Abstract: The invention relates to a device (20), comprising: a liquid container (21) for containing a liquid; a capillary-stop valve (22) that is in medium through flow connection with said liquid container (21) for stopping said liquid in said container from flowing out of said container via said capillary-stop valve (22); a first electrode (7) being arranged such that in use said first electrode is in contact with said liquid in said liquid container; a second electrode (2) that is spaced apart from said capillary-stop valve by an electrically insulating medium gap (24), and a voltage source (V) connected to said first and second electrode which is activatable for applying an electric potential difference at the first and second electrode such that the liquid in the liquid container is attracted in the direction of said second electrode so as to allow the liquid to overcome the stopping effect of the capillary-stop valve for discharging liquid from said liquid container via said capillary-stop valve.

Abstract: The invention relates to method for bonding at least two substrates, for example made from glass, silicon, ceramic, aluminum, or boron, by using an intermediate thin film metal layer for providing the bonding, said method comprising the following steps of: a) providing said two substrates; b) depositing said thin film metal layer on at least a part of a surface of a first substrate of the two substrates; c) bringing a surface of the second substrate into contact with said thin film metal layer on said surface of the first substrate such that a bonding between the second substrate and the thin film metal layer on the first substrate is provided; and d) at least locally strengthening the bonding between the second substrate and the thin film metal layer on the first substrate. The invention also relates to a device comprising two substrates, for example made from glass, silicon, ceramic, aluminum, or boron, and an intermediate thin film metal layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing microfluidic chips having at least one capillary for through-flow of a fluid, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a starting material; (b) forming at least one shared capillary in the starting material, said shared capillary comprising an fluidic inlet and an fluidic outlet; (c) functionalizing the chips by supplying a functionalization fluid to the shared capillary; and (d) dividing the starting material into separate chips. The invention further relates to a device for functionalizing microfluidic chips having at least one capillary for through-flow of a fluid, said device comprising a material holder for holding a starting material in a fixed position during functionalization, said material holder comprising at least one inlet connector for connecting at least one shared capillary formed in the starting material to a functionalization fluid supply. The invention further relates to a microfluidic chip and a device for holding a microfluidic chip.

Abstract: The invention relates to method for bonding at least two substrates, for example made from glass, silicon, ceramic, aluminum, or boron, by using an intermediate thin film metal layer for providing the bonding, said method comprising the following steps of: a) providing said two substrates; b) depositing said thin film metal layer on at least a part of a surface of a first substrate of the two substrates; c) bringing a surface of the second substrate into contact with said thin film metal layer on said surface of the first substrate such that a bonding between the second substrate and the thin film metal layer on the first substrate is provided; and d) at least locally strengthening the bonding between the second substrate and the thin film metal layer on the first substrate. The invention also relates to a device comprising two substrates, for example made from glass, silicon, ceramic, aluminum, or boron, and an intermediate thin film metal layer.

Abstract: A biological microfluidics chip comprising a substrate, a microfluidic inlet port defining an opening in a surface of the substrate, and a microfluidic outlet port defining an opening in a surface of the substrate. The biological microfluidics chip also comprises a plurality of wells extending from a top surface of the substrate, wherein each well is bounded by one or more walls, and an inlet opening and an outlet opening are provided in a wall of each of the plurality of wells. An inlet microfluidic channel is provided in the substrate to connect the microfluidic inlet port to each of the inlet openings in the walls of the wells, and an outlet microfluidic channel is provided in the substrate to connect each of the outlet openings in the walls of the wells to the microfluidic outlet port.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (20), comprising: a liquid container (21) for containing a liquid; a capillary-stop valve (22) that is in medium through flow connection with said liquid container (21) for stopping said liquid in said container from flowing out of said container via said capillary-stop valve (22); a first electrode (7) being arranged such that in use said first electrode is in contact with said liquid in said liquid container; a second electrode (2) that is spaced apart from said capillary-stop valve by an electrically insulating medium gap (24), and a voltage source (V) connected to said first and second electrode which is activatable for applying an electric potential difference at the first and second electrode such that the liquid in the liquid container is attracted in the direction of said second electrode so as to allow the liquid to overcome the stopping effect of the capillary-stop valve for discharging liquid from said liquid container via said capillary-stop valve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a miniaturized fluid container with microchannels (11, 12) which are bordered by ridges (13, 14), wherein the crests of the ridges (13, 14) are glued to a cover plate (20). Additional stability may be achieved by distributing glue (33) in cavities between the microchannels (11, 12), the spreading of said glue being driven by capillary forces.

Abstract: The invention relates to method for bonding at least two substrates, for example made from glass, silicon, ceramic, aluminum, or boron, by using an intermediate thin film metal layer for providing the bonding, said method comprising the following steps of: a) providing said two substrates; b) depositing said thin film metal layer on at least a part of a surface of a first substrate of the two substrates; c) bringing a surface of the second substrate into contact with said thin film metal layer on said surface of the first substrate such that a bonding between the second substrate and the thin film metal layer on the first substrate is provided; and d) at least locally strengthening the bonding between the second substrate and the thin film metal layer on the first substrate. The invention also relates to a device comprising two substrates, for example made from glass, silicon, ceramic, aluminum, or boron, and an intermediate thin film metal layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing microfluidic chips having at least one capillary for through-flow of a fluid, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a starting material; (b) forming at least one shared capillary in the starting material, said shared capillary comprising an fluidic inlet and an fluidic outlet; (c) functionalizing the chips by supplying a functionalization fluid to the shared capillary; and (d) dividing the starting material into separate chips. The invention further relates to a device for functionalizing microfluidic chips having at least one capillary for through-flow of a fluid, said device comprising a material holder for holding a starting material in a fixed position during functionalization, said material holder comprising at least one inlet connector for connecting at least one shared capillary formed in the starting material to a functionalization fluid supply. The invention further relates to a microfluidic chip and a device for holding a microfluidic chip.

Abstract: A biological microfluidics chip (100) comprising a substrate (102), a microfluidic inlet port (104) defining an opening in a surface of the substrate (102), and a microfluidic outlet port (106) defining an opening in a surface of the substrate (102). The biological microfluidics chip (100) also comprises a plurality of wells (108) extending from a top surface (110) of the substrate, wherein each well (108) is bounded by one or more walls, and an inlet opening (112) and an outlet opening (114) are provided in a wall of each of the plurality of wells (108). An inlet microfluidic channel (116) is provided in the substrate (102) to connect the microfluidic inlet port (104) to each of the inlet openings (112) in the walls of the wells, and an outlet microfluidic channel (118) is provided in the substrate to connect each of the outlet openings (114) in the walls of the wells to the microfluidic outlet port (106).

Abstract: The invention relates to a miniaturized fluid container with microchannels (11, 12) which are bordered by ridges (13, 14), wherein the crests of the ridges (13, 14) are glued to a cover plate (20). Additional stability may be achieved by distributing glue (33) in cavities between the microchannels (11, 12), the spreading of said glue being driven by capillary forces.