Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising: —a first wall comprising a first substrate on which a plurality of closed patterns is grafted, —a second wall, facing the first wall, comprising a second substrate, —a plurality of nucleic acids grafted either on the first substrate or on the second substrate, wherein each nucleic acid comprises a barcode that encodes the position of the nucleic acid on said first or second substrate, wherein at least the plurality of closed patterns or the second substrate is made of an actuatable hydrogel which is swellable between a retracted state and a swollen state in which the closed patterns and the second substrate come into contact.

Abstract: A process for evaluating efficacy of a deodorant product includes: introducing sweat into a main channel formed in a fluidic device satisfying particular requirements; measuring a flow rate of the sweat in the main channel and transmitting the flow rate to a controller; imposing a pressure set point on the pressure actuator by closed-loop control so the flow rate of the sweat in the main channel is controllable; contacting the sweat and a deodorant product and reacting the sweat and the deodorant product with each other, the deodorant product being provided in a particular manner, wherein while the sweat and the deodorant product react with each other, the flow rate of the sweat in the main channel is maintained at substantially zero; and determining at least one of a physicochemical parameter and a biological parameter of a product of the reaction between the sweat and a the deodorant product.

Abstract: A microfluidic device and method for producing and collecting single droplets of a first fluid, the device including a microfluidic platform having at least a droplet microchannel wherein is produced a flow of single droplets of the first fluid dispersed in a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid, the droplet microchannel having at least one inlet extremity and at least one outlet extremity for distributing the flow of droplets, the device further including: a collection device including a plurality of receiving areas adapted to collect at least one of the droplets, elements for changing the relative position of the collection device and the outlet of the microfluidic platform, elements for controlling the flow of droplets, and elements for synchronizing the flow of droplets at the outlet of the droplet microchannel and the relative movement of the collection device with regards to the microfluidic platform.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an in vitro system for evaluating the effectiveness of a deodorant product comprising a fluidic device (3) comprising a main channel (4), a reservoir (9) suitable for containing sweat (5) and a gaseous phase, separated by an interface at a height h1, at least one connecting channel (10) connected to a reservoir (9) and to an inlet of a main channel (4) and a pressure actuator (6), characterised in that it also comprises a flowmeter (7) and a closed-loop feedback controller (8), the main channel (4) having an opening (11) formed by the wall of same at one end, at a height h2, said height h1 being strictly different from h2.

Abstract: A device for diagnosis by DNA comprises: a porous substrate comprising at least: an area for depositing a sample, the sample comprising at least one target compound; a plurality of channels positioned in the thickness of the porous substrate; an area, referred to as the “diagnostic area”, comprising at least one reactive compound suitable for reacting with a so-called target compound; an area for depositing a carrier vector suitable for being transported by capillarity into all of areas and channels: each of the areas being linked to the others by at least one element chosen from a channel and an area, a means for locally conditioning the temperature of the diagnostic area.

Abstract: A method for fragmenting and/or weakening material by high-voltage pulses is provided. The material and a processing fluid are arranged in a processing zone formed between two electrodes such that the entire processing zone is flooded with processing fluid, and high-voltage pulses are applied to the electrodes such that high-voltage breakdowns occur between the two electrodes and/or such that predischarge channels are formed without breakdowns. An electrode with a metallic conductor is chosen for at least one of the two electrodes, the conductor being provided partially or completely with an insulator or insulating coating at the working end of the electrode that is in contact with the processing fluid, the permittivity of the insulator/insulating coating being at least 75% of the permittivity of the processing fluid.

Abstract: A method of fragmenting and/or weakening of material is provided that utilizes high voltage discharges. The material is together with a process liquid introduced into a process area, in which two electrodes face each other at a distance, and is arranged therein in such a manner that the area between the two electrodes is filled with the material and process liquid. Between the two electrodes high voltage discharges are generated for fragmenting or weakening of the material. During the fragmenting or weakening, respectively, of the material, process liquid is discharged from the process area and process liquid is fed into the process area. The process liquid which is fed has a lower electrical conductivity than the process liquid which is discharged.

Abstract: This applicator comprises a base (22) and a product applicator tongue (25) that projects from the base (22) along an axis (A-A?), said tongue (25) defining a central cavity (30). It comprises a massage element (32) disposed in the central cavity (30), with the massage (32) element and the tongue (25) defining therebetween in the cavity (30) an intermediary product retaining space (33). The massage element (32) and the tongue (25) can move in relation to one another transversally in relation to the axis (A-A?).

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode arrangement for an electrodynamic fragmentation plant having a passage opening (1) for fragmentation material (3) and having several electrode pairs (4a, 5a; 4a, 5b; 4b, 5c; 4b, 5d; 4c, 5e; 4c, 5f; 4d, 5g; 4d, 5h) by means of which, by charging the electrodes (4a-4d, 5a-5h) thereof with high-voltage pulses, in each case high-voltage discharges can be generated within the passage opening (1), for fragmentation of the fragmentation material (3). The passage opening (1) is formed in such a way and the electrodes (4a-4d, 5a-5h) of the electrode pairs are arranged therein in such a way that for each electrode pair (4a, 5a; 4a, 5b; 4b, 5c; 4b, 5d; 4c, 5e; 4c, 5f; 4d, 5g; 4d, 5h) in the area of a shortest connecting line (L) between the electrodes of the respective electrode pair, a ball (K) can pass through the passage opening (1), the diameter of which is bigger than the length of this respective shortest connecting line (L).

Abstract: A microchannel formed at the interface of two layers of material, at least one of the two materials being a substrate. A volume of the microchannel contains a film of polymer fixed by covalent bonding to the substrate layer. The film of polymer being formed from a hydrogel material susceptible to undergoing changes in volume under the action of an external stimulus. The hydrogel polymer is chosen from those which are sensitive to changes in temperature, light, electrical field or pH. A method for producing the microchannel.

Abstract: A method for storing and concentrating at least one non-volatile compound contained in a fluid. The fluid additionally includes at least one volatile compound. The fluid is injected into a porous substrate for at least one volatile compound. At least one non-volatile compound, at least by capillarity, is transported by at least one volatile compound. Each transported non-volatile compound is concentrated by injecting at least one volatile compound into or onto the porous substrate to move at least one non-volatile compound from one point of the porous substrate to another. For each step of injecting a volatile compound, each non-volatile compound is dried at one point of the porous substrate by evaporating each volatile compound.

Abstract: This invention relates to a microfluidic evaluation system (1) for evaluating in vitro the efficacy of an antiperspirant product, comprising: a natural or artificial sweat source (3); and a microfluidic chip (5) comprising: a main flow channel for the antiperspirant product (7); and at least one secondary flow channel for the sweat (9), the or each secondary channel (9) comprising a sweat inlet that can receive sweat from the sweat source (3) and a sweat outlet through which the secondary channel (9) opens into the main channel (7), the or each secondary channel (9) having a diameter of less than 100 ?m.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fragmenting and/or weakening material by means of high-voltage pulses, the material and a processing fluid being arranged in a processing zone formed between two electrodes such that the entire processing zone is flooded with processing fluid, and high-voltage pulses being applied to the electrodes such that high-voltage breakdowns occur between the two electrodes and/or such that predischarge channels are formed without breakdowns. An electrode with a metallic conductor is chosen for at least one of the two electrodes, the conductor being provided partially or completely with an insulator or insulating coating at the working end of the electrode that is in contact with the processing fluid, the permittivity of the insulator/insulating coating being at least 75% of the permittivity of the processing fluid.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of fragmenting and/or weakening of material by means of high voltage discharges. The material is together with a process liquid introduced into a process area, in which two electrodes face each other at a distance, and is arranged therein in such a manner that the area between the two electrodes is filled with material and process liquid. Between the two electrodes high voltage discharges are generated for fragmenting or weakening, respectively, of the material. According to the invention, during the fragmenting or weakening, respectively, of the material, process liquid is discharged from the process area and process liquid is fed into the process area. The process liquid which is fed has a lower electrical conductivity than the process liquid which is discharged.

Abstract: A microchannel formed at the interface of two layers of material, at least one of the two materials being a substrate. A volume of the microchannel contains a film of polymer fixed by covalent bonding to the substrate layer. The film of polymer being formed from a hydrogel material susceptible to undergoing changes in volume under the action of an external stimulus. The hydrogel polymer is chosen from those which are sensitive to changes in temperature, light, electrical field or pH. A method for producing the microchannel.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode arrangement for an electrodynamic fragmentation plant having a passage opening (1) for fragmentation material (3) and having several electrode pairs (4a, 5a; 4a, 5b; 4b, 5c; 4b, 5d; 4c, 5e; 4c, 5f; 4d, 5g; 4d, 5h) by means of which, by charging the electrodes (4a-4d, 5a-5h) thereof with high-voltage pulses, in each case high-voltage discharges can be generated within the passage opening (1), for fragmentation of the fragmentation material (3). The passage opening (1) is formed in such a way and the electrodes (4a-4d, 5a-5h) of the electrode pairs are arranged therein in such a way that for each electrode pair (4a, 5a; 4a, 5b; 4b, 5c; 4b, 5d; 4c, 5e; 4c, 5f; 4d, 5g; 4d, 5h) in the area of a shortest connecting line (L) between the electrodes of the respective electrode pair, a ball (K) can pass through the passage opening (1), the diameter of which is bigger than the length of this respective shortest connecting line (L).

Abstract: A microfluidic device and method for producing and collecting single droplets of a first fluid, the device including a microfluidic platform having at least a droplet microchannel wherein is produced a flow of single droplets of the first fluid dispersed in a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid, the droplet microchannel having at least one inlet extremity and at least one outlet extremity for distributing the flow of droplets, the device further including: a collection device including a plurality of receiving areas adapted to collect at least one of the droplets, elements for changing the relative position of the collection device and the outlet of the microfluidic platform, elements for controlling the flow of droplets, and elements for synchronizing the flow of droplets at the outlet of the droplet microchannel and the relative movement of the collection device with regards to the microfluidic platform.

Abstract: The laser device (22) is formed by a stack of laser diodes (4) arranged on plates (6) formed of a material that is electrically conductive and a good heat conductor. In order to obtain a high level of heat evacuation efficiency towards the cooling body (10) and to prevent electric short-circuiting problems, each plate has at the bottom end (24) thereof, an electrically insulating layer deposited on the surface thereof prior to being fixed to the cooling body by a securing material (26) that is preferably a good heat conductor, formed in particular by a braze layer. According to the invention, the insulating layer covers the end face of each plate and also goes up along the lateral faces of the latter over a certain height. The securing material is arranged under the end of the plate and also partially covers the insulating layer along the lateral faces of the plate.

Abstract: The laser device (22) is formed by a stack of laser diodes (4) arranged on plates (6) formed of a material that is electrically conductive and a good heat conductor. In order to obtain a high level of heat evacuation efficiency towards the cooling body (10) and to prevent electric short-circuiting problems, each plate has at the bottom end (24) thereof, an electrically insulating layer deposited on the surface thereof prior to being fixed to the cooling body by a securing material (26) that is preferably a good heat conductor, formed in particular by a braze layer. According to the invention, the insulating layer covers the end face of each plate and also goes up along the lateral faces of the latter over a certain height. The securing material is arranged under the end of the plate and also partially covers the insulating layer along the lateral faces of the plate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed in which the principle of phase-coupling is used to stabilize the polarization of laser radiation emitted by a plurality of phase-coupled vertical cavity surface emitting laser elements. Due to a suitable coupling strength between adjacent VCSEL elements, the probability of polarization flips of VCSEL devices operated in the single mode region is zero or at least drastically reduced. Moreover, a VCSEL device is disclosed, comprising a polarization adjusting means for controlling the polarization direction of an arrangement of a plurality of phase-coupled VCSEL elements, wherein the polarization direction of each VCSEL element is substantially kept constant.