Abstract: A fluid flow rate measurement device includes: a manifold element including a first fluid conduit extending from a surface thereof and terminating in a first port opening at a first lateral surface thereof and a second port opening at a second lateral surface thereof, and a second fluid conduit extending from a surface thereof and terminating in a third port opening at the first lateral surface and a fourth port opening at the second lateral surface; a fluid restriction element fixed to the first lateral surface and arranged to provide a sealed fluid pathway between the first port and the third port; and—a pressure sensor assembly fixed to the second lateral surface and including a first pressure sensor in fluidic communication with the second port, and a second pressure sensor in fluidic communication with the fourth port.

Abstract: A fluid flow rate measurement device includes: a manifold element including a first fluid conduit extending from a surface thereof and terminating in a first port opening at a first lateral surface thereof and a second port opening at a second lateral surface thereof, and a second fluid conduit extending from a surface thereof and terminating in a third port opening at the first lateral surface and a fourth port opening at the second lateral surface; a fluid restriction element fixed to the first lateral surface and arranged to provide a sealed fluid pathway between the first port and the third port; and—a pressure sensor assembly fixed to the second lateral surface and including a first pressure sensor in fluidic communication with the second port, and a second pressure sensor in fluidic communication with the fourth port.

Abstract: A method for controlling pipetting operations done by a pipetting device having a system for measuring the flow rate of the liquid suctioned or dispensed and electronics to communicate with a computer. The method is based on detection of flow rate variations and the moments at which those variations occur. The method includes obtaining a curve of liquid flow rate by the pipette as a function of time, computing the first deviation of the curve, identifying and recording the maximum and minimum values of the first deviation and the moments at which the maximum and minimum values occur, comparing the maximum and minimum values and the moments at which the maximum and minimum values occur with predetermined references for the values and the moments at which they occur, and based on the result of the comparison, providing a validation or error message.

Abstract: A method for controlling pipetting operations done by a pipetting device having a system for measuring the flow rate of the liquid suctioned or dispensed and electronics to communicate with a computer. The method is based on detection of flow rate variations and the moments at which those variations occur. The method includes obtaining a curve of liquid flow rate by the pipette as a function of time, computing the first deviation of the curve, identifying and recording the maximum and minimum values of the first deviation and the moments at which the maximum and minimum values occur, comparing the maximum and minimum values and the moments at which the maximum and minimum values occur with predetermined references for the values and the moments at which they occur, and based on the result of the comparison, providing a validation or error message.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fluid dispensing device, characterised in that it comprises: a dispensing member (10) including: a conduit (42, 44) allowing through a transporting liquid (52), a valve (48) fixed to one of the ends (38) of said conduit, a dispensing needle (12) arranged at the other end (38), means for measuring the flow rate (46) of the transporting liquid (52) in the conduit, control means (54) for circulating the said liquid through said conduit in one direction or the other, and electronic means (58, 60) reacting to said measuring means (46) and acting both on said valve (48) and said control means (54) to cause a specific amount of fluid (30) to be sucked into the needle (12), and then to be restored.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-duct fluid dispenser for withdrawing liquid (14) from a plurality of cavities (12) formed in a reservoir platter (10) and spraying it onto a receiving platter (16). It comprises: a plurality of flexible ducts (26) arranged in a convergent bundle, the first ends of which are intended to be immersed in said cavities and the second ends of which are assembled in a miniaturized array, means of filling said ducts, from their first ends, with the liquid contained in the cavities, and means of expelling a drop of liquid from the second end of each duct toward the receiving platter. The ducts are formed in a plurality of flexible plates (18) joined together by their part (24) that comprises the second ends of the ducts. They are each formed of two polymer sheets (34, 36) sealed together and of which at least one is endowed with an array of convergent grooves forming the ducts.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for measuring pressure in two points of a fluid flow, comprising: a frame (10) consisting of two plates (12, 14) comprising each two planar surfaces, one outer (12a, 14a) and the other inner (12b, 14b), and wherein one of the plates (12) is perforated with recess (22) closed by the other plate (14) to form an assembly of two chambers (28, 30) comprising two planar walls (24, 14b) parallel to the surfaces (12a, 14a) of the frame and a side wall (26) forming its periphery and a fluidic restriction channel (32) connecting the two chambers (28, 30) with each other, and means (16) for supplying a measurement of the pressure in each of the chambers (28, 30). In order to improve the accuracy of the measurement, the side wall (26) of the chambers (28, 30) is perpendicular to its two planar walls (24, 14b) and is configured such that the chambers (28, 20) are spindle-shaped.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-duct fluid dispenser for withdrawing liquid (14) from a plurality of cavities (12) formed in a reservoir platter (10) and spraying it onto a receiving platter (16).

Abstract: The invention concerns a fluid dispensing device, characterised in that it comprises: a dispensing member (10) including: a conduit (42, 44) allowing through a transporting liquid (52), a valve (48) fixed to one of the ends (38) of said conduit, a dispensing needle (12) arranged at the other end (38), means for measuring the flow rate (46) of the transporting liquid (52) in the conduit, control means (54) for circulating the said liquid through said conduit in one direction or the other, and electronic means (58, 60) reacting to said measuring means (46) and acting both on said valve (48) and said control means (54) to cause a specific amount of fluid (30) to be sucked into the needle (12), and then to be restored.

Abstract: The liquid droplet spray device (5) has a micromachined substrate (8, 18, 18a; 8a, 18, 18a), a space (9) within the substrate for containing a liquid substance (4), an inlet channel for supplying (7) the liquid (4) to the space (9), and outlet structure (13, 14, 15) for ejecting the liquid as a mono-dispersive droplet spray when the liquid undergoes a vibration. The outlet structure comprises a cut-off pyramid-shaped tapered cavity (13) which is micromachined in the space (9). The outlet structure further comprises at least one output (14) and output channel (15) connecting the tapered cavity (13) to the outlet (14), the outlet (14) and the output channel (15) having a non-tapered vertical shape. Thanks to such a device, the exact amount ejected may be determined accurately which allows for a predicted lung deposition of the droplets by using appropriate control means adapted to the kind of patient.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device comprising a first substrate and a second substrate intended to form a micro-system such as a sensor, at least one of the substrates being able to include electronic circuit components. The invention is characterised in that a layer of polymer is interposed between the first and the second substrate, in that the polymer layer includes at least one cavity which extends from the first to the second substrate and in that solder attaching means are provided in the cavity, said solder means assuring a traction resistant mechanical connection between the two substrates.

Abstract: This process consists of machining a silicon piece (4) by means of selective oxidation operations and photolithography to form therein at least one cavity (7, 12) adapted to contain or convey a fluid, and of oxidizing the wall of the cavity to make this hydrophilic. The device is completed by fixing closing plates (1, 5) to its body thus formed. Prior to the machining operations the surfaces of the piece (4) adapted to be in contact with the closing plates (1, 5) are covered with a screening layer that resists these machining operations. Then, after these have been completed, the surfaces of the piece intended to be exposed to the fluid are oxidized to form therein an oxide layer favoring the wettability of these surfaces. The screening layer is then removed and the closing plates are fixed to the piece.The invention has applications, notably in micropumps.