Abstract: A system for removing high purity salt from a brine. One system includes a first evaporator configured to receive a brine stream, to produce a first output comprising a sodium chloride slurry, and to produce a first intermediate output. The system also includes a second evaporator fluidly coupled to the first evaporator and configured to receive the first intermediate output, to produce a first recovery output, and to produce a second intermediate output. The system includes a third evaporator fluidly coupled to the second evaporator and configured to receive the second intermediate output and to produce a second recovery output. The first recovery output and the second recovery output are used to produce the brine stream received by the first evaporator.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic blood-sampling tube preparation system which can reduce the reading mistake of the information of the RFID tags by selectively taking out a blood-sampling tube required to an examination of a patient according to a doctor's instruction information from the blood-sampling tube containing section, writing the patient examination information on a RFID tag of the taken out tube on the basis of the instruction information, reading simultaneously all patient examination information from all RFID tags contained in the prepared container for every patient, and comparing the information read from the RFID tags with the instruction information to ensure accuracy.

Abstract: A sample analyzer capable of preventing the loss of lids of liquid containers used in the sample analyzer is provided. The sample analyzer 1 has liquid suctioning units 11 and 17 which are provided with suction tubes for suctioning liquid, container setting units 13 through 15 for setting a plurality of liquid containers 5 through 8 holding liquid, and lid placing sections 16a through 16c and 32 through 34 for placing lids 5a through 8a of liquid containers 5 through 8.

Abstract: There is provided an automatic analyzer including: a sample pipetting mechanism 7, reagent pipetting mechanisms 12A and 12B, mixing mechanisms 33A and 33B, a scattered light photometer 40, and an absorption photometer 41 all located on a transfer path of reaction cells 2 arranged circumferentially on a disk-shaped reaction disk 1, the reaction cells 2 being transferred in the circumferential direction by rotation of the reaction disk 1. Scattered light intensity and absorbance are controlled to be measured by causing the reaction cells 2 to move past a scattered light detection position and a transmitted light detection position in the same process of movement, the two positions being established beforehand on the transfer path. This makes it possible to suppress the effects on measurement results of the difference in time between scattered light measurement and absorbance measurement thereby improving measurement accuracy.

Abstract: The automatic analysis device measures time sequential data on a scattered light amount as reaction process data, and quantitatively determines the concentration of an analyte from a change in light amount. The automatic analysis device has a function of selecting reaction process data to be used for quantitative determination from the reaction process data obtained by measurement using a plurality of light receivers at different angles. As a result of using this function, data is selected from the reaction process data obtained by measurement using the plurality of light receivers at different angles in accordance with the concentration of the analyte and whether the priority is given to high sensitivity in the case where sensitivity is prioritized or a dynamic range, and the result of the quantitative determination is displayed.

Abstract: An automatic biochemical analyzer is provided, the analyzer includes a reaction wheel that comprises an inner ring and outer ring, an interval of a photoelectric detection position of the inner ring and that of the outer ring is N cuvette positions along counterclockwise or clockwise direction, and an interval of a sample injecting position, a reagent injecting positions, a sample stirring position and a reagent stirring position of the inter ring and those of the outer ring respectively is M cuvette positions along the same direction, wherein M and N are integers and the difference between M and N is 0 or 1. The analyzer at the premise of ensuring the test flow, reducing wasting number of cuvettes, saving the cost of the whole analyzer, and the size of the reaction wheel will be as small as possible.

Abstract: A sample analyzer comprises a container setting part on which a liquid container is to be set, a liquid supplying part configured to supply a liquid to the liquid container, an aspiration tube configured to aspirate a sample or a reagent, a movement mechanism configured to move the aspiration tube, a liquid surface sensor configured to detect contact of the aspiration tube with a liquid surface, and a controller configured to execute an aspiration tube adjustment operation. The aspiration tube adjustment operation comprises supplying the liquid to the liquid container by the liquid supplying part, lowering the aspiration tube by the movement mechanism toward the liquid container set on the container setting part, and obtaining information regarding a position in a height direction of the aspiration tube at a time when the aspiration tube has come into contact with the liquid surface.

Abstract: A module for a laboratory sample distribution system, a laboratory sample distribution system comprising such modules, and a laboratory automation system comprising such a laboratory sample distribution system are presented. A magnetic coupling enhancer is provided in order to increase magnetic coupling between adjacent modules.

Abstract: An automated analyzer that can effectively reduce contamination of a diluted low-concentration specimen resulting from a high-concentration specimen not being diluted. The automated analyzer includes a specimen nozzle that performs both the function of pipetting a specimen from a specimen container accommodating the specimen and the function of pipetting a specimen diluted by the analyzer, and means for washing the specimen nozzle with a predetermined detergent. When a pipetting process of a high-concentration specimen not being diluted and a pipetting process of a low-concentration specimen diluted by the analyzer are consecutively performed for the same specimen by the specimen nozzle, between the pipetting process of a high-concentration specimen and the pipetting process of a low-concentration specimen, the analyzer performs a washing processing in which the specimen nozzle is washed with the predetermined detergent.

Abstract: There is provided a genetic test system provided with a dispensing means for dispensing a sample and a reagent to a reaction vessel and a vessel conveyance means for conveying the reaction vessel. The system further includes a plurality of nucleic acid amplification detection units, each including a temperature control means for accommodating a plurality of reaction vessels and performing temperature control for each accommodated position of the reaction vessel, a temperature monitoring means for monitoring a value of temperature to be controlled of the reaction vessel, and a light emission measurement means for measuring light emission of reaction liquid in the reaction vessel. At least one of the nucleic acid amplification detection units individually has a vessel conveyance means different from the above-mentioned vessel conveyance means.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling sample tubes is presented. The apparatus comprises a sample tube tray, a sample tube individualizer, a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a sample tube buffer, and a sample tube rack inserter. The sample tube tray stores sample tubes in bulk commodity. The sample tube individualizer sequentially unloads single sample tubes from the sample tube tray and sequentially provides the unloaded sample tubes to the first conveyor. The first conveyor conveys the sample tubes to the sample tube buffer. The sample tube buffer buffers the sample tubes provided by the first conveyor and provides buffered sample tubes to the second conveyor with a predeterminable, constant, sample tube rate. The second conveyor conveys the sample tubes to the sample tube rack inserter. The sample tube rack inserter inserts the sample tubes into a sample tube rack.

Abstract: We provide a sensor array device for the measurement of mixtures of organic compounds comprising an assembly of sensor half elements which have been functionalized through sensor compounds before the assembly. Each individual sensor of the array contains two sensor compounds which are bound at opposite sensor half elements. The molecular recognition is bi-functional. While the amount of sensor compounds increases linearly, the individual sensors increase with the second power.

Abstract: There is provided an automatic analysis system that dispenses samples and reagents into a plurality of reaction vessels to cause reaction and to measure the liquid resulting from the reaction. The system implements a method of handling capped sample containers such as vacuum blood collection tubes along transfer routes. A sample container opening/closing mechanism is provided which removes the caps of the sample containers prior to sample dispensing and which closes the sample containers following sample dispensing using the same corresponding caps as before the dispensing. Also provided is an opening/closing mechanism that retains and manages the caps removed from the sample containers, as well as a transport unit capable of selecting one of the transport routes which fits the identified sample containers so as to close them with the fit caps.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing and analyzing samples are disclosed. The system may process samples, such as biological fluids, using assay cartridges which can be processed at different processing locations. In some cases, the system can be used for PCR processing. The different processing locations may include a preparation location where samples can be prepared and an analysis location where samples can be analyzed. To assist with the preparation of samples, the system may also include a number of processing stations which may include processing lanes. During the analysis of samples, in some cases, thermal cycler modules and an appropriate optical detection system can be used to detect the presence or absence of certain nucleic acid sequences in the samples. The system can be used to accurately and rapidly process samples.

Abstract: An automatic analysis apparatus according to an embodiment incudes a dispensing probe, a cleaning unit, and a driving mechanism. The dispensing probe performs a dispensing operation for sucking a sample and discharging the sample into a reaction container. The cleaning unit cleans the dispensing probe. The cleaning unit includes a first cleaning position at which the dispensing probe is cleanable using a first cleaning liquid, and a second cleaning position which is located at a position lower than the first cleaning position and at which the dispensing probe is cleanable using a second cleaning liquid. The driving mechanism stops the dispensing probe at at least one of the first cleaning position and the second cleaning position.

Abstract: A tube sorter includes a rack stocker configured to have stocked therein a sample rack capable of holding one or more sample tubes. A transporting section is configured to transport the sample rack and a tube conveyor is configured to unload a sample tube from the sample rack and load the sample tube onto a sample rack supplied from or stocked in the rack stocker. A rack pushing mechanism is configured to convey an empty sample rack or a sample rack to be emptied to the rack stocker.

Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system includes an aliquotter module. The aliquotter module includes a track including: a travel lane; a first loop; and a second loop configured to transport sample carriers with primary sample containers. The aliquotter module can further include a pipettor that can aspirate a first aliquot volume of a sample in a primary sample container located in an aspiration position and dispense the first aliquot volume of the sample in a secondary sample container located in a dispensing position. The aliquotter module can cause the secondary sample container to leave the aliquotter module before the primary sample container.

Abstract: A system for receiving and ejecting a fluid testing device test strip includes a strip connector having first and second guide rails, and divider walls each having a channel. A sled has first and second legs connected to a cross member. Each leg has a contact leg extending inwardly from a chamfered end. The first and second legs when positioned parallel to the guide rails have the contact leg captured in the divider wall channels retaining the sled in sliding contact with the guide rails for motions in loading and ejection directions. A mechanism assembly is movably connected to the fluid testing device. The cross member is coupled so operation in a first direction displaces the sled in the loading direction positioning the sled in a test strip test position, and opposite operation positions the contact legs in direct contact with and ejects the test strip.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic response/light measurement device and a method therefor, and the purpose is to effectively and quickly perform an optical measurement relating to a reaction with high reliability without increasing a device size. The device is configured to have: a container group in which a plurality of reaction containers are arranged; a measurement mount provided with a plurality of coupling ends that are joinable with apertures of the reaction containers, and have light guide portions that optically connect with the interior of the joined reaction containers; a mount transfer mechanism; a measuring device having a measuring end having at least one light guide portion that is optically connectable to the light guide portions of the coupling ends, that is able to receive light based on an optical state within the reaction containers; an on-mount measuring end transfer mechanism; and a measurement control portion.

Abstract: A blood sample processing apparatus including: a container holder securing a sample container that contains a blood sample, the sample container having a lid, the container holder coupled to a rotation driver that longitudinally rotates the sample container; and a controller that commands the rotation driver to repeatedly perform an inclining-stirring operation that includes a first process and a second process, wherein in the first process, the sample container is initially held in an upright position by the container holder and then rotated to an inclined position, and in the second process, the inclined sample container is returned to the upright position, and wherein in a final inclining-stirring operation, the second process is carried out for a longer time than previous second processes.