Abstract: Method and device (1b) for performing the optical analysis of particles (2) contained in suspension in a fluid (3) arranged inside a microfluidic device (4) which maintains it at a temperature significantly lower than the ambient temperature; the formation of humidity on the outer surface (8) of the cover of the microfluidic device is avoided by applying a thermal flow (P) which determines an increase in the temperature of the outer surface (8) of the cover to above the condensation temperature (Td), or reduction in the ambient temperature (and/or humidity) in the vicinity of the cover (8), so as to bring the condensation temperature (Td) (dew point) to below the temperature of the surface (8) of the cover determined by the internal operating temperature.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for the isolation of particles of at least one specific type of a sample is described. The microfluidic device comprises: a first inlet adapted to receive a sample comprising the particles of the specific type, at least part of a separation group comprising a separation unit, which comprises a main chamber and a recovery chamber and being adapted to receive the sample and to transfer at least part of the particles of the specific type from the main chamber to the recovery chamber in a selective manner with respect to further particles of the sample, a first outlet which is designed to allow the particles of the specific type to be collected outside of the device and a second outlet adapted to allow at least a portion of the sample to flow out of the main chamber and out of the microfluidic device.

Abstract: A system and method for handling a sample comprising particles (CE) bound to ferromagnetic particles (FP); a magnetic field is created in a container (3) inside which the sample (TS) is arranged so that the particles (CE) are attracted against a side wall (4) of the container (3); part of the sample (TS) is sucked through a cannula (8), kept in position by an alignment device (10) so as not to be in contact with the side wall (4) of the container (3), without withdrawing the particles (CE) that remain in contact with the side wall (4).

Abstract: An electronic driving circuit for a microfluidic device, having a number of synchronized driving stages to generate a respective driving signal for each electrode or group of electrodes of the microfluidic device, the driving signals having a desired amplitude, frequency and phase-shift. Each driving stage has a switching-mode amplifier stage to receive a clock signal and a target signal and to generate, at an output thereof, an output signal defining a respective driving signal. The amplifier stage has: a switching module, coupled to a first internal node and controlled by the clock signal for selectively bringing the first internal node to a control signal; a filter module, coupled between the first internal node and the output, to provide the output signal; and a feedback module.

Abstract: A microfluidic method and system for the recovery of particles; while a sample is fed along a plurality of channels, some particles of a given type are trapped at the segments of the channels; keeping a fluid flow flowing along the channels further particles of different type are moved away and unloaded through an outlet; at this point, a movement device, for example provided with a dielectrophoresis system, directly exerts a force on each particle of given type and selectively conveys it to a collection area.

Abstract: A microfluidic system and method for the recovery of particles; the system comprises at least one standing chamber, at least one outlet, at least one inlet and a moving assembly, which is adapted to move the particles; a fluid is fed from the inlet to the outlet so as to generate a substantially continuous flow of the fluid; a given particle of a group of particles arranged in the collecting chamber is moved selectively with respect to the other particles of the assembly to a release area, in which a dragging force created by the fluid flow is such as to move the particle towards the outlet.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the selection or processing of particles sensitive to the application of an external stimulus to rupture/lysis at least one selected particle or the fusion of first and second selected particles are disclosed herein. Particles are organized using a first field of force by selectively energizing electrodes of an array of selectable electrodes having dimensions comparable to or smaller than those of the particles. A first configuration of stresses is applied to the electrodes; and then a second configuration of stresses is applied to the electrodes, so as to create a second field of force, located substantially close to at least one selected particle to be lysated or to a pair of first and second particles to be fused and such as to produce the application of a stimulus suited to produce their lysis or fusion.

Abstract: An electronic driving circuit for a microfluidic device, having a number of synchronized driving stages to generate a respective driving signal for each electrode or group of electrodes of the microfluidic device, the driving signals having a desired amplitude, frequency and phase-shift. Each driving stage has a switching-mode amplifier stage to receive a clock signal and a target signal and to generate, at an output thereof, an output signal defining a respective driving signal. The amplifier stage has: a switching module, coupled to a first internal node and controlled by the clock signal for selectively bringing the first internal node to a control signal; a filter module, coupled between the first internal node and the output, to provide the output signal; and a feedback module.

Abstract: A microfluidic system for the isolation of particles of at least one given type belonging to a sample and comprising a separation unit, which is designed to transfer the particles of given type from a main chamber to a recovery chamber in a substantially selective manner with respect to further particles of the sample; at least one first reservoir, which is designed to contain a liquid and is fluidically connected to the separation unit; and a regulating assembly, which comprises at least a first regulating device having a first heat transfer element arranged at the first reservoir to adjust the temperature of the first reservoir, in particular to absorb heat from the reservoir.

Abstract: Method and device (1b) for performing the optical analysis of particles (2) contained in suspension in a fluid (3) arranged inside a microfluidic device (4) which maintains it at a temperature significantly lower than the ambient temperature; the formation of humidity on the outer surface (8) of the cover of the microfluidic device is avoided by applying a thermal flow (P) which determines an increase in the temperature of the outer surface (8) of the cover to above the condensation temperature (Td), or reduction in the ambient temperature (and/or humidity) in the vicinity of the cover (8), so as to bring the condensation temperature (Td) (dew point) to below the temperature of the surface (8) of the cover determined by the internal operating temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the diagnosis of tumoural conditions and/or of the corresponding state of advance, wherein a sample from a patient comprising at least one tumour cell is obtained. According to the invention, a purified specimen of the at least one tumour cell is obtained by individually selecting and isolating single cells in a microfluidic device the purified specimen having a purity of at least 90%. On the purified specimen thus obtained there is subsequently performed a molecular analysis such as to highlight a characteristic thereof suited to enabling diagnosis.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the reduction of the volume of a sample; the method comprises an acceleration step, during which a container containing the sample is accelerated so that a part of a liquid component of the sample flows out of an opening of one end of the container; according to some embodiments, the container is made to rotate around a rotation axis passing through the container; the container is orientated radially relative to the rotation axis with its opening facing outwards.

Abstract: A microfluidic system and method for the recovery of particles; the system comprises at least one standing chamber, at least one outlet, at least one inlet and a moving assembly, which is adapted to move the particles; a fluid is fed from the inlet to the outlet so as to generate a substantially continuous flow of the fluid; a given particle of a group of particles arranged in the collecting chamber is moved selectively with respect to the other particles of the assembly to a release area, in which a dragging force created by the fluid flow is such as to move the particle towards the outlet.

Abstract: The methods herein can allow for the optimised selection and isolation, within a respective population, of elements of interest and/or utility for a series of subsequent operations. A method can include the phases of: a) identifying, for each particle, at least one of a plurality of characteristic parameters; b) selecting the particles of interest, comparing for each of these the at least one parameter with a respective reference parameter. It can furthermore include the phases of c) storing, for each of the particles, the at least one parameter identified; d) processing the value of a function of the stored parameter, associating the function with a criterion for selection of the particles of interest chosen from a group of possible selection criteria; e) establishing for each particle a threshold criterion to be used as reference parameter. The threshold criterion is established on a time by time basis according to the result of the above processing.

Abstract: A microfluidic system for the isolation of particles of at least one given type belonging to a sample and comprising a separation unit, which is designed to transfer the particles of given type from a main chamber to a recovery chamber in a substantially selective manner with respect to further particles of the sample; at least one first reservoir, which is designed to contain a liquid and is fluidically connected to the separation unit; and a regulating assembly, which comprises at least a first regulating device having a first heat transfer element arranged at the first reservoir to adjust the temperature of the first reservoir, in particular to absorb heat from the reservoir.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for the isolation of particles of at least one specific type of a sample is described. The microfluidic device comprises: a first inlet adapted to receive a sample comprising the particles of the specific type, at least part of a separation group comprising a separation unit, which comprises a main chamber and a recovery chamber and being adapted to receive the sample and to transfer at least part of the particles of the specific type from the main chamber to the recovery chamber in a selective manner with respect to further particles of the sample, a first outlet which is designed to allow the particles of the specific type to be collected outside of the device and a second outlet adapted to allow at least a portion of the sample to flow out of the main chamber and out of the microfluidic device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the diagnosis of tumoural conditions and/or of the corresponding state of advance, wherein a sample from a patient comprising at least one tumour cell is obtained. According to the invention, a purified specimen of the at least one tumour cell is obtained by individually selecting and isolating single cells in a microfluidic device the purified specimen having a purity of at least 90%. On the purified specimen thus obtained there is subsequently performed a molecular analysis such as to highlight a characteristic thereof suited to enabling diagnosis.

Abstract: Method for the treatment of a biological sample comprising at least one cell and a liquid component; according to the method, a force is applied to the sample inserted in an inner chamber of a hollow device towards a filter which has pores with diameters from 2 nm to 1 ?m, so that at least part of the liquid component passes through the filter and the cell remains in the inner chamber, thus obtaining a concentrated sample; the filter has a surface facing the inner chamber of less than 12.6 mm2.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the selection or processing of particles sensitive to the application of an external stimulus to rupture/lysis at least one selected particle or the fusion of first and second selected particles are disclosed herein. Particles are organized using a first field of force by selectively energizing electrodes of an array of selectable electrodes having dimensions comparable to or smaller than those of the particles. A first configuration of stresses is applied to the electrodes; and then a second configuration of stresses is applied to the electrodes, so as to create a second field of force, located substantially close to at least one selected particle to be lysated or to a pair of first and second particles to be fused and such as to produce the application of a stimulus suited to produce their lysis or fusion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the diagnosis of tumoural conditions and/or of the corresponding state of advance, wherein a specimen of an organic fluid taken from the patient and having a high probability of containing at least one circulating tumor cell (CTC) or a disseminated tumor cell (CTD) is enriched in a population of CTCs or CTDs. According to the invention, at least one type of CTCs or CTDs is isolated by selecting individually single cells in a microfluidic device so to constitute a diagnostic specimen having a purity of at least 90%. On the specimen thus obtained there is subsequently performed a molecular analysis such as to highlight a characteristic thereof suited to enabling diagnosis.