Abstract: The invention relates to a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging radio frequency—receiver (112; 216; 308; 404), the receiver (112; 216; 308; 404) being adapted to receive analogue signals from at least one radio frequency receiver coil unit (106; 200; 202; 300; 400; 402), the radio frequency receiver (112; 216; 308; 404) comprising: an analogue-digital converter (118; 226) to convert the analogue pre-amplified magnetic resonance signal into a digital signal, means (120; 230) for digital down converting the digital signal and a first communication interface (130; 252) adapted for transmitting the down converted digital signal via a communication link (e.g. wireless, optical or wire-bound).

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for the production of cell sheets comprising at least two different cell types, said method comprising the steps of providing a continuous cell sheet which is disposed on a substrate comprising shape transition properties and/or alterable surface characteristics; exposing said continuous cell sheet to a releasing agent in a patterned fashion; washing the cell sheet after exposure to the releasing agent in order to remove cells which have been affected by the releasing agent, and repopulating the gaps remaining after the cells which have been affected by the releasing agent have been removed with a second cell type.

Abstract: The invention relates to a valve for opening and closing a channel (3) of a microfluidic system, respectively. According to the invention, the valve comprises an actuation medium (2) that undergoes a volume change with changing temperature; and a heater arrangement (5) for generating a temperature gradient in the actuation medium (2) with respect to the actuation medium's (2) distance relative to the channel (3); wherein due to an expansion or a contraction of the actuation medium (2) the channel (3) is closed or opened, respectively. When the heater arrangement (5) is activated in such a way that a higher temperature is generated in the actuation medium (2) which is nearer to the channel (3) and a lower temperature is generated in the actuation medium (2) which is further away from the channel (3) the valve can be closed and vice versa. Accordingly, such a valve for a microfluidic system is provided which can be reliably actuated during a long time of use.

Abstract: There is provided a microelectronic sensor device (100) for the detection of target components (10) near a binding surface (12), comprising a source (21) for emitting a beam (101) of radiation having a wavelength incident at the binding surface (12); an optical structure (11) near the binding surface (12), for providing evanescent radiation, in response to the radiation incident at the binding surface (12), in a detection volume (4) bound by the binding surface (12) and extending over a decaylength away from the binding surface (12) into a sample chamber (2); and a detector (31) for detecting radiation (102) from the target component (10)1 present in the detection volume (4), in response to the emitted incident radiation (101) from the source (21) wherein the binding surface (12) is provided with upstanding walls of a dielectric material (3), for providing one or more detection volumes (4) bound to a maximum in plane detection volume dimension (W1) smaller than a diffraction limit, the diffraction limit defin

Abstract: A method of producing a lenticular device for an autostereoscopic display apparatus comprises providing a substrate having a surface which corresponds in shape to a desired surface profile for the array of lenticular elements, and providing an optical layer mixture of an optically birefringent material and a polymer precursor over the substrate surface. The optical layer is exposed to a stimulus for polymerizing the polymer precursor to have at least a polymer surface layer, thereby enclosing the material between the polymerized material and the surface to define lenticular elements. This method allows a simple polymerization process, forming a single layer, to complete the LC cell formation in the desired lenticular array shape.

Abstract: The invention relates to phase-separated composite for microfluidic applications, whereby the polymerization/phase separation is performed in such a way that a top-layer of a certain ratio to the height of the composite is achieved in order to ensure the stability of the composite.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a process for treating cultured cells is provided, which comprises the steps of: a) providing planar, two-dimensional objects (“flakes”), wherein these objects comprise a material which, upon application of an extrinsic stimulus, is transferred from the planar state into a rolled state, b) providing cells on said flakes, and c) transferring the flakes from the planar state into a rolled state by application of said extrinsic stimulus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biotechnological device including a responsive hydrogel permeation layer with an intrinsic structural gradient.

Abstract: This invention provides a biosensor solid or hydrogel substrate comprising one or more temperature indicating agents, each of said one or more temperature indicating agents operating by changing its optical properties and being deposited in and/or at the surface of the biosensor solid or hydrogel substrate as one or more layers and/or spots

Abstract: To improve automation, especially in 2D gel electrophoresis of proteins, DNA etc., a separation device (1) has a physically activatable means for releasing surfactant, eg. SDS, into the gel fr SDS-PAGE. In one embodiment, surfactant-bound polymer is photolytically cleaved; in another, a barrier layer (30) is melted/destroyed to allow surfactant from reservoir (20) to reach the separation area (10). The barrier layer may comprise a novolac.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for use in separation, especially isoelectric focusing employing “pH sink regions”, whereby the direction of change in pH is reversed.

Abstract: A liquid-filled container (1) comprises a first and a second sheet (3, 5) between which a thin film of liquid (7) is dispersed. Supporting members, (9), which extend from the first sheet to the second sheet, are covalently bonded to the first and the second sheet to make the container mechanically robust. In an advantageous embodiment, the thin film of liquid, the supporting members and the second sheet form, in combination, a stratified-phase-separated composite. The liquid-filled container is particularly suitable for use in a liquid crystal display.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate material for analyzing fluids which has first areas with a high porosity and second areas with a lower porosity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a separation medium for chromatography which is structured in that way that the flow rate is in one preselected direction larger than perpendicular to that direction.

Abstract: A mechanical structure comprises an element which is moveable by nonmechanical means, such as heat or radiation, between a first state having a first shape and a second state having a second shape different. To this end, the element includes a layer of oriented polymerized liquid crystal which exhibits an anisotropic expansion when subjected to such means. In order to facilitate manufacture the element is positioned on a substrate which has a region of high adhesiveness and a region of low adhesiveness for polymerized liquid crystal. To manufacture such structures a layer of oriented polymerizable liquid crystal is formed on a substrate (201) which is provided with a patterned surface that provides adhesive regions (204) with high adhesiveness to polymerized liquid crystal and nonadhesive regions (203) with low adhesiveness to polymerized liquid crystal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate material for analyzing one or more fluid samples for the presence, amount or identity of one or more analytes in the samples, whereby the substrate material is adapted in that way that a flow of the sample or parts thereof in and/or with the substrate material is influenced and/or caused by phase transitions, preferably photoinducable phase transitions, in selected areas of the substrate material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate material for analyzing one or more fluid samples for the presence, amount or identity of one or more analytes in the samples, whereby the substrate material is adapted in that way that a flow of the sample or parts thereof in and/or with the substrate material is influenced and/or caused by phase transitions, preferably temperature-inducible phase transitions, in selected areas of the substrate material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate material for analyzing fluids which is elastic and allows radial lateral movement of sample within the substrate material upon application of pressure.

Abstract: An electronic device (10) comprises a substrate (100) carrying a single electrode structure (120) and a plurality of electro-optical elements (140; 160, 180). The plurality of electro-optical elements (140, 160, 180) at least includes a first electro-optical element (140) covering a first part of the electrode structure (120), the first electro-optical element (140) comprising a first electrooptical material with a first transmission/voltage response characteristic and a second electro-optical element (160) covering a second part of the electrode structure (120), the second electro-optical element (160) comprising a second electro-optical material with a second transmission/vokage response characteristic. Consequently, the various electro-optical elements (140; 160 180) can be individually controlled with a single electrode structure by applying variable voltages.

Abstract: A method is provided of producing an active matrix display device having an optical layer comprising a mixture of an electro-optical material and a polymer precursor. An upper layer of the active plate is processed in dependence on a difference between the transmission or reflection characteristics of the row and column conductors and of the pixel electrodes, thereby to process the upper layer in dependence on the row and column pattern or the pixel electrode pattern. The optical layer is then exposed from above the substrate to a stimulus for polymerizing the polymer precursor into a discrete polymer surface layer, thereby enclosing the electro-optical material between the polymerized material and the active plate to define display pixels. Enclosed bodies of electro-optical material defining display pixels are defined in a pattern defined by the processing of the upper layer.