Abstract: A receptacle delivery system for an instrument of a plurality of instruments comprises a carriage supporting a puck. The carriage is configured to move with the puck from a first location to a second location within the instrument. The first location is a location where a receptacle supported by a carrier is positioned to be transferred to the puck supported by the carriage, and the second location being a location where the receptacle seated in the puck is positioned so that fluid from the receptacle can be drawn into a tip associated with a fluid extraction device of the instrument.

Abstract: A receptacle delivery system that includes a rail extending between first and second locations of an instrument and a carriage configured to move on the rail between the first and second locations of the instrument. The carriage includes a bracket having opposed first and second sidewalls and a base extending between the first and second sidewalls, where the carriage is configured to support a receptacle. The carriage further includes a pair of opposed support pads, where the pair of support pads are configured to (a) move toward a receptacle supported by the carriage as the carriage moves from the first location toward the second location, and (b) move away from a receptacle supported by the carriage as the carriage moves from the second location toward the first location. The carriage also includes a pair of meshed cam gears rotatably coupled to the first sidewall, where each cam gear is coupled to a different one of the support pads.

Abstract: A receptacle delivery system includes a carriage configured to move from a first to a second location of an instrument. The carriage may be configured to removably support a receptacle and may include a receptacle clamping mechanism. The receptacle mechanism may be configured to apply a clamping force to the receptacle as the carriage moves from the first to the second location and release the clamping force as the carriage moves from the second to the first location.

Abstract: A method of delivering a receptacle to an instrument includes the steps of supporting a receptacle containing a fluid on a carrier, transporting the carrier supporting the receptacle on a conveyor extending adjacent to each of a plurality of instruments, transferring the receptacle from the carrier to a puck supported on a carriage when the carriage is positioned at a first location, moving the carriage with the receptacle seated in the puck from the first location to a second location within an instrument of the plurality of instruments, and drawing at least a portion of the fluid from the receptacle seated in the puck into a tip associated with a fluid extraction device of the instrument when the carriage is positioned at the second location.

Abstract: A receptacle-supporting puck includes spring-biased fingers arranged about a vertical axis, each finger having a contact surface to contact a receptacle seated in the puck. A supporting disc of the puck includes a disc sidewall projecting from a base and defining a pocket for seating a receptacle, first cavities in the base extending toward the vertical axis, and a puck passageway extending through opposed portions of the disc sidewall transversely to and offset from the vertical axis. Each finger is rotatably coupled to the supporting disc at a corresponding first cavity. A synchronization disc is positioned in the pocket, and each of the fingers is coupled to the synchronization disc such that the contact surfaces of the fingers move synchronously toward and away from the vertical axis. A retaining ring couples the fingers, the supporting disc, and the synchronization disc together.

Abstract: A jig assembly for connecting first and second consoles with predefined relative positioning includes first and second positioning pins attached or attachable to the first console and a positioning connection bracket attached or attachable to the second console and including a longitudinal span and first and second transverse legs including first and second pin recesses at respective free ends thereof. The first and second pin recesses receive the first and second positioning pins, respectively, when the first and second consoles are moved laterally toward each other. The first and second transverse legs may be attached to the first console with a first and second leg attachment brackets, respectively. The first and second positing pins and the first and second leg attachment brackets may be fixed with respect to the first console by attachment to a mounting rail that is fixed to the first console.

Abstract: A jig assembly for connecting first and second consoles with predefined relative positioning includes first and second positioning pins attached or attachable to the first console and a positioning connection bracket attached or attachable to the second console and including a longitudinal span and first and second transverse legs including first and second pin recesses at respective free ends thereof. The first and second pin recesses receive the first and second positioning pins, respectively, when the first and second consoles are moved laterally toward each other. The first and second transverse legs may be attached to the first console with a first and second leg attachment brackets, respectively. The first and second positing pins and the first and second leg attachment brackets may be fixed with respect to the first console by attachment to a mounting rail that is fixed to the first console.

Abstract: Providing a fluid to an instrument comprises supporting a sample receptacle on a first carrier, transporting the first carrier on a conveyor adjacent a plurality of modules including at least one instrument, stopping the first carrier at the instrument, transporting the sample receptacle to a pick-up position of the instrument, transporting the sample receptacle from the pick-up position to a pipetting station within the instrument, aspirating fluid within the sample receptacle and transferring the aspirated fluid to a reaction receptacle, after aspirating fluid from the sample receptacle, transporting the sample receptacle to the pick-up position, transporting the sample receptacle from the pick-up position to a second carrier the conveyor, in the instrument, performing an assay to determine the presence or absence of an analyte in the aspirated fluid, and transporting the second carrier on the conveyor to one or more of the plurality of modules other than the analytical instrument.

Abstract: Delivering a receptacle to an instrument comprises supporting a receptacle in a carriage when the carriage is positioned at a first location of the instrument, activating a sensing system coupled to the carriage to confirm that the receptacle is supported by the carriage, moving the carriage, and the receptacle supported therein, to a second location of the instrument, applying a clamping force to the receptacle as the carriage moves from the first location to the second location, at the second location, extracting at least a portion of a fluid contained in the receptacle using a fluid extraction device of the instrument, moving the carriage, and the receptacle supported therein, from the second location to the first location, and releasing the clamping force from the receptacle as the carriage moves from the second location to the first location.

Abstract: A jig assembly for connecting first and second consoles with predefined relative positioning includes first and second positioning pins attached or attachable to the first console and a positioning connection bracket attached or attachable to the second console and including a longitudinal span and first and second transverse legs including first and second pin recesses at respective free ends thereof. The first and second pin recesses receive the first and second positioning pins, respectively, when the first and second consoles are moved laterally toward each other. The first and second transverse legs may be attached to the first console with a first and second leg attachment brackets, respectively. The first and second positing pins and the first and second leg attachment brackets may be fixed with respect to the first console by attachment to a mounting rail that is fixed to the first console.

Abstract: A method of delivering a receptacle to an instrument includes the steps of supporting a receptacle in a carriage, activating an electric motor to move the carriage between a first location and a second location of the instrument while the receptacle is supported by the carriage, applying a clamping force to the receptacle as the carriage moves from the first location to the second location, and releasing the clamping force from the receptacle as the carriage moves from the second location to the first location.

Abstract: A receptacle delivery system for an instrument includes a carriage, a puck rotatably supported by the carriage, a first electric motor, and a second electric motor. The puck comprises a plurality of spring-loaded fingers arranged around a vertical axis and configured to removably support a receptacle therebetween. The first electric motor is configured to move the carriage between a first location and a second location of the instrument. The second electric motor is configured to rotate the puck about the vertical axis.

Abstract: A receptacle delivery system for an instrument includes a carriage, a puck supported by the carriage, and a first shelf. The carriage is configured to move from a first location of the instrument to a second location of the instrument. The puck is configured to removably support a receptacle such that a longitudinal axis of the receptacle is substantially coincident with a vertical axis of the puck. The first shelf is positioned at the second location of the instrument and comprises (a) a base extending substantially transverse to the vertical axis of the puck and (b) a first opening defined by the base. When the carriage is positioned at the second location, the longitudinal axis of a receptacle seated in the puck extends through the first opening.

Abstract: A method of delivering a receptacle to an instrument includes the steps of supporting a receptacle containing a fluid on a carrier, transporting the carrier supporting the receptacle on a conveyor extending adjacent to each of a plurality of instruments, transferring the receptacle from the carrier to a puck supported on a carriage when the carriage is positioned at a first location, moving the carriage with the receptacle seated in the puck from the first location to a second location within an instrument of the plurality of instruments, and drawing at least a portion of the fluid from the receptacle seated in the puck into a tip associated with a fluid extraction device of the instrument when the carriage is positioned at the second location.

Abstract: A receptacle delivery system for an instrument includes a carriage, a puck supported by the carriage, and a first shelf. The carriage is configured to move from a first location of the instrument to a second location of the instrument. The puck is configured to removably support a receptacle such that a longitudinal axis of the receptacle is substantially coincident with a vertical axis of the puck. The first shelf comprises (a) a base extending substantially transverse to the vertical axis of the puck and (b) a first opening defined by the base, and when the carriage is positioned at the second location, the longitudinal axis of a receptacle seated in the puck extends through the first opening.

Abstract: A puck for removably supporting a receptacle. The puck includes a plurality of fingers arranged about a vertical axis, where each finger has a contact surface configured to be in contact with a receptacle seated in the puck. One or more springs couple the plurality of fingers, thereby biasing the fingers toward the vertical axis. The puck further includes a supporting disc having (i) a disc sidewall projecting from a base to define a pocket for seating a receptacle, (ii) a plurality of first cavities formed in the base and extending in a direction of the vertical axis, and (iii) a puck passageway extending through opposed portions of the disc sidewall in a direction transverse to and offset from the vertical axis, where each of the fingers is rotatably coupled to the supporting disc at a corresponding first cavity of the plurality of first cavities.

Abstract: A receptacle delivery system that includes a rail extending between first and second locations of an instrument and a carriage configured to move on the rail between the first and second locations of the instrument. The carriage includes a bracket having opposed first and second sidewalls and a base extending between the first and second sidewalls, where the carriage is configured to support a receptacle. The carriage further includes a pair of opposed support pads, where the pair of support pads are configured to (a) move toward a receptacle supported by the carriage as the carriage moves from the first location toward the second location, and (b) move away from a receptacle supported by the carriage as the carriage moves from the second location toward the first location. The carriage also includes a pair of meshed cam gears rotatably coupled to the first sidewall, where each cam gear is coupled to a different one of the support pads.

Abstract: A container gripping mechanism includes first and second linear rails disposed on opposed sides of a linear rail mount. A first linear rail guide coupled with the first rail is supported on a first gripper finger mount, and a second linear rail guide coupled with the second rail is supported on a second gripper finger mount. A first gripper finger is secured to the first gripper finger mount, and a second gripper finger is secured to the second gripper finger mount. A pinion gear driven by a drive motor engages racks attached to the first and second gripper finger mounts, such that rotation of the pinion in a first direction causes the first and second gripper fingers to move toward each other, and rotation of the pinion in a second direction causes the first and second gripper fingers to move away from each other.

Abstract: A receptacle delivery system includes a carriage configured to move from a first to a second location of an instrument. The carriage may be configured to removably support a receptacle and may include a receptacle clamping mechanism. The receptacle mechanism may be configured to apply a clamping force to the receptacle as the carriage moves from the first to the second location and release the clamping force as the carriage moves from the second to the first location.