Abstract: Method for the treatment of a biological sample comprising at least one cell and a liquid component; according to the method, a force is applied to the sample inserted in an inner chamber of a hollow device towards a filter which has pores with diameters from 2 nm to 1 ?m, so that at least part of the liquid component passes through the filter and the cell remains in the inner chamber, thus obtaining a concentrated sample; the filter has a surface facing the inner chamber of less than 12.6 mm2.

Abstract: Method for the selection or the processing of first particles sensitive to the application of an external stimulus including the step of producing, through the application of the external stimulus, the permeabilization of at least a selected first particle, consisting in the organization of the first particles through a first force field, to generate a second force field substantially placed in proximity of at least a selected first particle to be permeabilized.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for the processing (for example washing, incubation, etc.

Abstract: Method and device (1b) for performing the optical analysis of particles (2) contained in suspension in a fluid (3) arranged inside a microfluidic device (4) which maintains it at a temperature significantly lower than the ambient temperature; the formation of humidity on the outer surface (8) of the cover of the microfluidic device is avoided by applying a thermal flow (F) which determines an increase in the temperature of the outer surface (8) of the cover to above the condensation temperature (Td), or a reduction in the ambient temperature (and/or humidity) in the vicinity of the cover (8), so as to bring the condensation temperature (Td) (dew point) to below the temperature of the surface (8) of the cover determined by the internal operating temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the characterization and/or the counting of particles by means of non uniform, time variable force fields and integrated optical or impedance meter sensors. The force fields can be of positive or negative dielectrophoresis, electrophoresis or electro-hydrodynamic motions, characterized by a set of stable equilibrium points for the particles (solid, liquid or gaseous); the same method is suitable for the manipulation of droplets (liquid particles) by exploiting effects known to the international scientific community with the name of Electro-wetting on dielectric.

Abstract: Methods and related devices are illustrated for generating time-variable electric fields suitable for determining the creation of closed dielectrophoretic cages able to trap inside even single particles without the cages being necessarily positioned at relative minimum points of the electric field.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the manipulation and/or control of the position of particles using time-variable fields of force; the fields of force can be of dielectrophoresis (positive or negative), electrophoresis, electrohydrodynamic or electrowetting on dielectric, possessing a set of stable points of equilibrium for the particles.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for separation of a sample of particle that includes at least first and second particles. The method can include generating a force field characterized by at least one point of stable equilibrium for the first and second particles. The method can further include moving the at least one point of stable equilibrium in a space and for at least one time interval with a speed substantially comparable to a speed of movement of the first particles, and substantially different from a speed of movement of the second particles.

Abstract: Apparatus and associate method including a substrate having a first surface; a lid having a second surface; at least one spacer element interposed between the substrate and the lid so as to maintain the first and second surface spaced apart; a partition with a plurality of nanometric size through-openings interposed between the spacer element and the lid defining a first chamber a second chamber fluidically connected together through at least one of the openings; the substrate has at least one first electrode on the first surface and the lid has a second electrode, the first electrode being configured to detect an electric signal associated to the passage of one of said particles through one of the through-openings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the characterization and/or the counting of particles by means of non uniform, time variable force fields and integrated optical or impedance meter sensors. The force fields can be of positive or negative dielectrophoresis, electrophoresis or electro-hydrodynamic motions, characterized by a set of stable equilibrium points for the particles (solid, liquid or gaseous); the same method is suitable for the manipulation of droplets (liquid particles) by exploiting effects known to the international scientific community with the name of Electro-wetting on dielectric.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for the processing (for example washing, incubation, etc.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the manipulation and/or control of the position of particles using time-variable fields of force; the fields of force can be of dielectrophoresis (positive or negative), electrophoresis, electrohydrodynamic or electrowetting on dielectric, possessing a set of stable points of equilibrium for the particles.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for isolating particles of at least one given type of a sample; the device is designed to be connected to an apparatus through a plurality of electrical connectors and comprises a system of microfluidic channels and a flash memory, which contains information on the structure (arrangement and geometry of the various components) of the system of microfluidic channels, a map of non-functioning parts of the device, the maximum number of uses and the maximum time of use of the device; the memory has portions allocated for storing the number of times and the time of use of the device.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method and apparatus to separate and quantify particles using time-variable force fields. The force fields can be for dielectrophoresis (positive or negative), electrophoresis, or electrohydrodynamic. In one aspect, the fields are translated and/or modified in space at a speed substantially comparable to the speed of translation of the fastest particles in the sample. The translation and/or modification of the force fields can also occur with varying speed. In another aspect, the field is translated and/or modified in a first direction at high speed. In another aspect, the quantity or size of the particles is determined by an indirect measurement of the speed of movement after varying the force field by means of a relationship between the speed of movement and the volume of the particles. This invention also pertains to an apparatus to produce appropriate field configurations necessary for the selective movement of particles.

Abstract: Method for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis comprising the following steps: a. obtain a sample of an organic fluid having a high probability of containing foetal cells from a pregnant woman; b. enrich said sample of organic fluid in at least one population of cells comprising at least one type of foetal nucleated cells; c. isolate at least one cell from among said at least one type of foetal nucleated cells; d. perform a genetic analysis on said at least one cell isolated from among said at least one type of foetal nucleated cells in order to highlight at least one genetic characteristic of said at least one foetal nucleated cell suitable for permitting said diagnosis; wherein the step of isolating at least one cell from among said at least one type of foetal nucleated cells is performed by individually selecting single cells in a microfluidic device designed for said purpose.

Abstract: Methods and related devices are illustrated for generating time-variable electric fields suitable for determining the creation of closed dielectrophoretic cages able to trap inside even single particles without the cages being necessarily positioned at relative minimum points of the electric field.

Abstract: A micro-fluidic system comprising a micro-fluidic channel, which has a wall provided with a hole, within which a closing portion of a closing element extends; when the closing portion is arranged within the micro-fluidic channel, the passage of the liquid along the channel is interrupted; by deforming the closing element by suction the closing portion may be lifted and therefore allow the passage of liquid along the micro-fluidic channel.

Abstract: A micro-fluidic system comprising a micro-fluidic channel, which has a wall provided with a hole; a closing element, which is partially housed within the hole and has a membrane portion adapted to deform and a side portion sealingly connected with the above mentioned wall; and a partition arranged within the micro-fluidic channel between a first and a second segment; the closing element is deformable between a locked configuration in contact with the partition and an open configuration spaced from the partition; the closing element may be deformed by suction or by a rod or a piston.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for manipulation and/or position control of particles by means of force fields of electrical nature in electrically conductive solutions, wherein power dissipated by Joule effect, which may cause the death of biological specimens under examination, is advantageously removed. The apparatus comprises a first substrate, upon which lies an array of electrodes, the application of a set of electric voltages to the electrodes generating a force field; a second substrate at a distance from, and parallel to, the first substrate so as to delimit a microchamber within which a liquid containing the particles is inserted; and cooling means for extracting an appropriate amount of heat from the microchamber, the cooling means comprising a second microchamber made in contact with, or by means of, the first or second substrate and through which a flow of cooling liquid or gas is pumped.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method and apparatus to separate and quantify particles using time-variable force fields. The force fields can be for dielectrophoresis (positive or negative), electrophoresis or electrohydrodynamic. In a first aspect of the method, the fields are translated and/or modified in space at a speed substantially comparable to the speed of translation of the fastest particles in the sample so that only these follow by changing position, while the slowest particles are not affected. According to the invention the translation and/or modification of the force field can also occur with varying speed, which is especially useful when this happens with periodic law on a field with spatial periodicity.