Abstract: Fluidic devices and methods for autonomous droplet generation and methods for droplet manipulation are described. In an embodiment, the fluidic device comprises a substrate defining: an inlet reservoir shaped to receive and to carry a carrier liquid; a converging region in fluidic communication with the inlet reservoir and shaped to receive a liquid sample; a constriction adjacent to and in fluidic communication with the converging region, wherein the constriction defines a pathway configured to allow passage of fluid therethrough; a diverging region in fluidic communication with and downstream of the constriction; and an outlet reservoir in fluidic communication with the diverging region, wherein the fluidic device does not comprise a portion covering the outlet reservoir opposite the substrate.

Abstract: The invention concerns a support intended for the implementation of a method of self-assembly of at least one element on a surface of the support, including at least one assembly pad on said surface, a liquid drop having a static angle of contact on the assembly pad smaller than or equal to 15°, and nanometer- or micrometer-range pillars on said surface around the pad, the liquid drop having a static angle of contact on the pillars greater than or equal to 150°.

Abstract: Techniques for efficiently capturing targets, such as biological materials, within the air are described. A lightweight, portable device is configured to capture the targets without desiccation by flowing a mixture of air carrying the targets with liquid droplets through a nonlinear path in a partially enclosed interior of the device. For example, a method includes generating an impinging jet comprising a mixture of air, a target, and droplets. A baffle splits the impinging jet into a recirculation zone and coalesces a mixture of the target and the droplets onto an upper surface of the baffle. At least one channel receives the coalesced mixture and transports the coalesced mixture to a collection reservoir.

Abstract: A device for taking a sample of liquid by capillarity, including a channel for flow of the liquid delimited by two internal walls of the device between which a channel bottom extends, the distance separating the two internal walls decreasing in the direction of the channel bottom, the channel extending between a first collecting end, open onto outside of the device and configured to receive the liquid, and a second end, to enable the liquid to flow by capillarity along the channel bottom from the first end towards the second end. The channel includes, at the second end, a blocking structure to block the flow of liquid in the channel from the first end towards the second end.

Abstract: A device for analyzing a biological sample which includes a separation and detection chamber into which an injection channel and a discharge channel open, a filter separating the chamber into two distinct spaces so as to define a first space into which the injection channel opens and a second space into which the discharge channel opens, the filter having a porosity suitable for the separation to be carried out, a rough bearing surface having a surface roughness parameter suitable for carrying out a mechanical lysis of the biological species present in the sample, the bearing surface being arranged in the first space, a flexible membrane arranged opposite the rough bearing surface relative to the filter and blocking an opening made through the housing.

Abstract: The invention concerns a support intended for the implementation of a method of self-assembly of at least one element on a surface of the support, including at least one assembly pad on said surface, a liquid drop having a static angle of contact on the assembly pad smaller than or equal to 15°, and nanometer- or micrometer-range pillars on said surface around the pad, the liquid drop having a static angle of contact on the pillars greater than or equal to 150°.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an emissive LED display device, including the steps of forming a plurality of chips, each including at least one LED and, on a connection surface, a plurality of hydrophilic electric connection areas and a hydrophobic area; forming a transfer substrate including, for each chip, a plurality of hydrophilic electric connection areas and a hydrophobic area; arranging a drop of a liquid on each electric connection area of the transfer substrate and/or of each chip; and affixing the chips to the transfer substrate by direct bonding, using the capillary restoring force of the drops to align the electric connection areas of the chips with the electric connection areas of the transfer substrate.

Abstract: A device for analyzing a biological sample which includes a separation and detection chamber into which an injection channel and a discharge channel open, a filter separating the chamber into two distinct spaces so as to define a first space into which the injection channel opens and a second space into which the discharge channel opens, the filter having a porosity suitable for the separation to be carried out, a rough bearing surface having a surface roughness parameter suitable for carrying out a mechanical lysis of the biological species present in the sample, the bearing surface being arranged in the first space, a flexible membrane arranged opposite the rough bearing surface relative to the filter and blocking an opening made through the housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of sorting submillimetric particles entrained in a fluid flowing in an axial direction of a main channel, the particles being of density different from the density of the fluid, and the method being characterized in that it implements, in a first region of the main channel, focusing of the particles along a wall (7) of the main channel (1) by means of at least one focusing device (3), and downstream from said region, collecting of particles in at least one sorting and take-off device (40) in communication with the main channel (1) via an opening such that the particles collected are selected by the take-off device as a function of the size of said particles, and in that said at least one sorting and take-off device is a recirculation chamber (40) in communication with the main channel (1) and presenting at least one recirculation zone (41) for concentrating the collected particles.

Abstract: A support is provided, including a reception zone in which the external envelope matches the shape of a plate configured to be placed on a droplet deposited at least in the reception zone in order to achieve capillary self-assembly of the plate and the support, and at least one pair of tracks that extend on the support from the reception zone and that have a lyophilic-type affinity with the droplet such that an overflow of the droplet beyond the reception zone is guided in the tracks, wherein the at least one pair of tracks includes a first track and a second track that do not have the same lyophilic-type degree of affinity with the droplet.

Abstract: A device for taking a sample of liquid by capillarity, including a channel for flow of the liquid delimited by two internal walls of the device between which a channel bottom extends, the distance separating the two internal walls decreasing in the direction of the channel bottom, the channel extending between a first collecting end, open onto outside of the device and configured to receive the liquid, and a second end, to enable the liquid to flow by capillarity along the channel bottom from the first end towards the second end. The channel includes, at the second end, a blocking structure to block the flow of liquid in the channel from the first end towards the second end.

Abstract: A microfluidic valve including a microchannel, a membrane arranged so as to seal off the microchannel and equipped with resistive units, characterized in that at least one face of the membrane includes at least one groove, and in that the resistive units are arranged in the groove and are capable, when an electric control current flows through them, of expanding sufficiently under the effect of the heat produced by the flow of the electric current to cause the rupture of at least one part of the membrane.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for controlled encapsulation of particles of sub-millimetric dimensions, or clusters of such particles, the device comprising: a first duct for delivering a first liquid phase containing particles for encapsulating in suspension; a second duct for conveying a flow of a second liquid phase that is immiscible with said first liquid phase; the first duct opening out into the second duct and forming a fluidic junction therewith; at least one microfluidic duct for discharging the first liquid phase flowing in said first duct and provided with a mouth located upstream from said junction and liable to be obstructed, at least in part, by a particle in suspension, thereby causing pressure to rise in the first duct. The invention also provides a microfluidic system including such a device, and a method of encapsulation based on using such a device.

Abstract: Support comprising a reception zone in which the external envelope matches the shape of a plate (P2) designed to be placed on a droplet deposited at least in the reception zone in order to achieve capillary self-assembly of the plate and the support, and at least one pair of tracks (T11, T12) that extend on the support from the reception zone and that have a lyophilic type affinity with the droplet such that an overflow of the droplet beyond the reception zone is guided in the tracks, characterised in that the at least one pair of tracks comprises a first track (T11) and a second track (T12) that do not have the same lyophilic type degree of affinity with the droplet.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for extraction of analytes of interest from a carrier liquid in a liquid solvent, the two liquids forming an interface between micro-pillars in an extraction chamber. The carrier liquid forms a wetting angle ?1 on the micro-pillars and a bottom wall of the extraction chamber, and a wetting angle ?2 on a top wall, the wetting angles satisfying equation 45°?(?1+?2)/2?135°.

Abstract: A method for pumping through an orifice of a first substrate, a first volume of liquid in contact with a first hydrophobic surface of said substrate, wherein a pressure variation between the first volume of liquid and a second volume of liquid, located in contact with said orifice and a second hydrophobic surface of said substrate, is achieved by electrowetting.

Abstract: A microfluidic system and method for sorting cell clusters, and for the continuous and automated encapsulation of the clusters, once sorted, in capsules of sizes suitable for those of these sorted clusters is provided. The microfluidic system comprises a substrate in which a microchannel array comprising a cell sorting unit is etched and around which a protective cover is bonded, and the sorting unit comprises deflection means capable of separating, during the flow thereof, relatively noncohesive cell clusters, each of size ranging from 20 ?m to 500 ?m and of 20 to 10 000 cells approximately, such as islets of Langerhans, at least two sorting microchannels arranged in parallel at the outlet of said unit being respectively designed so as to transport as many categories of sorted clusters continuously to a unit for encapsulation of the latter, also formed in said array.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic system including a unit for extracting elements from one liquid phase to at least one other liquid phase, a use of said system for performing said extraction, preferably for gelling polymer capsules coating such elements by cross-linking, and a method for extracting said elements. Said system comprises a substrate in which a network of micro-channels is etched, including a unit (10) for extracting elements (E), including: a depleting micro-channel (11) which carries a first phase (A) to be depleted; at least one enriching channel (12) which carries a second phase (B) to be enriched, said micro-channels meeting at two junctions upstream (Ja) and downstream (Jb) and forming a transfer chamber (13) between said junctions, each junction being such that the micro-channels are axially parallel or form an acute angle on either side of the junction; and a transfer means (14) arranged in the depleting micro-channel for diverting the elements towards the enriching micro-channel.

Abstract: A method for pumping through an orifice of a first substrate, a first volume of liquid in contact with a first hydrophobic surface of said substrate, wherein a pressure variation between the first volume of liquid and a second volume of liquid, located in contact with said orifice and a second hydrophobic surface of said substrate, is achieved by electrowetting.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for pumping through an orifice (30, 31) of a first substrate (1), a first volume of liquid (2) in contact with a first hydrophobic surface of said substrate, wherein a pressure variation between the first volume of liquid and a second volume of liquid (2?), located in contact with said orifice and a second hydrophobic surface of said substrate, is achieved by electrowetting.