Abstract: A method for determining system resistance of at least one power supply of a handheld medical device, the method including: a) generating at least one excitation voltage signal, wherein the excitation voltage signal comprises at least one direct current (DC) voltage signal, wherein the excitation voltage signal has a fast transition DC flank of 20 ns or less; b) applying the excitation voltage signal to at least one reference resistor having a predetermined or pre-defined resistance value, wherein the reference resistor is arranged in series with the power supply; c) measuring a response signal of the power supply; d) determining a signal flank from the response signal and determining an ohmic signal portion from one or both of shape and height of the signal flank; and e) determining the system resistance of the power supply from the ohmic signal portion.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a sample container holding and/or transporting device having an aperture with a longitudinal axis, which aperture is configured for receiving a sample container, wherein a biasing structure is provided in the aperture, which comprises a plurality of elastically deflectable nubs, wherein the nubs are distributed spatially discrete along the longitudinal axis of the aperture. The disclosure further relates to a use of a structure having nubs as a biasing structure in a sample container holding and/or transporting device, and to a laboratory automation system comprising a sample container holding and/or transporting device.

Abstract: A column device for an automatic analyser. The automatic analyzer comprises a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) module. The HPLC module comprises a fixation device configured to automatically fix and release a chromatographic column. The column device comprises a column jacket and a capillary. The capillary comprises predetermined dimensions and is disposed within the column jacket. The column device is configured to be installed at the HPLC module using the fixation device. Further, an automatic analyzer is disclosed.

Abstract: A gripping apparatus for gripping a sample container comprising: a gripper body comprising a gripper actuator; at least two gripper fingers each comprising a gripping surface, wherein at least one of the gripper fingers is movably coupled to the gripper body, and wherein the gripping apparatus is designed for gripping a sample container with the gripping surfaces of the at least two gripper fingers by moving the at least one movable gripper finger; and characterized in that the gripping apparatus comprises at least one elastically mounted contacting surface for elastically contacting a sample container about to be gripped by the gripping apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a laboratory data management system 100 comprising a data source layer 10 comprising at least one laboratory device 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 as a data source, a data adapter layer 20 comprising at least one data source agent 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 configured to obtain data from the at least one data source and to convert the data from a data source format to a data-source independent format, a consumer layer 30 configured for installation and/or execution of consumer application software 31, 32, 33, 34, and a data management layer 40 between the data adapter layer 20 and the consumer layer 30.

Abstract: A maintenance method for a laboratory system comprising a first and second group of laboratory instruments for processing biological samples, data collection components connected to the groups of instruments, and a remote maintenance system connected to the data collection components is presented.

Abstract: A method for processing data of an analytical instrument for analyzing biological samples is presented. The method comprises receiving instrument data from the analytical instrument at a data processing module communicatively connected with the analytical instrument, generating metadata from the received instrument data at the data processing module, applying a first encryption to the instrument data at the data processing module, applying a second encryption to the generated metadata at the data processing module, and transmitting the encrypted metadata and encrypted instrument data to a remote server. The remote server and the data processing module are communicatively connected. The method also comprises removing the second encryption from the metadata at the remote server and forwarding the instrument data encrypted by the first encryption from the remote server to a management system of the analytical instrument.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a method for determining an analyte in a sample in an interaction assay, including contacting a sample with an interaction modulator, wherein the interaction modulator is Poly-(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) (PSSM), aminodextran, carboxymethyldextran, Poly-(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (PAMPS), triethylamine, triethanolamine, taurine, or dodecylsulfate. The disclosure includes a method for determining an analyte in an interaction assay, including contacting the sample with an interaction modulator, wherein the interaction modulator is an enhancer of the interaction assay at low analyte concentrations and is a retarder of the interaction assay at high analyte concentrations and wherein the interaction modulator is Poly-(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) (PSSM) and/or Polyacrylic acid (PAA). The disclosure further relates to a kit having a detection agent specifically detecting an analyte and at least one interaction modulator.

Abstract: Described is an electrochemiluminescence method of detecting an analyte in a liquid sample using a measuring cell having a working electrode for detecting the analyte using an electrochemiluminescence measurement cycle, involving a. carrying out the measurement cycle in a calibration process using a liquid sample without analyte and performing a first electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, EIS, at a given point of the measurement cycle, the first EIS being performed using the working electrode, b. carrying out the measurement cycle in an analysis process using the liquid sample containing the analyte and performing a second EIS at the given point of the measurement cycle, the second EIS being performed using the working electrode, c. comparing the result of the first EIS and the second EIS, providing an indication indicating if the comparison results show a deviation between the first EIS and the second EIS exceed a predefined threshold.

Abstract: The properties of certain glycosyltransferase variants having N-terminal truncation deletions or internal deletions are disclosed. Particularly, mutants that exhibit ?-2,6-sialyltransferase enzymatic activity in the presence of CMP-activated sialic acid as co-substrate, and in the presence of a suitable acceptor site, are disclosed. A fundamental finding documented in the present disclosure is that enzymes are not only capable of catalyzing transfer of a sialidyl moiety but they are also capable of catalyzing hydrolytic cleavage of terminally bound sialic acid from a glycan.

Abstract: A Reagent container cap (116) is adapted to being mounted to a reagent container and to being adjustable, at least after an initial opening of the cap (116), between an opened state and a closed state, wherein the reagent container cap (116) defines a cap interior space (109) and has a cap opening (116o) allowing access to the cap interior space (109) from above when the cap (116) is in the opened state; and wherein, in the closed state of the cap (116), the cap interior space (109) is open only towards a bottom side (116b), wherein the reagent container cap (116) comprises a main portion (116m) and an insert portion (116i) that are fixedly connected to each other and made from different materials, wherein, when the cap (116) is in the closed state, the cap interior space (109) comprises a region (109t) which is delimited circumferentially and towards the upper side of this region completely and exclusively by surfaces of the insert portion (116i).

Abstract: A reaction vessel for a diagnostic analyzer comprising a plurality of processing stations. The reaction vessel comprises at least one sensor configured to measure at least one physical parameter associated with at least one of the processing stations of the diagnostic analyzer when disposed at the at least one of the processing stations, a memory configured to at least temporarily store at least one measurement value indicating the physical parameter provided by the sensor, a processing unit configured to control the sensor and to output measurement data including the measurement value from the memory, an interface configured to provide communication of the processing unit with an external electronic device, a power source configured to supply electric power to the sensor, the processing unit and the memory. The reaction vessel defines an internal volume. The sensor, the processing unit, the memory and the interface are arranged within the internal volume.

Abstract: A method for determining a concentration of at least one analyte in bodily fluid, comprising: a signal generation step, wherein an excitation voltage signal is generated by a signal generator, wherein the excitation voltage signal comprises a poly frequent alternating current (AC) voltage and a direct current (DC) voltage profile, wherein the poly frequent AC voltage comprises at least two frequencies; a signal application step, wherein the excitation voltage signal is applied to at least two measurement electrodes; a measurement step, wherein a response is measured by using the measurement electrodes; an evaluation step, wherein an AC current response for each frequency and a DC current response are evaluated from the response; a determination step, wherein the concentration of the analyte is determined from the DC current response and from one or both of the phase and impedance information by using at least one predetermined relationship.

Abstract: An automated method of calibrating a sensor located in a flow-through sensor path and requiring at least one oxygenated calibration fluid for calibration comprises transporting a predefined amount of deoxygenated calibration fluid from a fluid supply into a fluidic line between a fluid-selection valve and the sensor path, transporting ambient air into the fluidic line before and after transporting the calibration fluid forming an isolated plug of calibration fluid between zones of ambient air, oscillating the calibration fluid plug back and forth within a predefined length of the fluidic line causing reciprocating fluid film tailing along the inner walls of the fluidic line, and facilitating oxygenation of the calibration fluid via oxygen uptake by the fluid film from the ambient air in the fluidic line, and transporting the oxygenated calibration fluid into the sensor path at a position where the sensor is located and calibrating the sensor.

Abstract: A test element for electrochemically detecting at least one analyte in a bodily fluid is disclosed. The test element comprises at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode. The first electrode is designed as a working electrode and the second electrode is designed as a counter electrode. The test element comprises at least one capillary capable of receiving a sample of the body fluid. The first electrode and the second electrode are arranged on opposing sides of the capillary. The first electrode and the second electrode are arranged such that during a capillary filling the first electrode and the second electrode are wetted simultaneously and at an equal rate.

Abstract: The present disclosure refers to a sensor assembly for an IVD analyzer, the sensor comprising two opposite substrates with at least one fluidic conduit for receiving a sample. The electrodes of different types of electrochemical sensors are arranged on the two opposite substrates facing the at least one fluidic conduit for coming in contact with the sample and determining sample parameters, wherein the counter electrodes and the reference electrodes are formed on one substrate and the working electrodes are formed on the opposite substrate. This achieves optimal sensor-working conditions in terms of a homogeneous and symmetrical electric field density and enables a sensor assembly with simpler geometry and smaller size.

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 computer-implemented method of providing user guidance for laboratory issue resolution within a laboratory system is presented. The method comprises monitoring activity by a user within a laboratory setting of the laboratory system by a user guidance system, detecting a laboratory issue within the laboratory system, retrieving by the user guidance system a preferred resolution to the detected laboratory issue and typical time to perform preferred solution from a database, notifying the user to the laboratory issue, detecting a non-preferred issue resolution for the laboratory issue being performed by the user, displaying the user guidance system to the user, wherein the user guidance system provides the retrieved preferred resolution for the laboratory issue to the user, resolving the laboratory issue by the user using the user guidance system, and removing or updating the display of the user guidance system following the resolution of the laboratory issue.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a modular transport plane with a plurality of transport module units, each transport module unit comprising an actuator assembly with a back iron, and with an infrastructure system arranged below the transport module units and supporting the transport module units on a floor, characterized in that the transport module units are floatingly connected to the infrastructure system to allow a relative horizontal movement between the transport module units and the infrastructure system, wherein neighboring transport module units are connected via the back irons for a horizontal force transmission between neighboring transport module units in response to a relative horizontal movement between neighboring transport module units.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a vertical position of at least one interface between a first component and at least one second component, the components comprised as different layers in a sample container. The apparatus comprises a first sensing unit and a first light detector configured to generate a first sensing signal, a second sensing unit comprising a second light detector configured to generate a second sensing signal, a driving unit configured to move the sample container, a position sensing unit configured to output a position sensing signal indicative of a vertical position of the sample container, a vertical position determining unit configured to match the first and the second sensing signal such that first and the second sensing signal correspond to identical vertical positions, and to determine the vertical position of the at least one interface in response to the matched sensing signals and the position sensing signal.