Abstract: A device for preparing a blood sample, including a microfluidic card including: a first chamber for separating and/or extracting proteins to be analyzed that are present in the blood sample; a second chamber used for an operation involving digestion of proteins of different species that are present in the sample, to obtain a second sample containing digested peptides and nondigested proteins; and a third chamber connected to the second chamber to receive the second sample containing the digested peptides and the non-digested proteins, the third chamber being used for an operation involving purification and stabilization of the digested peptides.

Abstract: The invention herein relates to conducting assays with an apparatus including a substantially transparent assay cartridge loaded with magnetic beads, and a magnets positioned in a platform above and below the assay cartridge. The assay cartridge includes magnetic beads, sample and control solutions in some wells, and assay reagents in others. A microcomputer controls a linear actuator which moves the magnet platform causing the magnetic beads to travel from one well to another and to oscillate within a well. At assay completion, the cartridge will generate a signal representing a test result, which is then sent to a server through a wireless transmission system.

Abstract: A method of operating an analytical laboratory is presented. The method comprises the steps of: setting a load limit for each laboratory instrument at maximum instrument capacity; dispatching biological samples to laboratory instrument(s) at a dispatch rate not greater than the instrument load limit; each laboratory instrument sending test order queries to the laboratory middleware upon identifying a biological sample; in response to the test order queries transmitting test orders to the laboratory instruments corresponding to the biological samples; the laboratory middleware monitoring a query rate of the plurality of laboratory instruments in order to determine an effective flow rate corresponding to each laboratory instrument; decreasing the load limit of a first laboratory instrument if its effective flow rate is lower than the dispatch rate; increasing the load limit for the first laboratory instrument if its effective flow rate is greater than or equal to the dispatch rate.

Abstract: In dispenser-type reagent dispensing, because a reagent is transferred through a piping flow path to a prescribed position and dispensed, some of the reagents may remain in the piping flow path and reagent crystallization may consequently occur in the piping flow path. Thus, crystallization prevention for the entire piping flow path must be taken into consideration. Provided is a dispensing device that comprises a reagent suction pipe for sucking in a reagent from a reagent vessel, a liquid transfer mechanism for transferring the reagent, a nozzle for discharging the reagent, and a reagent discharge pipe that is connected to the reagent container and a port that can be connected to the nozzle. The dispensing device is characterized in that the reagent is dispensed from the nozzle into a reaction vessel and when the reagent is not being dispensed, the nozzle and the port are connected and the reagent is circulated.

Abstract: A method and system for performing operations on cells on an instrument comprises providing a peer to peer network of instruments for performing operations on cells, maintaining a distributed database in at least a plurality of the instruments in the peer to peer network, storing at least one protocol in the database for use by at least one instrument in the peer to peer network for performing operations on cells and storing results from the performance of the operations on cells by the at least one instrument in the distributed database. The results stored in the distributed database is then usable to later authenticate the results from the at least one instrument.

Abstract: The system utilizes a laboratory data management system (LDMS), a medical data management system (MDMS) and external data sources. The system processes data across multiple laboratories, different input variables (lab assays), specific laboratory tests, specific laboratory testing capabilities and variable outputs. The system measures, documents and manages the immune response by providing the user with actionable laboratory results, triggers and events.

Abstract: A sample pretreatment apparatus includes: a plurality of sample pretreatment sections, each of which executes a sample pretreatment prior to a measurement; and a robotic arm including: an articulated arm member; and a hand attached to the articulated arm member. The plurality of sample pretreatment sections includes a sample dispenser that dispenses a sample in a first sample container into a second sample container. For a first measurement, the robotic arm holds the second sample container with the hand and transports the second sample container to a pretreatment group of the plurality of sample pretreatment sections, the pretreatment group including the sample dispenser. For a second measurement, the robotic arm holds the second sample container with the hand and transports the second sample container to another pretreatment group of the plurality of sample pretreatment sections, the another pretreatment group including the sample dispenser.

Abstract: Work, such as status confirmation, in a plurality of automatic analyzers is efficiently performed. In an automated analysis system, a tablet terminal 114 has a terminal information management unit 210 and a terminal display unit 208. A terminal information management unit 210 acquires device information showing the state status of a device from automatic analyzers 101a to 101d, and generates a status confirmation screen showing the device status of the automatic analyzer. A terminal display unit 208 displays the status confirmation screen. The status confirmation screen has a status information screen showing the device status of one automatic analyzer and a device switch button configured to switch the status information screen to a status information screen corresponding to another other automatic analyzer.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus includes: a measuring unit to measure a signal value corresponding to a concentration of a specified substance contained in a first sample; an acquiring unit to acquire a reference value pertaining to the specified substance contained in a second sample; a calculation unit to calculate a concentration value of the specified substance contained in the first sample, based on the signal value and the reference value; a determination unit to determine whether a variation in the concentration value of the specified substance contained in the first sample is equal to or less than a threshold value; and an output unit to output, to a display unit, recommendation information representing recommendation for acquiring the reference value when the variation in the concentration value of the specified substance contained in the first sample is equal to or less than the threshold value.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium are provided that monitors at least one of an input and output stream for at least one of a presence of a material of interest and a concentration of the material of interest; when the material of interest is present and/or has at least a threshold concentration, directs the at least one of an input and output stream to a waste location or path to discard the material of interest; and when the material of interest is either not present or does not have at least a threshold concentration, directs the at least one of an input and output stream to a byproduct location or path to recover the material of interest.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reaction method that includes a reaction process using a pipette tip to allow substances to cause a reaction, the method including: providing a heater for heating the pipette tip in accordance with a preset temperature; attaching the pipette tip to a pipette nozzle and heating the pipette tip by a first preset temperature; when a period of heating by the first preset temperature exceeds a preset period, switching an output of the heater from the first preset temperature to a lower second preset temperature; detecting a distal end position of the pipette tip at or after the switching; and executing the reaction process while controlling the distal end position of the pipette tip with reference to the detected distal end position, in which the temperature of the pipette tip is kept by the second preset temperature at least until operation of the pipette tip.

Abstract: Provided is an automated analysis device with which sufficient reaction process data can be acquired irrespective of the scale of the device, and with which it is possible to ensure freedom of the device configuration. An automated analysis device 100 is provided with: a reaction disk 1 which circumferentially accommodates a plurality of reaction vessels 2; a specimen dispensing mechanism 11 which dispenses a specimen into the reaction vessels 2; a reagent dispensing mechanism 7 which dispenses a reagent into the reaction vessels 2; a measuring unit 4 which measures a reaction process of a mixture of the specimen and the reagent in the reaction vessels 2; and a cleaning mechanism 3 which cleans the reaction vessels 2 after measurement.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for monitoring and control of soil conditions. In one example, among others, a method includes obtaining one or more aqueous sample from at least one suction probe within a soil substrate and analyzing the one or more aqueous sample to determine a chemical composition of the soil substrate. Amounts of an additive may be determined to adjust the chemical composition of the soil substrate. In another example, a method includes installing at least one suction probe within a soil substrate; drawing a vacuum to induce hydraulic conduction of at least one aqueous solution from the soil substrate; extracting one or more aqueous sample; and analyzing the one or more aqueous sample to determine a chemical composition.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing a product (A1) by way of at least two coupled-together chemical reactions (C1, C2), wherein at least two input substances (E1, E2) are fed to a first chemical reaction (C1), wherein a plurality of intermediate substances (Z1, Z2) are produced from the input substances (E1, E2) by the first chemical reaction (C1), wherein at least one of the intermediate substances (Z2) is fed to a second chemical reaction (C2), wherein the at least one fed intermediate substance (Z2) is further processed by the second chemical reaction (C2), in particular using at least one further substance (W1, W2) in a second chemical reaction (C2) to form a plurality of output substances (A1, A2), that is to say to form the chemical product (A1) and at least one further output substance (A2), wherein the flow rates (Fi) of the fed substances (E1, E2, Z1, W1, W2, A2) that are fed to one of the reactions (C1, C2) are set by a respective actuating element (VE1, VE2, VW1, VW 2, VZ 2, VA1), wherein each of t

Abstract: A data collection hub and method wherein a controller is configured to receive data from a plurality of sensors sensing conditions related to the performance of operations on cells by at least one instrument. A database stores the data from the plurality of sensors and the controller is configured to compare data from the plurality of sensors for a past operation with the data for a more recent operation.

Abstract: A method for managing a skin care system. The skin care system includes circuitry to receive skin information from a user. The circuitry determines treatable skin conditions based on the skin information. The skin care system generates severity information and cosmetic formulation compatibility information based on the treatable skin conditions. The skin care system is further able to virtually display user-specific compatible cosmetic formulations based on at least one parameter associated with the severity information and cosmetic formulation compatibility.

Abstract: A pipette tip leading end detection device for detecting that a leading end of a pipette tip is close to a reference surface set to a reaction vessel includes a pipette nozzle, pump, nozzle driver, pressure sensor that detects a pressure generated between the pipette tip and pump, and hardware processor. The hardware processor obtains a determination value using an AD conversion value obtained from the pressure while the pipette nozzle is being lowered, and detects that the leading end of the pipette tip is close to the reference surface on the basis that the determination value is a threshold value or more. The determination value is a calculation value indicating a pressure change speed calculated from AD conversion values within a past certain time and the threshold value is a value larger than maximum noise.

Abstract: A rigid cartridge for housing and removably coupling with a soft body bioreactor is provided. The rigid cartridge includes rigid walls defining a rigid housing. The rigid walls expose a fixed interior configured to house the soft body. An interior surface of a first rigid wall includes a first mating mechanism to engage a second mating mechanism of the soft body to removably coupled with the rigid cartridge and accommodate the soft body in the fixed interior of the rigid cartridge. A rigid wall includes a planar upper surface including an aperture. Each aperture is encompassed by an annular hood protruding upwardly from the substantially planar upper surface and integrally formed with the at least one rigid wall. The aperture is configured to receive and fixed engage a corresponding connector. Each connector includes a rigid coupling mechanism that provides communication with a corresponding plurality of ports of the soft body.

Abstract: Catalysts used for catalytic reforming are treated with organic chloride to condition the catalysts. Chloride treaters may be located in the product streams to remove the chloride contaminants. The continuous catalyst reforming process, including the catalyst reformer unit and chloride treaters, may be monitored in order to predict when adsorbent replacement or regeneration is needed. For example, one or more sensors and measurement devices may be used to monitor certain conditions or parameters. A system may be configured to take one or more actions in response to certain conditions or parameters being met.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated health care surveillance and monitoring system that provides real-time sampling, modeling, analysis, and recommended interventions. The system can be used to monitor infectious and chronic diseases. When faced with outbreak of an infectious disease agent, e.g., influenza virus, the system can identify active cases through pro-active sampling in high risk locations, such as schools or crowded commercial areas. The system can notify appropriate entities, e.g., local, regional and national governments, when an event is detected, thereby allowing for proactive management of a possible outbreak. The system also predicts the best response for deployment of scarce resources.