Abstract: Disclosed is a microfluidic device implanted in an ex-vivo skin explant to control perfusion, diffusion and collection of molecules over long periods. Also disclosed is a method for assessing permeation or infusion of a biomarker of interest through the skin and to a method for detecting and/or quantifying a biomarker of interest contained in the liquid secreted by the ex-vivo skin explant.

Abstract: A microfluidic print head of a printer has a distal face, an injection channel, a suction channel, a groove, and a light source or an optical waveguide. The injection channel is configured to inject an ink onto a substrate and leads onto the distal face by an injection opening The suction channel is configured to suck up the ink and leads onto the distal face by a suction opening. The groove is defined on the distal face and into which the suction opening leads.

Abstract: Disclosed is a minifluidic device including a matrix, an elongated guiding duct embedded at least in part in the matrix, with at least one port to the outside of the matrix, a movable fiber at least partly contained in the guiding duct, and able to undergo within the guiding duct, and at least along some part of the fiber, at least one action selected among a sliding, or a deformation, or a rotation and at least one of the movable fiber or the guiding duct is elastic or is non linear along at least part of its length, or at least part of the matrix is elastic.

Abstract: A microfluidic print head of a printer has a distal face, an injection channel, a suction channel, a groove, and a light source or an optical waveguide. The injection channel is configured to inject an ink onto a substrate and leads onto the distal face by an injection opening The suction channel is configured to suck up the ink and leads onto the distal face by a suction opening. The groove is defined on the distal face and into which the suction opening leads.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting organisms in a liquid sample, comprising the provision of a capture area including particles in a liquid medium and subjected to a hydrodynamic flow, wherein the organisms to be detected are capable of binding to these particles, the method comprising the steps of: (a) circulating the sample through the capture area; (b) circulating a growth medium through the capture area; and (c) determining the presence, nature or concentration of organisms in the capture area; said particles being retained in the capture area as a fluidized bed for at least one part of these steps. The invention also relates to a system for implementing this method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluidic device including at least: a) a solid matrix; b) a textile component, embedded in the matrix and mechanically cohesive with the matrix; c) at least one channel embedded in the matrix and entangled with the textile component, the channel being at least partly open. A method for making a fluidic device includes providing a textile component including support fibers and at least a movable fiber entangled with the textile, embedding at least part of the textile and part of the movable fiber, in a matrix precursor material, applying a treatment in order to obtain a solid matrix.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a microfluidic system comprising: a microchannel containing several elements of two non-miscible fluids, the microchannel comprising a droplet (30) containing magnetic particles (M), and a device for generating inside the microchannel magnetic field, said device comprising an activable magnetic element, the activable magnetic element comprising a tip (5,6), the microfluidic system being configured to transport the droplet by flow or by pressure difference.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluidic device including at least: a) a solid matrix; b) a textile component, embedded in the matrix and mechanically cohesive with the matrix; c) at least one channel embedded in the matrix and entangled with the textile component, the channel being at least partly open. A method for making a fluidic device includes providing a textile component including support fibers and at least a movable fiber entangled with the textile, embedding at least part of the textile and part of the movable fiber, in a matrix precursor material, applying a treatment in order to obtain a solid matrix.

Abstract: Disclosed is a minifluidic device including a matrix, an elongated guiding duct embedded at least in part in the matrix, with at least one port to the outside of the matrix, a movable fiber at least partly contained in the guiding duct, and able to undergo within the guiding duct, and at least along some part of the fiber, at least one action selected among a sliding, or a deformation, or a rotation and at least one of the movable fiber or the guiding duct is elastic or is non linear along at least part of its length, or at least part of the matrix is elastic.

Abstract: The invention concerns a microfluidic system (1) comprising: at least one channel (2) for the flow of fluid having an inlet (4), an outlet (5) and a longitudinal axis (7) extending between the inlet (4) and the outlet (5), said channel (2) comprising a capture zone (3), and the cross section of the channel (2) orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (7) of the channel (2) increasing in size in the capture zone (3), from the inlet (4) towards the outlet (5) of the channel (2); and means (6) for applying a magnetic field having a decreasing intensity in the capture zone (3) of the channel (2), from the inlet (4) towards the outlet (5) of the channel. The invention also concerns a method for treating a sample that can be implemented with this system.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of detecting macroions in a liquid medium contained in a space, the method including: a) submitting the liquid medium to a stimulating electrical field to induce formation of aggregates of macroions, the formed aggregates of macroions preferably not including any additional labeling agent, and b) measuring, in a detection zone of the space, spatial and/or temporal fluctuations within the liquid medium of at least one variable depending on the concentration of the macroions in the liquid medium, and c) determining, based on these fluctuations, the presence of the macroions, step c) preferably including processing by a time-dependent or space dependent analysis, more preferably by wavelet analysis, or by autocorrelation the fluctuations measured at step b).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting organisms in a liquid sample, comprising the provision of a capture area including particles in a liquid medium and subjected to a hydrodynamic flow, wherein the organisms to be detected are capable of binding to these particles, the method comprising the steps of: (a) circulating the sample through the capture area; (b) circulating a growth medium through the capture area; and (c) determining the presence, nature or concentration of organisms in the capture area; said particles being retained in the capture area as a fluidized bed for at least one part of these steps. The invention also relates to a system for implementing this method.

Abstract: The invention concerns a microfluidic system (1) comprising: at least one channel (2) for the flow of fluid having an inlet (4), an outlet (5) and a longitudinal axis (7) extending between the inlet (4) and the outlet (5), said channel (2) comprising a capture zone (3), and the cross section of the channel (2) orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (7) of the channel (2) increasing in size in the capture zone (3), from the inlet (4) towards the outlet (5) of the channel (2); and means (6) for applying a magnetic field having a decreasing intensity in the capture zone (3) of the channel (2), from the inlet (4) towards the outlet (5) of the channel. The invention also concerns a method for treating a sample that can be implemented with this system.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a microfluidic system comprising: a microchannel containing several elements of two non-miscible fluids, the microchannel comprising a droplet (30) containing magnetic particles (M), and a device for generating inside the microchannel magnetic field, said device comprising an activable magnetic element, the activable magnetic element comprising a tip (5,6), the microfluidic system being configured to transport the droplet by flow or by pressure difference.

Abstract: Electrode arrays and methods of fabricating the same using a printing plate to arrange conductive particles in alignment with an array of electrodes are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises: a semiconductor topography comprising an array of electrodes disposed upon a semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer residing upon the semiconductor topography; and at least one conductive particle disposed in or on the dielectric layer in alignment with at least one of the array of electrodes.

Abstract: A method for treating the surface of a polymerio substrate, including the following steps: providing a first polymeric substrate; contracting at least one part of one face of the first substrate with some liquid solvent system, the liquid solvent system containing at least a first volatile compound and at least a second compound having a low molecular weight and able to swell and/or soften the polymeric material forming the face; letting at least the volatile compound to evaporate from the face of the first substrate and; contracting the so-treated face of first substrate with a third material.

Abstract: Electrode arrays and methods of fabricating the same using a printing plate to arrange conductive particles in alignment with an array of electrodes are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises: a semiconductor topography comprising an array of electrodes disposed upon a semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer residing upon the semiconductor topography; and at least one conductive particle disposed in or on the dielectric layer in alignment with at least one of the array of electrodes.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting and quantifying analytes present in a solution, which is portable, rapid, inexpensive, selective and ultra-sensitive.

Abstract: An integrated microsystem, comprising: a microchannel, a field generator to create a magnetic field in at least one first portion of the microchannel having a direction substantially collinear with the direction of flow in the portion of the microchannel, the magnetic field also presenting a gradient, wherein the microsystem additionally comprises a detection area in fluid connection with the microchannel,

Abstract: A method for treating the surface of a polymerio substrate, including the following steps: providing a first polymeric substrate; contracting at least one part of one face of the first substrate with some liquid solvent system, the liquid solvent system containing at least a first volatile compound and at least a second compound having a low molecular weight and able to swell and/or soften the polymeric material forming the face; letting at least the volatile compound to evaporate from the face of the first substrate and; contracting the so-treated face of first substrate with a third material.