Abstract: A picktool manipulator device collects a specimen from a culture medium. In a first mode of operation, a picktool is allowed to move in an axial direction relative to support structure of the device. A detector may generate a signal in response to movement of the body in the axial direction so as to determine a height at which the picktool contacts the medium. The device may operate in the first mode when collecting a specimen from a culture medium. A second mode of operation constrains or precludes axial movement of the picktool. In some cases, the device may operate in the second mode when receiving a new picktool or discarding a used picktool.

Abstract: A pipetting device includes pipetting unit(s), a guide assembly with at least one guide rail on which the pipetting unit(s) is guided in order to be moved along a movement axis, and a linear drive assembly, by which the pipetting unit(s) can be driven in order to be moved along the movement axis. The linear drive device has a stationary stator, and the at least one pipetting unit forms a linear drive assembly rotor which can be moved along the movement axis relative to the stator. The pipetting device also has at least two rotor magnet assemblies which interact with the same common stator magnet assembly so as to generate a drive force and which are arranged at a distance from one another along a spacing axis that is orthogonal to the movement axis. The common stator magnet assembly is located between the at least two rotor magnet assemblies.

Abstract: Enclosures and corresponding magnetic joints. An apparatus includes an enclosure. The enclosure includes a magnetic panel joint formed by: a first panel carrying a magnet and comprising a first pocket; a second panel including a second pocket; and a ferromagnetic shield coupled within the second pocket and couplable within the first pocket via the magnet.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method and/or a device for carrying out chemical, biochemical and/or immunochemical analyses of liquid samples, which are present in a sample store of an automatic analyzer, with the aid of liquid reagents which are present in at least one reagent store of the analyzer. In one example embodiment, the automatic analyzer includes cuvettes, a first pipettor, a device with an optical measurement unit, a device for heterogenous immunoassays, a cuvette washing unit, a needle washing unit, a temperature control unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for preparing a plurality of samples for an analytical method, comprising a carousel with a solid housing and moveable receiving parts for the sample containers; a control for controlling the receiving parts in the carousel; and a sample receiving device for providing the sample for the analytical method. Said arrangement is characterized in that one or more stations for preparing samples are provided on the carousel, the receiving parts for the sample containers of the carousel can be positioned on said stations. Said arrangement also comprises a centrifuge with pairs of opposite lying receiving parts provided for the sample containers, and said receiving parts are arranged such that they can move on the centrifuge for the sample holder such that a transfer of a sample holder between a receiving part in the carousel and a receiving part in the centrifuge can be carried out. The control takes place by the same control which is also provided for controlling the carousel.

Abstract: A method for distribution of supports impregnated with antibiotics includes a step of positioning of a plurality of tubular containers, each one containing a plurality of supports impregnated with antibiotics and stacked, in a corresponding plurality of seats of a dispenser. Extraction of at least a first support from a first container is performed using an extractor, the step of extraction being performed in correspondence of an upper end of the first container and comprising a movement of the first support between a first position inside of the first container and a second position extracted from the first container, said first position and said second position lying substantially in correspondence of an upper surface of the dispenser. Collection of the first support from the second position is performed using a collector. Transportation of the first support towards a culture plate by the collector is performed.

Abstract: In one example, a dispenser platform can include an enclosure that includes a first actuator to move a support in a first plane, wherein a portion of the support extends outside the enclosure, and a second actuator coupled to the portion of the support that extends outside the enclosure to move a stage coupled to the support in a second plane.

Abstract: The present disclosure also relates to systems and methods for quality control in histology systems. In some embodiments, a method is provided that includes receiving a tissue block comprising a tissue sample embedded in an embedding material, imaging the tissue block to create a first imaging data of the tissue sample in a tissue section on the tissue block, removing the tissue section from the tissue block, the tissue section comprising a part of the tissue sample, imaging the tissue section to create a second imaging data of the tissue sample in the tissue section, and comparing the first imaging data to the second imaging data to confirm correspondence in the tissue sample in the first imaging data and the second imaging data based on one or more quality control parameters.

Abstract: A pipette module 10 has a pipette-module frame 12 attachable to the z-axis frame 120 of a liquid handling system 100. A translatory-motion frame 14 attached to the pipette-module frame 12 is movable with respect thereto by a motor 16. A pneumatic aspirator assembly 18 including a cylinder 20, tube 24, tube tip 26 and pressure sensor 28 is attached to the translatory-motion frame 14. A piston 22 disposed in the cylinder 20 is fixedly attached to the frame 12. A controller 30 for the pipette module 10 has a liquid surface detection mode which enables a pressure feedback control algorithm causing the motor 16 to move the translatory-motion frame 14 in a z-axis translator motion until a change in a pressure in the tip 26 as sensed by the pressure sensor 28 indicates that the tip 26 has made contact with the liquid surface 110.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wide-area sample-based reader design which serves as a diagnostic detection device for bio-particles.

Abstract: There is provided a nucleic acid extraction method using a cartridge comprising: (a) a driving part of a nucleic acid extraction device is connected to a control rod module disposed in an inner space of the upper body of a piston and a rotation control module coupled to the lower body of the piston; (b) driving the rotation control module and the control rod module, sequentially sucking sample and reagents from the plurality of chambers separated from each other into an interior space, and discharging the mixture of the interior space into the chamber of the cartridge; and (c) driving the rotation control module and the control rod module to suck the reagent inside the master mix bead chamber of the cartridge into the interior space of the piston upper body and then discharge the mixed reagent to a nucleic acid amplification module.

Abstract: Provided is a temperature control system applied to an apparatus for analyzing a sample using a pipette nozzle and a reaction container, including a pipette tip temperature controller that heats a pipette tip which is fitted on the pipette nozzle and aspirates or discharges liquid and a reaction container temperature controller that heats the reaction container. The pipette tip temperature controller heats, in a concentrated manner, at least a distal end portion of the pipette tip of the pipette nozzle located at a predetermined heating position with hot air emitted from a heat source and is configured such that a distal end is capable of arriving at the reaction container by lowering the pipette nozzle from the heating position.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and their methods of use, for generating droplets are provided. One or more geometric parameters of a microfluidic channel can be selected to generate droplets of a desired and predictable droplet size.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided that is configured to measure a biomarker value of an animal milk sample, including a cassette including a carrier tape having test zones indicating the biomarker value, and an inspective window. The carrier tape is disposed on first and second spools configured to cooperate with a cassette external motor. The arrangement also includes a service module including a camera configured to inspect the test zone, a motor configured to be engaged with a cassette spool, and a tube element configured to provide the milk sample to the test zone.

Abstract: A device for locking a volume adjustment screw for a pipetting system, comprising a control member which rotates as one with a position selector, the member cooperating with a locking wheel such that: when the selector is in the free adjustment position, the member ensures that the wheel is axially spaced from another wheel, such that the teeth of the wheels do not cooperate with each other; when the selector is in the fine adjustment position, the member allows the wheel to move away from and then to move axially towards the other wheel while transitioning from one tooth to another; when the selector is in the locking position, the member axially locks the wheel to prevent the teeth from being disengaged.

Abstract: A medical analysis method uses a medical analysis machine provided with a poly-articulated robot (70) comprising joints defining at least six axes of rotation (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6) and adapted for spacing and/or orienting a terminal member (66) according to six degrees of freedom, the terminal member bearing a grasping member (78) adapted for grasping a container (16). The medical analysis method comprises at least the succession of steps consisting of providing a container (16) containing a sample to be treated stemming from a human being or an animal, transferring said container (16) towards at least one treatment station of the medical analysis machine (100) by means of the poly-articulated robot, treating the sample in a treatment station, transferring the container towards a station for capturing images, and displaying the treatment results through a user interface.

Abstract: A pipette for use with a pipette tip includes a housing, a pin on the bottom end of the housing holding a pipette tip having first means for form-fit connection and a second means for form-fit connection which can be shoved onto the pin, constricting the pin, and/or expanding the tip before form-fit connection with the pin, a drive apparatus, at least one locking sleeve arranged concentric to the pin which is guided toward the pin in the housing, wherein the locking sleeve has a locked position having a pin in the inside constricted by shoving on a pipette tip, and/or is bordered on the outside by a tip shoved onto the pin, preventing a release from the pin, and the locking sleeve is upwardly displaceable out of the locked position so that the pin, and/or the tip is released, and the tip is removable from the pin.

Abstract: A flexible instrument control and data storage/management system and method for representing and processing assay plates having one or more predefined plate locations is disclosed. The system utilizes a graph data structure, layer objects and data objects. The layer objects map the graph data structure to the data objects. The graph data structure can comprise one node for each of the one or more predefined plate locations, wherein the nodes can be hierarchically defined according to a predefined plate location hierarchy. Each node can be given a unique node identifier, a node type and a node association that implements the predefined plate location hierarchy. The layer objects can include an index that maps the node identifiers to the data objects.

Abstract: Improved sub-assemblies and methods of control for use in a diagnostic assay system adapted to receive an assay cartridge are provided herein. Such sub-assemblies include: a brushless DC motor, a door opening/closing mechanism and cartridge loading mechanism, a syringe and valve drive mechanism assembly, a sonication horn, a thermal control device and optical detection/excitation device. Such systems can further include a communications unit configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device of a user so as to receive a user input relating to functionality of the system with respect to an assay cartridge received therein and relaying a diagnostic result relating to the assay cartridge to the mobile device.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and devices for automatically transferring samples and/or reagents from sample vessels and/or reagent vessels into at least one receiving vessel In one example embodiment, a pipetting device is disclosed including a pipettor that is movable along a first direction and has at least one first pipetting needle that is movable along an arm of the pipettor along a second direction, substantially normal to the first direction. The pipetting needle is lowerable along a third direction into the individual vessels. In some specific embodiments, the arm of the movable pipettor has at least one second pipetting needle which, regardless of the current position of the first pipetting needle, is movable past the first pipetting needle and is lowerable into the individual vessels.