number: 20140156200
    Abstract: The present application mainly relates to specific methods for inferring activity of one or more cellular signaling pathway(s) in tissue of a medical subject based at least on the expression level(s) of one or more target gene(s) of the cellular signaling pathway(s) measured in an extracted sample of the tissue of the medical subject, an apparatus comprising a digital compressor configured to perform such methods and a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that are executable by a digital processing device to perform such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Franciscus Johannes Verhaegh, Anja Van De Stolpe, Hendrik Jan Van Ooijen, Kalyana Chakravarth Dulla, Marcia Alves De Inda, Ralf Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8686113
    Abstract: The invention relates to a peptide or peptide derivative having the general formula: Sub1-X1-D2K3-P4-P5-Y6-L7-P8-R9-P10-X2-P12-P13-R14-X3-I16-P17/Y17-N18-N19-X4-Sub2, wherein X1 is a non-polar, hydrophobic group or a positively charged group, D2 is asparagine or glutamine, K3, X2, and X4 are positively charged groups, X3 is a positively charged group, proline, or a proline derivative; L7 and I16 are non-polar, hydrophobic groups, Y6 and Y17 are tyrosine, R9 and R14 are arginine, N18 and N19 are asparagine or glutamine, P4, P5, P8, P10, P12, P13, and P17 are proline, hydroxyproline, or derivatives thereof, wherein possibly one or two of the groups selected from D2, P4, P5, P8, P10, P12, P13, P17, and Y17 are replaced by an arbitrary group and/or P13 and R14 are exchanged, Sub1 is the free or modified N-terminus, and Sub2 is the free or modified C-terminus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: AMP-Therapeutics GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Daniel Knappe, Anna Klara Brigitte Hansen
  • Publication number: 20130130994
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a antimicrobial peptide or peptide derivative comprising the following sequence: Sub1-X1-D2-K3—P4—P5—Y6-L7-P8—R9—P10X2—P12—P13—R14—X3-T16-P17—N18—N19-X4-Sub2. The invention further relates to multimers comprising said peptides or peptide derivatives. Moreover, the invention provides a peptide or peptide derivative for use in the treatment of a disease. The peptide or peptide derivative may also be used in the screening for novel antimicrobial compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: AMP THERAPEUTICS GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Daniel Knappe
  • Publication number: 20130018121
    Abstract: Single-phase, liquid compositions, comprising at least two isocyanate-reactive polyol components that are incompatible with each other and, as a mediator additive, at least one copolymer that prevents or delays the separation of the polyol components and that is composed of certain structural units, of which certain structural units have no acidic functional groups and certain structural units have at least one acidic functional group and said structural units are optionally reacted at least partially with at least one preferably organic compound having at least one basic group to produce salt, and to the use thereof to produce polyurethanes or corresponding polyurethane items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: BYK-CHEMIE GMBH
    Inventors: René NAGELSDIEK, Bernd Göbelt, Ralf Hoffmann, Jürgen Omeis, Dorothée Greefrath, Martin Muth
  • Publication number: 20130002380
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an electric contact element from a semifinished product and to the electric contact element and the corresponding semifinished product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicants: TYCO ELECTRONICS AMP GMBH, UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jens Heinrich, Ralf Hoffmann, Peter Sandeck, Martin Wieberger, Peter Braumann, Andreas Koffler, Bernd Kempf, Allen Molvar
  • Publication number: 20120129788
    Abstract: The present invention relates to phosphodiesterase 4D7 (PDE4D7) for use as a marker for malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, wherein the expression of the marker is increased when comparing the expression in malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer tissue, to the expression in normal tissue or benign prostate tumor tissue, and the use of PDE4D7 as a diagnostic marker for malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. The present invention also relates to a composition for diagnosing, detecting, monitoring or prognosticating malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, a corresponding detection method, a method allowing to discriminate between a benign and malignant hormone-sensitive prostate cancer and a method of data acquisition, as well as corresponding immunoassays. The present invention also relates to a method of identifying an individual for eligibility for malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer as well as an immunoassay for stratifying an individual with such prostate cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicants: THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW, KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Miles Douglas Houglas, David James Peter Henderson
  • Publication number: 20120065100
    Abstract: The present invention relates to phosphodiesterase 9A (PDE9A) for use as a marker for prostate cancer, and the use of PDE9A as a marker for diagnosing, detecting, monitoring or prognosticating prostate cancer or the progression of prostate cancer. The present invention also relates to a composition for diagnosing, detecting, monitoring or prognosticating prostate cancer or the progression of prostate cancer, a corresponding method and immunoassay, a method for diagnosing, monitoring or prognosticating hormone-resistant prostate cancer vs. hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, a corresponding immunoassay, a method of data acquisition, an immunoassay for diagnosing, detecting, monitoring or prognosticating prostate cancer or the progression of prostate cancer, a method of identifying an individual for eligibility for prostate cancer therapy, an immunoassay for stratifying an individual or cohort of individuals with a prostate cancer disease, an immunoassay for stratifying an individual with prostate cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicants: THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW, KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Miles Douglas Houslay, David James Peter Henderson
  • Publication number: 20120065148
    Abstract: The present invention relates to phosphodiesterase 4D7 (PDE4D7) for use as a marker for prostate cancer, and the use of PDE4D7 as a marker for diagnosing, detecting, monitoring or prognosticating prostate cancer or the progression of prostate cancer. The present invention also relates to a composition for diagnosing, detecting, monitoring or prognosticating prostate cancer or the progression of prostate cancer, a corresponding method and immunoassay, a method for diagnosing, monitoring or prognosticating hormone-resistant prostate cancer vs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicants: THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW, KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Miles Douglas Houslay, David James Peter Henderson
  • Publication number: 20120021975
    Abstract: The invention relates to a peptide or peptide derivative having the general formula: Sub1-X1-D2K3-P4-P5-Y6-L7-P8-R9-P10-X2-P12-P13-R14-X3-I16-P17/Y17-N18-N19-X4-Sub2, wherein X1 is a non-polar, hydrophobic group or a positively charged group, D2 is asparagine or glutamine, K3, X2, and X4 are positively charged groups, X3 is a positively charged group, proline, or a proline derivative; L7 and I16 are non-polar, hydrophobic groups, Y6 and Y17 are tyrosine, R9 and R14 are arginine, N18 and N19 are asparagine or glutamine, P4, P5, P8, P10, P12, P13, and P17 are proline, hydroxyproline, or derivatives thereof, wherein possibly one or two of the groups selected from D2, P4, P5, P8, P10, P12, P13, P17, and Y17 are replaced by an arbitrary group and/or P13 and R14 are exchanged, Sub1 is the free or modified N-terminus, and Sub2 is the free or modified C-terminus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Daniel Knappe, Anna Klara Brigitte Hansen
  • Patent number: 8097463
    Abstract: Tagging of Histidine in polypeptides with arylboronic acid tagging reagents for identifying proteins in a sample by isolating and identifying Histidine-comprising peptides from one protein sample or a pool of protein samples. Databases of Histidine-including peptides from in silico cleaved proteins are uses in the identification of proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Helga Hummel, Volker Weiler
  • Patent number: 8050477
    Abstract: An improved radiation therapy planning procedure is suggested. The procedure comprises the steps of specifying and determining the absolute grade of cell degeneracy by in-vitro tests, whereby marker(s) indicative for specific cell degeneracy are detected and quantified, establishing a biology-based segmentation of areas with similar grade of relative cell degeneracy and applying the absolute grade of cell degeneracy to the biology-based segmentation data, thereby establishing an improved radiation therapy planning procedure. Moreover, the present invention suggests a system for an improved radiation therapy planning procedure and its use in procedures of diagnosis and/or therapy management of cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Lothar Spies, Helga Hummel, Carolina Ribbing, Ralf Hoffmann, Peter Klaus Bachmann
  • Patent number: 8035468
    Abstract: A relay has a magnet system with a core partially enclosed by a coil. A yoke has a first yoke leg attached to a first end of the core and a second yoke leg extending parallel to the core. The second yoke leg has an armature mounting portion formed on an upper side of the second yoke leg remote from the coil. A pole has a first pole leg connected to a second end of the core and a second pole leg extending parallel to the core. The second pole leg has an upper surface substantially aligned with the armature mounting portion. A fixed contact is arranged on a fixed contact carrier substantially aligned with the second pole leg. The arrangement of the magnet system ensures precise positional alignment during extrusion coating with a plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Heinz Stadler