Abstract: Methods and relative 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 microfluidic system (1) for the isolation of cells (C1) of at least one given type from a sample; the system (1) comprises a separation unit (3), for transferring at least part of the cells (C1) of the given type from a main chamber (4) to a recovery chamber (5) in a substantially selective way with respect to further cells (C2) of the sample; two valves (9, 10) are set upstream and downstream of the main chamber (4); two valves (11, 12) are set upstream and downstream of the recovery chamber (5); a control assembly (23) is designed to govern the aforementioned valves (9, 10, 11, 12); the system (1) proposed enables isolation of the cells with a high degree of reproducibility and precision.

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 electrohydrodinamic. 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the diagnosis of tumoural conditions and/or of the corresponding state of advance, wherein a specimen of an organic fluid taken from the patient and having a high probability of containing at least one circulating tumour cell (CTC) or a disseminated tumour cell (CTD) is enriched in a population of CTCs or CTDs. According to the invention, at least one type of CTCs or CTDs is isolated by selecting individually single cells in a microfluidic device so to constitute a diagnostic specimen having a purity of at least 90%. On the specimen thus obtained there is subsequently performed a molecular analysis such as to highlight a characteristic thereof suited to enabling diagnosis.

Abstract: A sorting chamber (1) for sorting first particles (25) from second particles (26) comprising: an internal chamber (7), which is delimited by a base wall (2), a top wall (4), and a spacer (6), set between the base wall (2) and the top wall (4); an internal chamber (7), which is at least partially-delimited by the base wall (2) and top wall (4); two passages (8), which set in communication the internal chamber (7) with the external environment; and a plurality of cavities (9), which are designed to house the first particles (25), are made in the base wall (2) and have openings (10) towards the internal chamber (7) with widths of from 4 to 6 ?m.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for counting particles in a fluid comprising a substrate having a first surface; a lid having a second surface facing the first; at least one spacer element interposed between the substrate and the lid so as to maintain the first and second surface spaced from one another; a partition with a plurality of through-openings having nanometric size, the partition being interposed between the spacer element and the lid so as to define at least one first chamber between the partition and the lid and at least one second chamber between the partition and the substrate, the chambers being fluidically connected with one another through at least one of the openings. According to the invention, the substrate has at least one first electrode on the first surface and the lid has a second electrode, each first electrode being configured so as to detect an electric signal associated to the passage of one of said particles through one of the through-openings of the partition.

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

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: The method is for reading a capacitive sensor and may be implemented by a circuit for biasing and reading capacitances that includes circuits for selecting a column line and a row line, and a charge amplifier producing an output voltage representing the capacitance of the selected capacitor intercepted by the selected column and row lines. The method includes preliminarily resetting the output voltage of the charge amplifier, connecting all the deselected row and column plates of the array to a reference voltage and connecting a feedback capacitor and the selected capacitor to an inverting input of the amplifier, applying a step voltage on the capacitor that is connected to the inverting input of the amplifier, and reading the output voltage at steady-state.

Abstract: First entities consisting in cells or microorganisms (BIO) and second entities consisting in compounds or compound units, carried typically by microbeads (BEAD), are trapped selectively within closed movable potential cages (S1) by means of dielectrophoretic force generated by mutually opposed electrodes (M1, M2). The cages are set in relative motion so as to bring about the interaction of selected first and second entities, causing the cages containing them to fuse, whereupon results are obtained preferably by reinstating the original cages and/or observing previously empty adjacent cages. The procedure takes place in a device (DE) with two separate chambers (F, FL) connected one to the other by way of a narrow passage (D) and finished with respective selectively controllable inlets and outlets (I1, I2; O1, O2) through which a liquid or semi-liquid buffer (L) can be pumped in or out.

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: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for manipulation and/or control of the position of particles by means of fields of force of an electrical nature in electrically conductive solutions. The fields of force can be of (positive or negative) dielectrophoresis, electrophoresis, electrohydrodynamics or electrowetting on dielectric, characterized by a set of points of stable equilibrium for the particles. Each point of equilibrium can trap one or more particles within the attraction basin. Said forces dissipate by the Joule effect an amount of power proportional to the square of the voltages applied, causing in a short time the death of the biological particles contained in the specimen. According to the present invention, the dissipated power can be removed through at least one of the substrates in order to maintain the temperature in the liquid suspension constant or reduce it during the entire step of application of the forces.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the selection or processing of particles sensitive to the application of an external stimulus, in which is produced, by applying the external stimulus, the rupture/lysis of at least one selected particle or the fusion of first and second selected particles, by means of the organisation of the particles using a first field of force by selectively energising electrodes of an array of selectable electrodes having dimensions comparable to or smaller than those of the particles, applying to the electrodes a first configuration of stresses; and by applying to the electrodes a second configuration of stresses, so as to create a second field of force, located substantially close to at least one selected particle to be lysated or to a pair of first and second particles to be fused and such as to produce the application of a stimulus suited to produce their lysis or fusion.

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

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.

Abstract: A measurement technique determines the physical features of a tire such as a determination of the deformation a tire undergoes during use. The measurement technique utilizes a first belt, or first and second belts, in the tire reinforced with a plurality of metallic wires and involves the steps of providing a signal between a first and a second metallic wire associated with the first or first and second belts. The measurement technique determines a real part and an imaginary part of the impedance between the first and second metallic wires, which is proportional to the forces acting on the tire.

Abstract: A measurement technique determines the physical features of a tire such as a determination of the deformation a tire undergoes during use. The measurement technique utilizes a first belt, or first and second belts, in the tire reinforced with a plurality of metallic wires and involves the steps of providing a signal between a first and a second metallic wire associated with the first or first and second belts. The measurement technique determines a real part and an imaginary part of the impedance between the first and second metallic wires, which is proportional to the forces acting on the tire.

Abstract: A method whereby first biological entities are recognized by way of second biological entities able to bind to the first (or the first to the second), including the steps of binding first biological entities to a surface comprising an array of first electrodes selectively energizable and addressable at least in part, positioned facing at least one second electrode, bringing the second biological entities into contact with the first, these second biological entities and possibly the first being moved by means of dielectrophoretic cages generated between the electrodes, and sensing any binding activity between at least a portion of the first and of the second biological entities, preferably utilizing radiation at a first frequency to excite fluorophore groups bound to the second biological entities and detecting the emission of fluorescence at a second frequency by means of optical sensors integrated into the electrodes, the biological entities preferably being concentrated on the electrodes by the fusion of di

Abstract: A device for detecting the pressure exerted at different points of a flexible and/or pliable object that may assume different shapes, includes a plurality of capacitive pressure sensors and at least a system for biasing and reading the capacitance of the sensors. The requirements of flexibility or pliability are satisfied by capacitive pressure sensors formed by two orthogonal sets of parallel or substantially parallel electrodes spaced, at least at each crossing between an electrode of one set and an electrode of the other set, by an elastically compressible dielectric, forming an array of pressure sensing pixel capacitors. The system for biasing and reading the capacitance includes column plate electrode selection circuits and row plate electrode selection circuits and a logic circuit for sequentially scanning the pixel capacitors and outputting pixel values of the pressure for reconstructing a distribution map of the pressure over the area of the array.