Abstract: There is provided an automated analyzer which has plural liquid tanks connected with a dispensing probe and which can efficiently switch the operative liquid tank according to measurement item. The automated analyzer includes a liquid dispenser having a dispensing probe and a pump capable of aspirating and dispensing a liquid from and into an open end of the probe, the liquid dispenser being operative to cause the liquid aspirated in the probe and a probe internal liquid to be dispensed into aliquot receptacles. The automated analyzer also includes; an internal liquid supply device having plural liquid tanks in which probe internal liquids corresponding to measurement items are stored, the supply device being operative to supply a probe internal liquid into the dispensing probe from one of the tanks. The automated analyzer further includes an input section and an operation controller.

Abstract: Disclosed are high-throughput vessel supply systems and methods of supplying sample vessels, such as samples stored in test tubes. A system for supplying a plurality of individual vessels that each contains a sample is disclosed.

Abstract: An automated analyzer includes a reagent container holder (2) including an openable and closable opening (23) and including a plurality of reagent container holding slots capable of holding reagent containers at internal predetermined positions, and loading assisting means (24) for executing a loading process of conveying the reagent container (3) from outside of the reagent container holder (2) into the reagent container holder (2) via the opening (23) to load the reagent container (3) into the reagent container holding slot (26) and a taking-out process of conveying the reagent container (3) from the reagent container holding slot (26) to outside of the reagent container holder (2) via the opening (23). The loading assisting means (24) is further provided with placing means (33) for the reagent container (3), and an operation handle (34) to be operated for driving the loading assisting means (24).

Abstract: The invention relates to a biopsy container, a biopsy device, an imaging system, and a method for processing images of a biopsy container. The biopsy container comprises a container orientation mark and an alignment mark. The container orientation mark is configured for a cooperation with a corresponding shaft orientation mark arranged on a tube shaft of a biopsy device to indicate a specific orientation of the biopsy container relative to the tube shaft. The alignment mark is configured for a registration of images of the biopsy container.

Abstract: A holder that can be used to stand up a PCR tube on a flat surface or held in a user's hand. The holder has a first elongated portion, a second elongated portion and a third elongated portion. The first elongated portion having a magnet, the second elongated portion having a tube holding means and the third elongate portion acting as a stabilizer to allow the holder to standup in an upright position. The third elongate portion can also be used as a gripping surface to be held between fingers of a hand.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sample analysis cartridges comprising micro-environment sensors and methods for assaying coagulation in a fluid sample applied to the micro-environment sensors, and in particular, to performing coagulation assays using micro-environment sensors in a point of care sample analysis cartridge. For example, the present invention may be directed to a sample analysis cartridge including an inlet chamber configured to receive a biological sample, and a conduit fluidically connected to the inlet chamber and configured to receive the biological sample from the inlet chamber. The conduit may include a micro-environment prothrombin time (PT) sensor, and a micro-environment activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) sensor.

Abstract: A urine testing device and a smart toilet having the urine testing device, which includes a base, a paper feeding module, a sample adding module, and a testing module installed on the base and arranged in a linear form. The paper feeding module has a test paper box, a lifting mechanism, and a pushing mechanism. A horizontal paper leakage groove is disposed at a bottom of the test paper box to receive a bottommost piece of test paper. The lifting mechanism lifts and descends the test paper box to reveal/seal the paper leakage groove. The pushing mechanism pushes out test paper from the paper leakage groove and delivers test paper to the sample adding and testing modules. The sample adding module dropwise adds urine to be tested on test paper. The testing module tests test paper added with the sample to obtain a urine testing result.

Abstract: A mixing system that employs a pump with a highly sensitive means of adding and controlling volumes of single or multiple reagents to a controllable volume of a sample, mixing said samples and reagents, providing the means of employing a specific measurement tool on some portion of the mixed sample, and finally reporting the results to a final control element automatically under industrial conditions and often essentially in situ to fluid flows such as fluid moving through a pipeline or industrial process.

Abstract: A method for managing sample exposure to air on an automation system for performing clinical laboratory in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) includes receiving a sample in a capped container and loading the capped container onto a sample carrier. A plurality of test requests corresponding to the sample is received. Optionally, the capped container may be parked on a sample handler pending readiness of the system to process the test requests. Each test request is associated with one or more analytical modules included in an automated IVD system. In response to determining that the first analytical module is available to perform the first test request, the capped container is reloaded from the sample handler, if necessary, and decapped. Next the system performs prioritized delivery of the decapped container to the analytical modules in order to optimize performance of the assays with respect to the stability of the sample's analytes.

Abstract: A test tube including an annular body having an open proximal end and a closed distal end, and an longitudinal member in a distal portion of an interior of the annular body, the longitudinal member is substantially parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the annular body and is connected to an internal surface of the distal portion of the annular body.

Abstract: Pipette tip couplers, pipette tips, coupler and tip combinations, and methods for coupling and decoupling a pipette tip to or from, respectively, a pipette tip coupler mounted on a pipette device. The pipette tip couplers include an elastomeric element, an annular crown shaped raceway, and a coupler stop shoulder surface. The pipette tips include a groove in a first cylindrical section, a second cylindrical section, a tip stop shoulder surface at the interface of the first and second cylindrical sections, a third cylindrical section, a sealing seat surface at the interface of the second and third cylindrical sections, and a fourth section adjacent to the third cylindrical section. When the pipette tip is mounted on the pipette tip coupler, the annular crown shaped raceway abuts the tip groove, the coupler stop shoulder surface abuts the tip stop shoulder surface, and the elastomeric element abuts the sealing seat surface.

Abstract: A system includes an optical measurement unit that measures an optical property of a whole blood sample deposited on a surface of a substrate, an ion source that causes ions derived from the whole blood sample, including ions formed from an analyte of interest present in the whole blood sample, to be emitted from the substrate, a mass analyzer that receives the ions emitted from the substrate and measures an abundance of at least one ion species corresponding to the analyte of interest, and at least one computing device that determines, based on the measured optical property, a hematocrit of the whole blood sample, and determines, based on the determined hematocrit of the whole blood sample and the measured abundance of the at least one ion species, a concentration of the analyte of interest per unit volume of blood plasma.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for measuring coagulation parameters using very small volumes of blood are provided. Advantageously, the methods described herein can be performed from a single drop of blood (about 20 ?L) while generally leaving enough sample to perform other measurements, optionally in a multiplexed format. The methods and devices do not require a skilled operator and can be performed at the point of service, which can be an important feature for managing blood coagulation disorders and treatments thereof.

Abstract: A photonic chip has at least one input waveguide, at least one output waveguide, one of at least one Mach-Zehnder interferometer and at least one resonator, and a one-sided optical port enabling in and out coupling of light where the input waveguide begins and the output waveguide ends.

Abstract: Disclosed is a test barrel, to prevent a test liquid in the barrel from sputtering into a connection gap due to shaking of the barrel to hence cause contamination, improve the measurement accuracy in case of multiple tests, and meanwhile improve the operability of screwing on and screwing off the entire device during use of the device. The above technical objective of this utility model is implemented by employing the following technical solution: a test barrel, comprising barrel lid and a barrel body; wherein the threaded rings are arranged on an inner wall of a side face of the barrel lid and an outer wall of an opening of the barrel body, a rotary force applying portion is arranged on an outer wall of the side face of the barrel lid, and during engagement, a liquid blocking washer is arranged between the barrel lid and the barrel body, wherein a radial width of the liquid blocking washer is greater than a thickness of the opening of the barrel body.

Abstract: Pipette tip couplers, pipette tips, coupler and tip combinations, and methods for coupling and decoupling a pipette tip to or from, respectively, a pipette tip coupler mounted on a pipette device. The pipette tip couplers include an elastomeric element, a discrete segment assembly, and a coupler stop shoulder surface. The pipette tips include a groove in a first cylindrical section, a second cylindrical section, a tip stop shoulder surface at the interface of the first and second cylindrical sections, a third cylindrical section, a sealing seat surface at the interface of the second and third cylindrical sections, and a fourth section adjacent to the third cylindrical section. When the pipette tip is mounted on the pipette tip coupler, the discrete segment assembly abuts the tip groove, the coupler stop shoulder surface abuts the tip stop shoulder surface, and the elastomeric element abuts the sealing seat surface.

Abstract: A laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The laboratory sample distribution system comprises an optical inspection device adapted to optically inspect items that need to be optically inspected, at least one mirror device, a driver adapted to move the items to be optically inspected and to move the at least one mirror device, and a control device configured to move an item to be optically inspected relative to the optical inspection device by controlling the driver such that a field of view of the optical inspection device is extended.

Abstract: A microfluidic bead-packing method includes activating a first micropump to transfer active microbeads through an inlet microchannel from a bead suspension reservoir to an adsorbing channel; packing the microbeads in the adsorbing channel; and activating a second micropump to reverse flow through at least a portion of the inlet microchannel and to transfer a sample fluid through the inlet microchannel from a sample reservoir to the adsorbing channel such that the sample fluid interacts with the packed microbeads.

Abstract: The invention essentially consists in advantageously using and arranging at least one robot (8) relative to one or more storage recipients (4) and a transfer station (5) for transferring the containers to the unit in such a way as to take advantage of the flexibility of movement and grip offered by the arm or arms of the robot or robots and its/their gripping member, in order to automate all of the operations carried out manually by an operator in conventional biobanks.

Abstract: Techniques for localized surface modification for microfluidic applications are provided. In one aspect, a method includes: contacting at least one portion of a surface with at least one tri(m)ethoxysilane-containing solution under conditions sufficient to form at least one silane monolayer having a given contact angle on the surface thereby modifying a flow rate over the surface. The silane monolayer can include a silane derivative selected from: trimethoxysilyl-propoxypolyethyleneoxide (TMS-PPEO), hexadecyl-triethoxysilane (HD-TES), tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)triethoxysilane (TDF-THO-TES), and combinations thereof. A device modified in accordance with the present techniques is also provided.