Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting and/or enumerating a microorganism or a group of microorganisms of interest comprising a) contacting, in a container, a sample suspected of containing said microorganism or group of microorganisms with a solid growth medium containing nutrients to support growth of said microorganism or group of microorganisms and with at least one fluorescent dye; b) incubating said container under conditions and for a time sufficient to form microcolonies of said microorganism or group of microorganisms; and c) detecting and/or enumerating microcolonies emitting a fluorescent signal of said at least one fluorescent dye, thereby detecting, identifying and/or enumerating said microorganism or group of microorganisms contained in the sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, and related device, for observing, and where appropriate detecting and optionally enumerating, microbiological objects on a support, such as a membrane or a solid growth medium. In particular, said method comprises a) illuminating an area of a support with at least two incident collimated light sources forming an angle (?) of at least 10° with respect to the normal of the support, b) acquiring an image of said area of said support illuminated by said at least two incident collimated light sources by means of a light receiving element having its optical acquisition axis along the normal of the support, and c) detecting the presence or the absence of microbiological objects on said area of said support by discrimination, on said acquired image, of light reflected, scattered and/or diffused from the support and from microbiological objects on said support.

Abstract: Self-locking forceps for gripping and transporting small objects and usable in particular in dental surgery, said forceps comprising two branches that intersect freely and have a proximal manoeuvring part and a distal gripping part, the proximal parts being joined elastically at one of their ends, while the distal parts end in jaws, such that the closing together of the proximal parts or grips causes the distal parts to spread apart, while release of the pressure exerted on said proximal parts is translated into an automatic closing together of the distal parts and therefore of the jaws in a clamping position; at least one of said jaws is provided with a cushion of flexible material; said self-locking forceps being provided with a means for limiting the clamping force generated by the return force of the spring formed by the proximal parts of the forceps.

Abstract: The invention concerns equipment for extracting root post prosthetic elements or implants, such as an instrument including two lever assembled together by a pivoting and non-intersecting articulation, each of the levers having a handle and an extracting branch extending on either side of the articulation such that when the two handles are brought closer together, the two extracting branches are spaced apart. The ends of the extracting branches of the instruments are curved so as to form an angle with the remaining part of the branches. There are U-shaped extracting end pieces designed to be removably positioned and pivotably mounted, at the curved ends of the extracting branches.

Abstract: An instrument for removing a crown by generating a couple of forces between the occlusal surface of the stump of the tooth and the basal surface of the crown. The instrument has an indented intermediate portion and a working part extending from a tapered intermediate portion and a handle. When inserted in a groove formed at the occlusal part of the stump along a plane substantially parallel to the occlusal surface of the crown, the working portion enables, by a physical action, exertion of a couple of forces between the respective occlusal surfaces of the stump and the basal surface of the crown. The working part is rotatable integrally and correspondingly with a rotation of the handle.

Abstract: An instrument for setting a crown or a sealed prosthesis on a natural or prosthetic support by generating a couple of forces between the occlusal surface of the stump and the basal surface of the crown. The instrument includes an indented intermediate portion and a working portion, which may include an extension of a handle and a tapered intermediate portion. When inserted in a groove previously performed by the practitioner at a supposed level of the occlusal part of the stump along a plane substantially parallel to the occlusal surface of the crown, the working portion enables, by a physical action, exertion of a couple of forces between the respective occlusal surfaces of the stump and the basal surface of the crown. The couple of forces being generated subtantially in the vertical axis of the tooth or implant, the instrument enables to limit the traumas for the patient, to preserve the support base, to safeguard the prosthesis for future resetting.