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).

  • Publication number: 20110120844
    Abstract: A switch for switching an electrical load comprises a contact chamber in which a first contact member, a second contact member and a movable contact bridge are arranged. The contact chamber is arranged in a mounting support. The contact chamber comprises a ceramic material and the mounting support comprises a plastics material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Amp GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Matthias Kroeker, Udo Gabel
  • Publication number: 20110111388
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the detection of an analyte containing polyamino acid. The object of the invention is to detect polyamino acids in a highly sensitive manner. The object is achieved in that an LM is coupled to a protein after chemical activation, and is complexed using a lanthanoid ion. In order to detect polyamino acids, the time resolved fluorescence measurement is utilized after electrophoretic separation. The detection limit is 0.5 pg per spot (bovine serum albumin), wherein the linear region extends across six orders of magnitude. The invention also relates to analytes containing nucleic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Horst Hennig, Ralf Hoffmann, Jörg Marx, Frank Schumer, Johannes Zeiser, Thole Züchner
  • Publication number: 20110045989
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods allowing the selective enrichment of N-terminal fragments of polypeptides and/or peptides from complex samples by combining a particular polypeptide/peptide labeling and fractionation strategy with specific chemical and/or enzymatic reactions targeting the N-terminal fragments to be analyzed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Hugo Matthieu Visser, Edwin Peter Romijn
  • Publication number: 20110028330
    Abstract: The present invention relates to kits and methods for the isotopic/isobaric labeling and the subsequent affinity selection and analysis of proteinaceous molecules. In particular, the invention relates to a kit-of-parts comprising a combinatorial plurality of labeling reagent for the labeling of proteinaceous molecules, each labeling reagent comprising an isobaric label component, an isotopic label component, and a reactive group capable of reacting with a proteinaceous molecule, wherein the isotopic label component concomitantly is an affinity tag. The invention is also directed to a corresponding method for the analysis of proteinaceous molecules, comprising labeling at least one subset of the proteinaceous molecules present by employing a kit-of-parts as defined herein and subsequently separating the labeled molecules by affinity purification via the affinity tag comprised in the label. Finally, the invention relates to the uses of such methods for protein expression profiling or proteomic analyses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Edwin Peter Romijn, Eef Hubert Cecil Dirksen
  • Publication number: 20100311115
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the selective enrichment of post-translationally modified proteins and/or peptides from complex samples. In particular, the invention relates to methods for the separation of phospho-proteins and/or -peptides and/or for the discrimination between different subsets of phospho-proteins and/or -peptides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Hugo M. Visser, Edwin P. Romijn
  • Publication number: 20100304493
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the selective enrichment of post-translationally modified proteins and/or peptides from complex samples by combining a particular protein/peptide labeling and fractionation strategy with specific chemical and/or enzymatic reactions targeting the post-translational modification to be analyzed. More specifically, the invention relates to methods for the enrichment and/or separation of phospho-proteins and/or -peptides, and particularly for the discrimination between different subsets of phospho-proteins and/or -peptides in complex samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Hugo M. Visser, Edwin P. Romijn
  • Publication number: 20100298153
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for identifying proteins in one or more samples based on the isolation and analysis of their C-terminal peptides. The isolated peptides are purified and analysed by Mass spectroscopy. Identification of the parent protein is based on the mass of the C-terminal peptide in combination with additional physicochemical parameters. The present invention further relates to an annotated database of C-terminal peptides of in silico cleaved proteins comprising the masses of C-terminal peptides and one or more physicochemical properties thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Ralf Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20100256011
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the selective enrichment of post-translationally modified proteins and/or peptides from complex samples, wherein the post-translational modification is glycosylation, by combining a particular protein/peptide labeling protocol with the specific selection of the post-translationally modified proteins and/or peptides to be analyzed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Hugo Matthieu Visser, Edwin Peter Romijn
  • Patent number: 7800467
    Abstract: An electrical switch element for a relay includes a base, a compensating element, and an actuating device. The base is provided with fixed contacts. The compensating element includes first and second switch contact carriers provided with switch contacts that correspond to the fixed contacts. The first and second switch contact carriers are connected by a rigid body joint arranged there between such that the first and second switch contact carriers are pivotable about a pivot axis. The rigid body joint has a support surface. The actuating device is in contact with the support surface. The actuating device applies a switching force to the support surface to cause the first and second switch contact carriers to pivot about the pivot axis to move the switch contacts into or out of electrical contact with the fixed contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20100222268
    Abstract: This invention concerns novel antibiotic peptide and peptide derivates, especially for use in medicine. Further, the invention relates to compositions and methods for killing microbes, like bacteria or fungus, and methods to treat microbial infections. The invention further relates to a method for drug screening analysis. The peptides and peptide derivates have the general formula Sub1-X1 N X2 X3 P V Y I P X4 X5 R P P H P-Sub2 wherein X1 is a neutral or positively charged moiety, X2 is a polar or positively charged moiety, X3 is a positively charged moiety, X4 is a polar or positively charged moiety, X5 is a proline or a proline derivate, Sub1 being the free or modified N-terminus, and Sub2 being the free or modified C-terminus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Patricia Czihal
  • Publication number: 20100215581
    Abstract: The invention relates to contrast agents for diagnosing prostate cancer in a human or animal being. These contrast agents are compounds comprising a targeting module that is capable of interacting with a prostate cancer-specific molecular marker and a detectable unit. The invention also concerns the use of such compounds for diagnosing prostate cancer in a human or animal being.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: RALF HOFFMANN
  • Publication number: 20100190183
    Abstract: Subject of the present invention are new isotopic and isobaric tagged molecules, kits comprising them and methods of using them in mass spectrometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Edwin Peter Romijn, Eef Hubert Cecil Dirksen
  • Publication number: 20100068819
    Abstract: The present invention describes double labelling reagents with both an isotopic and isobaric label component suitable for differentially labelling different—protein samples. After labelling of the individual protein samples, all samples are pooled. Peptides from the pooled samples are isolated and analysed by mass spectrometry for determining the relative concentration of each differentially double-labelled polypeptide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Ralf Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20100056916
    Abstract: A system is provided that may be used for locating and diagnosing lesions in the human body in vivo. In some embodiments, once the exact position of a lesion is found, a biopsy may be taken from the lesion using e.g. ultra sound techniques for guidance of the biopsy needle. Use of the system drastically reduces the negative biopsy samples compared to currently used “blind sampling” techniques. This reduces patient discomfort and minimizes infections as the number of biopsy samples is reduced. A method and computer-readable medium is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Levinus Peter Bakker, Michael Cornelis Van Beek, Martinus Bernardus Van Der Mark, Rene Van Den Ham, Bernardus Hendrikus Wilhelmus Hendriks, Ralf Hoffmann, Nijs Cornelis Van Der Vaart, Marjolein Van Der Voort
  • Publication number: 20100041162
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the tagging of Histidine in polypeptides with arylboronic acid tagging reagents. The present invention further describes methods and devices to identify proteins in a sample by isolating and identifying Histidine-comprising peptides from one protein sample or a pool of protein samples. The present invention further describes databases of Histidine-comprising peptides from in silico cleaved proteins and their use in the identification of proteins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Helga Hummel, Volker Weiler
  • Publication number: 20100030067
    Abstract: A system for imaging of prostate cancer in a prostate in vivo is provided. The system utilizes Diffuse Optical Tomography (DOT) for creating a 3D image for the detection of suspicious prostate tissue. The DOT image may be used to guide the biopsy, thereby reducing the number of false negatives. A method, computer-readable medium and use are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Michael Cornelis Van Beek, Martinus Bernardus Van Der Mark, Levinus Pieter Bakker, Rene Van Den Ham, Bernardus Hendrikus Wilhelmus Hendriks, Ralf Hoffmann, Nijs Cornelis Van Der Vaart, Marjolein Van Der Voort
  • Publication number: 20090238767
    Abstract: This invention discloses a method of synthesizing targeting contrast agents for molecular imaging and targeting diagnosis and therapy, targeting contrast agents and targeting therapeutic agents and their use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Helga Hummel, Volker Ulrich Weiler, Ralf Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20090028408
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Lothar Spies, Helga Hummel, Carolina Ribbing, Ralf Hoffmann, Peter Klaus Bachmann
  • Publication number: 20080296843
    Abstract: A method for sealing a housing includes providing a base plate of the housing with at least one opening; providing an electrical connection that extends through the base plate from an inner side to an outer side of the base plate; and applying a sealing compound into the opening from an outer side of the base plate in order to seal an interface between the base plate and the electrical connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Alexander Linke, Martin Wieberger, Titus Ziegler
  • Publication number: 20080206152
    Abstract: The present invention relates to in vivo expression profiling using a plurality of specific targeting moieties each labelled with a different compound which allows to identify simultaneously the binding of each targeting moiety to a target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Helga Hummel, Matthias Wendt