Abstract: A locating method and system of determining a microorganism concentration of a fluid in a Petri dish is disclosed. The Petri dish includes a culture medium on which a seeding device is rotatable relative to the Petri dish. The seeding device distributes the fluid and includes at least one point of contact with the culture medium. The point of contact is associated with a contact zone.

Abstract: A locating method and system of determining a microorganism concentration of a fluid in a Petri dish is disclosed. The Petri dish includes a culture medium on which a seeding device is rotatable relative to the Petri dish. The seeding device distributes the fluid and includes at least one point of contact with the culture medium. The point of contact is associated with a contact zone.

Abstract: A method of extracting a liquid phase from a suspension, the method comprising: injecting said suspension into a duct presenting a first section that is straight and a second section that is curved; and at the outlet from said curved section of the duct, extracting a liquid-enriched fraction of said suspension that is spatially separated from a particle-enriched fraction of the suspension; the method being characterized in that the injection flow rate of the suspension and the geometry of the duct are selected in such a manner that: in the straight section, lift forces cause particles to be superconcentrated in a ring around the longitudinal axis of the duct; and in the curved section, Dean secondary flows deform said ring and give rise to spatial separation between said liquid-enriched fraction and said particle-enriched fraction. A device for implementing such a method.

Abstract: A device for extracting a liquid phase from a suspension, the device being characterized in that it comprises: a main duct for conveying a flow of said suspension, the duct being of a length that is sufficient to enable a layer of said suspension to develop that is depleted in solid phase; flow disturbance means for disturbing the flow of said suspension, said means being provided in the main duct and being adapted to cause at least one recirculation vortex to form so as to increase locally the thickness of said depleted layer; and liquid extraction means disposed in a region of the device where said suspension is enriched in liquid phase as a result of said recirculation vortex. A method of extracting a liquid phase from a suspension, the method comprising injecting said suspension into such a device at a flow rate suitable for causing at least one recirculation vortex to be formed, and extracting a fraction of said suspension that is enriched in liquid as a result of said vortex.

Abstract: A magnetic actuator including a mobile magnetic part, a fixed magnetic part, and a mechanism for triggering displacement of the mobile magnetic part relatively to the fixed magnetic part. At least two amagnetic supports, placed in different planes, delimit a gap between them, the fixed magnetic part being integral with at least one of the supports. The supports each have an abutment area for the mobile magnetic part, the abutment area being distinct from the fixed magnetic part. The mobile magnetic part is in levitation in the gap between both supports by magnetic guiding due to the fixed magnetic part when it does not abut against the abutment area of one of the supports. The mobile magnetic part can assume plural stable magnetic positions; in each of these positions, it abuts against a support.

Abstract: A magnetic actuator including a mobile magnetic part, a fixed magnetic part, and a mechanism for triggering displacement of the mobile magnetic part relatively to the fixed magnetic part. At least two amagnetic supports, placed in different planes, delimit a gap between them, the fixed magnetic part being integral with at least one of the supports. The supports each have an abutment area for the mobile magnetic part, the abutment area being distinct from the fixed magnetic part. The mobile magnetic part is in levitation in the gap between both supports by magnetic guiding due to the fixed magnetic part when it does not abut against the abutment area of one of the supports. The mobile magnetic part can assume plural stable magnetic positions; in each of these positions, it abuts against a support.