Abstract: The invention concerns a group of reagent carriers that is combined to form a composite, each one of said carriers having at least one test region located in a shallow trough-like depression, where the reagent carriers in the composite are held together exclusively by interconnected protective covers for the test regions.

Abstract: The invention concerns a packaging cassette for reagent carriers, which is characterized by a base housing containing connected adjacent compartments for reagent carriers, wherein the compartments are separated from one another by partitions and are opened individually, each compartment having its own sealing cover which enables the compartment to be re-sealed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an analysis system which, by means of a reagent cartridge opening module, permits automatic opening of reagent vessels which are closed by screwing. The reagent cartridge opening module for this purpose has catch elements which can lock securely against rotation in correspondingly configured catch elements of a reagent vessel lid. In addition, the reagent cartridge opening module and the reagent vessel lid are connected via snap-in elements, so that transport of the reagent vessel lid perpendicular to the plane of the rotational movement is possible.

Abstract: The invention relates to an analysis system which, by means of a reagent cartridge opening module, permits automatic opening of reagent vessels which are closed by screwing. The reagent cartridge opening module for this purpose has catch elements which can lock securely against rotation in correspondingly configured catch elements of a reagent vessel lid. In addition, the reagent cartridge opening module and the reagent vessel lid are connected via snap-in elements, so that transport of the reagent vessel lid perpendicular to the plane of the rotational movement is possible.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer, comprising disposable parts such as large quantities of nozzle tips and reaction containers for use in sample analysis inspection, wherein the part rack (12) holding unused parts is raised from a lowest position to a rack separation station (A) by a lift for supply (14) and separated so that only the uppermost stacked part rack can remain on the rack separation station, the separated part rack is moved to a part take-out station (B) where parts on the part rack are taken out one by one from a movable holding part (59), and, by opening the floor part of the part take-out station (B) after part consumption, the used part rack is allowed to fall down and recovered on the lift (84) of a recovery lifter (15), whereby the supply of an unused part rack on which unused parts are loaded and the recovery of a used part rack can be performed with a compact system configuration.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer is disclosed that dispenses a sample and a reagent into each of a plurality of reaction vessels to allow them to react with each other, and that measures the liquid formed as a result of the reaction. This automatic analyzer includes a first reagent storage case for storing the reagent to be used for the reaction, a second reagent storage case for storing the reagent for supplemental purpose, and a reagent conveying unit for conveying the reagent from the second reagent storage case to the first reagent storage case.

Abstract: The invention relates to an analysis system (100) which, by means of a reagent cartridge opening module (1), permits automatic opening of reagent vessels which are closed by screwing. The reagent cartridge opening module (1) for this purpose has catch elements which can lock securely against rotation in correspondingly configured catch elements (22) of a reagent vessel lid (20). In addition, the reagent cartridge opening module (1) and the reagent vessel lid (20) are connected via snap-in elements (5, 51, 54, 69, 70), so that transport of the reagent vessel lid (20) perpendicular to the plane of the rotational movement is possible.

Abstract: A sample processing instrument and in particular an automatic analyzer is proposed comprising at least one vessel holding device (34) that has a vessel holding zone (32) provided with holder openings (30) to hold sample vessels or reaction vessels (14) wherein at least in the area of the holder openings (30), the surface of the holding zone (32) is formed by a highly electrically conductive material and in particular a material that does not have a tendency to form an electrically insulating passive layer in air and is preferably connected to an electrical reference potential in particular an earth potential. Nickel or a nickel alloy are suitable as the highly electrically conductive material which in particular does not have a tendency to form an insulating passive layer.

Abstract: The invention concerns a liquid transfer device for an analysis apparatus with a liquid transfer cannula (5) and a capacitive liquid level detector to detect the immersion of the liquid transfer cannula (5) in an analysis liquid contained in a vessel. To reliably check if the liquid transfer cannula (5) is submerged in the analysis liquid or immersed for example in foam it is proposed additionally that resistance is measured by a measurement section (16) in the liquid transfer cannula (5).

Abstract: Packaging system for liquid reagents in which two or more vessels with holding areas are combined by pressing a plug-on plate onto the holding areas of the vessels. For this purpose the plug-on plate has two or more apertures the cross-section of which essentially corresponds to the cross-section of the holding areas of the vessels. Plug-on plate and/or holding areas of the vessels can have stop elements which, after the combination, hinder the separation vessels and plug-on plate.

Abstract: A system for dosing liquids includes a dosing device, a device for operating the dosing device, a device for entering data and a unit for calculating the dosing displacement. Data are allocated to a dosing device according to the invention which are characteristic for the inside diameter of the dosing device and thus enable precise dosing. In addition the invention concerns a method for dosing using the system according to the invention.

Abstract: A closing device for containers is made of plastic with a tiltable lid linked to a lid support to be attached to the lid or to the container where it can be moved via a hinged connection from a closed position to an open position. The closing device also has a spring on one side of the lid, and a lid support or the container on the other side. The spring is arranged with respect to the tilting axis of the lid which is defined by the hinged connection such that the lid is displaced from the closed position to the open position after having passed a dead center position, due to the pre-stress of the spring. The lid and the lid support or container each have at least one integrally linked abutment. The abutments come into contact with each other in the open position of the lid as a result of being urged into the contact position by the spring.

Abstract: A vessel for reagent liquids includes a storage vessel with an identification mark applied thereon and a closure which is snapped onto the storage vessel. Either an inner wall surface of the closure and an outer wall surface of the storage vessel or an outer wall surface of the closure and an inner wall surface of the storage vessel fit tightly against each other, and a twisting of the closure and storage vessel is prevented by projections which are located on the adjacent wall surfaces. Further a system for positioning and reading identification marks on storage vessels includes an analytical instrument having at least one holding position for storage vessels and a reading device for identification marks on storage vessels with a twist protection as described above.

Abstract: Device for the positionally correct feeding of test strips to an analysis unit. The test strips 10 include a base layer and at least one raised test field fixed to one side of the base layer. The test strips are contained disordered with respect to their longitudinal axis rotation position in a storage container. A separation and position correcting device 1 serves to feed the test strips 10 individually one after the other in a defined position to the analysis unit. Simplicity of construction and reliable operation are achieved due to the fact that the separation and position correcting device 1 includes a position correcting stage 30 with two rolls, between which a narrow gap 35 exists. The rolls rotate so that the surface 31a of the first roll 31 moves in the region of the gap 35 from top to bottom, while the surface 32a of the second roll 32 moves from bottom to top. The first roll 31 includes peripheral raised webs 37 which are in alignment with test field-free regions of the test strips 10.

Abstract: A test strip evaluating instrument is used for testing of multiple test strips, and has a transport and positioning device which transports the test strips at right angles to their longitudinal direction from a test strip feed area along a transport path to a disposal area. At least one measuring station with an optical measuring unit is arranged on the transport path. Rails, on which the test strips slide, run along the transport path. The test strips are transported in a step-wise manner by at least two rows of cam elements following one another in the transport direction, and these two rows of cam elements move synchronously with one another in a periodically recurring movement path.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring test strips (T), which have detectably different sides and ends, to an examining apparatus, having a collecting chamber for receiving a loose bundle of test strips (T) in which identical ends point in the same direction, having a separator which feeds the test strips (T) individually to a slide member which is movable back and forth between a receiving station and a delivery station, and having a turner controlled by a detector, the turner ensuring that all the test strips (T) in the delivery station are arranged on the slide member with identical sides facing upwards, characterized in that the separator has a chute terminating over the receiving station, from which the test strips (T) are individually fed, with a longitudinal edge pointing downwards, to a deflector controlled by the detector, the deflector sending the test strips (T) away with identical sides facing upwards.

Abstract: A photometric liquid analysis apparatus of the centrifugal analysis type uses insert elements having an elongated body, an optical measurement chamber near one end of the elongated body and a positioning trough on one side of the elongated body. The photometric liquid analysis apparatus has a rotor for rotating the insert elements to photometric means for photometric analysis of a liquid then in the optical measurement chamber of the insert element during the rotation of the rotor. The rotor has radial guiding chambers, each having an opening at an end thereof adjacent the outer periphery of the rotor and a configuration for receiving one of the insert elements with its positioning trough on a lateral side thereof and adjacent the outer periphery of the rotor.