Abstract: A shaft for a sampling pipette includes a first cylindrical portion, a first annular shoulder, and a second annular shoulder. A first cross section of the first cylindrical portion has a first diameter. The first annular shoulder includes a first transition end adjacent the first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion. A second cross section of the second cylindrical portion has a second diameter. The second annular shoulder includes a second transition end adjacent the first annular shoulder and a third cylindrical portion. A third cross section of the third cylindrical portion has a third diameter. The third diameter is greater than the second diameter which is greater than the first diameter. The second diameter and the third diameter are selected so that a pipette tip contacts the second cylindrical portion and the third cylindrical portion when the pipette tip is mounted on the shaft.

Abstract: A spectroscopic imaging system includes a microscopic or macroscopic device including an objective, a housing including a spectroscope, and scanning means disposed between the objective and the spectroscope. During the scanning of the excitation beam on a scanned area on the sample surface, the energy of the emitted light beam is integrated on the pixels of the detection means, generating average spectral data for each line of pixels. Storage means are connected to the detection means, including a memory able to store average spectral data of M lines of pixels. An imaging device is connected to the storage means, and the average spectral data of M lines of pixels are sent simultaneously toward the imaging device in order to obtain an average spectroscopic image of the scanned area.

Abstract: A device for use in a multi-channel pipetting system is provided. The device includes a body, a plurality of modules mounted to the body, a plurality of pistons mounted to a piston holder for simultaneous movement of the plurality of pistons in a first direction, and a guidance assembly. Each module includes an orifice connecting to an intake chamber. A piston extends into the intake chamber for movement in the first direction. The guidance assembly includes a first rotating element, a second rotating element, a shaft connecting the first rotating element to the second rotating element, and a first track and a second track extending parallel to the first direction. The shaft extends in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first rotating element is mounted to roll along the first track, and the second rotating element is mounted to roll along the second track simultaneously with the plurality of pistons.

Abstract: A spectroscopic imaging system includes a microscopic or macroscopic device including an objective, a housing including a spectroscope, and scanning means disposed between the objective and the spectroscope. During the scanning of the excitation beam on a scanned area on the sample surface, the energy of the emitted light beam is integrated on the pixels of the detection means, generating average spectral data for each line of pixels. Storage means are connected to the detection means, including a memory able to store average spectral data of M lines of pixels. An imaging device is connected to the storage means, and the average spectral data of M lines of pixels are sent simultaneously toward the imaging device in order to obtain an average spectroscopic image of the scanned area.

Abstract: A device for use in a multi-channel pipetting system is provided. The device includes a body, a plurality of modules mounted to the body, a plurality of pistons mounted to a piston holder for simultaneous movement of the plurality of pistons in a first direction, and a guidance assembly. Each module includes an orifice connecting to an intake chamber. A piston extends into the intake chamber for movement in the first direction. The guidance assembly includes a first rotating element, a second rotating element, a shaft connecting the first rotating element to the second rotating element, and a first track and a second track extending parallel to the first direction. The shaft extends in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first rotating element is mounted to roll along the first track, and the second rotating element is mounted to roll along the second track simultaneously with the plurality of pistons.

Abstract: A shaft for a sampling pipette includes a first cylindrical portion, a first annular shoulder, and a second annular shoulder. A first cross section of the first cylindrical portion has a first diameter. The first annular shoulder includes a first transition end adjacent the first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion. A second cross section of the second cylindrical portion has a second diameter The second annular shoulder includes a second transition end adjacent the first annular shoulder and a third cylindrical portion. A third cross section of the third cylindrical portion has a third diameter. The third diameter is greater than the second diameter which is greater than the first diameter. The second diameter and the third diameter are selected so that a pipette tip contacts the second cylindrical portion and the third cylindrical portion when the pipette tip is mounted on the shaft.

Abstract: A multivolume pipette is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the multivolume pipette includes a pipette body, a piston disposed within the pipette body, a first chamber, a second chamber, and a valve. The first chamber and the second chamber are defined at least in part by an inner wall of the pipette body and the piston. The valve is capable of placing the second chamber in fluid communication with an external environment to provide a first volume range of the multivolume pipette. The valve is also capable of placing the second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber to provide a second volume range of the multivolume pipette.

Abstract: An inelastic diffusion spectrometric imaging apparatus includes an illuminating and energising system including a confocal first aperture and a second confocal aperture combined with the first. A first deflector assembly scanning for scanning a sample and a second deflector assembly sychronised with the first, are placed respectively downstream and upstream of the second confocal aperture and a spectrometer. The input aperture of the spectrometer merges with the second confocal aperture.

Abstract: In an optical fittering device comprising at least two fitters, the first filter (EF1) is tilted by an angle of incidence whose value is adjusted to bring the cut-off limit of the first filter (EF1) closer to one of the sides of the line of the illumination beam (FLA), which reduces the optical density of the first filter, while the association in series of the first (EF1) and second (EF2) filters enables to obtain a high-pass filtering whose global density corresponds to the sum of the densities of the first and second filters and whose cut-off limit is lower than that obtained by a single filter tilted to its optimum angle. A third filter (EF3) mounted in parallel with respect to the first and second filters (EF1 and EF2) enables to obtain, at the level of the common collection path (TCC), a band eliminating filtering whose cut-off limits are positioned on either side of the illumination line with a view to an optimum analysis of the low frequency lines.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spectrometry installation comprising an inlet, optical fiber means suitable for receiving an inlet beam and delivering a spectrally dispersed image of the beam which image is limited to a selected spectral band, a multi-channel detection module receiving said spectral image, and processor means. The optical filter means are provided with a deflector stage. Control means are associated with the optical deflector means to define the spectral band in terms of center frequency and band width, and control means are associated therewith for displacing the spectral image over the detection module. An electronic control unit is provided to control the control means and to control the processor means in a plurality of operating modes, each of which comprises joint control of the selected spectral band, of the displacement of the spectral image, and of the processor means, for the purpose of selectively using a particular set of detector components.

Abstract: This invention relates to the measurement of thermal conductivity. The measuring probe according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises:a plate defining, on its face of application, areas located on the same plane, occupied by the measurement zones (Z.sub.1, Z.sub.2) which are constituted by conducting segments connected in series from one zone to the other by thermocouples,a plane heating element placed, outside the face of application, in relation with the median zone Z.sub.1,a coating made of electrically insulating matter, covering the measurement zones Z.sub.1, Z.sub.2,a cover made of insulating matter covering the plate,and a mass (M) of heat-insulating matter occupying the volume defined by the plate and the cover. The invention is more particularly applicable to the study of the thermal conductivity of biological tissues.