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: 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: 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 microfluidic diagnosis kit used in biochemical analysis obtains a premeasured amount of reagents in an applicator for an analysis system. The required reagents are proportioned as non-volatile agents and a microfluidic system is provided, whereby the reagents are automatically dissolved in a solvent and fed to a sensor module to carry out measurement.

Abstract: An example embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for analyzing nucleic acids in a microfluidic device. The method includes the following steps: a) nucleic acids are amplified in a first chamber in the microfluidic device; b) the amplified nucleic acids are brought into contact with an additive including: i) monovalent cations and ii) an Mg2+ ion-binding agent, the additive being provided in a second chamber in the microfluidic device; and c) the amplified nucleic acids are hybridized on at least one probe oligonucleotide.

Abstract: Solid matter in a cavity is used to produce a solution of at least one solid matter in a solvent. The solid matter which is soluble in the solvent in initially covered and/or surrounded in the cavity by a medium which is insoluble in a solvent, such that dissolving of the solid matter is prevented. Subsequently the solvent is guided to the cavity and the medium which is insoluble in the solvent is treated in such a manner that contact is made between the solvent and the soluble solid matter, enabling the solid matter to dissolve in the solvent. Solutions including two or more solid matter can be produced in an advantageous manner.

Abstract: Electrochemical transducer arrays are already known from the prior art. According to the invention, the transducer array is provided with at least one flexible, planar metal substrate on which at least one flexible insulator having a firm connection between the metal surface and the insulator surface is disposed. The metal substrate and the insulator disposed thereon are structured in such a manner as to give metal areas which are electrically insulated the one from the other and which serve as sensor areas. The metal substrate used is self-contained so that the structured metal areas can be contacted from the lower side.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method measures cell vitalities with a sensor array. The sensor array is formed on a surface of a semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip has integrated circuits and an integrated circuit is associated with each sensor of the sensor array, for processing the measurement signals of the respective sensor. The integrated circuits are formed in the semiconductor chip spatially in each case below the associated sensor and neighboring sensors of the sensor array have a centre-to-centre in the range of micrometers. The pH and/or pO2 can be measured in the environment of a living cell.

Abstract: The method includes binding living cells to magnetic particles, adding them to a sensor array, uniformly distributing over the sensor array, magnetically fixing the magnetic particles having the bound cells over the sensor array, and adding substances to maintain and/or improve the cell vitality to the sensory array, and/or adding substances to worsen the cell vitality to the sensor array. The assembly includes a sensor array composed of sensors, which are designed to be in direct fluidic contact with a fluid, and a device for generating a magnetic field over the sensor array. A layer that comprises magnetic particles and living cells is formed on the sensor array.

Abstract: A device for detecting chemical or biochemical substances in fluids includes a first carrier having a sensor array with a plurality of electrochemical sensors. A second carrier includes a porous layer having at least one functional region, in which specifically binding capturing molecules are immobilized. The at least one functional region is arranged directly adjacent to at least one non-functionalized region. Assigned to the at least one functional region and the at least one non-functionalized region are several sensors of the sensor array, for use as an electrochemical camera.

Abstract: A DNA isolation method by removal of constituents, interfering with a subsequent PCR is disclosed. According to an embodiment of the method, all substances and method steps are fully integrated into a closed unit (cartridge) for single use, which allows entry of a DNA-containing sample and DNA-binding substrates are used for isolating the released DNA. In particular, when the method is applied to DNA isolation from whole blood by disruption of white blood cells, the reagents, required for carrying out the cell disruption and other reactions, are stored in a form which is stable at room temperature. For disrupting the white blood cells and for DNA isolation, a dry stored lysis reagent is dissolved in an aqueous solution and brought into contact with the white blood cells.

Abstract: A PCR process for DNA amplification with thermocyclisation of the corresponding reagents is disclosed, in which total integration of all substances and process steps is achieved in a closed, single-use unit (so-called cartridge) in which the reagents are stored in a storage-stable form at room temperature. According to the process, the water-soluble reagents are covered by a water-insoluble medium, then the DNA to be amplified is supplied and the water-insoluble medium is eliminated, so that the water-soluble reagents are dissolved and PCR can start. In the corresponding arrangement, a test unit designed as a single-use produce (a so-called cartridge) has at least one micro-channel or micro-cavity for receiving a PCR reagent. The PCR reagents in the form of a mixture which can be dried at a negligible vapour pressure and forms a storage-stable substance substance at room temperature adhere to the walls of the micro-channel or micro-cavity and form a thin film covered by an insoluble medium.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for extracting a smear sample. The device includes a cavity, into which a sample carrier carrying a smear sample can be introduced. Liquid can be introduced into the cavity through at least one liquid feed connected to the cavity, and the liquid can be removed from the cavity through at least one liquid discharge connected to the cavity.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus that is used for detecting liquids or substances from liquids and includes a plunger that has a porous plunger layer which is pressed onto a sensor array. Each sensor of the sensor array is surrounded by elevations which spatially separate the sensors from each other like walls. In at least one embodiment, when the plunger layer is pressed onto the sensor array, the walls are pressed into the pores of the plunger layer. Liquid-tight connections are created between the walls and the plunger layer while liquid remains over the sensors. The liquid can be measured. In at least one embodiment, when there is direct mechanical contact between the plunger layer and the sensors, the liquid over the sensors is located in open pores on the surface of the plunger layer. No liquid flows between the pores and across the walls when pressure is applied to the plunger layer such that closed reaction chambers are created.

Abstract: The embodiments relate to an apparatus and a method for detecting liquids or substances from liquids in spatially separate reaction zones. The embodiments further relate to the use of the apparatus in a plug-in module or a chip card which can be used for rapid immunological tests, for example, with the help of a reading device. The liquids or substances from liquids are detected by means of a sensor array which includes at least two sensors and on which at least one diaphragm is arranged. Individual sensors are spatially separated from each other on a plane by means of walls. The diaphragm can be filled with liquid that is to be analyzed. Sealed reaction chambers are created when pressure is applied to the diaphragm. Pores in the diaphragm are completely closed in the zone of the walls while the pores are merely reduced in size and liquid can continue to be exchanged in zones directly above the sensors.

Abstract: Especially in order to carry out the so-called enzyme-coupled DNA hybridization test in a closed cartridge including a microfluid system, using stored dry reagents, the reagents must be dissolved in the microfluid system and transported into the measuring chamber directly before the measurement. During the dissolution of the reagents in water, air cushions that cannot reach the measuring chamber must absolutely be prevented from forming upstream of the reagent liquid. According to an embodiment of the invention, the liquid measuring sample and the liquid reagents are transported in such a way that the air cushion is directed into the waste line and the measuring sample and the reagents are then introduced into the measuring chamber without any air bubbles. In this way, measuring errors can be avoided.

Abstract: A method for biochemical analysis uses a micro-reaction array with at least two reaction chambers for materials which react together chemically or biochemically. The reaction chambers are smaller than 1 ?l, the reaction chambers are filled together by throughflow, the chemical or biochemical reactions of the substances retained therein then occurs in the individual isolated reaction chambers, thus preventing an interference between the reactions in the individual reaction chambers and the reaction products remain enclosed in the relevant reaction chambers. In the system the planar array has at least two reaction chambers for substances, whereby the reaction chambers are closed with the goal of preventing an exchange of substances.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for calibrating a sensor element, which has an immobilized probe oligonucleotide, via which the bonding of a target nucleic acid (Z) can be detected by the sensor. In at least one embodiment, the method includes: a) bringing the sensor element into contact with a control nucleic acid (K), the melting temperature Tm(K) of which is less than the melting temperature Tm(Z) of the target nucleic acid (Z); b) hybridizing the control nucleic acid (K) to the probe oligonucleotide at a temperature T[p]<Tm(K), and detecting a positive control signal; and optionally c) modifying the stringent conditions such that T[n]>Tm(K) and detecting a negative control signal at a temperature T[n]. According to a refinement of at least one embodiment of the invention, a measuring signal of the target nucleic acid (Z) is measured at a measuring temperature T [mess], where Tm(K)<T[mess]<Tm(Z). The method is suited in particular for the calibration and quality control of microarrays.

Abstract: A process concentrates nucleic acid molecules to be detected of a sample on a surface, with capture molecules that specifically bind the nucleic acid molecules. A support material has a capture probe that can specifically be linked to the nucleic acid molecules to be detected to give complexes. The support material and the nucleic acid molecules of the sample are incubated to form the complexes. The complexes are moved to the surface. At least one portion of the complexes becomes bound to the capture molecules via the capture probe.

Abstract: An example embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for analyzing nucleic acids in a microfluidic device. The method includes the following steps: a) nucleic acids are amplified in a first chamber in the microfluidic device; b) the amplified nucleic acids are brought into contact with an additive including: i) monovalent cations and ii) an Mg2+ ion-binding agent, the additive being provided in a second chamber in the microfluidic device; and c) the amplified nucleic acids are hybridized on at least one probe oligonucleotide.