Patents Assigned to Paul Scherrer Institute
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Patent number: 7659521Abstract: A system for an intensity-modulated proton therapy of a predetermined target volume within an object includes a proton source to generate a proton beam, a number of proton beam forming units and a beam nozzle having an outlet for the proton beam to penetrate the predetermined target volume of the object, thereby defining a cross sectional scanning exit area. The system includes further a beam bending magnet disposed upstream of the nozzle, and an x-ray tube and an x-ray imager. The x-ray tube is associated with an irradiation channel within the beam bending magnet, wherein the irradiation channel is oriented along the prolongation of the nominal proton beam direction thereby delivering the x-ray beam along the proton beam direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2005Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: Paul Scherrer InstituteInventor: Eros Pedroni
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Patent number: 7645530Abstract: A fuel cell has an electrochemical process area having a cathode area, an anode area and an ion-exchanging membrane that separates these areas. The cathode area has a gas passage way having a gas inlet, a gas channel and a gas outlet, wherein the gas passage way is for an oxygen-containing gas to flow from the gas inlet through the gas channel to the gas outlet. The fuel cell includes further a humidity transfer area having a dehumidifying zone, a humidifying zone and a humidity transfer membrane that separates these zones. An exhaust channel connects the gas outlet to the dehumidifying zone, and an inlet channel connects the gas inlet to the humidifying zone. Humidity is extracted from the oxygen-containing gas in the dehumidifying zone, and added to the oxygen-containing gas in the humidifying zone via the humidity transfer membrane.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2007Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: Paul Scherrer InstituteInventors: Felix Buechi, Martin Ruge, Daniel Schmid
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Publication number: 20090316857Abstract: The present invention relates to an interferometer for x-rays, in particular hard x-rays, for obtaining quantitative x-ray images from an object, comprising: a) an x-ray source, preferably a standard polly chromatic x-ray source, b) a diffractive beam splitter grating other than a Bragg crystal, preferably in transmission geometry, c) a position-sensitive detector detector with spatially modulated detection sensitivity having a number of individual pixels; d) means for recording the images of the detector in a phase-stepping approach; and e) means for evaluating the intensities for each pixel in a series of images in order to identify the characteristic of the object for each individual pixel as an absorption dominated pixel and/or an differential phase contrast dominated pixel and/or an x-ray scattering dominated pixel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2007Publication date: December 24, 2009Applicant: PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUTInventors: Christian David, Franz Pfeiffer
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Publication number: 20090305093Abstract: A self-contained system for the generation of electrical energy from biomass by gasification combines several process units in one self-contained system. The global properties are greater than the sum of the individual properties of the process units.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2007Publication date: December 10, 2009Applicant: PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUTInventors: Serge Biollaz, Markus Jenne, Florian Nagel, Tilman J. Schildhauer
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Publication number: 20090285352Abstract: A readout chip for single photon counting has a plurality of N individually working channels each assigned to a respective detector diode. Each channel has a counter designed as a binary counter having a length of M bits and a number of programmable bits. Further, the readout chip has a serial shift register or parallel data input register for entering values for the counter and the programmable bits, and a number of data output shift registers each having a number of K data outputs. Means are provided for selectively multiplexing each of the K data outputs onto a selectable bit of the data output shift register.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2006Publication date: November 19, 2009Applicant: Paul Scherrer InstitutInventor: Bernd Schmitt
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Publication number: 20090286065Abstract: A method for generating a porous network of supra-molecular devices includes the steps of: a) providing self-organizing molecules comprising connecting bonds and side-groups; b) generating a two-dimensional layer of the molecules on an unstructured surface, wherein self-organizing leads to an at least partially regular network of cells, each cell comprising a number of said self-organizing molecules and each cell offering a functional center; and c) further depositing a predefined amount of said self-organizing molecules and/or of other functional molecules on said two-dimensional layer, wherein these further deposited molecules accommodating in said functional centers of said cells, one or more of said further deposited molecules per cell, wherein said further deposited molecule comprises a multi-stable architecture together with the cell hosting the further deposited molecule.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2007Publication date: November 19, 2009Applicant: Paul Scherrer InstitutInventors: Davide Bonifazi, Fuyong Cheng, Francois Diederich, Thomas Jung, Andreas Kiebele, Hannes Spillmann, Nikolai Wintjes
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Patent number: 7585852Abstract: The invention relates to cobalamin derivatives having no or low binding affinity to the transport protein transcobalamin II (TCII) and retaining activity as a vitamin B12 substitute, optionally carrying a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent, such as a radioactive metal. These compounds have a much reduced accumulation rate in blood and benign organs, such as kidney and liver, compared to the accumulation rate in neoplastic tissues, and are more rapidly eliminated from blood. The invention further relates to a method of diagnosis and a method of treatment of a neoplastic disease or an infection by microorganisms in a mammal by exposing the mammal to a period of a vitamin B12 free diet, and subsequently applying a cobalamin derivative of the invention carrying a diagnostic and/or therapeutic agent. By selecting cobalamin derivatives acting as vitamin B12 substitutes, the risk of the formation of resistant off-spring in neoplastic tissue is much reduced.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2004Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignees: Solidago AG, Zurich, Universtitat, Paul Scherrer InstitutInventors: Hans-Jörg Treichler, Roger Alberto, Robert Waibel, Martin T. Küenzi, Jakob Nüesch, Stefan Mundwiler, Dave R. van Staveren
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Publication number: 20090217456Abstract: A patient transport system includes a patient table, a self-propelled support vehicle having means for loading the patient table and means for unloading the patient table, a patient diagnosis and/or therapy station, and a control means for controlling an operation of the at least one self-propelled support vehicle. A patient disposed on the patient table is presentable at the patient diagnosis and/or therapy station by controllably moving the support vehicle. The means for unloading the patient table are provided to unload the patient table from the support vehicle into a determined position within the patient diagnosis and/or therapy station. The means for loading the patient table are provided to load the patient table from the determined position within the patient diagnosis and/or therapy station into a determined position on the support vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2006Publication date: September 3, 2009Applicant: Paul Scherrer InstitutInventors: Daniel Lempen, Petra Rhiner-Rosansky, Peter Flueck
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Patent number: 7560715Abstract: A process for an intensity-modulated proton therapy of a predetermined volume within an object includes discretising the predetermined volume into a number of iso-energy layers each corresponding to a determined energy of the proton beam. A final target dose distribution is determined for each iso-energy layer. The final target dose distribution or at least a predetermined part of this final target dose distribution is applied by parallel beam scanning by controlling the respective beam sweepers, thereby scanning one iso-energy layer after the other using an intensity-modulated proton beam while scanning a predetermined iso-energy layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2005Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Paul Scherrer InstituteInventor: Eros Pedroni
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Publication number: 20090176968Abstract: New chelating agents as well as their tricarbonyl complexes with technetium and rhenium and the use of these compounds in radiodiagnosis and radiotherapy are described. As a peculiarity of this invention, synthesis and coupling of the chelating systems to (bio)molecules is performed simultaneously. The new chelating agents are coupled to substances that accumulate in the diseased/targeted tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2007Publication date: July 9, 2009Applicant: PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUTInventors: Thomas Mindt, Roger Schibli
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Publication number: 20090127202Abstract: In a method for a retention of iodine species which are comprised in an aqueous solution a nucleophilic agent or a mixture of a plurality of nucleophilic agents is added to the aqueous solution. Further, a soluble ion-exchanger agent or a mixture of a plurality of soluble ion-exchanger agents is added to the aqueous solution.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2006Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUTInventors: Horst Bruchertseifer, Salih Guentay
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Patent number: 7514688Abstract: The invention is directed to increasing the time resolution capabilities of a photon counting imaging device. This is achieved by a photon-counting imaging device for single x-ray counting, including: a layer of photosensitive material; an N×M array of photodetector diodes arranged in the layer of the photosensitive material; an N×M array of readout unit cells including an high gain, low noise amplifying elements, one readout unit cell for each photodetector diode; the readout unit cells being controlled by a data processing elements; each readout unit cell comprising an internal data processing elements allowing to assign an output signal representing an amplifyied signal of the electron hole pairs generated by an incident photon or a predetermined number of incident photons in the respective photodetector diode to a preselectable region of interest; and the assignment of the output signal is accompanied by a time stamp generated by a clock means.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2003Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Paul Scherrer InstitutInventors: Christian Broennimann, Bernd Schmitt
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Publication number: 20090053611Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes a cathode layer, an anode layer, and a polymer electrolyte sandwiched between the cathode layer and the anode layer. The polymer electrolyte layer is a polymer film having a plurality of sections. The sections are radiation grafted and sulfonated, wherein the sections are separated from each other by separation bands. The separation bands are untreated sections of the polymer electrolyte layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2006Publication date: February 26, 2009Applicant: Paul Scherrer InstitutInventors: Guenther G. Scherer, Lorenz Gubler, Selmiye Alkan Guersel
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Publication number: 20080314411Abstract: A reactor for direct utilization of external radiation heat includes a containment can having a longitudinal axis, an external driving mechanism for controllable rotating the containment can and a cavity having a cylindrical shape. The cavity is partially lined with an insulation layer and disposed in the containment can. The cavity has a gas inlet, a gas outlet and an aperture for allowing to insert the external radiation heat into the cavity. A feeder mechanism is moveable along the longitudinal axis into and out of the cavity for supplying the material subject to the thermal or thermo-chemical material process. The gas outlet is formed as a ring channel tube having an inner and an outer surface, wherein the feeder mechanism is at least partially hosted within a tube cavity defined by the inner surface. Cooling means are associated with the inner and/or outer surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2005Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUTInventors: Reto Mueller, Robert Palumbo, Peter Haeberling
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Publication number: 20080309295Abstract: A supercapacitors voltage balancing device (2) to be connected to a supercapacitor module (1) having N individual supercapacitors (10) connected in series, for optimizing the voltage of the individual supercapacitors in the module.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2005Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicants: CONCEPTIN ET DEVELOPPEMENT MICHELIN S.A., PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUTInventors: Rudiger Kotz, Jean-Claude Sauter
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Patent number: 7459614Abstract: It is the aim of the invention to provide a technology for the stimulation of the crystallization of biomolecules contained in a liquid solution that leads to significant improvements in the reliability of crystal growth processes and shortens the time and the number of attempts to grow a certain biomolecule crystal, also under the condition that only very small amounts of the biomolecules are available.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2004Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Paul Scherrer InstitutInventors: Celestino Padeste, Christian Kambach, Jens Grobrecht, Harun Solak
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Publication number: 20080199754Abstract: In a method for preparing a membrane to be assembled in a membrane electrode assembly, such as a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, a base polymer film is irradiated with at least one of electromagnetic and particle radiation in order to form reactive centers within the polymer film. The irradiated film is exposed to a mixture of monomers amenable to radical polymerization to form a graft copolymer in the irradiated film. The mixture includes ?-methylstyrene and methacrylonitrile. The grafted film is sulfonated to introduce sulfonic acid sites providing ionic conductivity of the material.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2006Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUTInventors: Guenther G. Scherer, Lorenz Gubler, Michal Slaski
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Publication number: 20080191242Abstract: The present invention is an electro mechanical component, such as a nano-electro-mechanical component, having a first, a second and a third portion arranged such that the second portion is used to functionally connect the first and the third portion. In the present invention, the second portion is a bilayer having a first and a second layer made from two dissimilar at least semiconductive materials; the two materials have different lattice constants; and the first layer harbors tensile strain close to an interface connecting the first and the second layer and harbors compressive strain at its surface; and the second layer harbors compressive strain close to the interface connecting the first and the second layer and tensile strain at the relaxed outer section.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2004Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUTInventor: Gruetzmacher Detlev
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Publication number: 20080186579Abstract: A system for generating periodic or quasi-periodic patterns on a sample by means of an interference lithography technique includes a photon source, a mask and a sample holder. The mask has a grating for generating a predetermined pattern, wherein the mask is positioned at a first distance from the photon source. The sample holder is disposed at a second distance from the mask on a side facing away from the photon source. The second distance is selected to be where an intensity distribution is substantially stationary and distance-invariant, or the second distance is varied to obtain a desired average intensity distribution on the sample surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2005Publication date: August 7, 2008Applicant: Paul Scherrer InstitutInventor: Harun H. Solak
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Publication number: 20080182140Abstract: A fuel cell has an electrochemical process area having a cathode area, an anode area and an ion-exchanging membrane that separates these areas. The cathode area has a gas passage way having a gas inlet, a gas channel and a gas outlet, wherein the gas passage way is for an oxygen-containing gas to flow from the gas inlet through the gas channel to the gas outlet. The fuel cell includes further a humidity transfer area having a dehumidifying zone, a humidifying zone and a humidity transfer membrane that separates these zones. An exhaust channel connects the gas outlet to the dehumidifying zone, and an inlet channel connects the gas inlet to the humidifying zone. Humidity is extracted from the oxygen-containing gas in the dehumidifying zone, and added to the oxygen-containing gas in the humidifying zone via the humidity transfer membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2007Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUTInventors: Felix Buechi, Martin Ruge, Daniel Schmid