Abstract: A microfluidic system (1) for the isolation of cells (C1) of at least one given type from a sample; the system (1) comprises a separation unit (3), for transferring at least part of the cells (C1) of the given type from a main chamber (4) to a recovery chamber (5) in a substantially selective way with respect to further cells (C2) of the sample; two valves (9, 10) are set upstream and downstream of the main chamber (4); two valves (11, 12) are set upstream and downstream of the recovery chamber (5); a control assembly (23) is designed to govern the aforementioned valves (9, 10, 11, 12); the system (1) proposed enables isolation of the cells with a high degree of reproducibility and precision.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the diagnosis of tumoural conditions and/or of the corresponding state of advance, wherein a specimen of an organic fluid taken from the patient and having a high probability of containing at least one circulating tumour cell (CTC) or a disseminated tumour cell (CTD) is enriched in a population of CTCs or CTDs. According to the invention, at least one type of CTCs or CTDs is isolated by selecting individually single cells in a microfluidic device so to constitute a diagnostic specimen having a purity of at least 90%. On the specimen thus obtained there is subsequently performed a molecular analysis such as to highlight a characteristic thereof suited to enabling diagnosis.

Abstract: A sorting chamber (1) for sorting first particles (25) from second particles (26) comprising: an internal chamber (7), which is delimited by a base wall (2), a top wall (4), and a spacer (6), set between the base wall (2) and the top wall (4); an internal chamber (7), which is at least partially-delimited by the base wall (2) and top wall (4); two passages (8), which set in communication the internal chamber (7) with the external environment; and a plurality of cavities (9), which are designed to house the first particles (25), are made in the base wall (2) and have openings (10) towards the internal chamber (7) with widths of from 4 to 6 ?m.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for counting particles in a fluid comprising a substrate having a first surface; a lid having a second surface facing the first; at least one spacer element interposed between the substrate and the lid so as to maintain the first and second surface spaced from one another; a partition with a plurality of through-openings having nanometric size, the partition being interposed between the spacer element and the lid so as to define at least one first chamber between the partition and the lid and at least one second chamber between the partition and the substrate, the chambers being fluidically connected with one another through at least one of the openings. According to the invention, the substrate has at least one first electrode on the first surface and the lid has a second electrode, each first electrode being configured so as to detect an electric signal associated to the passage of one of said particles through one of the through-openings of the partition.

Abstract: The present invention refers to the optimised selection and isolation, within a respective population, of elements of interest and/or utility for a series of subsequent operations. The invention concerns a method comprising the phases of: a) identifying, for each particle, at least one of a plurality of characteristic parameters; b) selecting the particles of interest, comparing for each of these the at least one parameter with a respective reference parameter. It furthermore comprises the phases of c) storing, for each of said particles, the at least one parameter identified; d) processing the value of a function of said stored parameter, associating the function with a criterion for selection of the particles of interest chosen from a group of possible selection criteria; e) establishing for each particle a threshold criterion to be used as reference parameter. The threshold criterion is established on a time by time basis according to the result of the above processing.

Abstract: Methods and relative devices are illustrated for generating time-variable electric fields suitable for determining the creation of closed dielectrophoretic cages able to trap inside even single particles without the cages being necessarily positioned at relative minimum points of the electric field.

Abstract: Method for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis comprising the following steps: a. obtain a sample of an organic fluid having a high probability of containing foetal cells from a pregnant woman; b. enrich said sample of organic fluid in at least one population of cells comprising at least one type of foetal nucleated cells; c. isolate at least one cell from among said at least one type of foetal nucleated cells; d. perform a genetic analysis on said at least one cell isolated from among said at least one type of foetal nucleated cells in order to highlight at least one genetic characteristic of said at least one foetal nucleated cell suitable for permitting said diagnosis; wherein the step of isolating at least one cell from among said at least one type of foetal nucleated cells is performed by individually selecting single cells in a microfluidic device designed for said purpose.

Abstract: First entities consisting in cells or microorganisms (BIO) and second entities consisting in compounds or compound units, carried typically by microbeads (BEAD), are trapped selectively within closed movable potential cages (S1) by means of dielectrophoretic force generated by mutually opposed electrodes (M1, M2). The cages are set in relative motion so as to bring about the interaction of selected first and second entities, causing the cages containing them to fuse, whereupon results are obtained preferably by reinstating the original cages and/or observing previously empty adjacent cages. The procedure takes place in a device (DE) with two separate chambers (F, FL) connected one to the other by way of a narrow passage (D) and finished with respective selectively controllable inlets and outlets (I1, I2; O1, O2) through which a liquid or semi-liquid buffer (L) can be pumped in or out.

Abstract: Method for the selection or the processing of first particles sensitive to the application of an external stimulus including the step of producing, through the application of the external stimulus, the permeabilization of at least a selected first particle, consisting in the organization of the first particles through a first force field, to generate a second force field substantially placed in proximity of at least a selected first particle to be permeabilized.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the selection or processing of particles sensitive to the application of an external stimulus, in which is produced, by applying the external stimulus, the rupture/lysis of at least one selected particle or the fusion of first and second selected particles, by means of the organisation of the particles using a first field of force by selectively energising electrodes of an array of selectable electrodes having dimensions comparable to or smaller than those of the particles, applying to the electrodes a first configuration of stresses; and by applying to the electrodes a second configuration of stresses, so as to create a second field of force, located substantially close to at least one selected particle to be lysated or to a pair of first and second particles to be fused and such as to produce the application of a stimulus suited to produce their lysis or fusion.