Abstract: A microfluidic device, particularly of the lab-on-chip type, for the detection of biological and/or medical targets of interest in biological samples, as well as for the operations of extraction of such targets from native or non-native biological samples, of purification, concentration, and injection in buffer solutions, all adapted to optimize the detection thereof.

Abstract: A lab-on-a-chip diagnosis device, which comprises: —a network of ducts (18) and a plurality of vents (20) that are adapted to stabilize the internal conditions of pressure and temperature of the diagnosis device, by making them conform to the external environmental conditions of use; —a sample loading station (22) adapted to introduce a sample of biological fluid to be analyzed; —a first buffer tank (24) containing a first buffer liquid for conditioning and stabilizing the sample; —a mixing duct (26) adapted to mix together the first buffer liquid and the sample; —an electrophoresis chamber (44) containing a separative filtering material, and adapted to purify the conditioned sample and to concentrate at least one analyte of interest; —a detection chamber (54) adapted to detect and quantify the presence of the at least one analyte of interest in an extract from the electrophoresis chamber (44).

Abstract: A microfluidic device, particularly of the lab-on-chip type, for the detection of biological and/or medical targets of interest in biological samples, as well as for the operations of extraction of such targets from native or non-native biological samples, of purification, concentration, and injection in buffer solutions, all adapted to optimize the detection thereof.

Abstract: A diagnostic device, particularly of the lab-on-chip type having a station for inserting a native sample of a fluid to be tested; a chamber for stabilizing the native sample, and a station for separating the native sample. The device further includes an electrophoresis chamber, with a capillary connection to the separation station, a reaction chamber, and at least one pair of electrodes. The electrodes are arranged upstream and downstream of the electrophoresis chamber, whose electrical field propels the sample from the electrophoresis chamber to the reaction chamber, a separative electrophoresis occurring inside the electrophoresis chamber. The insertion station, the stabilization chamber, the separation station, the electrophoresis chamber (5) and the reaction chamber are defined in a single chip and include inert containment surfaces.

Abstract: A diagnostic device, particularly of the lab-on-chip type having a station for inserting a native sample of a fluid to be tested; a chamber for stabilizing the native sample, and a station for separating the native sample. The device further includes an electrophoresis chamber, with a capillary connection to the separation station, a reaction chamber, and at least one pair of electrodes. The electrodes which are arranged upstream and downstream of the electrophoresis chamber, whose electrical field propels the sample from the electrophoresis chamber to the reaction chamber, a separative electrophoresis occurring inside the electrophoresis chamber. The insertion station, the stabilization chamber, the separation station, the electrophoresis chamber and the reaction chamber are defined in a single chip and include inert containment surfaces.

Abstract: A preliminary diagnostic system comprising a reading station and at least one card comprising an integrated circuit and adapted to be read by the reading station, the integrated circuit of the card comprising a hydraulic circuit and a detection circuit, the card containing a reagent which is adapted to react to the presence of a marker of a disease, the hydraulic circuit being adapted to receive a sample of a biological liquid and to introduce the reagent in the sample, the detection circuit being adapted to detect the presence of the marker in the sample, the absence of the marker of the disease indicating the absence of the disease in the sample.

Abstract: A network node structure for an optical communications network has a housing having a plurality of slots, and a plurality of cards inserted in the slots. The plurality of cards includes at least one first card having an optical input for receiving an input WDM optical signal from an optical line of the network, a first optical device for extracting at least one component optical signal at a wavelength from the input WDM optical signal and at least one optical output making available the at least one component optical signal. At least one second card is provided, distinct from the first card, having at least one socket mechanically and electrically adapted to receive one of a plurality of interchangeable electro-optical components.

Abstract: An optical wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) network has at least one transit node, where a majority of received channels are destined for a remote node, and at least one hub node, where a majority of received channels are switched to a local destination. The network follows a channel-level protection scheme, and at least one of the nodes has a cross-connect switch of a tandem design with a wavelength switch portion optically positioned in a feedback path of a space switch portion. Alternatively, the transit node has a tandem switch design, where the space switch interfaces with the network fibers, and the hub node has at least a wavelength switch that interfaces with the network fibers. The capacities of the respective wavelength and space switch portions of the tandem cross-connect are configured according to the expected ratio of local traffic to passthrough traffic.

Abstract: An optical wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) network has at least one transit node, where a majority of received channels are destined for a remote node, and at least one hub node, where a majority of received channels are switched to a local destination. The network follows a channel-level protection scheme, and at least one of the nodes has a cross-connect switch of a tandem design with a wavelength switch portion optically positioned in a feedback path of a space switch portion. Alternatively, the transit node has a tandem switch design, where the space switch interfaces with the network fibers, and the hub node has at least a wavelength switch that interfaces with the network fibers. The capacities of the respective wavelength and space switch portions of the tandem cross-connect are configured according to the expected ratio of local traffic to passthrough traffic.

Abstract: A multilevel coherent optical system, including a heterodyne transmitter and receiver, in which a multilevel signal with a coherent optical carrier is provided by modulating the phase and the polarization of the electromagnetic field propagating through a single-mode optical fiber. The transmitter comprises a coherent light source providing the optical carrier, a phase modulator modulating the phase of the carrier, a polarization modulator, and a modulation signal generator providing control signals to the phase modulator and the polarization modulator. The receiver comprises a first stage carrying out the heterodyne detection of the phase component and the phase quadrature component of the polarization of the signal received through an optical fiber, a second stage demodulating the received signal to provide the multilevel signal, and a processing circuit comparing the received multilevel signal with predetermined reference signals.