Abstract: An illumination device for a microscope and a method for generating a composite image of a sample using the illumination device. The illumination device has at least two providing beam paths, along each of which radiation is guided, each providing beam path having an optical filter device, by means of which spectral components of the radiation guided in the respective providing beam path are selected. Each of the optical filter devices is individually controllable and has a plurality of selectable possible filter functions. Per providing beam path there is an input coupling element for the input coupling of the filtered radiation via a respective incidence opening into an interior space of a cavity provided with a coating that is reflective for the filtered radiation, in particular into an Ulbricht sphere. In this case, the cavity has an exit opening used to emit the radiation that has been homogenized in the cavity owing to multiple reflection as illumination radiation.

Abstract: A shutter installation for an optical beam path includes: a shutter element for shutting the optical beam path; a drive for moving the shutter element in a controlled manner along a displacement path between two terminal positions; and at least one detent block having in each case a detent face against which the shutter element in one of the terminal positions is in each case moved, or able to be moved, respectively. Each detent block is configured so as to be displaceable such that the respective detent block, by the shutter element, is able to be displaced from the terminal position of the detent block by a distance along a displacement path.

Abstract: A method of filling a cartridge that includes a reaction chamber, a biochip mounted in the reaction chamber and a compensation chamber connected so as to communicate with the reaction chamber. The method includes placing a filling nozzle, which is connected so as to communicate with the reaction chamber, such that it is facing upwards, filling a liquid biological sample into the filling nozzle, pressing a stopper into the filling nozzle in order to force sample liquid into the reaction chamber, so that the reaction chamber is filled from bottom to top and an air bubble remains in the compensation chamber downstream of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heated reaction chamber for processing a biochip and to a method for controlling said reaction chamber. The heated reaction chamber for processing a biochip comprises a chamber wall, constituted by a flexible circuit board (10), a circuit path (10.3) being configured on the flexible circuit board (10) and being used as the heating device. The use of a flexible circuit board as the wall of a reaction chamber allows for a low thermal capacity of the reaction chamber in the area of the heating device, thereby allowing the chamber to be heated up quickly.

Abstract: The cartridge according to the invention for analysing biological samples comprises: a reaction chamber and a biochip mounted in the reaction chamber, a filling nozzle connected so as to communicate with the reaction chamber, and a compensation chamber connected so as to communicate with the reaction chamber, wherein the reaction chamber, the compensation chamber and all lines connected thereto form a chamber sealed as far as the filling nozzle, wherein the filling nozzle forms a free passage to the reaction chamber from outside the cartridge, and a stopper is provided which fits positively and tightly in the filling nozzle in such a way that, when pressed in over a certain distance, fluid is displaced from the filling nozzle towards the reaction chamber.

Abstract: The cartridge according to the invention for analysing biological samples comprises: a reaction chamber and a biochip mounted in the reaction chamber, a filling nozzle connected so as to communicate with the reaction chamber, and a compensation chamber connected so as to communicate with the reaction chamber, wherein the reaction chamber, the compensation chamber and all lines connected thereto form a chamber sealed as far as the filling nozzle, wherein the filling nozzle forms a free passage to the reaction chamber from outside the cartridge, and a stopper is provided which fits positively and tightly in the filling nozzle in such a way that, when pressed in over a certain distance, fluid is displaced from the filling nozzle towards the reaction chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heated reaction chamber for processing a biochip and to a method for controlling said reaction chamber. The heated reaction chamber for processing a biochip comprises a chamber wall, constituted by a flexible circuit board (10), a circuit path (10.3) being configured on the flexible circuit board (10) and being used as the heating device. The use of a flexible circuit board as the wall of a reaction chamber allows for a low thermal capacity of the reaction chamber in the area of the heating device, thereby allowing the chamber to be heated up quickly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling device for a reaction chamber for processing a biochip and to a method for controlling said cooling device. The cooling device (50) according to the invention comprises a cooling piston (51), a cooling unit (52) for cooling the cooling piston (51) and a drive (53) for displacing the cooling piston (51) or the reaction chamber in such a manner that the cooling piston can be brought into contact with a wall of the reaction chamber (5) and can be removed again. The cooling device (50) according to the invention allows high cooling rates and a high reproducibility of cooling processes. It has a simple design and can be reliably used in portable devices for examining biochips.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heated reaction chamber for processing a biochip and to a method for controlling said reaction chamber. The heated reaction chamber for processing a biochip comprises a chamber wall, constituted by a flexible circuit board (10), a circuit path (10.3) being configured on the flexible circuit board (10) and being used as the heating device. The use of a flexible circuit board as the wall of a reaction chamber allows for a low thermal capacity of the reaction chamber in the area of the heating device, thereby allowing the chamber to be heated up quickly.

Abstract: The cartridge according to the invention for analysing biological samples comprises: a reaction chamber and a biochip mounted in the reaction chamber, a filling nozzle connected so as to communicate with the reaction chamber, and a compensation chamber connected so as to communicate with the reaction chamber, wherein the reaction chamber, the compensation chamber and all lines connected thereto form a chamber sealed as far as the filling nozzle, wherein the filling nozzle forms a free passage to the reaction chamber from outside the cartridge, and a stopper is provided which fits positively and tightly in the filling nozzle in such a way that, when pressed in over a certain distance, fluid is displaced from the filling nozzle towards the reaction chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling device for a reaction chamber for processing a biochip and to a method for controlling said cooling device. The cooling device (50) according to the invention comprises a cooling piston (51), a cooling unit (52) for cooling the cooling piston (51) and a drive (53) for displacing the cooling piston (51) or the reaction chamber in such a manner that the cooling piston can be brought into contact with a wall of the reaction chamber (5) and can be removed again. The cooling device (50) according to the invention allows high cooling rates and a high reproducibility of cooling processes. It has a simple design and can be reliably used in portable devices for examining biochips.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heated reaction chamber for processing a biochip and to a method for controlling said reaction chamber. The heated reaction chamber for processing a biochip comprises a chamber wall, constituted by a flexible circuit board (10), a circuit path (10.3) being configured on the flexible circuit board (10) and being used as the heating device. The use of a flexible circuit board as the wall of a reaction chamber allows for a low thermal capacity of the reaction chamber in the area of the heating device, thereby allowing the chamber to be heated up quickly.