Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic device for detection of a substance in a sample fluid, and to a cartridge for performing a biological assay, containing such a device. The microfluidic device comprises two housing parts (52, 54) with a porous membrane (50) there between. Each housing part has recesses, or channel parts, (56-1, 56-2, 56-n, 58-1, 58-2, 58-n) that are connected via a recess of the opposite housing part, and through the membrane (50), such that an unbranched channel is defined for the sample fluid. At one or more of the positions where the channel crosses the membrane (50), a spot (48-1, 48-2, 48-n) with an immobilized indicator substance is present, to which a target substance in the sample fluid may bind. An advantage of the present device is that in principle all of the sample fluid passes each spot. Hence there is no need to recirculate and/or mix the sample fluid, as is the case in devices with parallel flow-through paths for the fluid.

Abstract: A sensor is described for use with at least one optical detector (5), the sensor comprising a substrate (11) with optical outlets, a porous membrane (12) and micro fluidic channels (13) for conducting analyte fluid towards sensing locations (10) of the porous membrane (12). The sensing locations (10) are adapted for at least restraining light variable molecules (23) which bind to analytes to be determined. The optical output of the light variable molecules changes when they are in close proximity to a target molecule. The micro fluidic channels (13) are shaped to reflect light emitted from the sensing locations (10) towards the optical outlets and the substrate has diffracting optical elements (15) aligned with microfluidic channels to diffract light towards the optical outlets. The diffracting optical elements can be lenses.

Abstract: The matching of refractive index of a nanoporous membrane with an analyte solution used with the membrane for use in a sensor is described. Scattering of the excitation and/or emitted light is reduced by matching the refractive indices. This improves efficiency when the porous translucent membrane is used in flow-through or flow-over sensors such as biosensors.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an evanescent field induced optical sensor of a transparent polymer substrate coated with a thin transparent polymer waveguide for use as biosensor for detecting biological molecules, wherein the transparent polymer waveguide has a thickness of ?0.10 ?m and ?0.50 ?m and a refractive index nD of 1.39 to 1.79, said transparent polymer waveguide has a coupling grating recess structure for enhancing the coupling of the light wave into said transparent polymer waveguide, the lower surface of said transparent polymer waveguide contacts the transparent polymer substrate, said transparent polymer substrate has a refractive index n of 1.29 to 1.69, wherein the material of said transparent polymer waveguide and said transparent poly-mer substrate is selected such that the difference of the refractive index ?nD of said transparent polymer waveguide and said transparent polymer substrate is at least ? n 0.

Abstract: An interconnection and packaging method is provided for manufacturing of Lab-on-chip (LOC) and Micro Total Analyses Systems. Different functions, such as biosensors, heaters, coolers, valves, and pumps, are combined in an electronic/mechanical/fluidic module by flip-chip technology using an ultrasound bounding process. A predefined polymeric ring on the chip serves as a seal.

Abstract: A sensor device (15) for detecting magnetic particles (13) has a binding surface (40) with binding sites thereon and comprises: at least one sensor element (23) for detecting the presence of magnetic particles (13), means for attracting magnetic structures comprising at least one magnetic particle (13) toward and onto the binding surface (40) of the sensor device (15), and means for re-arranging and randomizing the position of individual magnetic particles (13) with respect to the binding sites on the binding surface (40) to give binding sites on all individual particles (13) a substantial probability to have a contact time with binding sites on the binding surface (40). With such sensor device (15), the speed of detection of target molecules in a fluid is enhanced.

Abstract: A collimator for use in an optical device, such as a display device, includes a multi-layered sheet of at least five alternating light transmitting and light impervious layers. A collimation angle of a few degrees is obtainable using the collimator. The collimator may be produced by co-extruding or injection molding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a testing system comprising a fluid container (10) and an optical system (30) for the investigation of fluid samples. The fluid container (10) is provided with microchannels (13, 14) that contain and guide sample fluid. Active elements (1), particularly consisting of a hydrogel mixed with a light absorbing dye, are disposed in said microchannels. The active elements can be transferred from a non-activated state to an activated state with a different shape by a laser beam (35). This can be used to design micro valves and/or pumps. The laser beam (35) is preferably generated by an optical system (30) that is derived from the reading/writing unit of a Compact Disc player.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the detection of occupied binding sites (15) in a sample (10), preferably for the detection of a fluorescent labeling element bound to probes on a solid surface. The method comprises the scanning of said sample (10) with a spot (26) of laser light (22) and the detection of target specific responses, e.g. fluorescent light (32), with a detection unit (30). The size of the scanning spot (26) is chosen small enough such that only one occupied binding site (15) is irradiated at the same time. A location (11) is classified as an occupied binding site (15) if a target specific response is observed in repeated scans of said location. Such repeated scans particularly allow to discriminate between specific and nonspecific binding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a collimator (1) for use in an optical device, such as a display device, an illumination device or an optical touch sensitive device. The collimator (1) according to the invention comprises a multi-layered sheet of preferably at least five alternating light transmitting (10) and light impervious layers (11). A collimation angle of a few degrees is obtainable using a collimator (1) according to the invention. The invention also relates to methods for producing such a collimator (1) by co-extruding or injection molding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the fabrication of a polymeric optical microstructure, being supported or not by a substrate, starting from a thermoplastic polymer, wherein a thermoplastic polymer is blended with an UV curable resin and a thermally stable photo-initiator, to obtain a blend having a lower viscosity than the viscosity of said polymer, said blend being molded and the molded blend being cured by means of UV radiation to obtain a polymeric optical micro structure. Such a process prevents the common problems, which arise with molding of conventional thermoplastic polymers and conventional UV curing when only one of the components of the blend is used.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacture of a barrier, especially for electronic display devices, comprising the step of co-extruding a melt of at least one inorganic material with a melt of at least one organic material, wherein the at least one inorganic material and the at least one organic material are co-extruded as a continuous sheet.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacture of a barrier, especially for electronic display devices, comprising the step of co-extruding a melt of at least one inorganic material with a melt of at least one organic material, wherein the at least one inorganic material and the at least one organic material are co-extruded as a continuous sheet.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a grid structure using an extrusion process. In order to extrude a layered structure exhibiting a high aspect ratio, a multiplication die is used. Such a method is also suited to manufacture X-ray scatter grids, which include X-ray absorbing and X-ray transmitting regions. The X-ray scatter grid is designed to be used in an X-ray examination apparatus.

Abstract: A printed circuit is provided with a synthetic resin capping layer that exhibits a continuous variation of mechanical properties in a direction at right angles to its surface. The printed circuit can be in a mobile telephone or other portable device, and the capping layer of the printed circuit can optionally constitute the housing of the device.

Abstract: A method to produce a grid structure by means of an extrusion process. In order to extrude a layered structure exhibiting a high aspect ration a multiplication die is used. Such a method is also suited to manufacture X-ray scatter grids, comprising X-ray absorbing (10) and X-ray transmitting (9) regions, said X-ray scatter grid (6) to be used in an X-ray examination apparatus.

Abstract: A description is given of a method of providing a synthetic resin capping layer on a printed circuit, said capping layer exhibiting a variation of the mechanical properties in a direction at right angles to the capping layer. Said capping layer is manufactured by injecting moulding of a foam-forming injection-moulding material. This economically attractive method provides circuits which are excellently protected against mechanical and thermal stresses which may arise during operation. In addition, circuits having a synthetic resin capping layer can be used to reduce the thickness and the weight of portable devices, such as a mobile telephone.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ceramic multilayer component, comprising electrically conductive and electrically insulating layers which are stacked in alternate arrangement in a multilayer structure, which method comprises the following steps:providing three extrudable polymeric mixtures, each mixture comprising a binder and a particulate filler, whereby:(a) a first mixture comprises a ceramic filler;(b) a second mixture comprises a metallic filler and a first binder;(c) the third mixture comprises a metallic filler and a second binder;with the aid of an extrusion device having an extrusion channel which is provided with a layer-multiplication element, manufacturing an extruded multilayer stack comprising a plurality of the basic units abac, in which layers a,b,c correspond respectively to the first, second and third mixtures, the stack having two oppositely situated side walls along which part of each layer is exposed;with the aid of a first solvent, dissolving away part of each layer b exposed along a first s

Abstract: An optical system includes comprising a polarizing element in the form of a layer which comprises an isotropic material having a refractive index n.sub.i and an anisotropic material having refractive indices n.sub.a,e and n.sub.a,o. The refractive index n.sub.i is substantially equal to n.sub.a,e or n.sub.a,o. The optical system includes a retroflector for back-reflecting the polarization component diffused in the polarizing element.

Abstract: The invention relates to an illumination system comprising an optical waveguide of an optically transparent material having an exit surface and a plurality of end faces, and a light source whose light is coupled into the waveguide via at least one end face of the waveguide. The waveguide further comprises polarizing means for polarizing the light emitted by the light source. The waveguide comprises at least two layers, of which one layer comprises an optically anisotropic material having refractive indices n.sub.e and n.sub.o and the other layer comprises an optically isotropic material having a refractive index n.sub.i, in which one of the refractive indices n.sub.e or n.sub.o is equal to n.sub.i. For the refractive indices, n.sub.e or n.sub.o should be equal or substantially equal to n.sub.i in order that polarization separation occurs at the interface between the isotropic and the anisotropic material. The invention also relates to a flat-panel picture display device including such an illumination system.