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In a device to operate and handle a laboratory microchip to chemically process or analyze substances, the microchip is on a chip holder (41) that is part of a first assembly (42). The first assembly (42) also has an optical device (43) for contactless detection of the results of the chemical process

In a device to operate and handle a laboratory microchip to chemically process or analyze substances, the microchip is on a chip holder (41) that is part of a first assembly (42). The first assembly (42) also has an optical device (43) for contactless detection of the results of the chemical processes carried out on the microchip. A supply device (56) required to operate the microchip is in a module releasably connected to a second assembly (44, 55). In particular, the second assembly (44, 55) has an intermediate carrier (57) that is releasably connected to the supply device (56). The intermediate carrier has continuous electrical paths (60) or connecting channels that can bridge electrodes (58) or supply channels of the supply device (56) and the assigned counterelectrodes (53) of the microchip. There are correspondingly connecting lines (61) to bridge the supply of materials. On the one hand, the bridging serves to prevent wear and soiling of the supply device (56) electrodes that arises upon contacting the microchip. In addition, the intermediate carrier also serves to spatially adapt the electrodes of the supply device (56) to the respective surface or spatial arrangement of the electrode surfaces of the microchip. It is thereby advantageously possible to adapt the entire measuring or operating device to special microchip layouts merely by exchanging the intermediate carrier (57).

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The invention claimed is: 1. A device for operating a microchip with a microfluidic structure, the microchip including supply elements for supplying substances to the microfluidic structure and structures for receiving potentials, the structures for receiving potentials being such as to cause movem

The invention claimed is: 1. A device for operating a microchip with a microfluidic structure, the microchip including supply elements for supplying substances to the microfluidic structure and structures for receiving potentials, the structures for receiving potentials being such as to cause movement of the substances in the microfluidic structure, the device comprising: a supply unit for supplying the potentials for moving the substances in the microfluidic structure, the supply unit having first supply lines for the potentials to be coupled to the potential receiving structures, an interface element, a holder for selectively holding the interface element, the holder having a structure for cooperating with the interface element and for enabling the interface element to be physically connected to and physically disconnected from the holder, the holder having second supply lines for the potentials to be coupled to the potential receiving structures of the microchip, the second supply lines being adapted to be connected to the first supply lines, the interface element having coupling structures for supplying the potentials from the second supply lines to the potential receiving structures of the microchip corresponding with the coupling structures in response to the first and second supply lines being connected and the potentials being supplied to the first supply lines, the interface element and the holder structure for enabling the interface element to be physically connected to and physically disconnected from the holder being arranged so that the coupling structures of the interface element between the second supply lines and the corresponding potential receiving structures of the microchip are (a) physically connected together in response to the physical connection occurring between the holder and the interface element, and (b) physically disconnected from each other in response to the physical disconnection occurring between the holder and the interface element, the interface element having a first surface that faces a surface of the microchip while (a) the physical connection occurs between the holder and the interface element and (b) the interface element supplies the potentials to the potential receiving structures of the microchip, the first surface of the interface element having a surface area that is not substantially different from the surface area of the facing surface of the microchip, the interface element having a second surface that faces only a segment of the holder while the physical connection occurs between the holder and the interface element. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the interface element includes an electrically insulating substrate in which the electrodes and channels are embedded. 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the holder structure for enabling the interface element to be physically connected and physically disconnected to the interface element includes a bayonet lock for releasably attaching the interface unit to the supply unit. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the interface element and the supply unit respectively include a first coding element for identifying the interface element, a second coding element on at least one of the supply units and the microchip, the first and second coding elements corresponding with each other and interacting with one another. 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the potential is electrical. 6. The device of claim 5 wherein the coupling structures of the interface element include contact electrodes including spring pins. 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the potential is mechanical. 8. The device of claim 1 wherein the potential is fluidic. 9. The device of claim 1 wherein the potential is thermal. 10. The device of claim 1 wherein the supply unit, interface element and holder include channels adapted to mate and for supplying fluid to the microchip in response to the interface element being physically connected to the holder and microchip. 11. The device of claim 1 wherein the supply unit and the holder have structures for enabling the holder to be physically connected to the supply unit and physically disconnected from the supply unit so that when the supply unit and the holder are physically connected the first and second supply lines are connected, and when the supply unit and the holder are physically disconnected there are no connections between the first and second supply lines. 12. The device of claim 11 wherein the potential is electric and the interface element includes an electrically insulating substrate carrying electrodes for supplying the electrical potentials to the potential receiving structures of the microchip, the coupling structures of the interface element including the electrodes. 13. The device of claim 12 wherein the electrodes include spring pins. 14. The device of claim 1 wherein the potential is electric and the interface element includes an electrically insulating substrate carrying electrodes for supplying the electrical potentials to the potential receiving structures of the microchip, the coupling structures of the interface element including the electrodes. 15. The device of claim 14 wherein the electrodes include spring pins. 16. The device of claim 15 wherein the supply unit is adapted to carry the microchip while the holder is physically connected to the supply unit. 17. The device of claim 11 wherein the supply unit is adapted to carry the microchip while the holder is physically connected to the supply unit. 18. The device of claim 1 wherein the interface element is made of a material chemically resistant to substances adapted to be moved in the microfluidic structure. 19. The device of claim 1 wherein the interface element is made of a material chemically resistant to cleaning agents for the interface element. 20. A device for operating a microchip with a microfluidic structure, the microchip including supply elements for supplying substances to the microfluidic structure and structures for receiving electric potentials, the structures for receiving electric potentials being such as to cause movement of the substances in the microfluidic structure, the device comprising: a supply unit for supplying the electric potentials for moving the substances in the microfluidic structure, the supply unit having first electric supply lines for the electric potentials to be coupled to the electric potential receiving structures, an interface element including an electrically insulating substrate carrying electrodes for supplying the electric potentials to the electric potential receiving structures of the microchip corresponding with the electrodes, the electrodes including spring pins, a holder for selectively holding the interface element, the holder having a structure for cooperating with the interface element and for enabling the interface element to be physically connected to and physically disconnected from the holder, the holder having second electric supply lines for the electric potentials to be coupled to the electric potential receiving structures of the microchip, the second electric supply lines being adapted to be connected to the first electric supply lines, the interface element electrodes forming coupling structures for supplying the electric potentials from the second electric supply lines to the corresponding electric potential receiving structures of the microchip in response to the first and second electric supply lines being electrically and physically connected and the electric potentials being supplied to the first electric supply lines, the interface element and the holder structure for enabling the interface element to be physically connected to and physically disconnected from the holder being arranged so that the coupling structures of the interface element between the second electric supply lines and the corresponding electric potential receiving structures of the microchip are (a) electrically and physically connected together in response to the physical connection occurring between the holder and the interface element, and (b) electrically and physically disconnected from each other in response to the physical disconnection occurring between the holder and the interface element, the interface element having a first surface that faces a surface of the microchip while (a) the physical connection occurs between the holder and the interface element and (b) the interface element supplies the electric potentials to the electric potential receiving structures of the microchip, the interface element having a second surface that faces a surface of the holder while the interface element is physically connected to the holder. 21. The device of claim 20 wherein the supply unit and the holder have structures for enabling the holder to be physically connected to the supply unit and physically disconnected from the supply unit so that when the supply unit and the holder are physically connected the first and second electric supply lines are electrically and physically connected, and when the supply unit and the holder are physically disconnected there are no electrical or physical connections between the first and second electric supply lines. 22. The device of claim 20 wherein the interface element is made of a material chemically resistant to substances adapted to be moved in the microfluidic structure. 23. The device of claim 20 wherein the interface element is made of a material chemically resistant to cleaning agents for the interface element. 24. An interface element for use with a system including (a) a microchip including a (i) microfluidic structure, (ii) supply elements for supplying substances to the microfluidic structure and (iii) structures for receiving potentials, the structures for receiving potentials being such as to cause movement of the substances in the microfluidic structure, (b) a supply unit for supplying the potentials for moving the substances in the microfluidic structure, the supply unit having first supply lines for the potentials to be coupled to the potential receiving structures, (c) a holder for selectively holding the interface element, the holder having a structure for cooperating with the interface element and for enabling the interface element to be physically connected to and physically disconnected from the holder, the holder having second supply lines for the potentials to be coupled to the potential receiving structures of the microchip, the second supply lines being adapted to be connected to the first supply lines, the interface element comprising: coupling structures for supplying the potentials from the second supply lines to the potential receiving structures of the microchip corresponding with the coupling structures in response to the first and second supply lines being connected and the potentials being supplied to the first supply lines, the interface element being arranged so that the coupling structures of the interface element between the second supply lines and the corresponding potential receiving structures of the microchip are (a) physically connected together in response to the physical connection occurring between the holder and the interface element, and (b) physically disconnected from each other in response to the physical disconnection occurring between the holder and the interface element, the interface element having a first surface that faces a surface of the microchip while (a) the physical connection occurs between the holder and the interface element and (b) the interface element supplies the potentials to the potential receiving structures of the microchip, the first surface of the interface element having a surface area that is not substantially different from the surface area of the facing surface of the microchip, the interface element, while physically connected to the holder, having a second surface facing only a segment of a portion of the holder, the first and second surfaces of the interface element having about the same surface areas. 25. The interface element of claim 24 wherein the potential is electrical and the coupling structures of the interface element include contact electrodes including spring pins, the interface element including an electrically insulating substrate carrying the spring pins. 26. The interface element of claim 24 wherein the interface element is made of a material chemically resistant to substances adapted to be moved in the microfluidic structure. 27. The interface element of claim 24 wherein the interface element is made of a material chemically resistant to cleaning agents for the interface element. 28. An interface element for use with a system including (a) a microchip including (i) a microfluidic structure, (ii) supply elements for supplying substances to the microfluidic structure and (iii) structures for receiving electric potentials, the structures for receiving electric potentials being such as to cause movement of the substances in the microfluidic structure, (b) a supply unit for supplying the electric potentials for moving the substances in the microfluidic structure, the supply unit having first electric supply lines for the electric potentials to be coupled to the electric potential receiving structures, (c) a holder for selectively holding the interface element, the holder having a structure for cooperating with the interface element and for enabling the interface element to be physically connected to and physically disconnected from the holder, the holder having second electric supply lines for the electric potentials to be coupled to the electric potential receiving structures of the microchip, the second electric supply lines being adapted to the connected to the first electric supply lines, the interface element comprising: an electrically insulating substrate carrying electrodes for supplying the electric potentials to the electric potential receiving structures of the microchip corresponding with the electrodes, the electrodes including spring pins, the interface element electrodes forming coupling structures for supplying the electric potentials from the second electric supply lines to the corresponding electric potential receiving structures of the microchip in response to the first and second electric supply lines being electrically and physically connected and the electric potentials being supplied to the first electric supply lines, the interface element being arranged so that the electrodes of the interface element between the second electric supply lines and the corresponding electric potential receiving structures of the microchip are (a) electrically and physically connected together in response to the electrical and physical connection occurring between the holder and the interface element, and (b) electrically and physically disconnected from each other in response to the physical disconnection occurring between the holder and the interface element, the interface element having a surface that faces a surface of the microchip while (a) the electrical and physical connections occur between the holder and the interface element and (b) the interface element supplies the electric potentials to the electric potential receiving structures of the microchip, the interface element, while physically connected to the holder, being adapted to extend from a surface of the holder. 29. The interface element of claim 28 wherein the interface element is made of a material chemically resistant to substances adapted to be moved in the microfluidic structure. 30. The interface element of claim 29 wherein the interface element is made of a material chemically resistant to cleaning agents for the interface element. 31. A device for operating a microchip with a microfluidic structure, the microchip including supply elements for supplying substances to the microfluidic structure and structures for receiving potentials, the structures for receiving potentials being such as to cause movement of the substances in the microfluidic structure, the device comprising: a supply unit for supplying the potentials for moving the substances in the microfluidic structure, the supply unit having first supply lines for the potentials to be coupled to the potential receiving structures, an interface element, a holder for selectively holding the interface element, the holder having a structure for cooperating with the interface element and for enabling the interface element to be physically connected to and physically disconnected from the holder, the holder having second supply lines for the potentials to be coupled to the potential receiving structures of the microchip, the second supply lines being adapted to be connected to the first supply lines, the interface element having coupling structures for supplying the potentials from the second supply lines to the potential receiving structures of the microchip corresponding with the coupling structures in response to the first and second supply lines being connected and the potentials being supplied to the first supply lines, the interface element and the holder structure for enabling the interface element to be physically connected to and physically disconnected from the holder being arranged so that the coupling structures of the interface element between the second supply lines and the corresponding potential receiving structures of the microchip are (a) physically connected together in response to the physical connection occurring between the holder and the interface element, and (b) physically disconnected from each other in response to the physical disconnection occurring between the holder and the interface element, the interface element having a first surface that faces a surface of the microchip while (a) the physical connection occurs between the holder and the interface element and (b) the interface element supplies the potentials to the potential receiving structures of the microchip, the interface element having a second surface facing a segment of the holder while the interface element is physically connected to the holder, the supply unit and the holder having structures for enabling the holder to be physically connected to the supply unit and physically disconnected from the supply unit so that, when the supply unit and the holder are physically connected, the first and second supply lines are connected, and when the supply unit and the holder are physically disconnected there are no connections between the first and second supply lines. 32. The device of claim 31 wherein the potential is electric, the interface element includes a dielectric substrate and the coupling structures of the interface element include contact electrodes including spring pins. 47. 33. The device of claim 31 wherein the interface element is made of a material chemically resistant to substances adapted to be moved in the microfluidic structure. 34. The device of claim 31 wherein the interface element is made of a material chemically resistant to cleaning agents for the interface element. 35. A method of operating a device including a microchip with a microfluidic structure, the microchip including supply elements for supplying substances to the microfluidic structure and structures for receiving potentials, the structures for receiving potentials being such as to cause movement of the substances in the microfluidic structure, the device further including: a supply unit for supplying the potentials for moving the substances in the microfluidic structure, the supply unit having first supply lines for the potentials to be coupled to the potential receiving structures, an interface element, a holder for selectively holding the interface element, the holder having second supply lines for the potentials to be coupled to the potential receiving structures of the microchip, the interface element having coupling structures for supplying the potentials from the second supply lines to the potential receiving structures of the microchip corresponding with the coupling structures in response to the first and second supply lines being connected and the potentials being supplied to the first supply lines, the method comprising: supplying the potentials to the potential receiving structures of the microchip as result of the first and second supply lines being connected to each other, and by (a) physically connecting the coupling structures of the interface element to the holder, and (b) physically connecting the coupling structures of the interface element to the potential receiving structures of the microchip so that the potentials supplied by the supply unit are coupled to the potential receiving structures of the microchip by way of the first and second supply lines and the coupling structures of the interface element, the physical connection of the coupling structures of the interface element to the holder being provided by placing a first surface of the interface element in close proximity to a facing surface of the holder in such a manner that the interface element extends from the facing surface, the physical connection of the coupling structures of the interface element to the potential receiving structures of the microchip being provided by placing a second surface of the interface element in close proximity to a facing surface of the microchip, breaking the physical connection of the coupling structures of the interface element to the potential receiving structures of the microchip, and breaking the physical connection of the coupling structures of the interface element to the holder. 36. The method of claim 35 wherein the first and second surfaces of the interface element are substantially parallel to each other. 37. The method of claim 36 further comprising physically connecting the first and second supply lines to each other by physically connecting the supply unit to the holder, and physically disconnecting the first and second supply lines from each other by physically disconnecting the holder from the supply unit. 38. The method of claim 35 further comprising physically connecting the first and second supply lines to each other by physically connecting the supply unit to the holder, and physically disconnecting the first and second supply lines from each other by physically disconnecting the holder from the supply unit. 39. The device of claim 1 wherein the segment of the holder is included in a portion of the holder that covers the microchip and the interface element while the interface element is physically connected to the holder and the microchip, the second surface of the interface element and the segment of the holder having about the same surface areas, said portion of the holder having a surface area much greater than the surface areas of (a) the first and second surfaces of the interface element, (b) the segment of the holder and (c) the surface area of the microchip. 40. The device of claim 39 wherein the supply unit and the holder have structures for enabling the holder to be physically connected to the supply unit and physically disconnected from the supply unit so that when the supply unit and the holder are physically connected the first and second supply lines are connected, and when the supply unit and the holder are physically disconnected there are no connections between the first and second supply lines.