Abstract: The invention is an electromechanical resonator, comprising a fixed portion and an oscillator oscillating at a resonant frequency and comprising a fluidic channel. The channel defines a fluidic circuit, can receive a fluid, and can be deformed at the resonant frequency. The resonator includes a waveguide, defining a photonic circuit, guiding a light wave between an input and an output of the waveguide and being able to be deformed at the resonant frequency. The waveguide input can be connected to a light source and the waveguide output can be connected to a photodetector able to form a signal representative of the light wave propagated by the waveguide towards the photodetector, the light wave being modulated at a frequency dependent on the resonant frequency. A variation in a mass of the fluid, inducing a variation in the resonant frequency, may be detected via the signal formed by the photodetector.

Abstract: A system for handling biological cells includes a main channel having an inlet end and an outlet end, and, at least over a first portion from the inlet end, including a cross section such that a cell circulating in the portion undergoes mechanical stresses. The system further includes first means for detecting the presence of a cell at the inlet end of the main channel and at least one access zone opening into the main channel between its inlet end and its outlet end in the first portion, in order to make it possible to exert an action on the cell. The system also includes means for displacing the cell in order to control the displacement of the cell between the inlet end and the outlet end.

Abstract: The invention is an electromechanical resonator, comprising a fixed portion (10) and an oscillator (20, 60), the oscillator being able to oscillate at a resonant frequency (f), the oscillator comprising: a fluidic channel (25), defining a fluidic circuit, produced in the oscillator (20, 60), and intended to receive a fluid (4), the fluidic channel being able to be deformed at the resonant frequency, under the effect of the oscillation of the oscillator; the resonator being characterized in that it also includes: a waveguide (26), defining a photonic circuit, produced in the oscillator (20, 60), and intended to guide a light wave (7) between an input (26in) and an output (26out) of the waveguide, the waveguide (26) being able to be deformed at the resonant frequency (f), under the effect of the oscillation of the oscillator; the input (26in) of the waveguide being able to be connected to a light source (6), the output of the waveguide being able to be connected to a photodetector (8), so that the photodet

Abstract: The invention is a process for producing an electromechanical device including a movable portion that is able to deform with respect to a fixed portion. The process implements steps based on fabrication microtechnologies, applied to a substrate including an upper layer, an intermediate layer and a lower layer. These steps are: a) forming first apertures in the upper layer; b) forming an empty cavity in the intermediate layer, which step is referred to as a pre-release step because a central portion of the upper layer lying between the first apertures is pre-released; c) applying what is called a blocking layer to the upper layer, this layer covering the first apertures, the blocking layer and the central portion together forming a suspended microstructure above the empty cavity; d) producing a boundary trench in the suspended microstructure, so as to form, in this microstructure, a movable portion and a fixed portion, the movable portion forming a movable member of the electromechanical device.

Abstract: The invention is a process for producing an electromechanical device including a movable portion that is able to deform with respect to a fixed portion. The process implements steps based on fabrication microtechnologies, applied to a substrate including an upper layer, an intermediate layer and a lower layer. These steps are: a) forming first apertures in the upper layer; b) forming an empty cavity in the intermediate layer, which step is referred to as a pre-release step because a central portion of the upper layer lying between the first apertures is pre-released; c) applying what is called a blocking layer to the upper layer, this layer covering the first apertures, the blocking layer and the central portion together forming a suspended microstructure above the empty cavity; d) producing a boundary trench in the suspended microstructure, so as to form, in this microstructure, a movable portion and a fixed portion, the movable portion forming a movable member of the electromechanical device.

Abstract: A detection method of detecting analytes of interest which are present in a liquid. The detection method including the steps of forming drops of liquid on a first surface by capillary breaking of a finger of liquid, which is initially formed by liquid dielectrophoresis. The thus formed drops each come into contact with a different detection surface, which is arranged facing the first surface. Analytes of interest which are present in each of the drops are detected at the corresponding detection surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for mass detection of particles in a fluid medium, including an electromechanical oscillator (7), excitation means (9) fitted so as to cause the said oscillator to vibrate, a fluid supply circuit (5), and a fluid system (11) incorporated in the said oscillator, where the said fluid system (11) is in fluid communication with the fluid supply circuit (5), where the said fluid system (11) includes at least one trapping site (21) configured to trap a particle of interest according to the size of the said particle of interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for functionalizing fluid lines (1b) in a micromechanical device, the walls of which include an opaque layer. For this purpose, the invention provides a method for functionalizing a micromechanical device provided with a fluid line including a peripheral wall (5) having a surface (2) outside the line and an inner surface (3) defining a space (1b) in which a fluid can circulate, the peripheral wall at least partially including a silicon layer (5a).

Abstract: The invention provides a device for the gravimetric detection of particles in a fluid medium, simultaneously providing a high quality factor, easier operating conditions, small size and low production costs. For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a device for the gravimetric detection of particles in a fluid medium, comprising a flat electromechanical oscillator (1), means for supporting the oscillator and means for actuating said oscillator, said means being designed to ensure that the oscillator (1) vibrates in its plane, said device further including a channel (4) for passage of the fluid, said channel being in fluid communication with a through-cavity (1b) made in said oscillator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a microfluidic array comprising at least one channel of semi-circular section, comprising the following steps: bringing into contact a first liquid (7) with an array of electrodes (3) of a microfluidic chip (1) comprising at least one pair of substantially parallel and coplanar electrodes (3a, 3b) arranged on a substrate (4), activating said array of electrodes so as to actuate by liquid dielectrophoresis LDEP said first liquid to form a fluidic structure (9) comprising at least one fluidic finger (9a), and using said fluidic structure as a mould to form said microfluidic array by solidification or hardening of a second liquid (11) deposited on the microfluidic chip and hugging the shape of said fluidic structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for the gravimetric detection of particles in a fluid medium, comprising a flat electromechanical oscillator (1), means for supporting the oscillator, means (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) for actuating said oscillator and, on either side of the plane of the oscillator (1), two cavities (3, 5) enabling the oscillator (1) to vibrate when it is activated by the actuation means (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d), characterized in that at least one of the two cavities (3, 5) forms an integral part of a channel (2, 4) for the passage of a fluid over at least one of the faces (1a, 1b) of the oscillator and in that said actuation means (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) take the form of at least one electrode (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) lying in the same plane as that of the electromechanical oscillator and at a defined distance (g) from the oscillator, so as to ensure that the oscillator vibrates in its plane.

Abstract: A detection method of detecting analytes of interest which are present in a liquid. The detection method including the steps of forming drops of liquid on a first surface by capillary breaking of a finger of liquid, which is initially formed by liquid dielectrophoresis. The thus formed drops each come into contact with a different detection surface, which is arranged facing the first surface. Analytes of interest which are present in each of the drops are detected at the corresponding detection surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for functionalising fluid lines (1b) in a micromechanical device, the walls of which include an opaque layer. For this purpose, the invention provides a method for functionalising a micromechanical device provided with a fluid line including a peripheral wall (5) having a surface (2) outside the line and an inner surface (3) defining a space (1b) in which a fluid can circulate, the peripheral wall at least partially including a silicon layer (5a).

Abstract: The invention relates to a detection device of small size, allowing direct in situ detection of particles with no labelling, enabling the particles to be rapidly analysed, and having both a specificity and a sensitivity that are at least equivalent to the existing devices. In one embodiment, the invention provides a device having a nanowire, intended for interacting with the particles of interest, which is suspended between two anchors that define a source and a drain, the source and the drain are configured to be connected to an AC voltage generator and to a DC voltage generator, respectively, in order to generate a first input signal; an excitation electrode, placed laterally facing the nanowire and configured to be connected to an AC voltage generator, in order to generate a second input signal; and a measurement electrode placed opposite the excitation electrode relative to the nanowire and generating a single output signal representative of the particles of interest.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for the gravimetric detection of particles in a fluid medium, simultaneously providing a high quality factor, easier operating conditions, small size and low production costs. For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a device for the gravimetric detection of particles in a fluid medium, comprising a flat electromechanical oscillator (1), means for supporting the oscillator and means for actuating said oscillator, said means being designed to ensure that the oscillator (1) vibrates in its plane, said device further including a channel (4) for passage of the fluid, said channel being in fluid communication with a through-cavity (1b) made in said oscillator.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for the gravimetric detection of particles in a fluid medium, comprising a flat electromechanical oscillator (1), means for supporting the oscillator, means (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) for actuating said oscillator and, on either side of the plane of the oscillator (1), two cavities (3, 5) enabling the oscillator (1) to vibrate when it is activated by the actuation means (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d), characterized in that at least one of the two cavities (3, 5) forms an integral part of a channel (2, 4) for the passage of a fluid over at least one of the faces (1a, 1b) of the oscillator and in that said actuation means (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) take the form of at least one electrode (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) lying in the same plane as that of the electromechanical oscillator and at a defined distance (g) from the oscillator, so as to ensure that the oscillator vibrates in its plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a detection device of small size, allowing direct in situ detection of particles with no labelling, enabling the particles to be rapidly analysed, and having both a specificity and a sensitivity that are at least equivalent to the existing devices. In one embodiment, the invention provides a device having a nanowire, intended for interacting with the particles of interest, which is suspended between two anchors that define a source and a drain, the source and the drain are configured to be connected to an AC voltage generator and to a DC voltage generator, respectively, in order to generate a first input signal; an excitation electrode, placed laterally facing the nanowire and configured to be connected to an AC voltage generator, in order to generate a second input signal; and a measurement electrode placed opposite the excitation electrode relative to the nanowire and generating a single output signal representative of the particles of interest.