Abstract: The present technology relates to a device and process for soft lithography by micro-contact printing using a flexible stamp to make a structured deposit of molecules on a substrate such as a glass plate intended for microscopic observation. It enables a simple and effective control of the application pressure of a stamp or a macro-stamp for soft lithography on the surface of a substrate and makes the automation of the soft lithography process easier by integrating the automatic stamp change into it. Micro-contact printing stamps of the invention preferably comprise a flexible stamp including a layer containing soft ferromagnetic particles. Micro-contact printing apparatuses of the invention preferably comprise a magnetic field generator capable of applying uniform pressure to contact a stamp against a substrate, and further are preferably capable of holding the stamp, contacting the stamp with an inking tank, and changing the stamp.

Abstract: A new method of seeking the presence of an analyte bound to a probe, wherein a periodic geometric pattern (24), constituting a diffractive system (2), is formed by alternating areas including a probe A, and areas not including the probe A. The diffractive system (2) is made to be diffractive before a sensitization step, i.e. a step during which a probe is temporarily brought into contact with a medium likely to contain an analyte and during which the possible analyte binds to the probe. The method includes at least the following steps: measurement of a power P1 of a first-order diffraction beam of a diffraction field produced by the diffractive system, with the probe unsensitized, sensitizing the probe A, measurement of a power P1a of a first-order diffraction beam of a diffraction field produced by the diffractive system, and comparison of the measured powers P1 and P1a.

Abstract: A device for analysing a specimen by fluorescence includes a confocal microscope, illumination means capable of emitting a light beam that converges, by means of an objective, on a focal spot, means for successively positioning the focal spot at various points on the specimen during analysis. The confocal microscope includes an objective mounted on a movable rapid-scan carriage driven in a reciprocating linear movement along a traverse direction by a rotating motor by means of a device of the connecting rod type. The specimen is placed on a movable support driven in a longitudinal movement and is able to move along the axis of the objective of the microscope in order to position the specimen relative to the focal spot.

Abstract: A device for analysing a specimen by fluorescence includes a confocal microscope, illumination means capable of emitting a light beam that converges, by means of an objective, on a focal spot, means for successively positioning the focal spot at various points on the specimen during analysis. The confocal microscope includes an objective mounted on a movable rapid-scan carriage driven in a reciprocating linear movement along a traverse direction by a rotating motor by means of a device of the connecting rod type. The specimen is placed on a movable support driven in a longitudinal movement and is able to move along the axis of the objective of the microscope in order to position the specimen relative to the focal spot.

Abstract: A stamp for depositing materials in the form of imprints on a surface of a substrate. The stamp includes a template and pins joined at one end to a first face of the template. The pins are arranged on the first face of the template so that the faces of all the pins joined to the template can be placed in contact virtually simultaneously on the surface of the substrate. The disclosed embodiments also relate to a method for fabricating the stamp and to a method for the virtually simultaneous deposition of a large number of imprints of identical or different materials on the surface of the substrate using the stamp, for an analysis.