Abstract: An instrument includes a first chassis and a second chassis that includes a cartridge support cradle configured to hold a cartridge with a sample chamber between the first and second chassis. An actuator coupled to one or both of the first and second chassis is configured to effect automated relative movement between the first and second chassis to vary a distance therebetween. A detector mounted within the upper chassis includes a plunger rod movable between first and second positions and a sensor for detecting when the plunger rod is in the second position. As the first and second chassis are moved relatively toward each other by the actuator, if the fluidic cartridge is situated on the cartridge support cradle, and a cap closes the sample chamber, the plunger rod will contact the cap and move from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An assembly includes first and second thermal modules. Each thermal module includes at least one thermal assembly comprising a thermal element in thermal contact with an associated thermal block. Each thermal block has an exposed contact surface, and each contact surface of the second thermal module is situated in aligned opposition with respect to an associated contact surface of the first thermal module. A thermal module actuator is configured to effect automated relative movement between the first thermal module and the second thermal module to vary a distance between the contact surface of each thermal assembly of the second thermal module and the associated contact surface of each thermal assembly of the first thermal module. An optical fiber is associated with a through hole extending through the thermal block of each thermal assembly of the first thermal module to transmit an optical signal through each thermal block of the first thermal module.

Abstract: Controlling a syringe pump having an elastomeric stopper and a syringe plunger connected to the stopper includes operating a motor coupled to the plunger to move the syringe plunger and the stopper toward a bottom wall of a syringe barrel, monitoring a motor demand signal of the motor, detecting an inflection in the motor demand signal that indicates that the stopper has contacted the bottom wall of the syringe barrel, after detecting the inflection, continuing to operate the motor until the motor stalls, after detecting the inflection and until the motor stalls, counting encoder steps of an encoder coupled to the motor, operating the motor in a reverse direction for the counted number of encoder steps, continuing to operate the motor in the opposite direction to move the stopper to a predefined distance away from the bottom wall of the syringe to draw a predefined volume of fluid into the syringe barrel.

Abstract: A method of sample processing that includes a step of prompting, at a user interface of a sample processing instrument, a user to enter a user input based on first information transmitted from an RFID transponder disposed on a receptacle holder within the sample processing instrument. The user input indicates second information about the receptacle holder. The method of sample processing further includes a step of receiving, at the user interface of the sample processing instrument, the user input. The Method of sample processing further includes a step of processing, using the sample processing instrument, a sample based on the user input.

Abstract: An apparatus for incubating the contents of a plurality of receptacles and for detecting a signal emitted by the contents of each of the receptacle includes a plurality of receptacle holders configured to incubate the contents of each a plurality of receptacles held by each of the receptacle holders. A controller is coupled to each of the receptacle holders and is configured to independently control an incubation temperature of each of the receptacle holders to independently control a temperature at which the receptacles held by each of the receptacle holders is incubated. At least one signal detector is configured to detect a signal emitted by the contents of each of the receptacles held in each of the receptacle holders, and a signal detector indexer is configured to successively optically couple each signal detector with each of the receptacles held in each of the receptacle holders to detect optical emissions from each successively coupled receptacle.

Abstract: A container comprises a top wall and a fluid vessel depending from a top wall aperture formed in the top wall to a bottom end of the fluid vessel. A first wall segment depends from a first perimeter segment of the top wall and extends from the first perimeter segment to a bottom edge of the first wall segment and at least partially surrounds the fluid vessel. At least a portion of the bottom edge of the first wall segment is disposed below the bottom end of the fluid vessel and includes an alignment notch extending upwardly from the bottom edge of the first wall segment. A top wall fluid retainer barrier projects above a top surface of the top wall and extends continuously around the top wall aperture and is spaced from a perimeter of the top wall aperture.

Abstract: A method for fluid handling that includes reading information about a receptacle holder with an RFID reader and transmitting the information from an RFID transponder disposed on a first body of the receptacle holder that supports a fluid-containing receptacle. This information is used to align a robotic fluid transfer device with the first fluid-containing receptacle. Detecting a change in capacitance between an electrically conductive probe of the robotic fluid transfer device and an electrical ground or voltage source capacitively coupled to fluid contained in the first fluid-containing receptacle is an indication that the probe has contacted the fluid contained in the first fluid-containing receptacle. Once it is determined that the probe has contacted the fluid, the fluid transfer device aspirates a portion of the fluid contained in the first fluid-containing receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing nucleic acid amplification reactions includes a thermally-conductive receptacle holder that includes multiple receptacle wells. Each well can receive a receptacle and has a through-hole extending from an inner surface of the well to an outer surface of the holder. The apparatus includes multiple optical fibers, and each optical fiber has a first end in optical communication with an associated well and a second end in optical communication with an excitation signal source and/or an emission signal detector. The first end of each optical fiber is moveable with respect to the through-hole. A cover is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the receptacle holder, and the first end of each optical fiber moves with respect to the through-hole of the associated well as the cover moves to the open or closed position or when the cover moves into or out of contact with any receptacles within the wells.

Abstract: A container including a top wall and a fluid vessel depending from the top wall. The fluid vessel extends from a top wall aperture formed in the top wall to a bottom end of the fluid vessel. The container further includes gripping structures configured to enable an automated gripping mechanism to securely grip the container in a repeatable position and orientation with respect to the container-gripping components of the gripping mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for incubating the contents of a plurality of receptacles and for detecting a signal emitted by the contents of each of the receptacle includes a plurality of receptacle holders configured to incubate the contents of each a plurality of receptacles held by each of the receptacle holders. A controller is coupled to each of the receptacle holders and is configured to independently control an incubation temperature of each of the receptacle holders to independently control a temperature at which the receptacles held by each of the receptacle holders is incubated. At least one signal detector is configured to detect a signal emitted by the contents of each of the receptacles held in each of the receptacle holders, and a signal detector indexer is configured to successively optically couple each signal detector with each of the receptacles held in each of the receptacle holders to detect optical emissions from each successively coupled receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus for incubating a plurality of receptacles includes one or more thermally-conductive receptacle holders, each comprising a plurality of receptacle wells. A thermally-conductive support is associated with each of the receptacle holders, and a thermal element is positioned between the associated support and the receptacle holder. A heat sink is in thermal communication with the support and comprises a plurality of spaced-apart fins. An optical fiber associated with each receptacle well has a first end positioned adjacent to or within a through-hole formed in the receptacle well and extends through through-holes formed in the support and the heat sink aligned with the through-hole of the receptacle well. Each of the optical fibers is positioned between two adjacent fins of the plurality of fins.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a thermally conductive receptacle holder including a plurality of receptacle wells configured to receive receptacles, a plurality of optical fibers having first and second ends, wherein each first end is in optical communication with one of the receptacle wells and each second end is in optical communication with an excitation signal source and/or an emission signal detector, one or more thermal elements positioned proximal to the receptacle holder for altering the temperature of the receptacle holder, a heat sink in thermal communication with the receptacle holder, and one or more thermal devices disposed within the heat sink for pre-heating the heat sink.

Abstract: A first time/temperature data set includes temperatures and time stamps recorded at time intervals during a first thermal cycling process and a time stamp for each time interval, and a second time/temperature data set includes temperatures and time stamps recorded at time intervals during a second thermal cycling process. Signal emissions at different signal detecting positions are sequentially measured at different time intervals to generate first and second time/signal emission data sets for receptacles subject to the first and second thermal cycling processes, respectively. Signal emissions of receptacles subject to the first thermal cycling process are synchronized with specific temperatures of the first thermal cycling process by comparing time stamps of the first time/signal emission data set for each receptacle with the time stamps of the first time/temperature data set that correspond with the specific temperature.

Abstract: A method for controlling a printing process by which a print head prints an image onto predetermined printable area of a label.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing nucleic acid amplification reactions includes a thermally-conductive receptacle holder that includes multiple receptacle wells. Each well can receive a receptacle and has a through-hole extending from an inner surface of the well to an outer surface of the holder. The apparatus includes multiple optical fibers, and each optical fiber has a first end in optical communication with an associated well and a second end in optical communication with an excitation signal source and/or an emission signal detector. The first end of each optical fiber is moveable with respect to the through-hole. A cover is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the receptacle holder, and the first end of each optical fiber moves with respect to the through-hole of the associated well as the cover moves to the open or closed position or when the cover moves into or out of contact with any receptacles within the wells.

Abstract: A container including a top wall and a fluid vessel depending from the top wall. The fluid vessel extends from a top wall aperture formed in the top wall to a bottom end of the fluid vessel. The container further includes gripping structures configured to enable an automated gripping mechanism to securely grip the container in a repeatable position and orientation with respect to the container-gripping components of the gripping mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus including a thermally-conductive receptacle holder having a row of receptacle wells. Each receptacle well has an inner surface defined to receive a receptacle, and each receptacle well has a through-hole extending between the inner and outer surfaces thereof. The apparatus further includes one or more thermal elements for altering a temperature(s) of the receptacle holder, where the one or more thermal element are in contact with a side surface of the receptacle holder. There are two or more thermistors disposed in contact with the receptacle holder and a channel disposed within the side surface and containing wires and/or electrical connections for the two or more thermistors.

Abstract: A fluid container holder includes a body having a receptacle configured to receive a container. The body has a conductive outer surface for connection to an electrical ground or voltage source, and the holder is not formed solely of an electrically conductive metal. A fluid container handling assembly includes a drawer having a holder supporting a fluid container, and a frame supporting the holder. The frame is movable between a first position providing access to the holder and a second position positioning the holder within the instrument. The assembly also includes a first lock securing the holder to the frame when the frame is at the first frame position and unlocking the holder from the frame when the frame is at the second frame position. The assembly also includes a holder transporter configured to move the holder between a first holder position and a second holder position within the instrument.