Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique-cnrs

The Foundation for the Promotion of Industrial Science

Neuroindx, Inc.

Dominique Collard

Hiroyuki Fujita

Stanislav L Karsten

Andreas Kaiser

Dimitri Galayko

Mehmet Cagatay Tarhan

Momoko Kumemura

Nicolas Lafitte

The invention relates to a system () adapted to measure multiple biophysical characteristics of cells, the system () comprising: a microfluidic chip () provided with a microfluidic channel () which allows cells to flow through, the microfluidic channel () having an inlet (), an outlet (), and a lateral opening () situated between the inlet () and the outlet (); and a capacitive sensor () integrated in the microfluidic chip, adapted to obtain biophysical characteristics of a single cell in the microfluidic channel () by directly manipulating the single cell by sensor elements () through the lateral opening () of the microfluidic channel (), the sensor () comprising a stationary part and an electrostatically driven movable part which is movable relative to the stationary part, the stationary part being fixed to the microfluidic chip (), the movable part being arranged in the lateral opening () of the microfluidic channel (), wherein a portion of the sensor elements () provides an interface between fluid and air in the system.

Measuring system and manufacturing process of such a measuring system

An object is to make a bridge of DNA expanding between a pair of electrodes, and to characterize the bridge of DNA, to thereby detect DNA easily and surely without employing any marker or labeling substances, such as fluorescent reagents. A method of detecting DNA using a detection device with at least a couple of electrodes, the method comprising immobilizing a primer on the electrodes; making a bridge of the DNA expanded between the electrodes, by immersing the electrodes in a solution including circular templates of single stranded DNA, annealing the circular templates, and generating single stranded DNA product utilizing RCA (Rolling Circle Amplification), with impressing a designated voltage between the electrodes; and characterizing the bridge of DNA which includes multiple single stranded DNA molecules between the electrodes.

DNA detection method

An object is to stably, continuously and easily detect reactions of filamentary biomolecules or polymers bridging between a pair of electrodes against reagents without employing any marker or labeling substances. A molecule detecting system for detecting a reaction of a molecule captured between electrodes to a reagent in a liquid, the system comprising: a detection device including a couple of electrodes and being capable of measuring a resonance frequency and an amplitude of the electrodes; a microfluidic deviceincluding a microfluidic channelwhich includes a channel openingon its one side, wherein an air-liquid interface the electrodes can pass through is formed in the channel opening; a pressure controlled microfluidic pumpconnected to an outletof the microfluidic channel; a movable holding device movably holding the detection device or the microfluidic device; and a controller controlling the detection device, the pressure controlled microfluidic pump, and the movable holding device.

Molecule detecting system

The invention concerns a method for adjusting the operating gap of two mechanical elements of a substantially planar mechanical structure obtained by micro-etching. The method consists in attributing (A) to one of the elements (E) a fixed reference position (RF) in the direction of the residual gap separating said elements; connecting (C) the other element (OE) to the fixed reference position (RF) by an elastic link (S) and installing (D) between the fixed reference position (RF) and the other element (OE) at least a stop block defining an abutting gap, maximum displacement amplitude of the other element; subjecting (DE) the other element (OE) to a displacement antagonistic to the elastic link (S) up to the abutting position constituting the operating position, the residual gap being reduced to the difference between residual gap and abutting gap and less than the resolution of the micro-etching process. The invention is applicable to electromechanical resonators.

Method for gap adjustment of two mechanical elements of a substantially planar micromechanical structure and corresponding electromechanical resonator

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Dominique Collard