The invention relates to a system (10) adapted to measure multiple biophysical characteristics of cells, the system (10) comprising: a microfluidic chip (12) provided with a microfluidic channel (14) which allows cells to flow through, the microfluidic channel (14) having an inlet (14a), an outlet (14b), and a lateral opening (14c) situated between the inlet (14a) and the outlet (14b); and a capacitive sensor (30) integrated in the microfluidic chip, adapted to obtain biophysical characteristics of a single cell in the microfluidic channel (14) by directly manipulating the single cell by sensor elements (31, 32) through the lateral opening (14c) of the microfluidic channel (14), the sensor (30) 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 (12), the movable part being arranged in the lateral opening (14c) of the microfluidic channel (14), wherein a portion of the sensor elements (31, 32) provides an interface between fluid and air in the system.

A method for evaluating rock drillability by a nano-indentation test on a rock cutting includes: conducting a nano-indentation test on a rock cutting sample, acquiring a displacement-load curve of an indenter, and calculating a micro-hardness under the nano-indentation test; calculating mineral composition of the rock cutting sample based on a statistical distribution characteristic of the micro-hardness, and transforming the micro-hardness under the nano-indentation test on the rock cutting sample into a macro-hardness; and calculating a rock drillability grade characterized by the micro-hardness under the nano-indentation test on the rock cutting sample based on a correlation between the macro-hardness of the rock cutting sample and the rock drillability grade. In the context of few downhole rock samples and high cost, the method overcomes the limitation of sample size and shape on conventional testing and solves the difficult problem of mechanical parameter testing of deep rocks.

The invention relates to a method for preparing a tensile test on an elongate, more particularly fibrous, specimen, for example on a collagen fibril, comprising the steps of: -providing the elongate specimen; - attaching a handling particle to the elongate specimen; - providing a force sensor, on which a retainer for the handling particle on the elongate specimen is disposed; - connecting a handling apparatus to the handling particle on the elongate specimen; and - connecting the handling particle on the elongate specimen to the retainer on the force sensor by means of the handling apparatus. The invention also relates to a method and a device for performing a tensile test on an elongate specimen.

Disclosed is a device for mechanically characterizing an element of interest, for example an oocyte. The mechanical characterization device includes: a support receiving a container suitable for containing a liquid medium; a holder for holding the element of interest; an indenting member; a magnet for generating a magnetic field in which the indenting member is intended to move and which participates in suspending the indenting member with an unstable horizontal direction oriented coaxially to the longitudinal axis; a controller to control the magnet to maneuver the indenting member in translation along the unstable horizontal direction; and a component for determining the mechanical characteristics of the element of interest.

An atomic-force-microscope-based apparatus and method including hardware and software, configured to collect, in a dynamic fashion, and analyze data representing mechanical properties of soft materials on a nanoscale, to map viscoelastic properties of a soft-material sample. The use of the apparatus as an addition to the existing atomic-force microscope device.

There is described a system for characterizing a physical property of a sample. The system generally has a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device having a framework, a shuttle member extending along a longitudinal orientation within the framework, a shuttle actuator having obliquely extending arms extending between the framework and the shuttle member, the shuttle actuator configured for expanding the arms upon application of electricity thereacross, said expanding applying a force onto the shuttle member and moving the shuttle member at least partly in the longitudinal orientation, and a socket positioned adjacent a tip of the shuttle member; and a MEMS chip receiving the sample and being configured for insertion into the socket, whereby, when the MEMS chip is received in the socket and loaded with the sample, the force applied onto the shuttle member is transferred into stress internal to the MEMS chip via the tip of the shuttle member.

Methods for characterizing mechanical properties of cells at different stress levels. The disclosed inventions can determine the impact of shear stress on cells in bioproduction processes.

Nano-indentation test to determine mechanical properties of reservoir rock can be implemented as multi-stage or single-stage tests. An experimental nano-indentation test (multi-stage or single-stage) is performed on a solid sample. A numerical nano-indentation test (multi-stage or single-stage) is performed on a numerical model of the solid sample. One or more experimental force-displacement curves obtained in response to performing the experimental nano-indentation test and one or more numerical force-displacement curves obtained in response to performing the numerical test are compared. Multiple mechanical properties of the solid sample are determined based on a result of the comparing

Utilizing multiple rock cores samples obtained while drilling a well to determine the mechanical properties of the rock constituting the wellbore and formation zones within the wellbore. A geomechanical model is created from the samples by nanoindentation testing to provide the raw data from which the geomechanical model is then created.

The invention relates to a method for classifying a tissue sample obtained from mammary carcinoma. The method comprises determining a stiffness value for each of a plurality of points on said tissue sample, resulting in a stiffness distribution, and assigning said sample to a breast cancer subtype and nodal status based on said stiffness distribution.