Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Ansorge

Wolfgang Ansorge 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: 20210245110
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a polymeric membrane having a first surface and a second surface and a wall extending between the first and second surface, the membrane comprising pores on the first and second surfaces and throughout the wall, the membrane comprising a modified surface, the modified surface comprising acrylate and/or methacrylate polymers and/or copolymers, wherein the modified surface extends at least over the first and/or the second surface, and over the pores of at least 50% of the thickness of the wall. Furthermore, the present disclosure provides a method for producing such a membrane as well as a use of the membranes as disclosed herein for purification of aqueous media such as in biopharmaceutical applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ansorge, Niklas M. Matzeit, Sven Frost, Ingmar Leismann
  • Publication number: 20210170328
    Abstract: Hydrophobic poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) hollow fiber membrane for retention of anesthetic agents with an inner and an outer surface and between inner and outer surface an essentially isotropic support layer with a sponge-like, open-pored, microporous structure free of macrovoids and adjacent to this support layer on the outer surface a dense separation layer with a thickness between 1.0 and 3.5 ?m. The membrane has a porosity in the range of greater than 35% to less than 50% by volume and a permeance for CO2 of 20-60 mol/(h·m2·bar), a gas separation factor ?(CO2/N2) of at least 5 and a selectivity CO2/anesthetic agents of at least 150. The process for producing this membrane is based on a thermally induced phase separation process in which process a homogeneous solution of a poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) in a solvent system containing components A and B is formed, wherein component A is a strong solvent and component B a weak non-solvent for the polymer component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Ina Voigt, Wolfgang Ansorge, Florentin Wilfart, Michael Schmidt, Jan Haelssig
  • Patent number: 10960362
    Abstract: Hydrophobic flat membrane made from a vinylidene fluoride polymer with a wall, a first surface, and a second surface. The membrane has on its first surface a network structure with open pores and on its second surface a continuous skin in which pores are formed, and adjacent to the skin of the second surface a supporting layer with an isotropic pore structure across the wall thickness, wherein the supporting layer extends over at least 80% of the wall thickness and wherein the pores of the supporting layer have an average diameter of less than 1 ?m. The weight average of the molecular weight MW of the vinylidene fluoride polymer lies in the range from 300 000 to 500 000 daltons, and the polydispersivity MW/MN is greater than 5.5. The pores in the skin of the second surface have a closed perimeter in the plane of the skin and an average ratio of the extension in the direction of the longest axis thereof to the extension in the direction of the shortest axis thereof of at most 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Quan Huang, Oliver Schuster, Phung Ngoc Duong, Wolfgang Ansorge
  • Patent number: 10946345
    Abstract: Hydrophobic hollow-fiber membrane made from a vinylidene fluoride polymer with a wall and a wall thickness, an outer surface on its outer side, an inner surface on its inner side and facing its lumen and adjacent to the inner surface a supporting layer having a structure that is substantially isotropic across the wall thickness, the supporting layer extending over at least 80% of the wall thickness and comprising pores having an average diameter of less than 1 ?m, and wherein the hollow-fiber membrane has pores on its outer surface and on its inner surface, characterized in that the vinylidene fluoride polymer has a weight-average molecular weight MW in the range from 550 000 to 700 000 daltons and a polydispersivity greater than 3.0; the pores in the outer and in the inner surface are formed like islands and have a maximum ratio of their longitudinal extension to the transverse extension of 10; the porosity lies in the range from 50 to 90 vol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: EM Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Oliver Schuster, Quan Huang, Ngoc-Phung Duong, Karl Bauer, Wolfgang Ansorge
  • Patent number: 10926214
    Abstract: Hydrophobic poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) hollow fiber membrane for retention of anesthetic agents with an inner and an outer surface and between inner and outer surface an essentially isotropic support layer with a sponge-like, open-pored, microporous structure free of macrovoids and adjacent to this support layer on the outer surface a dense separation layer with a thickness between 1.0 and 3.5 ?m. The membrane has a porosity in the range of greater than 35% to less than 50% by volume and a permeance for CO2 of 20-60 mol/(h·m2·bar), a gas separation factor ?(CO2/N2) of at least 5 and a selectivity CO2/anesthetic agents of at least 150. The process for producing this membrane is based on a thermally induced phase separation process in which process a homogeneous solution of a poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) in a solvent system containing components A and B is formed, wherein component A is a strong solvent and component B a weak non-solvent for the polymer component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ina Voigt, Wolfgang Ansorge, Florentin Wilfart, Michael Schmidt, Jan Haelssig
  • Publication number: 20190091626
    Abstract: Hydrophobic poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) hollow fiber membrane for retention of anesthetic agents with an inner and an outer surface and between inner and outer surface an essentially isotropic support layer with a sponge-like, open-pored, microporous structure free of macrovoids and adjacent to this support layer on the outer surface a dense separation layer with a thickness between 1.0 and 3.5 ?m. The membrane has a porosity in the range of greater than 35% to less than 50% by volume and a permeance for CO2 of IN 20-60 mol/(h·m2·bar), a gas separation factor ?(CO2/N2) of at least 5 and a selectivity CO2/anesthetic agents of at least 150. The process of for producing this membrane is based on a thermally induced phase separation process in which process a homogeneous solution of a poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) in a solvent system containing components A and B is formed, wherein component A is a strong solvent and component B a weak non-solvent for the polymer component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Ina Voigt, Wolfgang Ansorge, Florentin Wilfart, Michael Schmidt, Jan Haelssig
  • Publication number: 20170312703
    Abstract: Hydrophobic flat membrane made from a vinylidene fluoride polymer with a wall, a first surface, and a second surface. The membrane has on its first surface a network structure with open pores and on its second surface a continuous skin in which pores are formed, and adjacent to the skin of the second surface a supporting layer with an isotropic pore structure across the wall thickness, wherein the supporting layer extends over at least 80% of the wall thickness and wherein the pores of the supporting layer have an average diameter of less than 1 ?m. The weight average of the molecular weight MW of the vinylidene fluoride polymer lies in the range from 300 000 to 500 000 daltons, and the polydispersivity MW/MN is greater than 5.5. The pores in the skin of the second surface have a closed perimeter in the plane of the skin and an average ratio of the extension in the direction of the longest axis thereof to the extension in the direction of the shortest axis thereof of at most 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Quan Huang, Oliver Schuster, Phung Ngoc Duong, Wolfgang Ansorge
  • Publication number: 20160089638
    Abstract: Hydrophobic hollow-fiber membrane made from a vinylidene fluoride polymer with a wall and a wall thickness, an outer surface on its outer side, an inner surface on its inner side and facing its lumen and adjacent to the inner surface a supporting layer having a structure that is substantially isotropic across the wall thickness, the supporting layer extending over at least 80% of the wall thickness and comprising pores having an average diameter of less than 1 ?m, and wherein the hollow-fiber membrane has pores on its outer surface and on its inner surface, characterized in that the vinylidene fluoride polymer has a weight-average molecular weight MW in the range from 550 000 to 700 000 daltons and a polydispersivity greater than 3.0; the pores in the outer and in the inner surface are formed like islands and have a maximum ratio of their longitudinal extension to the transverse extension of 10; the porosity lies in the range from 50 to 90 vol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Oliver Schuster, Quan Huang, Ngoc-Phung Duong, Karl Bauer, Wolfgang Ansorge
  • Patent number: 8827086
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hollow-fiber membrane for ultrafiltration made from a hydrophobic aromatic sulfone polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer, the membrane having an open-pore separating layer on the lumen side, an adjoining supporting layer with asymmetric, sponge-like pore structure without finger pores and an outer layer adjoining the supporting layer towards the outer surface. The separating layer has a cutoff between 20 000 and 200 000 daltons, a thickness of max. 10% of the membrane thickness and an essentially isotropic pore structure. The size of the pores in the supporting layer initially increases up to a zone with maximum pore size, and then decreases towards the outer layer, and the outer layer exhibits a thickness of 10 to 30% of the wall thickness and an essentially isotropic pore structure. The mean size of the pores in the outer layer is larger than in the separating layer, but smaller than in the supporting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Membrana GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ansorge, Ernst Spindler, Richard Krüger, Martin Rütering, Oliver Schuster
  • Patent number: 8727136
    Abstract: Method for producing this membrane from a casting solution comprising the hydrophobic first sulfone polymer and the hydrophilic second polymer in a solvent system, the method comprising the steps of pouring the casting solution, conditioned to a molding temperature, onto a carrier to form a film, which carrier has a temperature that is higher in comparison to the molding temperature, conveying the film through a climate-controlled zone, initiating the coagulation in a coagulation bath for the formation of a membrane structure, withdrawing the membrane structure from the carrier with a speed that is increased in comparison to the carrier speed, stabilizing, extracting, and subsequently drying the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Membrana GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ansorge, Oliver Schuster, Friedbert Wechs, Klaus Dombrowski
  • Publication number: 20100230843
    Abstract: Method for producing this membrane from a casting solution comprising the hydrophobic first sulfone polymer and the hydrophilic second polymer in a solvent system, the method comprising the steps of pouring the casting solution, conditioned to a molding temperature, onto a carrier to form a film, which carrier has a temperature that is higher in comparison to the molding temperature, conveying the film through a climate-controlled zone, initiating the coagulation in a coagulation bath for the formation of a membrane structure, withdrawing the membrane structure from the carrier with a speed that is increased in comparison to the carrier speed, stabilizing, extracting, and subsequently drying the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ansorge, Oliver Schuster, Friedbert Wechs, Klaus Dombrowski
  • Publication number: 20100224553
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hollow-fibre membrane for ultrafiltration made from a hydrophobic aromatic sulfone polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer, the membrane having an open-pore separating layer on the lumen side, an adjoining supporting layer with asymmetric, sponge-like pore structure without finger pores and an outer layer adjoining the supporting layer towards the outer surface. The separating layer has a cutoff between 20 000 and 200 000 daltons, a thickness of max. 10% of the membrane thickness and an essentially isotropic pore structure. The size of the pores in the supporting layer initially increases up to a zone with maximum pore size, and then decreases towards the outer layer, and the outer layer exhibits a thickness of 10 to 30% of the wall thickness and an essentially isotropic pore structure. The mean size of the pores in the outer layer is larger than in the separating layer, but smaller than in the supporting layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ansorge, Ernst Spindler, Richard Krüger, Martin Rütering, Oliver Schuster
  • Publication number: 20080197072
    Abstract: Integrally asymmetric flat membrane for microfiltration comprising at least 40 wt. % of a hydrophobic first sulfone polymer and a hydrophilic second polymer with a pore size distribution over the membrane wall, having a separating layer in the wall's interior, and also having, in the direction from this separating layer, pore sizes increasing towards the surfaces, the second surface having pores with a mean diameter of at least 1 ?m. The membrane comprises the hydrophilic second polymer in a concentration of 0.1-10 wt. %. The separating layer is located in an region facing the first surface, and the pore size passes through a maximum in the direction from the asymmetrical region towards the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ansorge, Oliver Schuster, Friedbert Wechs, Klaus Dombrowski
  • Patent number: 5505890
    Abstract: A dialysis membrane in the form of a hollow fiber with a continuous internal cavity is made of cellulose acetate or a cellulose acetate derivative. The membrane has a maximum screen coefficient of 0.04 for albumin with a molecular weight of 68,000. A dialysis membrane in the form of a hollow fiber with a continuous internal cavity may be made in a process using a spinning solution containing an organic carboxylic acid and a cavity-forming liquid. Modification agents and/or water are optionally added and the solution is extruded through a spinneret suitable for the manufacture of hollow fibers. The precipitation of the resultant dialysis membrane and the usual further aftertreatment take place in a precipitation bath. The organic carboxylic acid preferably is acetic acid and the precipitation bath preferably is a dilute acetic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Akzo N.V.
    Inventors: Gustav Duweg, Lothar Steinfeld, Wolfgang Ansorge
  • Patent number: 5470474
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing a lumen filler and/or undesired auxiliary processing agents from hollow fibers or hollow fiber membranes by extraction with supercritical gases. The invention likewise relates to the hollow fibers or hollow fiber membranes freed of a lumen filler and/or undesired auxiliary processing agents by this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Akzo Nobel NV
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ansorge, Ralf Hornscheidt, Andreas Jungheim, Klaus Muller
  • Patent number: 5403485
    Abstract: A dialysis membrane in the form of a hollow fiber with a continuous internal cavity is made of cellulose acetate or a cellulose acetate derivative. The hollow fiber is made by using a gas to form the internal hollow cavity. A dialysis membrane in the form of a hollow fiber with a continuous hollow cavity may be made in a process using a spinning solution containing an organic carboxylic acid. Modification agents can be added to the solution and the solution extruded through a spinneret suitable for manufacturing hollow fibers, while an internal medium is introduced simultaneously into the internal cavity of the forming hollow fiber. The precipitation of the dialysis membrane thus formed and an ordinary further aftertreatment take place subsequently in a precipitation bath. The hollow fiber is made by using a gas as the internal medium to form the internal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Akzo N.V.
    Inventors: Gustav Dunweg, Lother Steinfeld, Wolfgang Ansorge
  • Patent number: 5387345
    Abstract: A dialysis membrane in the form of a hollow fiber with a continuous internal cavity is made of cellulose acetate or a cellulose acetate derivative. The membrane has a maximum sieving coefficient of 0.04 for albumin with a molecular weight of 68,000. A dialysis membrane in the form of a hollow fiber with a continuous internal cavity may be made in a process using a spinning solution containing an organic carboxylic acid and a cavity-forming liquid. Modification agents and/or water are optionally added and the solution is extruded through a spinneret suitable for the manufacture of hollow fibers. The precipitation of the resultant dialysis membrane and the usual further aftertreatment take place in a precipitation bath. The organic carboxylic acid preferably is acetic acid and the precipitation bath preferably is a diluted acetic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: AKZO NV
    Inventors: Gustav Dunweg, Lothar Steinfeld, Wolfgang Ansorge