Abstract: The aim of the invention is to provide a device for duplicating and characterizing nucleic acids almost simultaneously and with a high sample throughput rate. The device consists of a chamber body with a recess whose edge sealingly holds an optically transparent chip. Said chip holds nucleic acids in individual spots on a detection surface. The chamber body is placed on an optically transparent chamber support with a bearing surface, in such a way that a capillary gap, which can be filled with a liquid sample, is formed between the detection surface of the chip facing towards the chamber support and said chamber support. The chamber body is provided with an inlet and an outlet, which are spatially separate from each other, and has a space, which laterally encompasses the chip and which has a gas reservoir. The chamber support is provided with heating elements.

Abstract: A dispenser device (100) for dispensing a substance (101) onto a substrate (102), the dispenser device (100) comprising a gripper unit (103) adapted for gripping a container (104) including the substance (101), a first motion mechanism (116, 117) adapted for moving the gripper unit (103) and the substrate (102) relative to each other within a planar region (106), and a second motion mechanism (115, 201 and 209) adapted for moving the gripper unit (103) and the substrate (102) relative to each other in a direction (108) essentially perpendicular to the planar region (106) to thereby dispense the substance (101) to a surface portion (109) of the substrate (102), wherein the first motion mechanism (115) and the second motion mechanism (116, 117) are decoupled from one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a holding device for substance libraries which can be used, more particularly, for the detection of target molecules with the aid of substance libraries. Said device comprises: (i) a holder for a substance library carrier; (ii) a substance library carrier, which can be fixed to the holder; and (iii) a detection area applied to the substance library carrier, whereon a substance library is immobilized; and wherein at least one substance library carrier can be introduced into a laboratory reaction vessel.

Abstract: A miniaturized temperature-zone flow reactor, used for thermally controlled biochemical or molecular-biological processes, especially polymerase chain reaction (PCR) enables more efficient reactions by providing at least one closed flow path which is divided into three partial paths (A1 . . . An; B1 . . . Bn and BB1 . . . BBn?1; C1 . . . Cn) with the reactor having three substrate chips (A; B; C) which are made of a material having a high heat conductivity, and which have defined channel sections that are spaced apart relative to each other, and are connected by a connecting chip (V) made of a poor heat-conductive material. The substrate chips (A; B; C) are maintained at different temperatures by various means, including the use of controlling heating elements in contact with the chips.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices for holding a substance library carrier, and which are useful in conducting reactions in which binding between complementary molecules is measured qualitatively or quantitatively. Also disclosed are methods for conducting such reactions in the device.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to provide a device for duplicating and characterizing nucleic acids almost simultaneously and with a high sample throughput rate. The device consists of a chamber body with a recess whose edge sealingly holds an optically transparent chip. Said chip holds nucleic acids in individual spots on a detection surface. The chamber body is placed on an optically transparent chamber support with a bearing surface, in such a way that a capillary gap, which can be filled with a liquid sample, is formed between the detection surface of the chip facing towards the chamber support and said chamber support. The chamber body is provided with an inlet and an outlet, which are spatially separate from each other, and has a space, which laterally encompasses the chip and which has a gas reservoir. The chamber support is provided with heating elements.

Abstract: A miniaturized multi-chamber thermocycler provides a thermocycler which is easy to handle, and permits the treatment of a great number of samples of small sample volumes at high temperature changing rates and at low heating powers. A sample receptacle body manufactured in micro-system technics provides a plurality of sample chambers which are embodied such that at least one of the sample chamber walls of the sample chamber which constitutes the sample chamber base is an efficient heat conductor and also of low mass. Said sample chambers are coupled to a coupling body, serving as heat sink, established via at least one poor heat conducting bridge which, with respect to its dimensioning and/or material selection is such that its specific heat conductance .lambda. is smaller 5 W/K.degree..multidot.m.

Abstract: A miniaturized thermocycler is provided for carrying out thermally controlled biochemical or biological melecular processes, in particular polymerase chain reactions. The aim of the invention is to provide a miniaturized thermocycler which enables such reactions to be carried out more effectively, avoids the problem of parasitic heat absorbers and can be manufactured inexpensively in series. This aim is achieved by virtue of the fact that the sample holder (1) is designed as a series of meanders winding in a plane, the sample holder (1) has a groove in a wall and closed over by a cover, the groove passing alternately through comparable heating zones (2) and cooling zones (3), located at intervals along the groove, as it meanders.