Abstract: The invention relates to a pipetting device having an exchangeable pipette tip for suctioning and discharging fluid volumes for use in automated laboratory systems. The invention relates to a pipetting device having a pipette tip detection unit and for detecting a pipette tip on a pipette device of this type. A detection unit detects whether a pipette tip is connected to the pipette tube or determines a characteristic feature of the connected pipette tip. The pipette tip forms at least one portion of a first electrode when the pipette tip is in electrical operative contact with the pipette tube and, e.g., a pipette tip holder, a contact for setting down the pipette tip holder or a working table over which the pipette tube can be moved forms at least one portion of a second electrode.

Abstract: A microplate processing device having at least one carriage with a first receptacle for microplates where the at least one carriage is movable in a first horizontal direction, and having at least one lift that is movable in a vertical direction, where the microplates can be removed from and supplied to the carriage, the carriage has a through-opening, the periphery, in the vertical projection, can at least in part be situated horizontally within the periphery of a microplate held in the carriage, and the lift has a second receptacle for microplates, the periphery, in the vertical projection, is situated within the periphery of the through-opening, where the second receptacle can be moved unhindered through the through-opening in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus, comprising a drive unit (1) with a drive (10) and a shaft (11) which is pivotable about a pivot axis (A) and which is operatively connected to the drive (10), a pivot receptacle (2) which is arranged on the shaft (11), wherein the pivot axis (A) is substantially horizontally aligned, wherein the pivot receptacle (2) comprises a base (20) on which receptacles (21, 22) are provided which extend away from the base (20) and into which holders (3) for containers (7) are insertable.

Abstract: A pipetting apparatus and method capable of detecting a liquid within an intermediate section of a pipette tube of the pipetting apparatus. The intermediate section is located between an upper section of the pipette tube at which a first electrode is arranged and a lower section at which a second electrode is arranged. The first and second electrodes form a measurement capacitor and are operationally connected to an impedance measurement unit, which is adapted to detect whether liquid, such as a portion of a sample liquid or system liquid, is present within the intermediate section based on the measured impedance or change of impedance, e.g. an increase of the capacitance and/or a decrease of the resistance, of the measurement capacitor caused by a presence of the liquid within the intermediate section.

Abstract: A pipetting arrangement includes at least two sets of pipettes (9a; 9b; 9c; 9d). Each set of pipettes (9a; 9b; 9c; 9d) is operationally connected, via a controllable ON/OFF valve (11a; 11b; 11e; 11d) to a common aspiration port (7). Latter is connectable to a pumping arrangement. The valves (11a; 11b; 11e; 11d) are controlled by a timing-control unit (15) conceived to establish, by control of the valves (11a; 11b; 11e; 11d), the operational connections of the at least two sets of pipettes (9a; 9b; 9c; 9d) to the aspiration port (7) in a time-multiplexed manner.

Abstract: A pipetting apparatus having a pipette tube with a first end provided with an opening for aspirating and/or dispensing of a sample fluid and a second end operationally connected to a pressure generating means. The pipetting apparatus has at least one measuring unit adapted to determine at least one measurement value of the sample fluid based on the aspirating and/or dispensing of the sample fluid and to provide a sample fluid measurement signal representative thereof to an output of the measuring unit. The pipetting apparatus also has a control circuit operationally coupled to the output of the measuring unit and the input of the pressure generating means, the control circuit is configured to control said pressure generating device based on the sample fluid measurement signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the position of a robotic arm in an automatic liquid handling system in which a measurement probe with a first electrode is arranged on the robotic arm and, together with a second electrode formed by at least part of a working area or at least part of a container or container carrier forms a measurement capacitor that is operatively connected to a measurement unit for measuring an impedance, in particular a capacitance of the measurement capacitor. The method involves moving the measurement probe along a first path, detecting a first change in the impedance, in particular in the capacitance of the measurement capacitor at a first point on the first path, and defining at least one first reference spatial coordinate for a control unit of the robotic arm on the basis of the first point on the first path.

Abstract: A transport tool for transporting a laboratory article using a pipette of a pipetting system, and having a plug-in sleeve at a top end, an article holder at a bottom end, and a connecting part which connects the plug-in sleeve to the article holder. The plug-in sleeve has a side sleeve wall and a bottom which surround an interior space of the plug-in sleeve having a cylindrical or conically tapering shape. The plug-in sleeve further has an upward-facing opening for receiving an end of a pipette of an automated pipetting system. The article holder has a holding element oriented downward away from the connecting part. The holding element having at least two elongated projections which has one or more snap hooks protruding outwards to hook under a storage opening of a pipette tip carrier.

Abstract: Digital microfluidics system with electrodes attached to a PCB has control unit for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting, cartridge accommodation site for taking up a disposable cartridge having a working gap in-between two hydrophobic surfaces, and magnetic conduit/backing combination. A barrier element on an individual electrode of the PCB for narrowing the working gap. A disposable cartridge is positioned at the cartridge accommodation site, its flexible working film touching there and of the barrier element an uppermost surface. In the working gap and above a path of selected electrodes a liquid portion or liquid droplet with magnetically responsive beads moves by electrowetting on the electrode path until a magnetic field of the magnetic conduit is reached. The backing magnet is activated before and during the moving to thereby attract and remove magnetically responsive beads therefrom.

Abstract: A method for generating a control program for a laboratory automation device includes: receiving video data displaying a work area of a laboratory assistant, the work area containing a hand-held pipette and containers for receiving a liquid; detecting openings of the containers in the video data and determining positions of the openings; detecting a pipette tip of the hand-held pipette in the video data and determining a movement of the tip; and generating the control program for the laboratory automation device from the movement of the pipette tip with respect to the positions of the openings, wherein the control program is adapted for moving a pipetting arm with a robot pipette of the laboratory automation device with respect to containers of the laboratory automation device accordingly to the movement of the hand-held pipette in the work area.

Abstract: Aspiration of a pipette arrangement is initiated. A sensor arrangement senses a least one prevailing first parameter that is dependent from the effect in the pipette arrangement during initiating and upholding the suctioning action. This at least one parameter is analyzed in an analyzing stage. From a result of this analysis and in a determining stage at least one test criterium TC for at least one further parameter as sensed by the sensor arrangement is determined. In a checking stage there is checked whether this further parameter fulfills the at least one test criterium.

Abstract: A position detector for generating 3D position information of an object in a position determination space for the object. The position detector has a camera with a lens and an image sensor that defines an imaging area with one first light deflecting element arranged in the imaging area as the camera and the at least one light deflecting element are adapted to simultaneously produce on the image sensor at least two images of the position determination space, a first image being produced by light beams deflected at the first light deflecting element, the at least two images differ with respect to the viewing direction of the position determination space.

Abstract: A worktable for a laboratory automation system can include a worktop with a level surface and a support profile for supporting the worktop, bent from a metal sheet The support profile can include a facing edge, and an underside of the worktop can lie directly on the facing edge. The support profile can include at least one reception lug. The worktable can include a bolt-shaped fastener for attaching the worktop on the support profile. The bolt-shaped fastener can project through the worktop and be received in the reception lug.

Abstract: A rotary valve comprises a stator member with a planar stator face, the stator member having a plurality of stator channels for conducting a fluid and a rotor member with a planar rotor face facing and in contact with the stator face, the rotor member having at least one rotor channel. The rotor member is rotatable with respect to the stator member, such that in specific rotor positions, the rotor channel interconnects two of the stator channels, such that the stator channels are in fluid communication. One of the stator member and the rotor member is made of ceramics material, wherein the other one of the stator member and the rotor member is made of a polymer material. The ceramics material is coated with a diamond-like carbon (DLC).

Abstract: A rotary valve comprises a stator member with a planar stator face, the stator member having a plurality of stator channels for conducting a fluid and a rotor member with a planar rotor face facing and in contact with the stator face, the rotor member having at least one rotor channel. The rotor member is rotatable with respect to the stator member, such that in specific rotor positions, the rotor channel interconnects two of the stator channels, such that the stator channels are in fluid communication. One of the stator member and the rotor member is made of ceramics material, wherein the other one of the stator member and the rotor member is made of a polymer material.

Abstract: An imaging system and method are provided in which a well of a microplate 050 is imaged by a camera 110 comprising magnification optics 112. The camera is controlled to acquire a series of images of the well with different exposures. The series of images comprise a base image with a base exposure and at least one further image with a larger exposure than the base exposure. The series of images are then merged into an output image which comprises in a center region of the well image content from the base image and at a peripheral region of the well image content from the at least one further image. Advantageously, the output image may allow for better assaying or analysis of the samples in the well than any of the individual images.

Abstract: A gripper having a mechanical coupling that can be connected to a pipetting tube, at least one fluid channel extends from the coupling and a negative pressure can be transmitted, the gripper having at least one suction cup that is connected to the coupling through the at least one fluid channel as a result of which the negative pressure can be transmitted from the coupling to the at least one suction cup, and the at least one suction cup in the intended use position of the gripper is aligned such that a rim of a suction cup of the at least one suction cup is aligned in a substantially vertical plane.