Abstract: A sample feeding apparatus, a sample analyzing device, and a control method for a sample feeding apparatus are disclosed. At least two of a feeding unit, a temporary storage unit, and a recovery unit together form a vertical stack structure, and a dispatching manipulator transfers a sample vessel among the feeding unit, the temporary storage unit, the recovery unit, and a sample aspiration region. The space in a vertical direction can be reasonably utilized, superposition is performed in space to simplify the dispatching process, and the occupation of a horizontal space is reduced. As a result, the floor space is reduced, and the apparatus is further miniaturized.

Abstract: A method of detecting a level of a liquid in a well of a container. The method includes looking up an expected liquid level of the liquid in the well of a container; measuring and recording a measured liquid level of the liquid in the well; changing a level of the liquid in the well based upon an expected amount of the liquid to be added or removed; and calculating a next expected liquid level at least in part based on multi-point filtering. Apparatus for carrying out the method are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A pressure-tight storage vessel contains a liquid, has an elongated main body rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry, and forms, at least partially, a rotationally symmetrical hollow space in which the liquid is substantially received, wherein the main body is terminated at its bottom side by a base. Furthermore, at its top side, the storage vessel has an opening which is closed off in a pressure-tight manner by a closure, has a plurality of reinforcement elements, which bears against the main body at the outside, which extends parallel to the axis of symmetry of the main body, and arranged rotationally symmetrically about the axis of symmetry of the main body. In each case between adjacent reinforcement elements, respective externally exposed wall sections of the main body are formed, and the composition of the exposed wall sections permits a pressure-tight insertion by at least two hollow needles.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a microfluidic chamber fluidly coupled to an inlet port and an outlet port, a semiconductor microchip including fluid active circuitry and transistor circuitry, and a bed of solid supports positioned within the microfluidic chamber fluidly positioned between the inlet port and the outlet port. The transistor circuitry in this example provides onboard logic at the semiconductor microchip to control fluid active circuitry. The semiconductor microchip also defines a portion of the microfluidic chamber.

Abstract: It is necessary to efficiently agitate a small amount of sample (such as blood) and reagent (such as diluted solution) in a short time with a dispensing probe having a constant tube inner diameter. An automatic analysis device, by a dispensing probe, executes an aspiration step of aspirating a reagent from a reagent vessel; a first dispensing and aspiration step of dispensing a first liquid amount of the aspirated reagent to a reaction vessel and aspirating, from the reaction vessel, a second liquid amount of a mixed liquid obtained by mixing the reagent and the sample in the reaction vessel; and a final dispensing step of dispensing the aspirated mixed liquid and the reagent in a predetermined dispensing amount. A first liquid amount Va is less than a predetermined dispensing amount Vdil.

Abstract: The present invention is a cuvette assembly for use in optically measuring at least one characteristic of particles within a plurality of liquid samples. The cuvette assembly comprises a main body having internal walls and external walls, and a plurality of cuvettes within the main body at least partially being defined by the internal walls. Each of the plurality of cuvettes has a liquid-input chamber for receiving a respective one of the plurality of liquid samples, a filter, and an optical chamber for receiving a respective filtered liquid sample caused by passing the respective one of the plurality of liquid samples through the filter. Each of the optical chambers includes an entry window for allowing transmission of an input light beam through the filtered liquid sample and an exit window for transmitting a forward scatter signal caused by the particles within the filtered liquid sample.

Abstract: A dispersant system comprises a plurality of taggant vessels, each having a taggant that corresponds to a position in a tag string and a computer controller convert the tag string into a selection of a taggant set while computer-controlled valves allow or block a flow of taggants to a manifold output tube. From the output tube, a mix of the taggants flow to form a dispersant formed according to the tag string. A nozzle disperses the dispersant onto an object to be tagged, possibly atomized with air. The taggant can comprise a DNA taggant comprising a static portion and a dynamic portion that is unique to each tag string position. Tag strings for adjacent lots might have a low Hamming distances to reduce cross-contamination and/or have redundancy for error detection and correction and selected so that consumption of taggants evens out over the plurality of taggant vessels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of sweet steviol glycoside compounds, particularly rebaudioside B, in sweetening compositions. Sweetening compositions comprising selected amounts of rebaudioside B have been shown to possess favorable flavor profiles when compared to other high intensity sweetener compounds and are useful in the preparation of consumables.

Abstract: A container includes a base with a top wall, a vessel depending from a top wall aperture in the top wall, a fluid retainer projecting above the top wall and surrounding the top wall aperture, and a skirt surrounding the vessel and including opposed grooves for gripping the container. A lid is disposed on a top end of the base and includes a cover wall with a lid aperture generally aligned with the top wall aperture of the base. A septum is disposed between the top wall of the base and the cover wall with a portion of the septum disposed between the lid aperture and the top wall aperture. Fluid retainer/return structure is configured to prevent fluid deposited on the septum from dripping off the container and to allow at least a portion of the fluid deposited on the septum to run off the septum and into the vessel.

Abstract: Clusters of multiple diagnostic analyzers, as well as, alternatively, to one single analyzer that consists of multiple parallel cores (basic analyzer modules) to provide a scalable and user-friendly system architecture. The invention provides a terminal for loading, identifying and hosting samples and/or consumables to at least two automated analyzer systems, the system comprising a distribution robot with four linear drives and a rotational drive, wherein a first linear drive comprises a sledge that can only move linear and horizontally on a rail; the rotational drive comprises a platform that can rotate around the sledge; a second linear drive comprises a carrier that can only move linear and horizontally on the platform; a third linear drive comprises a hook that can only move linear and horizontally on the carrier; and a fourth linear drive comprises a drive for vertically moving the platform over the sledge.

Abstract: A sample holder for holding a liquid sample for laboratory processing, such as PCR thermal cycling. The sample holder includes at least one vessel having a bottom and sidewall defining an interior volume and a rim defining an opening to the interior volume. The vessel has a first portion that defines at least a part of the bottom and sidewall of the vessel and is made of a first material, and a second portion that defines the rim of the vessel and is made of a second material different from the first material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a test barrel for placing a test paper card. The test barrel comprises a barrel body and a barrel lid; wherein the barrel body comprises a place reminding board arranged on the barrel body; and the barrel lid comprises an elastic piece arranged on the barrel lid and mating with the place reminding board. The test barrel for placing a test paper card according to the present invention is simple in structure and convenient in operation, and greatly reduces time for test. In addition, a place reminding structure is arranged on the test barrel, which facilitates use of the test barrel for the user and achieves sealing reminding. Further, the test result is accurate, the reusage rate is high, and cleaning is convenient.

Abstract: A reagent storage device of the present disclosure includes a shutter and a moving mechanism. The shutter is configured to open and close an opening in a reagent compartment for housing a reagent container, the reagent compartment being provided with the opening for insertion and removal of a probe used to extract a reagent from inside the reagent container housed in the reagent compartment. The moving mechanism is configured to move the shutter to an overlay position opposing the opening and separated from the opening before moving the shutter downward so as to close off the opening, and is also configured to move the shutter that is closing off the opening upward to open up the opening before withdrawing the shutter from the overlay position over the opening.

Abstract: A method, system and storage medium for providing an alarm for indicating that an abnormality is present in a sample analyzer are provided. The method includes: mixing a first aliquot of a blood sample with a diluent agent to prepare a first test sample; mixing a second aliquot of the blood sample with a lytic reagent to prepare a second test sample; detecting electrical impedance signals of the first test sample; detecting at least two types of optical signals of the second test sample; acquiring first platelet detection data based on the electrical impedance signals; acquiring second platelet detection data based on the at least two types of optical signals; acquiring an evaluation result based on a difference between the first platelet detection data and the second platelet detection data; determining whether the evaluation result meets a preset condition to provide an alarm.

Abstract: In a pre-processing system, a state in which a sample dispensing probe 20a and a syringe pump 81 communicate with each other through a channel 91 and a state in which the sample dispensing probe 20a and a culture tank 301 communicate with each other through the channels 91, 93, and 94 can be switched by operation of the three-way valves 82 and 83. For this reason, the liquid sample in the culture tank 301 can be automatically discharged from the sample dispensing probe 20a without requiring the user to directly sample the liquid sample. As a result, in the pre-processing system, the user's manual sampling work can be omitted, and the user's work can be simplified.

Abstract: A reagent for use in the measurement of hemoglobins by liquid chromatography, the reagent comprising a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of: (i) polyoxyethylene (10) decyl ether; (ii) polyoxyethylene (6) 2-ethylhexyl ether; (iii) polyoxyethylene (9) isodecyl ether; (iv) polyoxyethylene (10) nonyl ether; (v) polyoxyethylene (16) isostearyl ether; (vi) polyoxyethylene (20) behenyl ether; and (vii) polyoxyethylene (20) polyoxypropylene (6) decyltetradecyl ether.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for preventing the release of metal particles from an autosampler that could otherwise be detected within a sample during sample analysis. In an example implementation, an autosampler systems includes, but is not limited to, a sample probe support structure; a z-axis support; an outer shuttle coupled with an outer surface of the z-axis support; and an inner shuttle linearly moveable within an interior volume of the z-axis support, the inner shuttle magnetically coupled with the outer shuttle to translate linear motion of the inner shuttle to the outer shuttle.

Abstract: A silicone member used for a micro device and a micro device which achieve both electrification suppression and light transmittance are provided. The silicone member is used as a micro device and has a holding part for holding samples, or defines the holding part through the combination with a counterpart member. The silicone member includes a silicone material which has silicone and an ionic conductive agent, and the content of the ionic conductive agent is 0.01 part by mass or higher and 1 part by mass or lower with respect to 100 parts by mass of the silicone. The micro device includes the silicone member.

Abstract: An automated analyzer that receives samples prepared for analysis in an automated pre-analytical module and a method of operation of such automated analyzer. The automated analyzer includes a shuttle transfer station that receives a shuttle carrier from the automated pre-analytical system. The shuttle transfer station has a clamping assembly for the shuttle. The clamping assembly has jaws that advance engagement members into contact with a bottom portion of sample containers disposed in the shuttle. The clamping assembly secures the sample containers in the shuttle when sample is aspirated from the sample containers. The automated analyzer also has a multichannel puncture tool that is adapted to be carried by a robotic gripper mechanism. The multichannel puncture tool has multiple puncture members that each defines a channel Each channel is in communication with a different trough in the consumable. A pipette can pass through the channel in the puncture tool.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a microfluidic device (100) includes depositing a bonding layer (106) on a surface of a second glass layer (104a) of a glass substrate having a first glass layer (102) and the second glass layer (104a) fused to the first glass layer (102), such that a masked region of the surface is covered by the bonding layer, and an exposed region of the surface is uncovered by the bonding layer; removing a portion of the second glass layer corresponding to the exposed region of the surface to form a flow channel (112) in the glass substrate; and bonding a cover (108) to the glass substrate with the bonding layer (106).