Abstract: A device for collecting a liquid sample by capillarity includes distinct first and second elements having respective male and female parts. The male part comprises a channel having a transverse section. The female part comprises a peripheral wall that transversely delimits a cavity to house the male part. A part of the peripheral wall forms a cap to close the transverse section when the female part houses the male part.

Abstract: A device for taking a sample of liquid by capillarity, including a channel for flow of the liquid delimited by two internal walls of the device between which a channel bottom extends, the distance separating the two internal walls decreasing in the direction of the channel bottom, the channel extending between a first collecting end, open onto outside of the device and configured to receive the liquid, and a second end, to enable the liquid to flow by capillarity along the channel bottom from the first end towards the second end. The channel includes, at the second end, a blocking structure to block the flow of liquid in the channel from the first end towards the second end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for analyzing a liquid sample, including an analysis device comprising a casing including a through-opening leading into a housing adapted to receive a portion of a collecting device and extending longitudinally from the opening along an axis of insertion of the collecting device. The analysis system further includes a collecting device comprising a main body extending along a longitudinal axis and including a fluid chamber adapted to be inserted in the housing along the insertion axis and a receiving surface intended to receive the liquid sample extending substantially orthogonally relative to the axis of the main body.

Abstract: The method is provided for characterizing agglomeration of particles in a liquid containing an analyte, including introducing liquid into a fluid chamber; mixing the liquid with a bifunctional reagent, lighting the fluid chamber using an excitation light beam extending through the fluid chamber in a longitudinal direction (X); acquiring at least one image using a matrix photodetector, each image including pixels (In(x,y), x,y representing the coordinates of a pixel of an image, the image (I(x,y)) being formed by radiation transmitted by the lighted fluid chamber; and calculating from at least one acquired image (I(x,y)), at least one indicator (Ind2) characterizing the particle agglomeration. The photodetector can be positioned less than 1 cm from the fluid chamber, and during the calculation step, the calculated indicator (Ind2) is representative of the intensity of the pixels of the image. The method advantageously allows for characterizing the agglomeration of particles in a liquid.

Abstract: A liquid-sample analyzer includes a housing that delimits an interior space and a recess adapted to receive a main body of a collection device that collects a liquid sample. When inserted into the recess, the main body extends longitudinally from the opening along a longitudinal axis of the collection device. The detection-and-analysis device is configured to detect and to analyze at least one representative parameter of the liquid sample. The locking-and-releasing retains the collection device in a locking position when the main body has been inserted into the recess. The releasing member exerts an ejection force on the main body toward the opening. The abutment portion contacts a bearing portion of the main body so as to immobilize the collection device while the main body is subjected to the ejection force.

Abstract: A device for collecting a liquid sample by capillarity includes distinct first and second elements having respective male and female parts. The male part comprises a channel having a transverse section. The female part comprises a peripheral wall that transversely delimits a cavity to house the male part. A part of the peripheral wall forms a cap to close the transverse section when the female part houses the male part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for analyzing a liquid sample, including an analysis device comprising a casing including a through-opening leading into a housing adapted to receive a portion of a collecting device and extending longitudinally from the opening along an axis of insertion of the collecting device. The analysis system further includes a collecting device comprising a main body extending along a longitudinal axis and including a fluid chamber adapted to be inserted in the housing along the insertion axis and a receiving surface intended to receive the liquid sample extending substantially orthogonally relative to the axis of the main body.

Abstract: This method for estimating the quantity of an analyte contained in a liquid includes the following steps: introducing the liquid into a fluid chamber; mixing the liquid with a bi-specific reagent, the bi-specific reagent being configured for grafting on both a particle and an analyte present in the liquid; lighting the fluid chamber using an excitation beam emitted by a light source, the beam extending through the fluid chamber; acquiring at least one image using a matrix photodetector, the image being formed by radiation transmitted by the lighted fluid chamber; and estimating, from at least one acquired image, the quantity of said analyte in the liquid.

Abstract: The method is provided for characterizing agglomeration of particles in a liquid containing an analyte, including introducing liquid into a fluid chamber; mixing the liquid with a bifunctional reagent, lighting the fluid chamber using an excitation light beam extending through the fluid chamber in a longitudinal direction (X); acquiring at least one image using a matrix photodetector, each image including pixels (In(x,y), x,y representing the coordinates of a pixel of an image, the image (I(x,y)) being formed by radiation transmitted by the lighted fluid chamber; and calculating from at least one acquired image (I(x,y)), at least one indicator (Ind2) characterizing the particle agglomeration. The photodetector can be positioned less than 1 cm from the fluid chamber, and during the calculation step, the calculated indicator (Ind2) is representative of the intensity of the pixels of the image. The method advantageously allows for charactering the agglomeration of particles in a liquid.

Abstract: The method according to the invention is capable of characterizing a variation in the speed of particles or agglomeration of particles, the particles, such as blood particles, being contained in a liquid (12). The characterization method includes the following steps: introducing the liquid (12) into a fluid chamber (14); lighting the fluid chamber (14) using an excitation light beam (18) emitted by a light source (16), the light beam (18) extending through the fluid chamber (14) in a longitudinal direction (X); acquiring at least one image using a matrix photodetector (20), the image being formed by radiation transmitted by the lighted fluid chamber (14); and calculating, from at least one acquired image, at least one indicator characterizing the variation of the speed or agglomeration of the particles. During the acquisition step, the photodetector (20) is positioned at a distance (D2) smaller than 1 cm from the fluid chamber (14) in the longitudinal direction (X).

Abstract: A device for taking a sample of liquid by capillarity, including a channel for flow of the liquid delimited by two internal walls of the device between which a channel bottom extends, the distance separating the two internal walls decreasing in the direction of the channel bottom, the channel extending between a first collecting end, open onto outside of the device and configured to receive the liquid, and a second end, to enable the liquid to flow by capillarity along the channel bottom from the first end towards the second end. The channel includes, at the second end, a blocking structure to block the flow of liquid in the channel from the first end towards the second end.

Abstract: This acquisition device for acquiring an image of a sample comprises: a receiving support for receiving the sample, the receiving support having a transparent surface, and an image sensor, configured for acquiring an image of the sample, the image sensor being disposed in front of said transparent surface. The acquisition device furthermore comprises a heating module for heating the receiving support, a temperature sensor configured for measuring a temperature of the receiving support and a regulating unit for regulating the heating of the receiving support, based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for estimating the amount of entities deposited on microparticles in suspension in a solution, and also to an associated device. The method comprises the following steps: (a) the solution is illuminated with a light source; (b) an optical signal formed by the scattering, in the solution, of the illuminating light is detected; (c) the optical signal obtained in step (b) is analyzed in order to obtain an indicator relating to this signal; (d) the indicator obtained in step (c) is compared with a reference indicator, obtained for a reference solution, the comparison making it possible to estimate the amount of entities deposited on the microparticles.

Abstract: This method for observing at least one object is applied by means of an imaging system. It includes the following steps: illuminating the object(s), with a light source, acquiring, by means of a photodetector array, a diffraction pattern, the diffraction pattern corresponding to an image of the waves diffracted by the object(s) when they are illuminated along an illumination direction, the object(s) such as biological entities, being positioned between the light source and the photodetector array along the illumination direction. The method further comprises, prior to the illumination step, addition of at least one marker in contact with the object(s), said or each marker being adapted to bind onto a corresponding object, the binding of said marker onto said object being adapted for increasing at least one characteristic quantity from among the absorption and the optical phase shift of said object.

Abstract: The method according to the invention is capable of characterizing a variation in the speed of particles or agglomeration of particles, the particles, such as blood particles, being contained in a liquid (12). The characterization method includes the following steps: introducing the liquid (12) into a fluid chamber (14); lighting the fluid chamber (14) using an excitation laser beam (18) emitted by a light source (16), the laser beam (18) extending through the fluid chamber (14) in a longitudinal direction (X); acquiring at least one image using a matrix photodetector (20), the image being formed by radiation transmitted by the lighted fluid chamber (14); and calculating, from at least one acquired image, at least one indicator characterizing the variation of the speed or agglomeration of the particles. During the acquisition step, the photodetector (20) is positioned at a distance (D2) smaller than 1 cm from the fluid chamber (14) in the longitudinal direction (X).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for estimating the amount of entities deposited on microparticles in suspension in a solution, and also to an associated device. The method comprises the following steps: (a) the solution is illuminated with a light source; (b) an optical signal formed by the scattering, in the solution, of the illuminating light is detected; (c) the optical signal obtained in step (b) is analyzed in order to obtain an indicator relating to this signal; (d) the indicator obtained in step (c) is compared with a reference indicator, obtained for a reference solution, the comparison making it possible to estimate the amount of entities deposited on the microparticles.

Abstract: This invention describes a device for optical stimulation of cells and other biological structures. It has an ability to target multiple cells and/or multiple sub-cellular targets. The stimulation optical pattern on each cell can be independently controlled with individual frequencies. The light sensitivity of the cells can be imparted as a result of genetic expression of surface and/or subsurface proteins, chemical modification of existing proteins, or via the release of caged entities which in turn act to stimulate the cell through chemical means. The embodiment is capable of functioning on neurons but can also be used for other cells. It can perform optimal stimulation with sub-cellular resolutions, record the activity of the targeted cells and perform processing to ensure calibration.