Abstract: With a method for cryo-preservation, at least one specimen is arranged on a storage substrate and specimen data, which are characteristic for features of the specimen, are stored at specific positions. Also, a storage substrate for cryo-preservation with such a method is described.

Abstract: A method and devices for controlling access to a data processing device, in particular a data memory, having an access filter circuit (10) are described, whereby the access filter circuit (10) is operated with enabled access in a read-write mode at a normal operating temperature and with limited access at an access protection temperature which is lower than the normal operating temperature.

Abstract: In order to isoelectrically separate particles with a pH-dependent net charge, the particles are exposed in a guiding liquid to electric field forces. The pH value of the guiding liquid is set in such a way that at least one predetermined type of particle is separated from the remaining particles and migrates to a fixing collecting means under the effect of the electric field forces. The collecting means is for example a porous hollow fiber delimited by electrodes which generate the electric field forces and crossed by the guiding liquid together with the sample to be separated. The particles whose isoelectric point matches the pH value of the guiding liquid run unimpeded through the fibers, whereas the remaining particles are pressed against the inner wall of the fiber and are prevented from being carried away with the liquid flow.

Abstract: For object detection, particularly in fluidic microsystems, optical imaging of at least one resting or moving object (10) on a structured mask (20) with at least one segment from a flat section (80), in which the object (10) is located at least partially or temporarily and which has a characteristic dimension smaller than the dimension of the object (10) or its movement path, to a detector unit, detection of the quantity of light transmitted by the structured mask (20), and generation of a detector signal which has a predetermined relationship with the quantity of light, and evaluation of the detector signal in regard to the presence of the object (10), its position, its shape and/or the temporal change of the position are performed.

Abstract: Electrode arrangement (10) in a microsystem adapted for dielectrophoretic manipulation of particles (30) in a suspension fluid in a channel (21), wherein at least one electrode (11, 11a, 11b, 12) is arranged on a lateral wall of the channel (21), the electrode (11, 11a, 11b, 12) consisting of a plurality of electrode segments adapted to generate at least one field gradient for influencing the movement paths of the particles (30) in the channel (21). In one embodiment of the invention, the particles are moved in the microsystem by exposure to centrifugal and/or gravitational forces.

Abstract: To manipulate microparticles in a fluid that intersects a first channel or several first channels as a stream, one or more microparticles (14) are exposed to electrical field barriers that change their direction from the direction of flow toward the edge of the flow to a lateral hole (17) of the respective first channel. As a result, microparticles can be moved back and forth between streaming fluids. Preferred applications include treatment, separating, sorting or confinement procedures.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to convectively move at least one liquid in a channel of a microsystem which comprises a predetermined channel direction. To this end, the liquid is, in a partial section of the channel, subjected to an electric field gradient and optionally to a thermal gradient. The gradients are generated in the partial section corresponding to a predetermined field direction, whereby the field direction differs from the channel direction.

Abstract: For sample picking on a cryosubstrate, on which multiple cryopreserved samples are each positioned at preselected sample positions, individual samples are selectively separated mechanically or thermally from the cryosubstrate and transferred to a target substrate.

Abstract: An electrode configuration for field cages, especially in microsystems, comprises a large number of electrodes in which an electrical potential can be applied to each end region through a feed region. The end region is arranged to form the field cage and inhomogeneous shielding fields outside the field cage. To reduce thermal convection, the feed region has a strip form whose width is substantially smaller than characteristic dimensions of the end region.

Abstract: A process for treating a biological or synthetic object subjected to an electrical field in a surrounding liquid medium for a predetermined pulse time (t1), the electrical field being formed by at least two electrodes including actuating at least once during the pulse time (t1) each of the electrodes as an anode and as a cathode, to cause at each electrode a polarity reversal and alternating electrolytic increases and reductions in pH of at least a portion of the liquid medium, subjecting the object during the pulse time (t1) to a number of electrical partial pulses which have a frequency in the range of 1 kHz to 1 MHz and which possess partial pulse durations, with sequentially reversing polarity or field direction such that the partial pulses possess sequentially varying partial pulse durations (t11, t12), pulse forms, and/or pulse amplitudes, and selecting the partial pulse durations (t11, t12), pulse forms, and/or pulse amplitudes such that, due to the electrolytic increases and reductions in pH value, su

Abstract: An electroporation and/or fusion treatment of microscopic objects occurs in a medium between at least two electrodes, with the electrodes being miniaturized electrodes in a microsystem with a channel structure which is set up for the flow-through of the medium with the objects.

Abstract: For manipulation of particles in a fluidic microsystem (15) in which the particles are moved in a predetermined reference direction in a suspension liquid, the microsystem (15) is closed off at least at its end (17a, 17b) pointing to the reference direction. The particles move under the influence of centrifugal forces and/or gravitational forces in the suspension liquid which is stationary in relation to the microsystem (15), with the centrifugal forces and/or gravitational forces essentially extending parallel to the reference direction. Furthermore, the particles in the microsystem (15) are exposed to deflection forces whose direction differs from that of the reference direction. (FIG. 1).

Abstract: In a method for positioning or controlling the motion of an object in a multi-electrode arrangement for forming a field cage, the basic potentials for driving the electrodes are modulated with drive potentials in such a way that the object position in the field cage changes in relation to a predetermined position or path. A device for arranging objects at predetermined positions in a multi-electrode arrangement has a switching device by which basic potentials, produced by generator means, can be modulated according to predetermined drive potentials (FIG. 1).

Abstract: In the method proposed, microparticles suspended in a liquid or droplets suspended in a liquid with which they are immiscible are shaped by high-frequency electric fields in a three-dimensional electrode array of a size in the micrometer or submicrometer range and subsequently consolidated by prior art chemical bonding procedures or by physical methods. The disposition, geometry and control of the electrodes determine the shape of the particles. The particles themselves must have a conductivity and/or relative dielectric constant lower than the solution surrounding them. For some, this can be achieved only at certain frequencies in the kHz and MHz band which are determined by the passive electrical properties of the particles and the surrounding solution. The particles or droplets are repelled by the electrodes so that they are shaped in the free solution without making contact with any surface and can then be consolidated.