Scientists of the MEET at Wilhelms University of Muenster developed a set of alkylsilyl complexes (MOSi) as elecrolyte additive, which enhance the performance of lithium ion batteries. Previous studies have shown that electrolyte additives based on metals and semimetals (LiBOB, Mg(TFSI)2, Al(TFSI)3) as well as additives containing trimethylsiloxyl (TMS) groups as ligands can have positive impact on the cycling performance of lithium ion battery cells due to solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and/or cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) film forming properties and/or scavenging properties towards acidic impurities. The results of LIB full-cells show a twofold cycle life compared to the standard electrolyte. The addition of the M(TMS)x based additives lowers the charge transfer impedance during prolonged cycling. MOSi leads to lithium ion batteries with enhanced anti fading performance.
A German patent application is pending. International applications are possible.
On behalf of the University Muenster, PROvendis offers access to rights for commercial use as well as the opportunity for further co-development.

Building nanomaterials with features spanning just billionths of a meter requires extraordinary precision. Scaling up that construction while increasing…

Diagnostic method for determining the presence of herpes B virus, of for determining the status of herpes B virus infection in primates and in humans, based on the detection of antibodies against herpes B virus

Shar-Pei Autoinflammatory Disease (SPAID) is a complex inflammatory disease. Typical signs are recurrent bouts of fever, inflammations of the ear, arthritis and a reddened skin. The dogs can also develop amyloidosis. Scientists at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover developed a genetic test for SPAID predisposition.

The invention concerns a magnetoelectric storage device for storing of digital data.

The present invention generally applies to the fixation of hollow organs such as the stomach or the baldder to an outer structure, e.g. to the abdominal wall. The main field of application is in particular the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) sonde.

PEG-sondes are applied by various techniques, especially by the so-called pull-through and the direct punctation (or push) technique. The latter is predominantly applied, when a stenosis of the upper gastrointestinal tract by a tumor prohibits oral access due to the consumption of space, but also due to the fact that the pull-through method is discussed in the literature to cause inoculation metastasis.

Commercial Opportunities

On behalf of the RWTH Aachen University, PROvendis is seeking for interested companies for cooperation and/or licensing.

Current Status
A prototype has been built for demonstration. We are happy to inform you about the patent status.

Competitive Advantages
•Laminar fixation
•Only one puncture
•Low risk of infection
•Low risk of bleeding
•Time- and cost-saving

Many Gram-positive bacteria such as are significant pathogens of both animals and humans. Reliable detection of hemolytic activity is a cornerstone for diagnosis of the pathogenic properties of these bacteria.
Here an improved diagnostic test that enables reliable detection of pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria by enhancing hemolytic zones on blood agar plates is presented.

Device and method of treating objects & bulk materials with a physical plasma cushion at atmospheric pressure. The plasma passes from the discharge chamber to the treatment chamber through a sparger plate comprising a multitude of holes, producing a plasma cushion, which supports & slides/pushes the objects while treating them.

Mechanical elasticity is a central parameter of living cells and tissues. Cancerous and healthy tissues, for example, have a different elasticity. Therefore, tools are under development to make tissue elasticity a new diagnostic marker in medicine1. Nevertheless, these efforts have been hampered by poor spatial resolution (i.e. ultrasound elastography) or by their usability being restricted to an in vitro environment (i.e. scanning ion conductance microscopy2,3,4 (SICM)).
Here, we present a novel instrument which transfers principles of SICM into the macro-environment of endoscopy or laparoscopy. This opens the door for a real-time measurement of tissue elasticity, e. g., during minimally invasive surgery.
Our handheld device uses the pressure of a water jet for inducing a deformation of the outer surface of any given tissue. The resulting change in a simultaneously recorded ion current between two electrodes on the “water nozzle” renders charac-teristic parameters for the elasticity of the tissue.

The dispersion and reaction of two immiscible liquids with subsequently separation of the products according to the state of the art need several steps. The invention enables process intensification, the dispersion, reaction and separation of two immiscible liquids in one device in one batch process. The core of the invention is a rotatable reactor with an integrated centrifuge. Thus the invention enables equipment reduction of separate mixing and separation devices. Depending on how the motors run towards another, a mixing or a centrifugal effect is produced. Competitive Advantages:
•Compact and cost effective
•Mixing and Separation in one device
•Complete control on measurements parameters
•Variable energy input
•Quantitative results
•Short contact times also with coalescence inhibited substance Systems
•No back-mixing

Current Status: A patent application for this invention has been filed in Germany. On behalf of the RWTH University, PROvendis is seeking a partner for further development in view of licensing the Technology.

The characterization of sedimentation and coalescence processes in a multi-phase system is a crucial step for the design and development of equipments for phase dispersion and separations. An established model of phase separator is based on the application of a gravitational field on the multiphase system. For those kinds of equipments, an early system characterization is possible thanks to suitable procedures and instruments established at laboratory-scale.

An effective alternative to gravitational separators are annular centrifugal contactors. Those equipments offer a better scalability and flexibility respect to the gravitational separator. Furthermore, they provide a versatile solution as phase separators as well as chemical reactors. Although centrifugal contactors are already established at the industrial level, a pre-characterization of the systems of interest in small equipment is not possible with the existing technologies. Competitive Advantages:
•Compact and cost effective
•Enables pre-characterization al lab level for processes in centrifugal contactors
•On-line camera
•Complete control on measurements parameters
•Quantitative results

Current Status: A patent application for this invention has been filed in Germany. On behalf of the RWTH University, PROvendis is seeking a partner for further development in view of licensing the technology.

At the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), a new platform concept for the formulation of highly conductive, printable pastes has been developed. Corresponding pastes are free of polymeric or other non-volatile stabilizers and rheology control agents. Nevertheless, rheological properties like low-shear viscosity and yield stress can be adjusted in a wide range. Thus sedimentation /aggregation is prohibited and long-term stability can be guaranteed even for suspensions of high density particles (e.g. Ag, Ni). Also full control of the application behavior in many different printing/coating operations is furnished.

Currently, there are only very few, costly synthetic routes for the production of ultra long-chain compounds, as they typically rely on tedious multistep reaction sequences.
At the University of Konstanz (in the course of a project funded by the Baden-Württemberg Foundation), an iterative method (any multiplication factor) has been developed that produces terminally functionalized, purely aliphatic compounds through a ‘Chain Doubling’ approach starting from common monounsaturated fatty acids. All starting materials are readily available and the individual steps of the catalytic process do not involve further reagents. Moreover, there is only a small amount of byproducts which makes the method very efficient.
The method described here can be applied for the production of high-melting, purely aliphatic polymers and nanocrystals.

Changing from injection molding to expansion injection molding requires a costly change of equipment. Scientists at Ostfalia University of Applies Sciences and Volkswagen AG developed a simple and cost-effective way to convert injection molding into expansion molding by simply exchanging the dosing system of current machines.

Energy storage systems of electronic components have short lifetimes especially in winter which can be safety-relevant for longer outdoor activities . The present invention includes a means for energy production during nordic skiing activities. The mechanical energy of the pivoting foot movement is transformed into electric energy that can be used for the continual recharging of the energy reservoir.

Charge flow frequency converters are used when especially small electrical currents must be measured. Usually, the integrator and the comparator are connected in series. The improved method can be used anywhere where very small currents of both polarities with high dynamics are measured.

Method for reducing cross-talk / interference: The optimal utilization of the available frequency bands plays an important role in the transmission of messages. In frequency multiplexing, sub-frequency bands are allocated to individual communication channels, which are usually completely independent of each other. In practice, however, there is cross-talk, that is, in a channel, signals from the two adjacent channels are also received. Thus, the received signal is composed of useful signal and interference signal. The aim of the present invention is to compensate for the interfering signal component. This is particularly important when the intensity of the adjacent channel signals and thus the interference signal which they contribute are greater than the actual useful signal (“adjacent channel interference problem”).

The newly developed method improves the monitoring and control process for beam welding. In contrast to most
commonly used methods, the new monitoring process is root sided, i. e. it takes place on the back part of the
workpiece. Furthermore, the invention describes a monitoring device optimized for beam welding. Beam welding
using the invention avoids incomplete fusion at the weld interface and increases the stability of the weld joint.

Researchers at the University of Oldenburg have developed a flap for wind turbine generators which is mounted parallel to the main rotor blade and is considerably smaller in its size and mass than the main blade. The core piece of the invention is the adjustable pitch of the flap. The flap’s pitch as well as its distance to the main blade can be swiftly adjusted to actual wind variations by means of a control unit or adaptive mechanics, thus assuring an optimal airflow at the site of the main rotor. The flap adjustment unit is able to consider the position of the main blade, the actual rotor rotation speed, and the actual wind speed. A purely mechanical adaptive pitch adjustment is also in a state of planning.

Researchers from the University of Oldenburg, Germany, developed a laser cantilever anemometer (LCA) which utilizes the laser pointer principle of a scanning-force microscope to capture the velocity and the angle of fluid flows.