manfred von ardenne  

Scientific Discoveries and Inventions

The most important inventions and discoveries made by Manfred von Ardenne and his team:

1923

First patent filed on “Method for sound selection” at the age of 16

1925

Broadband amplifier using HF dual tube systems with a bandwidth of 10⁶ Hz as the foundation of the later development of the fully electronic television

1926

Development of a resistance radio receiver with three-stage tube (together with LOEWE radio), thus making an affordable radio for a wide range of social classes possible.

1928

Founding of the VON ARDENNE Laboratory for Electron Physics in Berlin-Lichterfelde

Inertia-free brightness control of the light-spot of Braun tubes by the introduction of a negative pre-stressed control electrode for the electron beam, called the “Wehnelt Electrode” in honor of his teacher

1930

On 14.12.1930 the first fully electronic television broadcast in the world was produced in the Lichterfelde laboratory using Flying Spot Scanners (FSS), which are still in use today.

1931

The first public film transmission at the Berlin Radio Exhibition using the Flying Spot Scanner (180-lines-technology), regarded by specialists as the birth of completely electronic television using electron beams

1933

Precision electron beam oscillograph for electronic measurement

1934

The electron-optical image converter (X-ray and infrared image converters)

1937

The scanning electron microscope (SEM), which was perfected in the 1960s, is still the most important analysis instrument in biomedical and microbiological research

1938

First usage of the electron beam as a laser tool for production of microstructures

1939

High-resolution magnetic universal electron microscope for bright, dark field and stereo scope; the X-ray projection microscope and electron beam micro-oscillograph

1941

Development of the 200 kV universal electron microscope, the first emission electron microscope for object temperatures of up to 2,500°C, electron optic shadow image method

1942

1 MeV van de Graaff neutron generator

First fine beam electron diffraction in the electron microscope

1943

Construction of the Cyclotron with 60 t magnet for nuclear-physical research

1944

Increase of the resolution of the universal electron microscope to 12 AE (the highest resolution in the world until 1954)

1945-1955

Magnetic mass separator for industrial isotope enhancement

Duoplasmatron ion source for high ion flow concentration on the basis of strong inhomogeneous magnetic fields – the Duoplasmatron is still used in particle acceleration and as a correction drive mechanism in space technology today.

Precision oscillograph with 2 μm scanning spot

Precision mass spectrograph with double focusing and ion image converter

1955

Establishment of the Manfred von Ardenne Research Institute in Dresden:

From the very beginning, physical-technological development projects with a high practical relevance occupied center stage. New fields of application were continually developed for the electron beam, the importance of which as an energy intensive and highly flexible laser tool for a host of industrial processes Manfred von Ardenne recognized early on:

- Vacuum melting and refinement of reactive and refractory metals

- Cutting and welding

- Thermal and non-thermal microstructuring

- Textured surface coating

- High-rate evaporation of metals and dielectrics

- Radio polymerization of synthetic materials

- Radio sterilization of crop seeds or disposable medical products

1957

Ingestible intestinal transmitter for measuring pressure and pH values in the gastrointestinal tract

1958

Electron attachment ion source for organic molecules of lower binding energy

1959

The 45 KW electron beam multi-chamber furnace (EMO) for vacuum melting and refinement of reactive and refractory metals

1961

Safety belt for extending the inner braking distances in automobiles

1962

Operating room with electronic patient surveillance for surgery at the Medizinische Akademie Dresden;

Formulation of the first concept of cancer multi-step therapy (KMT);

Development and small-scale production of heart and lung machines for the heart centers in The German Democratic Republic;

Development and small-scale production of ultrasonic diagnostic units

1964

Installations for industrial micro processing of microelectronic circuits using electron beams

1965

Installations for evaporation coating of thin films in a high vacuum for industrial applications

Two chamber tank for extreme whole body hyperthermia

1968

Discovery, purification and implementation of lysosomal chain reaction of cancer cell deterioration, foreseen in 1965;

Discovery of the sensitization of tumor cells against hyperthermia by targeted overacidification

1970

Systemic Cancer Multi-step Therapy (sKMT)

Discovery of the blood-nerve-barrier and a primary process of pain release

Mechanism of anesthetic death and death during hyperglycemic coma

1972

Oxygen Multi-Step Therapy (SMT) and beginning of work on the extraordinary pharmacokinetics of the cardiac agent g-Strophanthin

1976

SELECTROTHERM method for two step deka wave raster hyperthermia for a homogenized energy supply for treatment of cancer

1987

IRATHERM^® method with water filtered infrared-A radiation for whole body hyperthermia in treatment of cancer

1990

Foundation of the VON ARDENNE Clinic for Systemic Cancer Multi-step Therapy (sKMT) for the evaluation of sKMT and treatment of patients with cancer at an advanced stage

1994

IRATHERM^® 1000 for non-oncological treatment of patients for mild and moderate whole body hyperthermia