Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for displacement of at least a small volume of liquid (5) under the effect of an electrical control, including a substrate (1) provided with first electrically conducting means (2), the device also comprising second electrically conducting means (3) arranged facing the first electrically conducting means (2), the first electrically conducting means and the second electrically conducting means possibly being connected to electrical power supply means to enable the application of electrostatic forces to the small liquid volume (5). The second electrically conducting means include at least one conducting wire (3) arranged parallel to the substrate and at a fixed distance from the substrate to enable displacement of the small volume of liquid (5) along said conducting wire (3) under the effect of the applied electrostatic forces.
Abstract:
Provided is a microfluidic device comprising a microfluidic substrate comprising at least one pathway for sample flow; and at least one thermal transfer member which is capable of cycling between at least two temperatures. The thermal transfer member is adapted to heat at least a portion of the sample pathway while a sample is flowing along said at least a portion of said sample pathway. Provided also are methods of carrying out biochemical protocols using such a device.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a device for reversibly displacing at least one volume of liquid (10) under the effect of an electrical control, comprising first electrically conductive means (8), second electrically conductive means (4), and means for inducing a reversible displacement of a volume of liquid, from the first to the second electrically conductive means, without contact with said conductive means during the displacement.
Abstract:
The recess (12) between the main connecting part (8) and a collar (9) contains a toroidal or otherwise shaped sealing ring or joint (3) and the end of a tube (1) incorporating an outer flange (2), whose thickness becomes zero at the crushing bulge (4) of the sealing ring (3). An excellent seal is ensured at this location, even for pressurized fluids, and the assembly can easily be dismantled.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a scanning micro-element for an optical system, characterized in that it comprises: a substrate (12), a membrane (14, 16) made of a dielectric material deposited on a substrate surface, the membrane defining two planes making a non-zero angle .alpha. between them, part (14) of the membrane including a reflecting area (20) capable of being deflected along at least a first direction above a cavity formed in the substrate, means (22, 24, 26, 28) to deflect this part of the membrane along at least one direction.
Abstract:
A process for the micromechanical fabrication of nozzles for ink jets includes forming a groove on a surface of a first substrate, securing the first substrate to a second substrate to form an assembly in which the second substrate covers the groove to form a channel having walls, and then forming an internal protective coating within the channel by thermal oxidation of the walls of the channel. The first and second substrates are then cut along a plane extending perpendicular to the channel thereby to form a nozzle for dispensing a liquid jet. Scales, formed as a result of the cutting operations, are formed on the internal protective coating rather than directly on the walls of the channel. These scales then are removed from the nozzle by eliminating the internal protective coating.