Abstract: The present invention describes a method and device for improving the capture and interrogation of a rare cell population in a biological fluid such as in circulating tumor cells (CTC) in blood or Diagnostic Leukapheresis. ReFLECT-CTC is designed to capture CTC in a continuous fashion and interrogate isolated individual CTC. ReFLECT-CTC has the advantage of sampling large volumes of a biological sample which is especially useful in assessing the heterogeneity of a CTC population. The invention has application in cancer diagnostics where assessing tumor cells found in individual cancer patients will determine which drugs are most likely to be effective for an individual.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a device and methods for the analysis of secreted molecules from a single cell. As described herein, the invention incorporates individual microwells with a bottom surface capable of capturing a cell and allows the release of secreted molecules to be printed onto a capture surface. The device provides accurate identification of the cell source of the printed molecules by mapping the printed molecules to the cell source. The invention further employs spectrometry, immunoassay or label free Surface Plasmon Resonance imaging for detection of the secreted molecules in combination with a microwell array, where single cells are seeded in individual microwells and the secreted molecules are captured by the capture surface in an array print while the cell remains in the microwell for additional interrogation. The present invention has applications in medical research and diagnosis where individual target cells in a fluid sample are interrogated for the secreted products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for depositing a material for a target onto a surface of a sample, which method comprises the steps of: irradiating a surface of the target with a laser or electron beam to generate a plume of target material particles; positioning the sample near the plume, such that the target material particles are deposited onto the surface of the sample; rotating the sample around a rotation axis being perpendicular to the surface of the sample onto which the particles are deposited; moving the laser beam along the surface of the target, such that the plume moves in a radial direction in relation to the rotation axis; pulsing the laser beam at a variable frequency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for projecting an image on a surface, comprising: a light source generating a light beam; a mask arranged in the path of the light beam; a lens arranged behind the mask to focus the image of the mask on a surface, wherein the surface is not parallel to the lens, wherein at substantially each position along the edges of the mask the distance v to the lens and the distance b of the corresponding position at the edges of the image of the mask to the lens correspond substantially to the formula 1/v+1/b=1/f, wherein f is the focal length of the lengths. The invention also relates to a device for moving the image on the surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a scanning probe microscope comprising: a specimen holder holding a specimen; and a probe for scanning the relief of the upper surface of the specimen, which probe is movable in a vertical direction and two orthogonal horizontal directions, wherein the upper surface of the specimen is tilted relative to at least one of the two orthogonal horizontal directions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser deposition device, comprising at least one target, a substrate arranged opposite of the at least one target and a laser for generating a laser beam, which beam is directed on the target, such that a plasma plume of target material is generated and is deposited onto the substrate, further comprising a base frame, a rotatable target frame with at least two target holders arranged in the base frame and at least one cooling device arranged to the base frame, which cooling device can be moved relative to the target frame to bring the cooling device in heat exchanging contact with the target frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for pulsed laser deposition, which device comprises: a substrate mount with a substrate mounted thereon; a target mount with a target material mounted thereon and opposite of the substrate mount; a laser device for directing a laser beam on the target material; and a shadow mask arranged over the substrate; wherein the shadow mask is arranged in a movable disc, which movable disc is movable in axial direction to and from the substrate mount. The invention also relates to a method for operating such a device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for projecting an image on a surface, comprising: a light source generating a light beam; a mask arranged in the path of the light beam; a lens arranged behind the mask to focus the image of the mask on a surface, wherein the surface is not parallel to the lens, wherein at substantially each position along the edges of the mask the distance v to the lens and the distance b of the corresponding position at the edges of the image of the mask to the lens correspond substantially to the formula 1/v+1/b=1/f, wherein f is the focal length of the lengths. The invention also relates to a device for moving the image on the surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for depositing a material for a target onto a surface of a sample, which method comprises the steps of: irradiating a surface of the target with a laser or electron beam to generate a plume of target material particles; positioning the sample near the plume, such that the target material particles are deposited onto the surface of the sample; rotating the sample around a rotation axis being perpendicular to the surface of the sample onto which the particles are deposited; moving the laser beam along the surface of the target, such that the plume moves in a radial direction in relation to the rotation axis; pulsing the laser beam at a variable frequency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a scanning probe microscope comprising: a specimen holder holding a specimen; and a probe for scanning the relief of the upper surface of the specimen, which probe is movable in a vertical direction and two orthogonal horizontal directions, wherein the upper surface of the specimen is tilted relative to at least one of the two orthogonal horizontal directions.