Abstract: The application relates to a method and a microelectronic sensor device for making optical examinations in an investigation region (13) at the contact surface (12) of a carrier (10), wherein an input light beam (L1, L1?) is sent from a light source (20) towards the investigation region (13), and wherein an output light beam (L2, L2?) coming from the investigation region (13) is detected by a light detector (30). An evaluation unit (50) that is coupled to the light detector (30) is adapted to determine the wetting grade of the investigation region (13) based on a characteristic parameter of the output light beam (L2, L2?), e.g. its intensity. In a preferred embodiment, the evaluation unit (50) is adapted to determine a change in the light intensity caused by a liquid contacting the contact surface (12). The wetting grade may particularly be detected in a test region (14) that is located adjacent to the investigation region (13) and that has a higher roughness than the investigation region (13).

Abstract: A system and method is described wherein components of the reagent (4), e.g. labelled antibodies, are separated from the biologically active sensor surface (5) by depositing the reagent (4) on a carrier surface (3) distinct from the sensor surface (5) in the detection region (2), e.g. detection chamber. In this way, a high assay reproducibility is obtained. By allowing a short, well-defined and controlled, pre-incubation time between the particles of interest, e.g. drugs, in the sample fluid (20) and the reagent (4), the reproducibility will be increased, whereas the speed of the assay is guaranteed by having all components in one detection region (2), e.g. detection chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor cartridge (10) for distinctively determining at least two different target moieties in a fluid sample. The sensor cartridge (10) comprises a reaction chamber (1) and at least a first and second region (2, 3) distinct from each other. The first region (2) comprises magnetic or magnetizable objects (4a) labelled with a first type of probes for specifically binding a first type of target moieties and the second region (3) comprises magnetic or magnetizable objects (4b) labelled with a second type of probes for specifically binding a second type of target moieties, the magnetic or magnetizable objects (4a, 4b) in the first and second region (2, 3) being directly contactable by the sample fluid. The present invention also provides a method for the manufacturing of such sensor devices (10) and a method for determining the presence and/or amount of at least two different target moieties in a sample fluid using such sensor cartridge (10).

Abstract: The present invention discloses microfluidic devices with a valve-like structure (3), through which magnetic particles can be transported with minimal transport of fluids. This allows sequential processing of the magnetic particles.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relates to a temperature sensor and an analytical device comprising the same. The temperature sensor comprises a carrier (11) with a detection surface (12) on which temperature indicating agents (14) are present and, optionally, at which target components can collect and optionally bind to specific capture elements. An incident light beam (L1) is transmitted into the carrier and evanescent wave excitation is induced at the detection surface (12). The amount of light in the reflected light beam (L2) or an optical, e.g. luminescence response is then detected by a light detector (31). In one example, evanescent light is affected (absorbed, scattered) by temperature indicating agents and optionally target components and/or label particles at the binding surface (12) and will therefore be missing in a frustrated total internal reflected light beam (L2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor device (100) and a method for the determination of the amount of target particles (1) at a contact surface (112) adjacent to a sample chamber (2). Target particles (1) in the sample chamber are detected by a sensor element (SE) and at least one corresponding sensor-signal (s, s?) is provided. An evaluation unit (EU) then determines the amount of target particles (1) in a first zone (Z1) immediately at the contracts surface (112) and a second zone (Z2) a distance (z) away from the contact surface based on this sensor-signal. In an optical measurement approach, frustrated total internal reflection taking place under different operating conditions (e.g. wavelength, angle of incidence) may be used to extract information about the first and second zones (Z1, Z2). In a magnetic measurement approach, different magnetic excitation fields may be used to excite magnetic target particles differently in the first and second zone (Z2).

Abstract: Detecting magnetized or magnetizable target components in a fluid containing the magnetized or magnetizable target components amongst other magnetized or magnetizable components, uses a magnetic field generator (M1, 28) to attract the magnetized or magnetizable components towards a binding surface. A magnetic field controller (C1) applies the magnetic field to concentrate the magnetized or magnetizable components in columns on the binding surface, subsequently reduces the magnetic field to enable the columns to collapse, to allow more components to reach the binding surface, and reapplies the magnetic field so as to cause other components to be pulled off the binding surface to reform columns based on the bound target components. A surface sensitive sensor (S1, 26, 29) detects the bound magnetized or magnetizable target components.

Abstract: A sensor cartridge has a cartridge substrate comprising an optical substrate for optical detection of a target moiety in a sample fluid based on frustrated totalinternal reflection and at least one electric structure. This way, optical read-out and electrical functions, e.g. read-out, are combined in a single substrate, in a simple and cheap manner. Also a method of fabricating such sensor cartridge is provided.

Abstract: A microfluidic reactor arrangement (100) for use in detecting an analyte in a fluid sample (106) is described. The reactor arrangement is provided with a reagent providing means such that the reagent can be introduced after assembly of the reactor arrangement. The latter can be performed by introducing the reagent in the form of a solution or a dispersion and fixing it on a holding means (118) by removal of the liquid, i.e. by drying, the holding means comprising the reagent in a solid version in the detector chamber. Prior to the introduction of the reagent, components of the reactor arrangement already present, such as the sample inlet can be hydrophilised by a wetting hydrophilising technique. The invention relates to a manufacturing technique as well as to the resulting product. The invention furthermore relates to functionalizing of the reactor arrangement with a particular reagent for particular applications.

Abstract: A detection system (100, 150) for qualitative or quantitative detection of a magnetic field property of a modulated magnetic field is described. The modulated magnetic field may e.g. stem from an adjacent electrical current (Iadj) or magnetic particles. The detection system (100, 150) comprises at least one magneto resistive sensor element (102), a current controller (104) for providing a sensing current (Isense) flowing through the magnetic sensor element (102) and a controlling means (108). The controlling means (108) is adapted for deriving at a first frequency f1 a temperature-related parameter of the at least one magneto resistive sensor. The controlling means (108) furthermore is adapted for deriving a qualitative or quantitative characteristic of the adjacent electrical current (Iadj) or magnetic particles, taking into account the derived temperature-related parameter. This second frequency (f1) is different from the first frequency (f1}). The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink jet device and method for producing a biological assay substrate (41) by releasing a plurality of substances onto the substrate (41) The device comprises at least a print head and a plurality of substance containers (60, 61, 62) connectable thereto, and mounting means (55) for the containers, whereby at least part of the containers (60, 61, 62) is provided with identification means (63) The device further comprises reading means to read information contained in the identification means (63).

Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic system for biosensors, in which the system can switch quickly between high magnetic gradients, without the need of movement of mechanical elements. This is realized by two independent electromagnetic units (1,1? 2, 2?) which are separated in the region of the pole shoes over a gap, in which a sample volume is arranged by a cartridge (3), and in which the sensor surfaces of the biosensor are located at one or more inner surfaces of the cartridge (3).

Abstract: In an optical scanning device (10) capable of scanning an information plane of an optical record carrier (5) of different types such as BD, DVD and CD, the diameter of the radiation spot on the detector (7) is dependent on the numerical aperture of the objective system (4) that is used for scanning the record carrier An optimal design of the optical detection system for scanning a BD, result in a small radiation spot for the other types such as DVD and CD.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectronic sensor device for the detection of target components that comprise label particles, for example magnetic particles (1). The sensor device comprises a carrier (11) with a binding surface (12) at which target components can collect and optionally bind to specific capture elements. An input light beam (L1) is transmitted into the carrier and totally internally reflected at the binding surface (12). The amount of light in the output light beam (L2) and optionally also of fluorescence light emitted by target components at the binding surface is then detected by a light detector (31). Evanescent light generated during the total internal reflection is affected (absorbed, scattered) by target components and/or label particles (1) at the binding surface (12) and will therefore be missing in the output light beam (L2). This can be used to determine the amount of target components at the binding surface (12) from the amount of light in the output light beam (L2, L2a, L2b).

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic system for biosensors and in particular to a magnetic system which can switch between attraction force and repulsion force near the sensor surface with more easy but also more effective means. This is realised with at least one coil (2) and at least two ferromagnetic cores (3) which are arranged in a concentric multilayered package, and a sensor or a sensor surface exposed to or covered with the biomaterial, which is arranged near to the magnetic system.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the concentration of target in a fluid sample using a magnetic label and a magnetic sensor for detection. It was surprisingly found that efficient and accurate measurements can be carried out by determination of a signal as soon as the signal has reached a specified threshold level. In an alternative embodiment, a displacement step is used as soon as the signal has reached a pre-defined threshold level.

Abstract: An optical disc drive apparatus includes a laser device for generating a light beam for optically reading data from a disc. The laser device is electrically incorporated in a resonant circuit which includes an inductance coupled to the laser device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic sensor device comprising excitation wires (11, 13) for generating a magnetic excitation field and a magnetic sensor element, particularly a GMR sensor (12), for sensing magnetic fields generated by labeling particles in reaction to the excitation field. The magnetic excitation fields are generated with non-sinusoidal forms, particularly as square-waves, such that their spectral range comprises a plurality of frequency components. Magnetic particles with different magnetic response characteristics can then be differentiated according to their reactions to the different frequency components of the excitation fields. The magnetic excitation field and the sensing current driving the GMR sensor (12) are preferably generated with the help of ring modulators (22, 24). Moreover, ring modulators (27, 29) may be used for the demodulation of the sensor signal.

Abstract: A sensing device is provided which has a universal sensor surface. This allows easy modification of the detection properties without the need for investigation of the binding properties of a new target to the sensor surface. The device comprises a sensor surface, which has attached thereto a primary capture molecule. The invention further relates to a method for measurement of a target wherein this device is used.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectronic device (200), particularly a magnetic biosensor, comprising B/E-electrodes (21) that can generate a magnetic field (B) in a sample chamber (10). The device further comprises E-electrodes (23, 24) that can generate an electrical field (E) in the sample chamber (10) in cooperation with the B/E-electrodes (21). Thus the B/E-electrodes are used for two purposes. Electrical fields (E) in the sample chamber (10) may particularly be used for pumping and/or mixing of a fluid sample or for a stringency test of particle bindings.