Abstract: The invention concerns the technical field of micro-actuators used for mechanical, chemical, electrical or thermal functions in microsystems, for microelectronic applications such as chips, or biomedical functions such as microfluidics integrating cards. The invention concerns a micro-actuator comprising a so-called main chamber, made in a solid support and containing a so-called main pyrotechnic charge, the main chamber being sealed and delimited by solid support walls and by a deformable membrane, such that the gases emitted by the combustion of the main pyrotechnic charge, enable the volume of the chamber to be increased by deforming the membrane while maintaining intact the solid walls of the main chamber. The invention is characterized in that it comprises means for evacuating the gases from the main chamber.

Abstract: A method for drawing a biological sample using a suction-discharge device, such as a manual or automatic pipette, built into an automated device or not. A method for detecting the free surface of a biological sample and/or solid, a sample drawing device such as a pipette and a device for detecting the free surface of a biological sample or a solid are also disclosed. This method includes actuating a means causing a pressure variation or an air flow within the suction-discharge device, positioning the lower free end of the device in such a way so that it becomes flush with a free surface of the biological sample, measuring an overpressure within the suction-discharge device, and sampling a quantity of the sample by suction using the device. The invention finds a preferable application in the field of automatic analyzers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrically openable microfluidic valve, which comprises: at least one plane support (12); at least one afferent microchannel (14); at least one efferent microchannel (16); said microchannels being provided in the support, so that at least one of their ends (141) and (161) opens onto the internal face (121) of said support (12), near one another; at least one deposit (18) of a heat-sensitive material laid out on the internal face (121) of the support (12); and at least one heating means (20); so that the deposit (18) of heat-sensitive material at least partly closes off the space separating the ends (141) and (161) of the microchannels (14) and (16), thus preventing the latter from communicating with one another; the increase in temperature by the heating means (20) resulting in a modification of the structure of the heat-sensitive material, thus at least partially clearing the ends of the microchannels and the space between the latter, so as to allow communicati

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the electrical initiation of at least one pyrotechnic microcharge (3), this device being characterized in that it comprises a support element having at least one conductive finger (6) connected to a first terminal of a central control unit (8), a second terminal of said central control unit (8) being intended to be electrically connected to an electrically conductive support for the pyrotechnic microcharge (3). The invention also relates to a microactuator (1, 1a, . . . , 1h) and a microsystem (1?) that use such an initiation device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for implementing a test card inside which sequential reactions and fluid transfer operations are performed under the effect of a control means integrated into the card; said card includes at least two sequential reaction systems arranged in parallel, each reaction system consisting of at least two fluid transfer systems arranged in series. The invention also concerns a test card and the method for implementing the device and the card. The device is characterized in that it contains at least one actuator per reaction line, and all the actuators are at a regular distance from one another, with the actuators preferably being equidistant. The invention is particularly applicable for the micromanipulation of fluids in biological applications.

Abstract: The invention concerns the technical field of micro-actuators used for mechanical, chemical, electrical or thermal functions in microsystems, for microelectronic applications such as chips, or biomedical functions such as microfluidics integrating cards. the invention concerns a micro-actuator comprising a so-called main chamber, made in a solid support and containing a so-called main pyrotechnic charge, said main chamber being sealed and delimited by solid support walls and by a deformable membrane, such that the gases emitted by the combustion of the main pyrotechnic charge, enable the volume of said chamber to be increased by deforming said membrane while maintaining intact the solid walls of the main chamber. The invention is characterized in that it comprises means for evacuating the gases from the main chamber.

Abstract: An instrument for conducting nucleic acid amplification reactions in a disposable test device. The test device includes a first reaction chamber containing a first nucleic acid amplification reagent (e.g., primers and nucleotides) and a second reaction chamber either containing, or in fluid communication, with a second nucleic acid amplification reagent (e.g., an amplification enzyme such as RT). The instrument includes a support structure receiving the test device. A temperature control system maintains the first reaction chamber at a first elevated temperature but simultaneously maintains the second nucleic acid amplification reagent at a second temperature lower than the first temperature so as to preserve the second nucleic acid amplification reagent. An actuator operates on a fluid conduit in the test device to place the first and second reaction chambers in fluid communication with each other after a reaction has occurred in the first reaction chamber at the first temperature.

Abstract: An instrument for conducting nucleic acid amplification reactions in a disposable test device. The test device includes a first reaction chamber containing a first nucleic acid amplification reagent (e.g., primers and nucleotides) and a second reaction chamber either containing, or in fluid communication, with a second nucleic acid amplification reagent (e.g., an amplification enzyme such as RT). The instrument includes a support structure receiving the test device. A temperature control system maintains the first reaction chamber at a first elevated temperature but simultaneously maintains the second nucleic acid amplification reagent at a second temperature lower than the first temperature so as to preserve the second nucleic acid amplification reagent. An actuator operates on a fluid conduit in the test device to place the first and second reaction chambers in fluid communication with each other after a reaction has occurred in the first reaction chamber at the first temperature.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for performing a reaction or at least two reactions in parallel or in series, and for transferring a fluid flow, consisting of. an upper surface (2) and a lower surface (3) mutually linked by an edge (4); at least a duct (5) wherein a fluid flow (F1) can be generated by means transferring at least one sample (6) to be treated and/or analysed, and at least a valve (8) incorporated in each duct (4) for directing each sample (6) thereby controlling the transfers, reactions and analyses in the device. Each valve (8) consists of two means (9 and 10) integral with the device, the first means (9) being mobile between an inoperative position wherein the fluid transfer (6) is possible and an active position wherein said transfer cannot take place, and the second means (10) being mobile between a position wherein it is not in contact with said first means (9) and an active position wherein it deforms the first means (9) and it is activated by an actuator external to the device.

Abstract: A valve (2), crossed by at least one channel (3), allowing to direct at least one fluid (F5) displaced by a transfer device within a test sample card (1), the card (1) featuring two faces (4 and 5) connected to one another (4) (5) by an edge (6). A card equipped with a device allowing several cards equipped with such valves to be implemented is made up of a flexible film (7), and/or which can be distorted, part of which is fixed to at least one of the faces (4 and/or 5) of said card (1) on the one hand, and a film compression device (7), which can be deactivated on the other hand. In addition, securing is carried out on at least one of the plane faces (4 and/or 5), for example, by a securing device located at the level of a recession (9) peripheral to the valve (2), such as a groove (9). The valve is particularly applicable in the field of diagnosis.

Abstract: A device (1) for actuating at least one piston (2) moving axially in the bore (3) of a body (4), the piston (2) being driven by the longitudinal or curved movement (F2) of a control arm (5). Also disclosed is a method for detecting a failure in a device (1) having an intermediary element (6), located between the piston (2) and the control arm (5), this intermediary element (6) being also used as an alarm means should the intermediary element (6) be missing between the piston (2) and the arm (5). The invention is particularly applicable in the field of diagnosis.

Abstract: A method for treating magnetic particles present in a solution in a container by redispersion, rinsing or displacement, the particles having novel characteristics under the effect of a specific magnet and being associated or not with biological entities. The magnetic particles undergo at least one low-intensity magnetization where they are disposed in filaments oriented according to the north-south axis of the magnet; the magnetization source and/or container is/are displaced while the magnetic effect is maintained on the magnetic particles; the magnetization source and/or container is/are displaced or the, magnetization is stopped, in order to suppress the magnetic field on the magnetic particles. Preferably, the invention can be used in the field of biology.

Abstract: A method for drawing a biological sample using a suction-discharge device, such as a manual or automatic pipette, built into an automated device or not. A method for detecting the free surface of a biological sample and/or solid, a sample drawing device such as a pipette and a device for detecting the free surface of a biological sample or a solid are also disclosed. This method includes actuating a means causing a pressure variation or an air flow within the suction-discharge device, positioning the lower free end of the device in such a way so that it becomes flush with a free surface of the biological sample, measuring an overpressure within the suction-discharge device, and sampling a quantity of the sample by suction using the device. The invention finds a preferable application in the field of automatic analyzers.

Abstract: A device (1) for actuating at least one piston (2) moving axially in the bore (3) of a body(4), the piston (2) being driven by the longitudinal or curved movement (F2) of a control arm (5). Also disclosed is a method for detecting a failure in a device (1) having an intermediary element (6), located between the piston (2) and the control arm (5), this intermediary element (6) being also used as an alarm means should the intermediary element (6) be missing between the piston (2) and the arm (5). The invention is particularly applicable in the field of diagnosis.

Abstract: An apparatus including at least one sonotrode (2) designed to generate ultrasound of variable power in at least one biological sample (5) containing cells to be lysed, the sample (5) being contained in at least one receptacle (4 or 10) such that the sonotrode (2) is in direct contact with the receptacle(s) (4). Also disclosed is a method for using ultrasound to lyse a biological sample (5) contained in a receptacle (4), which includes placing the receptacle (4) in direct contact with the sonotrode (2), and activating the sonotrode (2) for long enough to lyse the cells in the sample (5) but preserve the DNA and/or RNA molecules released for subsequent operations, e.g. amplification. The invention is particularly applicable in the discipline of molecular biology.

Abstract: The invention concerns a lysis method for a biological sample comprising at least one micro-organism of the bacteria type, for releasing a nucleic material of interest belonging to said micro-organism, which consists in: providing in a container a biological sample in liquid medium; providing in said container at least one particulate material, relatively hard, and substantially inert with respect to the nucleic material; submitting the biological sample and particulate material mixture to a movement. The invention is characterised in that in combination, the selected movement is of the vortex type, and satisfies the following conditions: the particulate material consists of beads with diameter between 90 and 150 &mgr;m; and the apparent volume of the beads (Vb) and the volume of the liquid sample (Ve) are linked by the relationship Ve=&agr;. Vb, with &agr; ranging between 1.4 and 10 when the container is tubular in shape, and &agr; is not more than 2.

Abstract: A method for drawing a biological sample using a suction-discharge device, such as a manual or automatic pipette, built into an automated device or not. A method for detecting the free surface of a biological sample and/or solid, a sample drawing device such as a pipette and a device for detecting the free surface of a biological sample or a solid are also disclosed. This method includes actuating a means causing a pressure variation or an air flow within the suction-discharge device, positioning the lower free end of the device in such a way so that it becomes flush with a free surface of the biological sample, measuring an overpressure within the suction-discharge device, and sampling a quantity of the sample by suction using the device. The invention finds a preferable application in the field of automatic analyzers.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for lysis (1) of micro-organism to release at least one intracellular biological constituent, comprising a container (2) wherein are present a biological sample, in liquid medium, containing the micro-organism to be lyzed, and a material in the form of particles, relatively hard and inert with respect to the sample. The invention also concerns a grinding method. The material in the form of particles comprises at least two types of grinding means into different dimensions: at least large dimension magnetic means (3) automatically controlled by a magnetic field; and at least small dimension means (4) actuated by the large dimension grinding means (3). The invention is useful for separating biological constituents.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and device for decontaminating a contaminated hollow metal needle having electrical wires attached to the needle which heat cleaning fluid dispensed into the needle.

Abstract: The invention concerns a reaction card (1) consisting of a body, having a front surface (62) and a rear surface (63) defined by an edge (68), at least one input (2, 3, 4 and/or 5) and at least one output (7 and/or 8), connected one (2, 3, 4 and/or 5) to the other (7 and/or 8) through a network of channels (64) constituting at least one reaction path for at least one fluid, the fluid or fluids being directed inside the card (1) via valves (11 to 36 and/or 61); each valve (11 to 35 or 61) consists of a flexible film (67), which can be deformed to allow a fluid to pass through, the film (67) being fixed on the rear surface (63) of said card (1) at the peripheral indentation of the assembly of channels associated with the valve (11 to 35 or 61); the card (1) features channels (64) flush with at least one of its surfaces (62 and/or 63), the channels (64) being of two different cross-sections, a small cross-section serving as a reaction compartment; each front (62) or rear (63) is delimited by at least one film (48