Abstract: A device for performing biological sample reactions may include a plurality of flow cells configured to be mounted to a common microscope translation stage, wherein each flow cell is configured to receive at least one sample holder containing biological sample. Each flow cell also may be configured to be selectively placed in an open position for positioning the at least one sample holder into the flow cell and a closed position for reacting biological sample contained in the at least one sample holder. The plurality of flow cells may be configured to be selectively placed in the open position and the closed position independently of each other.

Abstract: To suppress generation of dew condensation in temperature control space when heating temperature control is performed. In an apparatus, an air temperature control part for cooling or heating air in temperature control space has a first temperature control element for performing at least cooling of air, and a second temperature control element for performing at least heating of air downstream of the first temperature control element. In this manner, when heating temperature control is performed, cooling and dehumidification of air taken in from an air intake portion can be performed by the first temperature control element, and then heating of the dehumidified air can be performed by the second temperature control element.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for operating an automatic analysis apparatus for determining a parameter of a sample liquid, including: flushing a measurement unit of the analysis apparatus with a first volume of the sample liquid; discharging the first volume of the sample liquid into a collection container containing a waste liquid mixture; producing diluted sample liquid by mixing a second volume of the sample liquid with a dilution liquid using a dilution unit; producing a reaction mixture of at least a portion of the diluted sample liquid and at least one reagent; detecting a measured value of a measurement variable of the reaction mixture in the measurement unit; and, after detecting the measured value, discharging the reaction mixture from the measurement unit into the collection container, wherein the dilution liquid is recovered from the waste liquid mixture contained in the collection container.

Abstract: It is necessary to dispose a plurality of units which have different target temperatures on an apparatus in a more integrated state in order to improve analysis performance and processing capacity per unit space of the apparatus. Therefore, it is necessary to mitigate influence of temperature exerted between units. It is possible to reduce the temperature influence exerted between the units and thus efficiently control temperature by properly disposing the units in the apparatus, based on the relationship between a use environment temperature of the apparatus and a target temperature of each unit and temperature accuracy required for the unit.

Abstract: Automated analyzer (2000) comprising a housing (2010, 3010), a robotic arm comprising an end effector (2360), the end effector (2360) comprising a body (2320) rotatably connected to an articulating arm and first (2363a) and second fingers (2363b) coupled to the body (2362) and being moveable relative to each other in a first direction, each of the fingers (2363a, b) having an engagement feature (2361) projecting inwardly from each of the first and second fingers (2363a, b) and toward the other of the first and second fingers (2363a, b). The automated analyzer (2000) further comprises a shuttle platform (2030) for receiving a shuttle (2030) carrying sample containers (03), the containers carrying sample (03) to be evaluated by the analyzer (2000) and the shuttle platform (2030) comprising a jaw assembly that engages the bottom portion of the sample containers when the jaw assembly is in the closed position.

Abstract: A pipetting device includes a housing, a valve assembly, and an actuator assembly. The housing includes a tip for receiving a capillary tube. The valve assembly includes a shuttle valve having a filling position and a dispensing position and a valve rod. The actuator assembly includes an actuator, a valve trigger, a piston mount, and an indexing mechanism. The actuator extends from the housing and has a push button coupled to a push rod. The valve trigger being configured to engage the valve assembly and includes an aperture configured to receive the piston mount therein. The indexing mechanism is configured to index a rotated position of the push button to a predefined volume of dispensed fluid.

Abstract: A microfluidic component package that is readily integratable within a microfluidic system.

Abstract: A reagent-bottle lid opening mechanism is disclosed, which has a needle for piercing a lid of a reagent bottle to be delivered to a reagent disk, has an aligning mechanism of automatically adjusting a position of the needle with respect to the lid such that a needle body of the needle can stick in the center of the lid, and accurately and repeatedly makes an incision in the center of the lid. As a result, an automatic analyzer is provided that is capable of unsealing the center of the lid of the reagent bottle with accuracy even if the central axis of the needle and the central axis of the lid are offset from each other.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic analysis device capable of determining, through a simple processing, whether or not idle aspirate has occurred. The automatic analysis device according to the present invention determines whether or not idle aspirate has occurred, by calculating a parameter which specifies whether or not the length of a portion of a path through which the sample passes inside a dispensing probe is shorter than that during normal aspirate, the portion being actually filled with a sample (see FIG. 4).

Abstract: An automatic analysis device includes a probe that performs a dispensing operation including a suction process and a discharge process with respect to liquid; a syringe that generates a pressure change for dispensing liquid at the probe; a flow path that connects the probe and the syringe with each other; a pressure sensor that measures the pressure change in the flow path at the time of liquid dispensing; a storage portion that stores a pressure change of time-series when reference fluid is discharged as a reference discharge pressure waveform; and a determination portion that determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the suction process of the sample from a relationship between a value of difference or a ratio between the reference discharge pressure waveform and the pressure waveform of a determination target at the time of discharge of liquid and normal range.

Abstract: Dosing unit for dosing liquids, having a fluid unit for selectively providing an overpressure and a negative pressure on a working gas, which is accommodated in a fluid channel which is connected at a first end region to the fluid unit and which includes a second end region, having a first valve unit and having a second valve unit, which are arranged spaced apart from one another along the fluid channel and are each designed for selectively blocking or releasing the fluid channel in order to form in the fluid channel a fluid reservoir which is delimited by the two valve units and is provided for storing working gas, having a control unit for controlling the valve units, the fluid reservoir being assigned a pressure sensor which is designed to provide a pressure signal as a function of a working gas pressure and is electrically connected to the control unit.

Abstract: A well plate includes a including a top portion, a bottom portion and a membrane disposed between the top portion and the bottom portion. The top portion defines a sample well in fluid communication with an opening defined by the membrane and in fluid communication with a reservoir defined by the bottom portion. The well plate is configured to be used in a centrifugation process of a test sample including a sample material and a wash liquid. The test sample configured to be received within the sample well and the reservoir. The membrane configured to filter the wash liquid from the test sample during the centrifugation process such that the wash liquid can pass from the reservoir, through the membrane and can be captured within a collection chamber while the sample material remains within the reservoir.

Abstract: A metering head for a metering machine having a carrier having parallel attachments for picking up pipette tips, wherein each attachment has: a tube having a supporting protrusion at the bottom end, at least one sleeve which surrounds the tube and can be axially shifted on the tube, and at least one elastomer O-ring which surrounds the tube, a pressure plate above the sleeves having a plurality of first holes through which the tubes extend, wherein the pressure plate can be shifted along the tubes from a release position into a clamping position where the sleeves are pressed, at the bottom ends, against the adjacent O-rings, and the O-rings are expanded to clamp pipette tips; and a first shifting apparatus connected to the pressure plate moving the pressure plate between the release position and clamping position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pipette tips for connecting to a pipette tube of a pipetting device that is used for taking up and dispensing fluids. A pipette tip is shaped as a long tube that forms a pipette body with an opening on one of its ends and the other end is designed to connect to the pipette tube. The pipette tip is characterised in that it has an electrode as a volume measuring electrode of a measuring capacitor. The present invention further relates to pipetting devices with a pipette tip, methods for determining the volume of a fluid sample in such a pipette tip, methods for recognising such a pipette tip on a pipetting device, methods for producing such a pipette tip, uses for such a pipette tip and a set of pipette tips.

Abstract: An analysis system and a method for testing a biological sample, wherein an operating instrument is provided which preferably can be separated from an analysis device with respect to a data connection and/or wirelessly connected to the analysis device.

Abstract: Carriers are provided for microbiological laboratory use, as are methods for their use. The carriers may be used to transport patient samples between laboratory stations and can be loaded into automated AST systems. In an aspect, a method of performing AST may include loading a tube comprising a patient sample onto a carrier. An AST panel may be loaded onto the carrier. The carrier may be conveyed to an automated inoculation assembly. The patient sample may be inoculated from the tube into the AST panel. The AST panel may be loaded into an automated AST system.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) untethered mobile actuator having the following parts: (a) a substrate having two or more magnetized panels, and (b) a frame that connects the magnetized panels, the magnetized panels being made of a polymer with embedded permanent magnetic particles, each magnetized panel of the 3D untethered mobile actuator having a magnetic moment in a different direction than a next neighboring panel, and the 3D untethered mobile actuator having a structural configuration that changes between a substantially flat structural configuration in the absence of a magnetic field, and an actuated structural configuration when under influence of a magnetic field. Methods of manufacturing and using the 3D mobile actuator and a system that includes the 3D mobile actuator are provided.

Abstract: A system and method for target material retrieval and processing, the system comprising: an adaptor configured to interface with a capture region of a capture substrate for capturing particles in single-particle format within a set of wells, wherein the adaptor comprises a first region configured to interface with the capture region, a second region, and a cavity extending from the first region to the second region; and a support structure coupled to the adaptor and providing a set of operation modes for movement of the adaptor relative to the capture substrate. The system enables methods for magnetic and/or other force-based methods of retrieval of target material (e.g., derived from single cells).

Abstract: The specimen analyzer includes: an input unit which receives an input of subject attribute information; an analysis unit which performs measurement of a specimen collected from a subject, and which performs analysis of the specimen based on a measurement result and the subject attribute information received by the input unit; and a controller which causes the analysis unit to be incapable of analyzing the specimen unless the input of the subject attribute information is performed with the input unit.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaner includes: a cleaning tank; an ultrasonic transducer; a vibration head which extends from the ultrasonic transducer toward the cleaning tank and of which a tip portion includes a cylindrical hole having a longitudinal direction aligned to a vertical direction; and an air layer or a metallic member that is provided in an area formed by projecting at least the vibration head in the vertical direction under the cleaning tank, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is driven at a frequency at which the vibration head is vibrated resonantly in a vibration mode accompanied by a deformation in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical hole and a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein an area formed by projecting at least the vibration head in the vertical direction in a bottom portion of the cleaning tank is formed of a material mainly including resin.