Abstract: A fecal grinder assembly includes a container defining an open interior volume and a plurality of container teeth extending from a bottom wall of the container and within the open interior volume, a grinder slidably positioned within the open interior volume of the container, the grinder including a base and a key extending from the base in a first direction and a plurality of grinder teeth extending from the base in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a collection member including a filter portion and a collection body extending from the filter portion, a keyway extends through the filter and the body for receiving the key of the grinder when the collection member is positioned on the grinder and within the open interior volume of the container.

Abstract: A retaining clip for retaining reagent test slides in a stacked arrangement includes a first assembly having a first cover plate and at least two parallel, co-planar rails extending transversely from an inner surface of the first cover plate. A second assembly includes a second cover plate, and a rail receiving platform extending transversely from an inner surface of the second cover plate. The first cover plate and the second cover plate define between them a space for receiving the plurality of reagent test slides. The rails of the first assembly include ratchet teeth, and the rail receiving platform of the second assembly includes pawls. The pawls engage the ratchet teeth to prevent the separation of the first assembly and the second assembly and to securely but removably hold the plurality of reagent test slides in a stacked arrangement between the first and second cover plates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically removing used magazines with used pipette tips from a pipetting head in an automated pipettor, and for automatically inserting an unused or cleaned magazine with unused or cleaned pipette tips in their place. The apparatus includes a gripping mechanism having two separate and independently operated gripping heads, one gripping head being associated exclusively with unused or cleaned magazines and pipetting tips, and the other gripping head being associated exclusively with used magazines and pipette tips. A transporting mechanism is provided for moving the gripping heads between the pipetting head, a disposal mechanism, and a supply of unused or cleaned magazines and pipetting tips. The supply preferably includes a carousel with a multiplicity of locations for storing unused or cleaned magazines and tips in a vertical alignment. The carousel is rotated so that a compartment containing unused or cleaned magazines and tips is in alignment with an opening in the carousel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically removing used magazines with used pipette tips from a pipetting head in an automated pipettor, and for automatically inserting an unused or cleaned magazine with unused or cleaned pipette tips in their place. The apparatus includes a gripping mechanism having two separate and independently operated gripping heads, one gripping head being associated exclusively with unused or cleaned magazines and pipetting tips, and the other gripping head being associated exclusively with used magazines and pipette tips. A transporting mechanism is provided for moving the gripping heads between the pipetting head, a disposal mechanism, and a supply of unused or cleaned magazines and pipetting tips. The supply preferably includes a carousel with a multiplicity of locations for storing unused or cleaned magazines and tips in a vertical alignment. The carousel is rotated so that a compartment containing unused or cleaned magazines and tips is in alignment with an opening in the carousel.

Abstract: A support device for a hypodermic needle particularly useful in dental surgery. One part of the support device is a funnel-like structure adapted to fit over the base of the hypodermic needle, and the other part consists of a siding tip guard adapted to slide coaxially inside the funnel-like structure in the manner of an expansible telescope. Both the funnel-like structure and the tip guard have longitudinal openings therethrough, inside which the hypodermic needle is placed. At the end of the tip guard, away from the funnel-like structure, there is an enlarged hub adapted to press against the gum in the mouth of the patient and through which the hypodermic needle is inserted, through the gum and into the bony structure below.