Abstract: For object detection, particularly in fluidic microsystems, optical imaging of at least one resting or moving object (10) on a structured mask (20) with at least one segment from a flat section (80), in which the object (10) is located at least partially or temporarily and which has a characteristic dimension smaller than the dimension of the object (10) or its movement path, to a detector unit, detection of the quantity of light transmitted by the structured mask (20), and generation of a detector signal which has a predetermined relationship with the quantity of light, and evaluation of the detector signal in regard to the presence of the object (10), its position, its shape and/or the temporal change of the position are performed.

Abstract: A dosing method, particularly for microdosing fluid media, is described, in which at least one drop (11) is generated using a drop generator (10) and moved on a free flight path (12) which is directed toward a target (30), the drop (11) being incident on a masking device (20) having at least one structure element (21-28), which projects into the flight path (12) and on which at least one partial drop (13, 15-18) is detached from the drop (11), and the at least one partial drop is transferred onto the target. A dosing device for performing the method is also described.

Abstract: Electrode arrangement (10) in a microsystem adapted for dielectrophoretic manipulation of particles (30) in a suspension fluid in a channel (21), wherein at least one electrode (11, 11a, 11b, 12) is arranged on a lateral wall of the channel (21), the electrode (11, 11a, 11b, 12) consisting of a plurality of electrode segments adapted to generate at least one field gradient for influencing the movement paths of the particles (30) in the channel (21). In one embodiment of the invention, the particles are moved in the microsystem by exposure to centrifugal and/or gravitational forces.

Abstract: To manipulate microparticles in a fluid that intersects a first channel or several first channels as a stream, one or more microparticles (14) are exposed to electrical field barriers that change their direction from the direction of flow toward the edge of the flow to a lateral hole (17) of the respective first channel. As a result, microparticles can be moved back and forth between streaming fluids. Preferred applications include treatment, separating, sorting or confinement procedures.

Abstract: With a method for cryo-preservation, at least one specimen is arranged on a storage substrate and specimen data, which are characteristic for features of the specimen, are stored at specific positions. Also, a storage substrate for cryo-preservation with such a method is described.

Abstract: Described is a fluidic microsystem (100) with at least one compartment (10) for the receiving and/or the through-flow of a liquid and having an electrode arrangement (20) with a multiplicity of electrodes (21-28), between which a coaction zone (11) is established, whereby the compartment (10) possesses at least one wall (12-14), through which electromagnetic radiation can be linked into the said coaction zone (11) in accord with a predetermined incident direction (B), and on at least one electrode (21-28) a cooling apparatus is provided, and on which at least one respective electrode (21-28) at least one reflector layer (21b, 22b, 25b, 26b, 26c, 21c) is provided, and wherein the respective electrode (21-28) is at least partially shielded in reference to the incident beam direction (B), and having at least one heat conducting layer (50) by means of which the respective electrode (21-28) stands in thermal communication with a wall of the compartment (10), and/or includes an active cooling element (21c), which i

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to convectively move at least one liquid in a channel of a microsystem which comprises a predetermined channel direction. To this end, the liquid is, in a partial section of the channel, subjected to an electric field gradient and optionally to a thermal gradient. The gradients are generated in the partial section corresponding to a predetermined field direction, whereby the field direction differs from the channel direction.

Abstract: For sample picking on a cryosubstrate, on which multiple cryopreserved samples are each positioned at preselected sample positions, individual samples are selectively separated mechanically or thermally from the cryosubstrate and transferred to a target substrate.

Abstract: An electrode configuration for field cages, especially in microsystems, comprises a large number of electrodes in which an electrical potential can be applied to each end region through a feed region. The end region is arranged to form the field cage and inhomogeneous shielding fields outside the field cage. To reduce thermal convection, the feed region has a strip form whose width is substantially smaller than characteristic dimensions of the end region.

Abstract: A method of discharging a fluid flow with suspended microparticles from a fluidic microsystem (10) is described, whereby the fluid flow converges with at least one output flow to form a discharge flow at the end of a discharge channel (14) of the microsystem, and the discharge flow is delivered through a conduction element (19). A microsystem with a flow output device for implementation of this method is also described.

Abstract: A process for treating a biological or synthetic object subjected to an electrical field in a surrounding liquid medium for a predetermined pulse time (t1), the electrical field being formed by at least two electrodes including actuating at least once during the pulse time (t1) each of the electrodes as an anode and as a cathode, to cause at each electrode a polarity reversal and alternating electrolytic increases and reductions in pH of at least a portion of the liquid medium, subjecting the object during the pulse time (t1) to a number of electrical partial pulses which have a frequency in the range of 1 kHz to 1 MHz and which possess partial pulse durations, with sequentially reversing polarity or field direction such that the partial pulses possess sequentially varying partial pulse durations (t11, t12), pulse forms, and/or pulse amplitudes, and selecting the partial pulse durations (t11, t12), pulse forms, and/or pulse amplitudes such that, due to the electrolytic increases and reductions in pH value, su

Abstract: An electroporation and/or fusion treatment of microscopic objects occurs in a medium between at least two electrodes, with the electrodes being miniaturized electrodes in a microsystem with a channel structure which is set up for the flow-through of the medium with the objects.

Abstract: For manipulation of particles in a fluidic microsystem (15) in which the particles are moved in a predetermined reference direction in a suspension liquid, the microsystem (15) is closed off at least at its end (17a, 17b) pointing to the reference direction. The particles move under the influence of centrifugal forces and/or gravitational forces in the suspension liquid which is stationary in relation to the microsystem (15), with the centrifugal forces and/or gravitational forces essentially extending parallel to the reference direction. Furthermore, the particles in the microsystem (15) are exposed to deflection forces whose direction differs from that of the reference direction. (FIG. 1).

Abstract: In a method for positioning or controlling the motion of an object in a multi-electrode arrangement for forming a field cage, the basic potentials for driving the electrodes are modulated with drive potentials in such a way that the object position in the field cage changes in relation to a predetermined position or path. A device for arranging objects at predetermined positions in a multi-electrode arrangement has a switching device by which basic potentials, produced by generator means, can be modulated according to predetermined drive potentials (FIG. 1).

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for manipulating microscopic dielectric particles in which particles are exposed to an electric field. In disadvantaged processes the particles are exposed to inhomogeneous electric field and are polarized by them. The polarized particles are moved in the direction of higher field strength. These processes permit no reversal of the traveling direction of the particles. The particles are enriched at the electrode so that they cannot be retained in free space. In the invented process the particles are exposed to high-frequency field traveling in one or more prescribed direction, by which the particles are subject to a force which sets them in a motion that is strongly synchronous to the field. With the aid of a device for carrying out the invented process, the particles can be manipulated very flexibly.

Abstract: A device for amperometric adjustment of an ion concentration in an adjustment solution comprises at least three chamber-shaped electrolyte regions, each with a control electrode and diffusion depressant means and which can be filled with electrolytes, whereby all electrolyte regions can be brought into contact with the adjustment solution in such a way that, when current flows through the control electrodes, ions can be transported from the electrolyte solutions through the diffusion depressant means into the adjustment solution or in the reverse direction, and means for supplying each electrolyte region with control currents. The device is designed for adjusting the pH value and/or an ion concentration of the adjustment solution different to the hydrogen ion concentration. At least two or all electrolyte regions are supported by a joint holding means.

Abstract: An ultra-miniaturized surface structure with controllable adhesion having extremely miniaturized (in the sub atomic range) planar electrode strips applied to the surface to which high frequency pulse trains may be applied to generate progressive or stationary standing waves. The electrodes in themselves are combined with dielectric insulating materials with controlled bio-compatibility. The type of electric drive, together with the properties of the surface layers that cover the electrodes, determines the adhesion properties of the surface to a large extent regardless of the used base material. Particle movement is gently influenced, so that for the first time it becomes possible to influence particles in highly physiological nutritive solutions.

Abstract: A method and a device for position and/or type-selective control of the position and/or change of position of suspended particles in a multielectrode system by the effect of polarization forces that are induced in the particles by alternating electric fields in the multielectrode system, which particles comprise biological or synthetic objects with dimensions essentially corresponding to those of biological cells or cell organelles, viruses or macromolecules, base on the fact that the multielectrode system forms with the particle suspension an electrical network, in which means of resonance are provided for creating a resonant increase or damping of the field strength of the alternating electric fields at certain frequencies in at least one locally demarcated region of the multielectrode system.

Abstract: For the fixated cryopreservation of single living biological objects or s objects compiled in a given number (for example cells) a cryogenically cooled substrate (13) is jetted therewith in a enveloping solution in microdroplet form (12) from a storage vessel, for example by means of a microdroplet jetting device (11). The substrate is temperature-controlled via a coolant (15), the surface to be jetted being located in a gas atmosphere or in vacuum (14). The substrate surface is maintained at a temperature T1 resulting in freezing of the impinging microdroplet, the substrate surface being possibly supportingly microstructured and comprising sensing elements. By controlled movement of either the substrate or the microdroplet jetting device the microdroplets can be applied singly and in patterns in arrays freely selectable or predetermined by the structuring of the substrate.

Abstract: A motor whose torque is not generated by magnetic fields but rather by dielectric forces to be used in microelectronics and micromechanics. The rotors are composed of several dielectrics, which are arranged in a sector-shaped or shell-shaped manner or partially or completely envelop each other. These motors can be miniaturized down to a size of a few millimeters. They are distinguished by having slow to medium rotation speeds, short starting phases (ms range and less), extremely low current consumption, simple construction, high running constancy and being practically maintenance free. The characteristic curve of rotation (rotation as the function of the field frequency) may be selected in many ranges by changing the dielectrics of the rotor.