Abstract: A computer-implemented method of forecasting future laboratory performance of a laboratory system is presented. The laboratory system comprises a plurality of laboratory instruments configured to perform tests on laboratory test samples, a laboratory middleware, a control unit, and a dashboard display communicatively connected via a network communication connection. The method comprises simulating future laboratory performance of the laboratory system by a simulation module of the control unit based on the optimized laboratory configuration provided by the optimization module and real-time laboratory inputs and test order data, and displaying the simulated future laboratory performance and actual laboratory performance on the dashboard display to the laboratory operator.

Abstract: A distribution system is disclosed. The distribution system comprises a transport plan comprising logical positions, carriers for transporting objects, a drive system to move the carriers on the transport plan between logical positions, a control system configured for controlling the carriers to move on a planned route from a start position to a final destination position on the transport plane via logical positions, wherein the control system comprises a routing system configured for calculating routes for at least two carriers on the transport plane by modeling the transport plane with graphs of nodes, wherein the routing system is configured for calculating the planned routes considering balancing of surface usage of the transport plane, and wherein the routing system is configured for considering temporal blocking of logical positions and/or a considering variable move length and/or considering a variable reservation length.

Abstract: A distribution system comprising a transport plane for distributing objects and carriers for transporting the objects. A drive system moves the carriers on the transport plane. A control system of the distribution system is configured to control the carriers to move on a planned route from a start position to a final destination position on the transport plane. The control system comprises a routing system configured to calculate the planned route for at least two carriers on the transport plane by modeling the transport plane with nodes and graphs and using a windowed hierarchical cooperative informed search algorithm. The routing system is configured to determine reserved and free time windows for each node. The routing system is configured to assign an individual reservation length to each carrier for the next move on free time windows and assigns an infinite reservation time to the node of a logical position.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a distribution system to move carriers on a transport plane. The distribution system comprises at least one first carrier and at least one second carrier, a transport plane comprising a number of moving positions, a drive device adapted to move each carrier to the moving positions, and a control device adapted to control the drive device. The control device plans moves for each carrier, checks the planned moves and plans new moves if required before the carriers are moved on the transport plane.

Abstract: A method for operating a laboratory system comprising laboratory instruments and a laboratory information system is presented. The method comprises grouping laboratory instruments into instrument cluster(s) and providing a cluster manager thereto. The plurality of laboratory instruments publishes their instrument resource descriptions. Each cluster manager maintains an inventory of cluster resources and publishes a list of processing capabilities of the instrument cluster. The laboratory information system assigns processing of test order(s) to instrument clusters. Each cluster manager assigns resources of the laboratory instruments corresponding to test orders from the laboratory information system in view of the inventory of cluster resources. Each laboratory instrument carries out the processing step(s) on the biological sample as instructed by the cluster manager.

Abstract: The disclosure features methods, fluid delivery platforms, and apparatus for preparing a sample on a substrate that includes a substrate handler configured to move a substrate between a first position and a second position, and a platform positioned so that when the substrate is in the second position, the platform faces the substrate, where the platform includes a fluid delivery area having a second surface formed from a hydrophilic material for which a water contact angle is 40 degrees or less, and a first surface facing the substrate when the substrate is in the second position, formed from a hydrophobic material for which a water contact angle is 100 degrees or more.

Abstract: A method for operating a laboratory system comprising laboratory instruments and a laboratory information system is presented. The method comprises grouping laboratory instruments into instrument cluster(s) and providing a cluster manager thereto. The plurality of laboratory instruments publishes their instrument resource descriptions. Each cluster manager maintains an inventory of cluster resources and publishes a list of processing capabilities of the instrument cluster. The laboratory information system assigns processing of test order(s) to instrument clusters. Each cluster manager assigns resources of the laboratory instruments corresponding to test orders from the laboratory information system in view of the inventory of cluster resources. Each laboratory instrument carries out the processing step(s) on the biological sample as instructed by the cluster manager.

Abstract: A device is described including a lid, a collection portion support, and a collection portion with a surface for receiving a biological sample, the lid includes a window and a window holder, the surface defines a first plane, the collection portion includes a first, a second, and a third position markers, each position marker indicates a center point marker, the center points define a second plane that has a line of intersection with the first plane, the device has an interior volume defined partially by the collection portion support, the collection portion, the window, and the window holder, the window allows visual inspection of the position markers, the collection portion support has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with a fluid path from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the interior volume.

Abstract: The disclosure features methods, fluid delivery platforms, and apparatus for preparing a sample on a substrate that includes a substrate handler configured to move a substrate between a first position and a second position, and a platform positioned so that when the substrate is in the second position, the platform faces the substrate, where the platform includes a fluid delivery area having a second surface formed from a hydrophilic material for which a water contact angle is 40 degrees or less, and a first surface facing the substrate when the substrate is in the second position, formed from a hydrophobic material for which a water contact angle is 100 degrees or more.

Abstract: A method for operating a laboratory system comprising laboratory instruments and a laboratory information system is presented. The method comprises grouping laboratory instruments into instrument cluster(s) and providing a cluster manager thereto. The plurality of laboratory instruments publishes their instrument resource descriptions. Each cluster manager maintains an inventory of cluster resources and publishes a list of processing capabilities of the instrument cluster. The laboratory information system assigns processing of test order(s) to instrument clusters. Each cluster manager assigns resources of the laboratory instruments corresponding to test orders from the laboratory information system in view of the inventory of cluster resources. Each laboratory instrument carries out the processing step(s) on the biological sample as instructed by the cluster manager.

Abstract: A device is described including a lid, a collection portion support, and a collection portion with a surface for receiving a biological sample, the lid includes a window and a window holder, the surface defines a first plane, the collection portion includes a first, a second, and a third position markers, each position marker indicates a center point marker, the center points define a second plane that has a line of intersection with the first plane, the device has an interior volume defined partially by the collection portion support, the collection portion, the window, and the window holder, the window allows visual inspection of the position markers, the collection portion support has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with a fluid path from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the interior volume.

Abstract: A device is described including a lid, a collection portion support, and a collection portion with a surface for receiving a biological sample, the lid includes a window and a window holder, the surface defines a first plane, the collection portion includes a first, a second, and a third position markers, each position marker indicates a center point marker, the center points define a second plane that has a line of intersection with the first plane, the device has an interior volume defined partially by the collection portion support, the collection portion, the window, and the window holder, the window allows visual inspection of the position markers, the collection portion support has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with a fluid path from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the interior volume.

Abstract: A method of individually releasing from an entity one or more members of a sub-group of biological units included in a heterogeneous group of biological units is provided. The method includes binding the group of biological units including the sub-group of biological units to the entity via a linker. Following binding, the location of the one or more members on the entity is determined. Once the location is determined, a localized physical pulse is applied to the one or more members. The localized physical pulse individually releases the one or more members from the entity by dissociating the linker.

Abstract: A cuvette comprising a body having an upper part comprising an upper open top portion and upper walls forming four upper inner edges and an upper open bottom portion with a first substantially rectangular cross-section in a plane A-A; and a lower measurement chamber comprising a lower closed bottom portion and lower walls forming four lower inner edges and a lower open top portion with a second substantially rectangular cross-section in a plane B-B smaller than the first cross-section in the plane A-A. An abrupt transition zone is positioned between the plane A-A and the plane B-B comprising four transition inner edges connecting the four lower inner edges to the upper open bottom portion. At least in the plane B-B the lower inner edges comprise fillets having a first radius (R1). At least in the plane A-A the upper inner edges comprise fillets having a second radius (R2) being larger than (R1).

Abstract: An acceleration sensitive indicator for indicating a centrifugation status of a biological sample, a sample container comprising the indicator, a centrifuge for centrifuging samples and an analytical system for analyzing centrifuged samples are disclosed. The indicator comprises at least one closed chamber, formed between two opposite surfaces, that comprises an indication zone that comprises at least two fluid transfer zones or at least one particle transfer zone. The at least one fluid transfer zone comprises a solid carrier phase and a fluid stabilized in the solid carrier phase or at least one non-stabilized non-Newtonian fluid having thixotropic and/or shear thinning properties. The at least one particle transfer zone comprises a particle stabilizing fluid comprising stabilized dispersed particles. The fluid or particles have a distribution with respect to the indication zone changeable upon application of a g-force above a threshold value, the change of distribution indicating the centrifugation status.

Abstract: Centrifugal force based microfluidic systems for the automated analysis of fluids involving the use of magnetically responsive particles and methods thereof are disclosed. A magnet is fixed to a supporting device of the system in correspondence to a retention zone of the system so as to rotate therewith and to generate a magnetic field which magnetically manipulates the magnetically responsive particles contained in a reaction chamber of the system.

Abstract: Method and system for carrying out heterogeneous chemical or biological reactions are disclosed. The method comprising providing an analytical device having at least one liquid processing unit having at least one reaction chamber and a first inlet channel in fluid communication with the reaction chamber. The method further comprises supplying to the reaction chamber via the first inlet channel or a second inlet channel analyte capturing particles, supplying to the reaction chamber via the first inlet channel or the second inlet channel a liquid sample containing an analyte of interest, and confining by an equilibrium of forces the analyte capturing particles in a particle rearrangement zone within the reaction chamber. The forces comprise a drag force Fd generated by flowing liquids and a counter-oriented force Fg. The method also comprises capturing analytes present in the liquid sample with the particles in the particle rearrangement zone.

Abstract: A system for the automated analysis of liquid samples having one or more processing units for reaction between the samples and one or more reagents to thereby obtain reaction products is disclosed. Disclosed also are a sample unit for supplying the samples to the one or more processing units; a reagent unit equipped with plural reagent vessels containing one or more reagents for mixing with the samples; a distribution unit for distributing fluids including the one or more reagents provided with plural distribution lines, at least some of which are connected to the reagent vessels and the one or more processing units; and at least one analytical unit for analyzing the samples based on the reaction products, in which the analytical unit may include at least one detector for detecting the reaction products.

Abstract: A device is described including a lid, a collection portion support, and a collection portion with a surface for receiving a biological sample, the lid includes a window and a window holder, the surface defines a first plane, the collection portion includes a first, a second, and a third position markers, each position marker indicates a center point marker, the center points define a second plane that has a line of intersection with the first plane, the device has an interior volume defined partially by the collection portion support, the collection portion, the window, and the window holder, the window allows visual inspection of the position markers, the collection portion support has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with a fluid path from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the interior volume.

Abstract: A microfluidic element for analyzing a bodily fluid sample for an analyte contained therein is provided, the element having a substrate, a channel structure that is enclosed by the substrate, and a cover layer, and is rotatable around a rotational axis. The channel structure of the microfluidic element includes a feed channel having a feed opening, a ventilation channel having a ventilation opening, and at least two reagent chambers. The reagent chambers are connected to one another via two connection channels in such a manner that a fluid exchange is possible between the reagent chambers, one of the reagent chambers having an inlet opening, which has a fluid connection to the feed channel, so that a liquid sample can flow into the rotational-axis-distal reagent chamber. At least one of the reagent chambers contains a reagent, which reacts with the liquid sample.