Abstract: A process is disclosed for detecting cells in a liquid sample, which includes: i) filtration of the liquid sample through a porous membrane which is suitable for retaining detectable cells, where at least one subregion of a support is configured as transparent supporting body and the membrane is arranged over its area on the transparent supporting body in such a way that detectable cells are retained on at least part of the surface of the membrane and that at least part of the sample liquid passes through the membrane, ii) application of a liquid optical medium which has essentially the same refractive index as the supporting body, and iii) optical measurement of at least a subarea of the membrane in order to detect detectable cells.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the detection of magnetic particles, so-called beads, immobilized on an essentially flat-planar holding area of a substrate. In at least one embodiment, a sensor array, which is arranged in the holding area and is composed of XMR sensors, is subjected to an external magnetic field and the change in the resistance of an XMR sensor caused by a stray field of a bead is measured to detect the bead, with the external field being produced by passing a direct current through a conductor track which is arranged on the holding area.

Abstract: An assembly and a method for filtration are disclosured, which are suitable in particular for the filtration of cells, for example tumor cells, from a sample, for example a blood sample. In the method, a pressure differential between the pressure upstream and the pressure downstream of a filter is determined; and the pressure differential between upstream and downstream of the filter is adjusted such that the pressure differential does not exceed a predetermined value.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to a method and to an array for detecting live circulating or disseminated cells in body fluids (for example blood, urine) or tissue samples (for example bone marrow) mixed with liquid. The method includes: a) filtering the liquid sample through a porous membrane that is suitable for retaining cells to be detected, such that cells to be detected come to rest upon at least a part of the surface of the membrane and the sample liquid passes the membrane; b) applying a first process liquid containing a first agent for marking the cells to be detected with a first marker; c) incubating the process liquid on the membrane for a predetermined time period, wherein the cells to be detected are marked; and d) detecting the marked cells to be detected on the surface of the membrane.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for detecting cells in a liquid sample, which includes: i) filtration of the liquid sample through a porous membrane which is suitable for retaining detectable cells, where at least one subregion of a support is configured as transparent supporting body and the membrane is arranged over its area on the transparent supporting body in such a way that detectable cells are retained on at least part of the surface of the membrane and that at least part of the sample liquid passes through the membrane, ii) application of a liquid optical medium which has essentially the same refractive index as the supporting body, and iii) optical measurement of at least a subarea of the membrane in order to detect detectable cells.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for characterizing a local magnetic field, in particular a stray field caused by a magnetizable or magnetic particle in a prescribed measuring area of a magnetic field. In at least one embodiment, a sensor array including a number of magnetic sensors and each having at least one layer sensitive to magnetic fields is arranged at least in a subregion of the measuring area, and at least one device is provided for reading out separately the signal from each sensor. According to at least one embodiment, the size, in particular of XMR sensors and the surface of the layer sensitive to magnetic fields and the grid dimension of the sensor array, are selected such that at least two neighboring sensors are influenced by the local stray field. An associated device for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device and a method are disclosed for the detection and/or for the quantification of an analyte. In at least one embodiment, the device includes a basic matrix and magnetized nanoparticles, which are arranged in moveable fashion in or at the basic matrix and to which catcher molecules that bind specifically to the analyte are anchored. Further, the mobility of the nanoparticle in the basic matrix can be influenced by a binding of the analyte to be detected to the catcher molecules and can be read out magnetically.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for carrying out an analysis process, in which probe molecules which are immobilized on a substrate within an analysis area are brought into contact with an analyte solution, which contains target molecules as reaction partners, and reaction events are detected between target molecules and probe molecules with the aid of magnetic marker particles which are coupled to the target molecules or to the probe molecules. An inhomogeneous magnetic field is applied to the analysis area before and/or after detection. In the apparatus, magnetic-field devices are provided at least for the production of an inhomogeneous magnetic field acting in the analysis area, with these magnetic-field devices being part of sequence control for determination of the bonding forces of the reaction events.

Abstract: A component with a logic circuit arrangement with configurable functionality, includes several data lines (7), whereby at least a part of the data lines (7) is provided with at least one element (1) which may be switched between two states with different discrete resistances. The data line (7) is opened or closed by the element (1), depending on the switched state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the presence detection of microorganisms in a bioreactor (B), to a bioreactor (B), and to an arrangement for performing the detection method.

Abstract: A component with a functionally-configurable circuit arrangement, has a first switch group with a voltage-dependent switching on or off of a data line and at least one second switch group generating two discrete output voltages separated by an increase in voltage and the switch states for the discrete output voltages may be stored in non-volatile memory. The switching on or off of the data line is determined by the switch state of the first switch group and a third switch group (11) is provided to increase the voltage increase between the first switch group (17) and the second switch group (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a reconfigurable digital logic unit comprising at least one logic gate with a cell presenting a magnetic layer system, the resistance of which may be altered by means of magnetic field pulses. Said logic gate comprises at least one first leg with at least one data cell and a second leg, wired parallel to the above, with at least one reference cell and a means for determination of the resistances of the first and second legs, representing a measure of the logical state of the logic gate, whereby the first leg comprises at least two parallel data cells (2).

Abstract: A component with a functionally-configurable circuit arrangement, has a first switch group with a voltage-dependent switching on or off of a data line and at least one second switch group generating two discrete output voltages separated by an increase in voltage and the switch states for the discrete output voltages may be stored in non-volatile memory. The switching on or off of the data line is determined by the switch state of the first switch group and a third switch group (11) is provided to increase the voltage increase between the first switch group (17) and the second switch group (3).

Abstract: A programming matrix switches of one of n logical inputs to one of j outputs. The programming matrix includes at least one layer system with multiple magnetic elements situated at selected locations, in which case, during and/or after the formation of the layer system, in the case of at least one of the elements, the magnetic and/or electrical properties thereof can be altered or are altered by means of intervention at least one layer of the element.

Abstract: A circuit analyzes the configured status of cells with a magnetic layer system, resistance of which may be altered by magnetic field pulses, forming a first line branch with data cells arranged in series and a second line branch with configurable cells arranged in series. The circuit includes a difference amplifier for determining a voltage signal giving the difference voltage of the line branches. Also included in the circuit is a voltage shifter for shifting the voltage signal to a value other than 0 volts, such as an adder or subtractor. In addition, the circuit includes a comparator or window comparator, for the decision as to whether the voltage signal lies in a valid or forbidden range and an evaluation unit for evaluating a valid voltage signal and for output of a logical low or high signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a programming matrix for the switching of one of n logical inputs to one of j outputs, whereby the programming matrix comprises a slot system with magnetic elements in selected positions, the magnetic and/or electrical properties of which can change or be changed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for increasing a relative change in resistance of a magnetoresistive memory cell (17) having in each case a memory layer (1) and a reference layer (3) on both sides of a tunnel barrier (2), the reference layer (3) being fashioned as a magnetically soft layer, and the magnetization thereof, which can be influenced by write operations, being oriented correctly again by a reference backup field or a reference magnetization current (11).

Abstract: A configurable logic circuit arrangement includes at least one multiplexer for switching logic signals. The multiplexer includes one or more data inputs and one or more control signal inputs. The at least one multiplexer (8, 12, 13) can be configured by one or more external control signal transmitter elements of the circuit arrangement during the operation of the circuit in a run-time variable manner by configuration signals that are applied to the control inputs and forwards the logical signals that are applied to the data inputs during operation of the circuit in a run-time variable manner.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the detection of magnetic particles, so-called beads, immobilized on an essentially flat-planar holding area of a substrate. In at least one embodiment, a sensor array, which is arranged in the holding area and is composed of XMR sensors, is subjected to an external magnetic field and the change in the resistance of an XMR sensor caused by a stray field of a bead is measured to detect the bead, with the external field being produced by passing a direct current through a conductor track which is arranged on the holding area.

Abstract: A circuit analyzes the configured status of cells with a magnetic layer system, resistance of which may be altered by magnetic field pulses, forming a first line branch with data cells arranged in series and a second line branch with configurable cells arranged in series. The circuit includes a difference amplifier for determining a voltage signal giving the difference voltage of the line branches. Also included in the circuit is a voltage shifter for shifting the voltage signal to a value other than 0 volts, such as an adder or subtractor. In addition, the circuit includes a comparator or window comparator, for the decision as to whether the voltage signal lies in a valid or forbidden range and an evaluation unit for evaluating a valid voltage signal and for output of a logical low or high signal.