Abstract: A light-source comprising at least one lighting unit (101) being arranged on a substrate (102) and a diffusing element (103) being arranged to receive and diffuse light emitted by said at least one lighting unit (101) is provided. The diffusing element (103) comprises a layer of non-woven fabric having a lower density at a side facing the lighting unit and a higher density at a side opposite to the lighting unit to obtain good diffusing properties.

Abstract: The Invention concerns to a micro-actuator device for the use in biochip or bio-system. In order to achieve a micro-actuator device for the use as a micro pump in biosensors or bio-systems, or at least bio-chips, by which the actuation can be steered very precisely and effective, the solution is that the micro actuator consist of a photosensitive actuator element (1), which can be deformed from a reversal basic-form into an activated deformation form by photonic activation of a light source (3, 4, L1, L2) in order to generate with this controlled movement a defined flow in a gas or a liquid.

Abstract: The Invention concerns to a micro-fluidic device for the use in biochip or bio-system, wherein an 2 dimensional matrix array of temperature sensitive Poly-MEM actuators (1) is arranged in a 2 dimensional thermal processing array, in which each single temperature control element (6) or thermal element can be steered independently from each other, in order to be able to activate each single poly-MEM actuator (1).

Abstract: The present invention provides a micro-fluidic system, a method of manufacturing the micro-fluidic system and a method of controlling or manipulating a fluid flow through micro-channels of such a micro-fluidic system. The inner side of the wall of the micro-channel is provided with actuator elements. The actuator elements have composite structures. These actuator elements can change shape and orientation in response to an external stimulus. Through this change of shape and orientation, the flow of a fluid through a micro-channel may be controlled and manipulated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a micro-electro-mechanical system comprising a ciliary actuator (100) having a flexible electrode unit (FE) and a stationary electrode unit (SE), wherein the flexible electrode unit (FE) can be rolled-up or out according to a voltage (VPMA) applied between the flexible and the stationary electrode unit (SE). The invention provides means that allow to bring the actuator into a stable intermediate state (INT) between the totally rolled-up (UP) and the totally rolled-out (DWN) state. In one embodiment of the invention, the means comprise the application of a definite voltage and/or the transfer of a definite charge to the actuator. In another embodiment, the stationary electrode unit (SE) is composed of several segments of different drive electrodes (SE1, SE2) that can selectively be activated to roll the actuator (100) to a desired position.

Abstract: A system (100) for determining properties of particles is described, wherein elastic properties of particles can be studied. The system (100) typically comprises a microporous structure (110) having a first side and a second side, the microporous structure comprising a plurality of micropores extending from the first side to the second side. Using a means (120) for generating a pressure difference over the microporous structure, particles provided to the first side of the micropores (113) are passed at least partially into the micropores and deformed. A detector (130) is provided for qualitatively and/or quantitatively detecting presence of particles having passed at least partially into the micropores (113), thus allowing to obtain information about the deformation of the particles.

Abstract: A biochip has an integrated temperature sensor comprising a micro mechanical actuator (20) having a deformation dependent on temperature, and a detector (30) arranged to output a signal according to a deformation of the actuator. The actuator can be formed of LC material in an elastomeric network. The detector (30) can be optical, magnetic or capacitive. The actuator can be arranged as a layer and the deformation be a curling of the layer.

Abstract: A micro-fluidic system comprises at least one micro-channel having a wall (14), a plurality of ciliary actuator elements (71) attached to said wall (14), said ciliary actuator elements (71) having an original shape when not subjected to a liquid, and means for applying stimuli to said plurality of ciliary actuator elements (71) so as to cause a change in their shape from an initial shape to an end shape. The ciliary actuator elements (71) are adapted to respond to the presence of a particular liquid by changing their original shape into the initial shape. The response to the presence of the particular liquid may be a curving of the original shape of the ciliary actuator element. Application of stimuli to the plurality of ciliary actuator elements provides a way to locally manipulate the flow of complex fluids in a micro-fluidic system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a biosensor device with an actuating element comprising a biorecognition element that is capable of binding target molecules from a sample of interest, wherein the actuating element comprises a polymer material, can be actuated by actuating means between a first and a second position.

Abstract: A playing piece (10, 20) for use in a board game, and comprising at least one shapeable segment (11, 21), an input (12) and shaping means (13). An input signal from an outside control unit (17) is received at the input (12), the input signal representing a particular shape and/or size of the playing piece (10, 20). The shaping means (13) couples the input (12) to the shapeable segment (11, 21) to deform the shapeable segment (11, 21) in dependence of the input signal, for obtaining the particular shape and/or size of the playing piece (10, 20).

Abstract: A light-source comprising at least one lighting unit (101) being arranged on a substrate (102) and a diffusing element (103) being arranged to receive and diffuse light emitted by said at least one lighting unit (101) is provided. The diffusing element (103) comprises a layer of non-woven fabric having a lower density at a side facing the lighting unit and a higher density at a side opposite to the lighting unit to obtain good diffusing properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides micro-fluidic systems, a method for the manufacturing of such a micro-fluidic system and a method for controlling or manipulating a fluid flow through micro-channels of a such a micro-fluidic system. Herefore, an inner side of a wall of a microchannel is provided with actuator elements which can change shape and orientation as a response to an external stimulus. Through this change of shape and orientation the flow of a fluid through a microchannel may be controlled and manipulated.