Abstract: A description is given of methods for collecting particles (1, 2) which are suspended in a liquid, including the following steps: providing the liquid containing the suspended particles (1, 2) in a compartment (10) having lateral surfaces (11), wherein at least one electrode (21) is arranged on at least one of the lateral surfaces (11), and generating high-frequency electric fields by means of the at least one electrode (21) so as to form at least one circulating flow (30), by means of which the particles (1, 2) are guided to at least one predetermined collecting area (40) in the compartment (10), wherein the flow (30) is formed in such a way that at least one branch of the flow runs along a longitudinal extent of the at least one electrode (21), and the flow (30) circulates about an axis (31) which is oriented perpendicular to the respectively adjacent lateral surface (11) with the electrode (21). Corresponding devices for collecting particles are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for handling particles (1, 2) that are suspended in a carrier liquid (3). The method includes the following steps: the carrier liquid (3) is received with the particles (1, 2) in a liquid siphoning device (10) including at least one siphoning opening (11), electrical and/or magnetic separating fields are generated in the liquid siphoning device (10), a sedimentation movement of the particles (1, 2) is created in the liquid, each particle having a sedimentation speed that depends on the action of the separating fields on the particle (1, 2) and the particles (1, 2) forming a plurality of particle fractions (5, 6) according to the sedimentation speeds thereof, and the particle fractions (5, 6) are separately extracted from the liquid siphoning device (10). The invention also relates to a handling device (100) for handling suspended particles (1, 2).

Abstract: A method of discharging a fluid flow with suspended microparticles from a fluidic microsystem (10) is described, whereby the fluid flow converges with at least one output flow to form a discharge flow at the end of a discharge channel (14) of the microsystem, and the discharge flow is delivered through a conduction element (19). A microsystem with a flow output device for implementation of this method is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device and a measuring method for investigating particles which are suspended in a carrier liquid, including several measuring electrodes for carrying out electrical measuring of the particles. It is proposed that during electrical measuring, the particles be fixed in a field cage (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating a convective liquid motion in a fluidic microsystem. According to this method, a liquid in a microsystem is simultaneously exposed to an electrical field and a thermal gradient. The electrical field is generated by means of an electrode arrangement which is subjected to a time-variant voltage. In this way, a time variant electrical field is formed in the liquid volume. The thermal gradient is produced by means of at least one radiation absorber located in the compartment which is exposed to at least one external radiation field.

Abstract: A memory cell array includes a number of memory cells, each of the memory cells including a source and a drain region defined by corresponding bitlines within a semiconductor substrate. Each of the bitlines has a doped semiconductor region as well as a conductive region in direct electrical contact with the doped semiconductor region.

Abstract: Described is a fluidic microsystem with at least one compartment for the receiving and/or the through-flow of a liquid and having an electrode arrangement with a multiplicity of electrodes, between which a coaction zone is established, whereby the compartment possesses at least one wall, through which electromagnetic radiation can be linked into the said coaction zone in accord with a predetermined incident direction, and on at least one electrode a cooling apparatus is provided, and on which at least one respective electrode at least one reflector layer is provided, and wherein the respective electrode is at least partially shielded in reference to the incident beam direction, and having at least one heat conducting layer by means of which the respective electrode stands in thermal communication with a wall of the compartment, and/or includes an active cooling element, which is placed in thermal contact with the respective electrode.

Abstract: A description is given of methods for collecting particles (1, 2) which are suspended in a liquid, including the following steps: providing the liquid containing the suspended particles (1, 2) in a compartment (10) having lateral surfaces (11), wherein at least one electrode (21) is arranged on at least one of the lateral surfaces (11), and generating high-frequency electric fields by means of the at least one electrode (21) so as to form at least one circulating flow (30), by means of which the particles (1, 2) are guided to at least one predetermined collecting area (40) in the compartment (10), wherein the flow (30) is formed in such a way that at least one branch of the flow runs along a longitudinal extent of the at least one electrode (21), and the flow (30) circulates about an axis (31) which is oriented perpendicular to the respectively adjacent lateral surface (11) with the electrode (21). Corresponding devices for collecting particles are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic system, in particular in a cell sorter, including a first carrier power supply (1) which is used to supply a first carrier flow having particles (4) suspended therein, a first carrier power output line (15) which is used to withdraw at least one part of the carrier flow having particles (4) suspended therein, a process chamber (3) which is used to examine, observe, manipulate and/or select the particle (4). The first carrier power supply (1) flows into the process chamber (3) when the first carrier power output line (15) is discharged from the process chamber (3). According to the invention, at least one second carrier power supply (2) flows into the process chamber (3) in order to supply a second carrier flow having particles (5) suspended therein. The invention also relates to a corresponding operational method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic system, in particular in a cell sorter, including a first carrier power supply (1) which is used to supply a first carrier flow having particles (4) suspended therein, a first carrier power output line (15) which is used to withdraw at least one part of the carrier flow having particles (4) suspended therein, a process chamber (3) which is used to examine, observe, manipulate and/or select the particle (4). The first carrier power supply (1) flows into the process chamber (3) when the first carrier power output line (15) is discharged from the process chamber (3). According to the invention, at least one second carrier power supply (2) flows into the process chamber (3) in order to supply a second carrier flow having particles (5) suspended therein. The invention also relates to a corresponding operational method.

Abstract: Methods are described for analyzing at least one deformable object (O) in a suspension fluid, including the following steps: generation of an electric positioning field and positioning of the object (O) in a potential minimum of the positioning field, generation of an electric deformation field in such a way that a deformation force is exerted on the object (O), and detection of at least one property selected from the group including the dielectric, geometric and optical properties of the object (O), wherein the positioning field is generated in a compartment (12) of a fluidic microsystem (10) and the positioning of the object (O) takes place in a contactless manner in a freely suspended state. Measuring apparatuses for carrying out this method are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sample depositing device, particularly for a cell sorter, comprising a sample supply (38, 39) for supplying samples to be deposited and comprising a sample storage element (36) for storing the samples. Said sample storage element (36) has a number of sample containers for storing the samples separately. The invention provides that the sample storage element (36) is mounted in a displaceable manner in order to select a sample container whereas the sample supply (38, 39) is stationary.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the separation of particles (20, 21, 22) in a compartment (30) of a fluidic microsystem (100) are described, in which the movement of a liquid (10) in which particles (20, 21, 22) are suspended with a predetermined direction of flow through the compartment (30), and the generation of a deflecting potential in which at least a part of the particles (20, 21, 22) is moved relative to the liquid in a direction of deflection are envisaged, whereby further at least one focusing potential is generated, so that at least a part of the particles is moved opposite to the direction of deflection relative to the liquid by dielectrophoresis under the effect of high-frequency electrical fields, and guiding of particles with different electrical, magnetic or geometric properties into different flow areas (11, 12) in the liquid takes place.

Abstract: The invention relates to a docking device (100) for retaining a fluidic microsystem (10), comprising a base plate (20) and a retaining frame (30), movable relative to the base plate (20) and used to fasten the microsystem (10) on the base plate (20). The retaining frame (30) is adapted to detachably receive the microsystem (10) and can be detached from the base plate (20) together with the microsystem (10). The device is also provided with a clamping device (40) with which the microsystem (10) on the retaining frame (30) can be pushed against the base plate (20). The invention also relates to methods for operating a fluidic microsystem (10) using said docking device (100).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for measuring properties of particles that move through a fluidic microsystem, the particles being suspended in a liquid. According to the inventive method, a first parameter of a specific particle is first measured at a first test station (11). A second parameter of the particle is then measured at an interval from the first measurement at a second test station (12) which is spatially separated from the first test station (11), and the first and second parameters are jointly evaluated in a correlated manner, the first and second parameters being characteristic of different properties of the tested particle. The evaluation comprises a comparison of the first and second parameters with predetermined expected values. Another measurement is taken or manipulations are performed on the tested particle according to the result of the comparison. Also disclosed is a fluidic microsystem that is designed for implementing the inventive method.

Abstract: The invention relates to an method of analysing biological particles, in particular to be conducted in a cell sorter, with following steps: placing the particles to be analysed into a carrier flow, carrying out a first analysis of the particles moving with the carrier flow, selecting at least one particle in dependence on the result of the first analysis, carrying out a second analysis of the selected particle in a decelerated condition. Furthermore, the invention comprises a corresponding analysis device.

Abstract: A method for high-resolution image recording of at least one object with a microscope, includes the steps of: (a) positioning the object in a receptacle being arranged in the optical axis of the microscope, (b) generating at least two first data sets per object which represent intermediate images of the object with at least two different orientations relative to the optical axis of the microscope, wherein the different orientations of the object are provided by moving the object relative to the receptacle, and (c) evaluating the data sets for obtaining quantitative three dimensional information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a particle injector for introducing particles into a carrier flow of a microfluidic system, especially for injecting biological cells into the carrier flow of a cell sorter. The particle injector includes an inlet for receiving the carrier flow, an outlet for discharging the carrier flow including the introduced particles, a carrier flow channel which connects the inlet to the outlet, and an injection channel flowing into the carrier flow channel for introducing the particles into the carrier flow. The inventive particle injector is characterized in that the carrier flow channel has substantially no dead volume.

Abstract: Described is a fluidic microsystem (100) comprising at least one channel (10) through which a particle suspension can flow; and first and second electrode devices (40, 60) which are arranged on first and second channel walls (21, 31) for generating electrical alternating-voltage fields in the channel (10); wherein the first electrode device (40) for field shaping in the channel comprises at least one first structure element (41, 51); and the second electrode device (60) comprises an area-like electrode layer (61) with a closed second electrode surface which comprises a second passivation layer (70); wherein the effective electrode surface of the first structure element (41, 51), of which element (41, 51) there is at least one, is smaller than the second electrode surface; and the second passivation layer (70) is a closed layer which completely covers the second electrode layer (61).

Abstract: A coupling device (100), particularly for liquid-tight coupling of at least one liquid line (10) to a fluidic system (20), is described, which comprises: at least one sealing device (30), which is implemented to receive an end region (11) of the liquid line (10) and has a first sealing surface (31) for placement on an external surface (22) of the fluidic system in such a way that the end of the liquid line (10) is laterally enclosed by the first sealing surface (31) and points toward an opening (23) in the external surface (22), and a clamping device (40), using which the sealing device (30) may be pressed against the fluidic system (20), so that the first sealing surface (31) produces a liquid-tight connection with the external surface (22).