Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne

Mycartis N.v.

Cern-European Organization for Nuclear Research

Westonbridge International Limited

Parabol Technologies S.a.

Unipix Sàrl

Ecole Polytechnique Féderale De Lausanne (Epfl)

Philippe Renaud

André Mercanzini

Andre Mercanzini

Thomas Braschler

Nicolas Demierre

Amélie Barbara Hildegarde Béduer

Raphael Tornay

Stephan Gamper

Claudio Pollo

Georges Henri Muller

Yann Barrandon

Nicolas Abele

Faouzi Khechana

Hubert Van Den Bergh

Saja Scherer

David Vincent Bonzon

Giorgio Pietramaggiori

Didier Maillefer

Pietro Maoddi

Guillaume Petitpierre

José Gil

Andreas Möller

Amélie Béduer

François Majo

Marc Boers

Pascal Mosimann

Daniel Bertrand

Karl-Heinz Boven

Jean-Pierre Bonzon

Pontus Linderholm

Alain Donzel

Nicolas Uffer

Urban Seger

Jean-Baptiste Bureau

Alessandro Mapelli

Nader Donzel

David Forchelet

Colin Darbellay

Julien Graber

Donzel Nader

Steve BÉGUIN

Amélie Barbara Hildegarde BÉDUER

Maïa Caillier

Raphaël Tornay

The invention is achieved by a volumetric displacement calibration device () configured to be able to adapt at least one suction system (), comprising a tip (), having a volume VP, connected to a shaft () comprising a volume change mechanism (). The device () comprises at least one main chamber () and one reference chamber (), connected by a conduct () and a valve () to said main chamber () and at least one first pressure sensor () connected to said main chamber (). The device () comprises also a second pressure sensor () connected to said reference chamber (). The pressure sensors and calculation means allow to calculate an internal volume Vo, being the sum of the volume VP of said aspiration tip (), the volume () of the shaft () when the volume change mechanism () is down. The invention is also achieved by a system () comprising the device () and at least one suction system (-) adapted to said device (). The invention relates also to a calibration method of a volumetric fluid handling system () and comprising successive steps (a-m) to determine said volume Vo.

Liquid handling calibration device and associated method of calibration

The invention provides for a device () for use in electrical nerve modulation in a subject, characterized in that it comprises a rotational and linear actuator (); a tubular element () having a proximal end connected to the actuator () and a distal end; a flexible shaft () coaxially disposed within the tubular element (), comprising a proximal end operably connected to the actuator () and a distal end, and adapted to be slid along the tubular element (); a conformable support () comprising a proximal end operably connected to the tubular element's () distal end, and a distal end operably connected to the flexible shaft's () distal end, having a portion of its length helically wrapped about a distal portion of the flexible shaft () so to define a pitch () and a radius (); and a plurality of electrodes () operably disposed along the helically configured portion of the conformable support (), and electrically connectable to a generator (), adapted to contact the endoluminal surface of a blood vessel of the subject and deliver electrical energy; wherein the pitch (), radius () or both of the helically configured portion of the conformable support () can be modified via actuator's () driven extension, retraction and/or rotation of the flexible shaft ().

Endoluminal nerve modulation device and methods for using thereof

The invention relates to a scaffold material comprising a plurality of particles of a highly porous polymeric material, characterized in that said scaffold material becomes a shapeable paste once hydrated. The specific features of the particle material impart a special behavior to the scaffold, which can be easily shaped and even highly reversibly compressed, so that in certain aspects it can, if needed, be injected, said capacity to be shaped being maintained over a high range of hydration conditions. A particular aspect of the invention relates, therefore, to the use of such scaffold material for the manufacturing of shapeable body implants, such as breast implants, to the shapeable body implants themselves as well as to non-invasive methods for using thereof in creating or reconstructing a three-dimensional volume in a subject's body part.

Shapeable scaffold material and uses thereof

Described herein are microelectrode array devices, and methods of fabrication, assembly and use of the same, to provide highly localized neural recording and/or neural stimulation to a neurological target. The device includes multiple microelectrode elements arranged protruding shafts. The protruding shafts are enclosed within an elongated probe shaft, and can be expanded from their enclosure. The microelectrode elements, and elongated probe shafts, are dimensioned in order to target small volumes of neurons located within the nervous system, such as in the deep brain region. Beneficially, the probe can be used to quickly identify the location of a neurological target, and remain implanted for long-term monitoring and/or stimulation.

Device for interacting with neurological tissue and methods of making and using the same

A method of producing a cryogel-based multicompartment 3D scaffold is herein disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: a) providing a first frozen polymeric layer on a refrigerated support kept at subzero temperature; b) providing subsequent polymeric layers to obtain a stack of polymeric layers by possibly modulating the subzero temperature of the refrigerated support; c) optionally incubating the final polymeric structure at subzero temperature; and d) placing the produced cryogel at a temperature above 0&#xb0; C., the method being characterized in that each subsequent layer i) is deposited on the previous one after freezing of this latter; ii) is deposited on the previous one before the complete polymerization of this latter; and iii) is deposited with a temperature higher than the freezing temperature of the previously deposited layer. Cryogel scaffolds obtained from the method of the invention are also disclosed.

Cryogel 3D scaffolds and methods for producing thereof

The particle () is suitable for the manufacture of an implantable soft tissue engineering material and comprises: a three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet () where (i) the three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet () is made from a biocompatible material having a Young's modulus of 1 kPa to 1 GPa; (ii) the three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet () has an irregular shape which is encompassed in a virtual three-dimensional envelope () having a volume V; (iii) the three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet () has a mean sheet thickness T; iv) the three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet () has a volume V; (v) the particle () has a Young's modulus of 100 Pa to 15 kPa; and (vi) the particle () further comprises a number of protrusions where the three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet () reaches the envelope (); (vii) the particle () has a number of interconnected channel-type conduits () defined by the branching of the sheet () and/or by voids in the sheet (); and (viii) where the conduits () have (a) a mean diameter D; and (b) an anisotropicity index of 1.01 to 5.00.

Particle suitable for the manufacture of an implantable soft tissue engineering material

Described herein are microelectrode array devices, and methods of fabrication and use of the same, to provide highly localized and efficient electrical stimulation of a neurological target. The device includes multiple microelectrode elements arranged along an elongated probe shaft. The microelectrode elements are dimensioned and shaped so as to target individual neurons, groups of neurons, and neural tissue as may be located in an animal nervous system, such as deep within a human brain. Beneficially, the neurological probe can be used to facilitate location of the neurological target and remain implanted for long-term monitoring and/or stimulation.

Microfabricated neurostimulation device

A preferred frequency is identified, being usable to stimulate a neurological target within a mammalian body using at least one microelectrode positioned at or near the target. To establish efficient and effective stimulation, an impedance analyzer is provided for measuring electrical impedance values indicative of a microelectrode-tissue interface across a range of different frequencies. A preferred one of the measured electrical impedance values is identified as being closest to a pure resistance. The neurological target can then be stimulated at or near the frequency associated with the preferred impedance value (peak resistance frequency), thereby promoting desirable traits, such as optimum charge transfer, minimum signal distortion, increased stimulation efficiency, and prevention of microelectrode corrosion. The peak resistance frequency can be used to determine an preferred pulse shape. A target can be identified by microelectrode measurements of neuronal activity and/or impedance magnitude at peak resistance frequency.

Apparatus and method for optimized stimulation of a neurological target

A connector for providing both a fluidic and electrical connection is disclosed, said connector having a proximal end, a distal end and an elongated body in between, characterized in that the elongated body has an inner cavity spanning throughout its length, and the distal end comprises: a) an inner body portion comprising a first inner electrical contact and b) an outer body portion comprising a second outer electrical contact having a spring element. The connector is easily adaptable to many kind of fluidic actuators and particularly to pipette instruments usually found in laboratory practice and developed to adapt fluidic actuators and pipette instalments to work according to the Coulter principle in every working condition, in particular to adapt the electrical and fluidic connection between a sensing tip and an instrumented pipette.

Tip connector for fluidic and electrical connection

The invention relates to a contact lens for use in the treatment of ocular inflammatory pathologies. The contact lens comprises a soft porous material coupled, in certain embodiments, with detoxifying agents. Said material and/or agents contact and neutralize inflammatory mediators present in the tear fluid of ocular pathologies patients. The nature and architecture of the soft porous material allows a greater contact area between the material itself and/or detoxifying agents with inflammatory mediators, in view of the reversible compression of the soft material that allows greater lachrymal fluid turnover and fluid exchange within the contact lens upon e.g. blinking.

Ophthalmic contact lens with compressible affinity matrix

A sensing tip including a pipette tip having a cavity which communicates with an external environment of the pipette tip through an aperture located at a distal end of the pipette tip, and an impedance sensor having a sensing area including at least two electrodes located respectively outside and inside the pipette tip, wherein the sensing area is arranged within the aperture.

Sensing tip with electrical impedance sensor

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Preverenges, Switzerland

Philippe Renaud