Abstract: The invention refers to a method for culturing cells in a substrate in which a chamber having at least one side wall, a bottom, and a top is formed, comprising introduction of cells into the chamber, tilting of the substrate such that the cells accumulate on a side wall of the chamber, and holding the substrate in the tilted orientation such that the cells form a three-dimensional cell aggregate.

Abstract: A cooling pad (10) for medical or veterinary applications, the cooling pad comprising a first heat exchanger (20); a second heat exchanger (30), a heat transfer fluid; a piping system (40); and an integrated pump device (50) for the heat transfer fluid; wherein the first heat exchanger (20) and the second heat exchanger (30) have the heat transfer fluid flowing through them; wherein the piping system (40) fluidically connects the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; wherein the pump device (50) is adapted to cause an exchange of the heat transfer fluid between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; wherein the cooling pad (10) comprises a hermetically sealed fluid circuit for the heat transfer fluid, the fluid circuit comprising the first heat exchanger (20), the second heat exchanger (30), the piping system (40) and the pump device (50). Further, a corresponding cooling device (60), cooling system (1) and corresponding method (200) are proposed.

Abstract: A system for carrying out analyses on and/or with biological sample material present in a sample arrangement region of a microfluidic sample chip comprises a connector plate for receiving the sample chip and a control unit to which the connector plate is detachably connectable for exchange of fluids and electrical signals.

Abstract: A microfluidic cell for the dielectrophoretic separation, accumulation, and/or lysis of polarizable bioparticles, including an interdigital electrode system composed of two electrode groups having interdigitated electrodes, and a micromixer having microchannels and microelevations. The interdigital electrode system and the micromixer are situated on the same side of the cell to improve the separation, accumulation, and/or lysis characteristics. Moreover, also described is a microfluidic system which includes such a microfluidic cell, and use thereof, and a method for separating, accumulating, and/or lysing polarizable bioparticles.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method to assemble organotypical tissues which can then be perfused and investigated under preferably physiological conditions.

Abstract: A microfluidic system (12) for assembling and subsequently investigating complex cell arrangements has a three-dimensional microstructure (11) in which the cell culture is assembled, cultivated and investigated. At least two microchannel segments (16, 17) through which the microstructure (11) can be perfused from outside with a medium (21, 22) run in the microstructure (11), whereby the microchannel segments (16, 17) run at least in sections approximately parallel or equidistant to one another. The two microchannel segments (16, 17) are separated from one another by a wall structure (25) in which at least one aperture (26) connecting the two microchannel segments (16, 17) is provided. An electrode arrangement (27) is provided in or on the microstructure (11) in order to generate an inhomogeneous electric field (28) in the region of the at least one aperture (26).

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method to assemble organotypical tissues which can then be perfused and investigated under preferably physiological conditions.

Abstract: A closed microfluidic system is equipped with a carrier plate and a cover plate as well as wall regions arranged therebetween, which form a system of channels and/or cavities with an inner surface. Selected regions of the inner surface are selectively functionalized.

Abstract: A dielectrophoretic fractionation device having a channel defining a direction of flow therethrough for the fractionation of particles in a liquid particle suspension is disclosed. The device also has a deflector unit affixed to a wall of the channel and arranged to generate an electric field gradient in the channel to spatially separate the particles in the liquid particle suspension. The device also has an actuator mounted to the channel and positioned to deform the wall. Also provided is a method for inhibiting aggregation of particles in a liquid particle suspension of the dielectrophoretic fractionation device, the method including periodically deforming the wall with the actuator.

Abstract: A microfluidic cell for the dielectrophoretic separation, accumulation, and/or lysis of polarizable bioparticles, including an interdigital electrode system composed of two electrode groups having interdigitated electrodes, a flat electrode in which the interdigital electrode system and the flat electrode are situated on opposite sides of the cell in order to improve the separation, accumulation and/or lysis characteristics. Moreover, a microfluidic system which includes such a microfluidic cell, and use thereof, and a method for separating, accumulating, and/or lysing polarizable bioparticles is also described.

Abstract: A microfluidic cell for the dielectrophoretic separation, accumulation, and/or lysis of polarizable bioparticles, including an interdigital electrode system composed of two electrode groups having interdigitated electrodes, and a micromixer having microchannels and microelevations. The interdigital electrode system and the micromixer are situated on the same side of the cell to improve the separation, accumulation, and/or lysis characteristics. Moreover, also described is a microfluidic system which includes such a microfluidic cell, and use thereof, and a method for separating, accumulating, and/or lysing polarizable bioparticles.

Abstract: A microfluidic system (12) for assembling and subsequently investigating complex cell arrangements has a three-dimensional microstructure (11) in which the cell culture is assembled, cultivated and investigated. At least two microchannel segments (16, 17) through which the microstructure (11) can be perfused from outside with a medium (21, 22) run in the microstructure (11), whereby the microchannel segments (16, 17) run at least in sections approximately parallel or equidistant to one another. The two microchannel segments (16, 17) are separated from one another by a wall structure (25) in which at least one aperture (26) connecting the two microchannel segments (16, 17) is provided. An electrode arrangement (27) is provided in or on the microstructure (11) in order to generate an inhomogeneous electric field (28) in the region of the at least one aperture (26).

Abstract: A description is given of methods for collecting particles (1, 2) which are suspended in a liquid, including the following steps: providing the liquid containing the suspended particles (1, 2) in a compartment (10) having lateral surfaces (11), wherein at least one electrode (21) is arranged on at least one of the lateral surfaces (11), and generating high-frequency electric fields by means of the at least one electrode (21) so as to form at least one circulating flow (30), by means of which the particles (1, 2) are guided to at least one predetermined collecting area (40) in the compartment (10), wherein the flow (30) is formed in such a way that at least one branch of the flow runs along a longitudinal extent of the at least one electrode (21), and the flow (30) circulates about an axis (31) which is oriented perpendicular to the respectively adjacent lateral surface (11) with the electrode (21). Corresponding devices for collecting particles are also described.

Abstract: An active retina implant has a multiplicity of pixel elements that convert incident light into electric stimulation signals for cells of the retina with which stimulation electrodes are to make contact. Each pixel element is provided with at least one image cell that converts incident light into electric signals, there being provided at least one amplifier whose input is connected to the image cell and whose output is connected to at least one stimulation electrode to which it supplies a stimulation signal. Also provided is an energy supply which provides externally coupled external energy as supply voltage for the image cells and the amplifiers. The image cell has a logarithmic characteristic according to which incident light of specific intensity is converted into electric signals of specific amplitude. The stimulation signal is supplied in the form of analog voltage pulses of specific pulse length and pulse spacings, the pulse amplitude being a function of the intensity of the incident light.

Abstract: A pair of measuring electrodes comprising a first and a second, preferably in each case sheet-like electrode comprises an insulation layer arranged between said electrodes. One or more nanopores, which extend through said insulation layer as far as said first electrode, the surface of which is at least partially uncovered by said nanopores, are provided in each second electrode. The invention also describes a biosensor comprising a pair of measuring electrodes of this type, an electrochemical cell comprising a biosensor of this type and a process for producing said pair of measuring electrodes.

Abstract: A pair of measuring electrodes comprising a first and a second, preferably in each case sheet-like electrode comprises an insulation layer arranged between said electrodes. One or more nanopores, which extend through said insulation layer as far as said first electrode, the surface of which is at least partially uncovered by said nanopores, are provided in each second electrode. The invention also describes a biosensor comprising a pair of measuring electrodes of this type, an electrochemical cell comprising a biosensor of this type and a process for producing said pair of measuring electrodes.

Abstract: A pair of measuring electrodes comprising a first and a second, preferably in each case sheet-like electrode comprises an insulation layer arranged between said electrodes. One or more nanopores, which extend through said insulation layer as far as said first electrode, the surface of which is at least partially uncovered by said nanopores, are provided in each second electrode. The invention also describes a biosensor comprising a pair of measuring electrodes of this type, an electrochemical cell comprising a biosensor of this type and a process for producing said pair of measuring electrodes.

Abstract: A description is given of methods for collecting particles (1, 2) which are suspended in a liquid, including the following steps: providing the liquid containing the suspended particles (1, 2) in a compartment (10) having lateral surfaces (11), wherein at least one electrode (21) is arranged on at least one of the lateral surfaces (11), and generating high-frequency electric fields by means of the at least one electrode (21) so as to form at least one circulating flow (30), by means of which the particles (1, 2) are guided to at least one predetermined collecting area (40) in the compartment (10), wherein the flow (30) is formed in such a way that at least one branch of the flow runs along a longitudinal extent of the at least one electrode (21), and the flow (30) circulates about an axis (31) which is oriented perpendicular to the respectively adjacent lateral surface (11) with the electrode (21). Corresponding devices for collecting particles are also described.

Abstract: An electrode arrangement for electrical stimulation of biological material has at least one stimulation electrode via which the biological material can be fed a stimulus signal. Furthermore, a counter electrode is present which forms a counter pole to the stimulation electrode, one sensor electrode is provided with the aid of which it is possible to determine a polarization voltage across the stimulation electrode.

Abstract: An active retina implant has a multiplicity of pixel elements that convert incident light into electric stimulation signals for cells of the retina with which stimulation electrodes are to make contact. Each pixel element is provided with at least one image cell that converts incident light into electric signals, there being provided at least one amplifier whose input is connected to the image cell and whose output is connected to at least one stimulation electrode to which it supplies a stimulation signal. Also provided is an energy supply which provides externally coupled external energy as supply voltage for the image cells and the amplifiers. The image cell has a logarithmic characteristic according to which incident light of specific intensity is converted into electric signals of specific amplitude. The stimulation signal is supplied in the form of analog voltage pulses of specific pulse length and pulse spacings, the pulse amplitude being a function of the intensity of the incident light.