Abstract: A device for examining chemical and/or biological samples is provided that includes a sample carrier. The sample carrier includes a sample carrier wall through which a sample is examined with the aid of an objective. The objective includes an exit lens that defines a gap towards an outer surface of the sample carrier wall, in which gap a film of an immersion material can be arranged such that the film is in contact with both the outer surface and the exit lens. The exit lens is surrounded by an objective cap. To improve protection of the objective from becoming fouled by the immersion medium, the objective cap includes a capillary channel connected with a suction device for discharging the immersion medium.

Abstract: A method for detecting geometrical structures in images, especially in images of chemical and/or biological samples, such as images of cells, the method comprising the following steps: detecting a boundary line of the image object; defining at least one sector inside the image, the origin (pk) of which lies on the boundary line; transforming the image section defined by the sector into a transformation space by means of a transformation that associates signatures in the transformation space with respective geometrical structures in the image section; determining the presence of at least one signature inside the transformation space; and retransforming the signatures from the transformation space into the sector for the representation of the geometrical structure.

Abstract: A climate chamber, which is in particular suitable for chemical and/or biological samples, comprises a climate compartment defined by a housing. Inside the climate compartment an analysis device, such as a microscope, is at least partially arranged. Further, the housing comprises an inlet opening for supplying a conditioning medium flow. For preventing condensation at condensate-sensitive components the medium flow is directed such that it at least partially flows against the analysis device and/or the sample carrier.

Abstract: The invention relates to a particle injector for introducing particles into a carrier flow of a microfluidic system, especially for injecting biological cells into the carrier flow of a cell sorter. The particle injector includes an inlet for receiving the carrier flow, an outlet for discharging the carrier flow including the introduced particles, a carrier flow channel which connects the inlet to the outlet, and an injection channel flowing into the carrier flow channel for introducing the particles into the carrier flow. The inventive particle injector is characterized in that the carrier flow channel has substantially no dead volume.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic system containing a carrier current channel (1) for receiving a carrier current containing particles suspended therein, and at least one electrode arrangement (3) which is arranged in the carrier current channel and used to manipulate the suspended particles (2), the electrode arrangement (3) containing two manipulation electrodes (4, 5). According to the invention, the electrode arrangement (3) contains two centering electrodes (6, 7), in addition to the two manipulation electrodes (4, 5), for centering the particles, the two centering electrodes (6, 7) being arranged in the carrier current channel (1) respectively upstream of one of the two manipulation electrodes (4, 5). The invention also relates to a corresponding control method.

Abstract: A device for measuring the optical properties of an object, particularly of a chemical and/or biological sample, comprises an illumination light source for illuminating the object. Further, an excitation light source is provided for illuminating the object, wherein the radiation of the excitation light source being suited to change the optical properties of the object. Further, the excitation radiation is focused in a measurement volume arranged within the object. By means of a detector device, there can be detected preferably the transmission of the illumination radiation through the object within the measurement volume.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device and a measuring method for investigating particles which are suspended in a carrier liquid, including several measuring electrodes for carrying out electrical measuring of the particles. It is proposed that during electrical measuring, the particles be fixed in a field cage (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating a convective liquid motion in a fluidic microsystem. According to this method, a liquid in a microsystem is simultaneously exposed to an electrical field and a thermal gradient. The electrical field is generated by means of an electrode arrangement which is subjected to a time-variant voltage. In this way, a time variant electrical field is formed in the liquid volume. The thermal gradient is produced by means of at least one radiation absorber located in the compartment which is exposed to at least one external radiation field.

Abstract: A device for examining chemical and/or biological samples comprises a sample carrier for receiving the samples. The sample carrier comprises a sample carrier wall through which a sample is examined with the aid of an objective. The objective comprises an exit lens which defines a gap towards an outer surface of the sample carrier wall, in which gap a film of an immersion material can arranged such that the film is in contact with both the outer surface and the exit lens. The exit lens is surrounded by a protection means which is in particular configured as an objective cap. To improve protection of the objective from becoming fouled by the immersion medium, the protection means comprises a capillary channel connected with a suction means for discharging the immersion medium.

Abstract: A method for the prevention of the adhesion of particles, in particular cells and cellular components in solution to surfaces, characterized in that to the solution is added at least one polyalcohol.

Abstract: A method for detecting geometrical structures in images, especially in images of chemical and/or biological samples, such as images of cells, the method comprising the following steps: detecting a boundary line of the image object; defining at least one sector inside the image, the origin (pk) of which lies on the boundary line; transforming the image section defined by the sector into a transformation space by means of a transformation that associates signatures in the transformation space with respective geometrical structures in the image section; determining the presence of at least one signature inside the transformation space; and retransforming the signatures from the transformation space into the sector for the representation of the geometrical structure.

Abstract: Described is a fluidic microsystem with at least one compartment for the receiving and/or the through-flow of a liquid and having an electrode arrangement with a multiplicity of electrodes, between which a coaction zone is established, whereby the compartment possesses at least one wall, through which electromagnetic radiation can be linked into the said coaction zone in accord with a predetermined incident direction, and on at least one electrode a cooling apparatus is provided, and on which at least one respective electrode at least one reflector layer is provided, and wherein the respective electrode is at least partially shielded in reference to the incident beam direction, and having at least one heat conducting layer by means of which the respective electrode stands in thermal communication with a wall of the compartment, and/or includes an active cooling element, which is placed in thermal contact with the respective electrode.

Abstract: A description is given of methods for collecting particles (1, 2) which are suspended in a liquid, including the following steps: providing the liquid containing the suspended particles (1, 2) in a compartment (10) having lateral surfaces (11), wherein at least one electrode (21) is arranged on at least one of the lateral surfaces (11), and generating high-frequency electric fields by means of the at least one electrode (21) so as to form at least one circulating flow (30), by means of which the particles (1, 2) are guided to at least one predetermined collecting area (40) in the compartment (10), wherein the flow (30) is formed in such a way that at least one branch of the flow runs along a longitudinal extent of the at least one electrode (21), and the flow (30) circulates about an axis (31) which is oriented perpendicular to the respectively adjacent lateral surface (11) with the electrode (21). Corresponding devices for collecting particles are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic system, in particular in a cell sorter, including a first carrier power supply (1) which is used to supply a first carrier flow having particles (4) suspended therein, a first carrier power output line (15) which is used to withdraw at least one part of the carrier flow having particles (4) suspended therein, a process chamber (3) which is used to examine, observe, manipulate and/or select the particle (4). The first carrier power supply (1) flows into the process chamber (3) when the first carrier power output line (15) is discharged from the process chamber (3). According to the invention, at least one second carrier power supply (2) flows into the process chamber (3) in order to supply a second carrier flow having particles (5) suspended therein. The invention also relates to a corresponding operational method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic system, in particular in a cell sorter, including a first carrier power supply (1) which is used to supply a first carrier flow having particles (4) suspended therein, a first carrier power output line (15) which is used to withdraw at least one part of the carrier flow having particles (4) suspended therein, a process chamber (3) which is used to examine, observe, manipulate and/or select the particle (4). The first carrier power supply (1) flows into the process chamber (3) when the first carrier power output line (15) is discharged from the process chamber (3). According to the invention, at least one second carrier power supply (2) flows into the process chamber (3) in order to supply a second carrier flow having particles (5) suspended therein. The invention also relates to a corresponding operational method.

Abstract: A plurality of planar electrodes (5) in a microchannel (4) is used for separation, lysis and PCR in a chip (10). Cells from a sample are brought to the electrodes (5). Depending on sample properties, phase pattern, frequency and voltage of the electrodes and flow velocity are chosen to trap target cells (16) using DEP, whereas the majority of unwanted cells (17) flushes through. After separation the target cell (16) are lysed while still trapped. Lysis is carried out by applying RF pulses and/or thermally so as to change the dielectric properties of the trapped cells. After lysis, the target cells (16) are amplified within the microchannel (4), so as to obtain separation, lysis and PCR on same chip (1).

Abstract: In a method for the fluorescence spectroscopic, in particular fluorescence correlation spectroscopic study of a measurement sample, the latter is introduced into a sample holding chamber (12) formed hollowed in a sample support (10). Electrically charged analytes contained in the measurement sample are then concentrated in a measurement volume (26) lying inside the sample volume, whereupon the measurement volume (26) is studied. According to the invention, the boundary walls (28) of the sample holding chamber (12) are brought essentially surface-wide to an electrostatic potential having the same sign as the charge of the analytes in order to concentrate the analytes in the measurement volume (26). An electrical molecule trap formed in this way can be produced very straightforwardly and is suitable in particular for screening studies of measurement samples, a large multiplicity of which are arranged close together in indentations (12) of the sample support (10).

Abstract: Methods are described for analyzing at least one deformable object (O) in a suspension fluid, including the following steps: generation of an electric positioning field and positioning of the object (O) in a potential minimum of the positioning field, generation of an electric deformation field in such a way that a deformation force is exerted on the object (O), and detection of at least one property selected from the group including the dielectric, geometric and optical properties of the object (O), wherein the positioning field is generated in a compartment (12) of a fluidic microsystem (10) and the positioning of the object (O) takes place in a contactless manner in a freely suspended state. Measuring apparatuses for carrying out this method are also described.

Abstract: Processes are described for the treatment of at least one particle (10-13) with at least one reaction liquid (20) in a main channel (30) of a fluidic microsystem (100) with the following steps: movement of the at least one particle (10-13) with a carrier liquid (40) flowing in a longitudinal direction of the main channel (30) up to a holding device (50), at least a temporary holding of the at least one particle (13) under the action of a holding force exerted by the holding device (50), and supplying of the reaction liquid (20) from at least one lateral channel (31) into the main channel (30) so that the at least one held particle (13) is rinsed by the reaction liquid (20), the holding device (50) being arranged downstream after a mouth (32) of the lateral channel (31) in the main channel (30) and the reaction liquid (20) flowing through the holding device (50) with a direction of flow running in the longitudinal direction of the main channel (30).

Abstract: A microsystem adapted for dielectrophoretic manipulation of particles in a suspension liquid wherein the microsystem has a channel with channel walls and a longitudinal extension. An electrode arrangement is present which has at least one microelectrode on at least one of the channel walls. This acts to generate a field barrier which crosses the channel at least partly. The microelectrode has a band-shape or has a multitude of straight electrode sections connected to each other. The band-shape has a predetermined curvature or the straight electrode sections are arranged with predetermined different angles so that the field barrier has a predetermined curvature relative to the longitudinal extension of the channel.