Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device (10) for measuring physical characteristics of cells. The device (10) comprises: a microfluidic chip (20) provided with a flow channel (22) for allowing cells to flow through; a manipulator (24) configured to apply deformation force to a cell in a continuous flow; and a sensor (26) configured to sense a physical characteristic of the cell. The manipulator (24) and the sensor (26) are configured to define a width (W2) of the flow channel (22) as a gap formed between them. The manipulator (24) is configured to apply the deformation force to the cell by compressing the cell against the sensor (26).

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (10) adapted to measure multiple biophysical characteristics of cells, the system (10) comprising: a microfluidic chip (12) provided with a microfluidic channel (14) which allows cells to flow through, the microfluidic channel (14) having an inlet (14a), an outlet (14b), and a lateral opening (14c) situated between the inlet (14a) and the outlet (14b); and a capacitive sensor (30) integrated in the microfluidic chip, adapted to obtain biophysical characteristics of a single cell in the microfluidic channel (14) by directly manipulating the single cell by sensor elements (31, 32) through the lateral opening (14c) of the microfluidic channel (14), the sensor (30) comprising a stationary part and an electrostatically driven movable part which is movable relative to the stationary part, the stationary part being fixed to the microfluidic chip (12), the movable part being arranged in the lateral opening (14c) of the microfluidic channel (14), wherein a portion of the sensor elemen

Abstract: An object is to stably, continuously and easily detect reactions of filamentary biomolecules or polymers bridging between a pair of electrodes against reagents without employing any marker or labeling substances.

Abstract: An object is to make a bridge of DNA expanding between a pair of electrodes, and to characterize the bridge of DNA, to thereby detect DNA easily and surely without employing any marker or labeling substances, such as fluorescent reagents. A method of detecting DNA using a detection device with at least a couple of electrodes, the method comprising immobilizing a primer on the electrodes; making a bridge of the DNA expanded between the electrodes, by immersing the electrodes in a solution including circular templates of single stranded DNA, annealing the circular templates, and generating single stranded DNA product utilizing RCA (Rolling Circle Amplification), with impressing a designated voltage between the electrodes; and characterizing the bridge of DNA which includes multiple single stranded DNA molecules between the electrodes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (10) adapted to measure multiple biophysical characteristics of cells, the system (10) comprising: a microfluidic chip (12) provided with a microfluidic channel (14) which allows cells to flow through, the microfluidic channel (14) having an inlet (14a), an outlet (14b), and a lateral opening (14c) situated between the inlet (14a) and the outlet (14b); and a capacitive sensor (30) integrated in the microfluidic chip, adapted to obtain biophysical characteristics of a single cell in the microfluidic channel (14) by directly manipulating the single cell by sensor elements (31, 32) through the lateral opening (14c) of the microfluidic channel (14), the sensor (30) comprising a stationary part and an electrostatically driven movable part which is movable relative to the stationary part, the stationary part being fixed to the microfluidic chip (12), the movable part being arranged in the lateral opening (14c) of the microfluidic channel (14), wherein a portion of the sensor elemen

Abstract: An object is to stably, continuously and easily detect reactions of filamentary biomolecules or polymers bridging between a pair of electrodes against reagents without employing any marker or labeling substances.

Abstract: An object is to make a bridge of DNA expanding between a pair of electrodes, and to characterize the bridge of DNA, to thereby detect DNA easily and surely without employing any marker or labeling substances, such as fluorescent reagents. A method of detecting DNA using a detection device with at least a couple of electrodes, the method comprising immobilizing a primer on the electrodes; making a bridge of the DNA expanded between the electrodes, by immersing the electrodes in a solution including circular templates of single stranded DNA, annealing the circular templates, and generating single stranded DNA product utilizing RCA (Rolling Circle Amplification), with impressing a designated voltage between the electrodes; and characterizing the bridge of DNA which includes multiple single stranded DNA molecules between the electrodes.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for adjusting the operating gap of two mechanical elements of a substantially planar mechanical structure obtained by micro-etching. The method consists in attributing (A) to one of the elements (E) a fixed reference position (RF) in the direction of the residual gap separating said elements; connecting (C) the other element (OE) to the fixed reference position (RF) by an elastic link (S) and installing (D) between the fixed reference position (RF) and the other element (OE) at least a stop block defining an abutting gap, maximum displacement amplitude of the other element; subjecting (DE) the other element (OE) to a displacement antagonistic to the elastic link (S) up to the abutting position constituting the operating position, the residual gap being reduced to the difference between residual gap and abutting gap and less than the resolution of the micro-etching process. The invention is applicable to electromechanical resonators.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for adjusting the operating gap of two mechanical elements of a substantially planar mechanical structure obtained by micro-etching. The method consists in attributing (A) to one of the elements (E) a fixed reference position (RF) in the direction of the residual gap separating said elements; connecting (C) the other element (OE) to the fixed reference position (RF) by an elastic link (S) and installing (D) between the fixed reference position (RF) and the other element (OE) at least a stop block defining an abutting gap, maximum displacement amplitude of the other element; subjecting (DE) the other element (OE) to a displacement antagonistic to the elastic link (S) up to the abutting position constituting the operating position, the residual gap being reduced to the difference between residual gap and abutting gap and less than the resolution of the micro-etching process. The invention is applicable to electromechanical resonators.