Abstract: An analyzer for analysis of a biological sample prepared by a pre-analytical system and a method of operating an analyzer that receives biological samples for processing. The analyzer is automated and has a housing in which the biological samples are processed for analysis. The analyzer has an inventory control system for consumables used in the analyzer. The consumables are stored on and below a processing deck in the analyzer. The inventory control system can include racks for selectively storing consumables below deck, machine-readable labels on the processing deck for managing consumables thereon, and a support plate for the sample processing plates that manage waste from the processing plates. The analyzer includes an inventory robot disposed in the housing that includes an inventory scanner and an end-effector that is configured to handle a variety of consumables and is used for calibration.

Abstract: The technology described herein generally relates to pump assemblies. The pump assemblies can include a housing, a pump, a suction flow path, a pressure flow path, and a relief valve. The pump can comprise a suction port and a pressure port. The suction flow path can fluidically connect a suction output of the pump assembly to the suction port. The pressure flow path can fluidically connect a pressure output of the pump assembly to the pressure port. The pressure flow path can comprise a reservoir, a first conduit fluidically connecting the pressure port to the interior volume via a first opening of the reservoir, a filter, and a second conduit fluidically connecting the interior volume to the pressure output via a second opening of the reservoir. The relief valve can be configured to exhaust gas and moisture from the interior volume via a third opening of the reservoir.

Abstract: An automated pre-analytical processing method and an apparatus for pre-analytical processing of samples to be forwarded to an adjacent analyzer for analysis. Rack label information is read and communicated to a processor. From the rack label information, the processor determines where to route the rack. The pre-analytical system has a rack robot that conveys racks to discrete locations depending upon the routing information assigned to the rack by the processor. The pre-analytical system has an automated station that reads the labels of individual sample containers in the rack that are brought to the automated station on instructions from the processor. Depending on the type of sample container and the type of sample disposed therein, the samples are either prepared for analysis by the automated station or the sample containers are directly passed through the automated station. Prepared samples and passed through samples are passed individually to a batching rack.

Abstract: An analyzer for analysis of a biological sample prepared by a pre analytical system and a method of operating an analyzer that received samples prepared by a pre-analytical system. The analyzer is automated and has a processing deck with a plurality of modules serviced by a plurality of multichannel pipettors. Due to the high volume of pipette tips used by and dispensed from the multichannel pipettors, the processing deck has a pipette dispense assembly having a plurality of chutes, so that a multichannel pipettor does not need to wait to discard a pipette tip into a chute. The plurality of chutes allows the pipette tips to fall therethrough to a waste receptacle below the processing deck. The processing deck also includes a plurality of drawers that contain bins for consumable pipette tips to be used by the multichannel pipettors. Some of the drawers have multiple bins and some have only one bin because the location of the chutes does not permit all drawers to have the same depth.

Abstract: An automated pre-analytical processing method and an apparatus for pre-analytical processing of samples to be forwarded to an adjacent analyzer for analysis. Rack label information is read and communicated to a processor. From the rack label information, the processor determines where to route the rack. The pre-analytical system has a rack robot that conveys racks to discrete locations depending upon the routing information assigned to the rack by the processor. The pre-analytical system has an automated station that reads the labels of individual sample containers in the rack that are brought to the automated station on instructions from the processor. Depending on the type of sample container and the type of sample disposed therein, the samples are either prepared for analysis by the automated station or the sample containers are directly passed through the automated station. Prepared samples and passed through samples are passed individually to a batching rack.

Abstract: An automated analyzer that receives samples prepared for analysis in an automated pre-analytical module and a method of operation of such automated analyzer. The automated analyzer includes a shuttle transfer station that receives a shuttle carrier from the automated pre-analytical system. The shuttle transfer station has a clamping assembly for the shuttle. The clamping assembly has jaws that advance engagement members into contact with a bottom portion of sample containers disposed in the shuttle. The clamping assembly secures the sample containers in the shuttle when sample is aspirated from the sample containers. The automated analyzer also has a multichannel puncture tool that is adapted to be carried by a robotic gripper mechanism. The multichannel puncture tool has multiple puncture members that each defines a channel Each channel is in communication with a different trough in the consumable. A pipette can pass through the channel in the puncture tool.

Abstract: An automated analyzer that receives samples prepared for analysis in an automated pre-analytical module and a method of operation of such automated analyzer. The automated analyzer includes a shuttle transfer station that receives a shuttle carrier from the automated pre-analytical system. The shuttle transfer station has a clamping assembly for the shuttle. The clamping assembly has jaws that advance engagement members into contact with a bottom portion of sample containers disposed in the shuttle. The clamping assembly secures the sample containers in the shuttle when sample is aspirated from the sample containers. The automated analyzer also has a multichannel puncture tool that is adapted to be carried by a robotic gripper mechanism. The multichannel puncture tool has multiple puncture members that each defines a channel Each channel is in communication with a different trough in the consumable. A pipette can pass through the channel in the puncture tool.

Abstract: An automated analyzer that receives samples prepared for analysis in an automated pre-analytical module and a method of operation of such automated analyzer. The automated analyzer includes a shuttle transfer station that receives a shuttle carrier from the automated pre-analytical system. The shuttle transfer station has a clamping assembly for the shuttle. The clamping assembly has jaws that advance engagement members into contact with a bottom portion of sample containers disposed in the shuttle. The clamping assembly secures the sample containers in the shuttle when sample is aspirated from the sample containers. The automated analyzer also has a multichannel puncture tool that is adapted to be carried by a robotic gripper mechanism. The multichannel puncture tool has multiple puncture members that each defines a channel Each channel is in communication with a different trough in the consumable. A pipette can pass through the channel in the puncture tool.

Abstract: An automated pre-analytical processing method and an apparatus for pre-analytical processing of samples to be forwarded to an adjacent analyzer for analysis. Rack label information is read and communicated to a processor. From the rack label information, the processor determines where to route the rack. The pre-analytical system has a rack robot that conveys racks to discrete locations depending upon the routing information assigned to the rack by the processor. The pre-analytical system has an automated station that reads the labels of individual sample containers in the rack that are brought to the automated station on instructions from the processor. Depending on the type of sample container and the type of sample disposed therein, the samples are either prepared for analysis by the automated station or the sample containers are directly passed through the automated station. Prepared samples and passed through samples are passed individually to a batching rack.

Abstract: An automated analyzer that receives samples prepared for analysis in an automated pre-analytical module and a method of operation of such automated analyzer. The automated analyzer includes a shuttle transfer station that receives a shuttle carrier from the automated pre-analytical system. The shuttle transfer station has a clamping assembly for the shuttle. The clamping assembly has jaws that advance engagement members into contact with a bottom portion of sample containers disposed in the shuttle. The clamping assembly secures the sample containers in the shuttle when sample is aspirated from the sample containers. The automated analyzer also has a multichannel puncture tool that is adapted to be carried by a robotic gripper mechanism. The multichannel puncture tool has multiple puncture members that each defines a channel. Each channel is in communication with a different trough in the consumable. A pipette can pass through the channel in the puncture tool.

Abstract: An automated pre-analytical processing method and an apparatus for pre-analytical processing of samples to be forwarded to an adjacent analyzer for analysis. Rack label information is read and communicated to a processor. From the rack label information, the processor determines where to route the rack. The pre-analytical system has a rack robot that conveys racks to discrete locations depending upon the routing information assigned to the rack by the processor. The pre-analytical system has an automated station that reads the labels of individual sample containers in the rack that are brought to the automated station on instructions from the processor. Depending on the type of sample container and the type of sample disposed therein, the samples are either prepared for analysis by the automated station or the sample containers are directly passed through the automated station. Prepared samples and passed through samples are passed individually to a batching rack.

Abstract: An automated analyzer that receives samples prepared for analysis in an automated pre-analytical module and a method of operation of such automated analyzer. The automated analyzer includes a shuttle transfer station that receives a shuttle carrier from the automated pre-analytical system. The shuttle transfer station has a clamping assembly for the shuttle. The clamping assembly has jaws that advance engagement members into contact with a bottom portion of sample containers disposed in the shuttle. The clamping assembly secures the sample containers in the shuttle when sample is aspirated from the sample containers. The automated analyzer also has a multichannel puncture tool that is adapted to be carried by a robotic gripper mechanism. The multichannel puncture tool has multiple puncture members that each defines a channel. Each channel is in communication with a different trough in the consumable. A pipette can pass through the channel in the puncture tool.

Abstract: An automated pre-analytical processing method and an apparatus for pre-analytical processing of samples to be forwarded to an adjacent analyzer for analysis. Rack label information is read and communicated to a processor. From the rack label information, the processor determines where to route the rack. The pre-analytical system has a rack robot that conveys racks to discrete locations depending upon the routing information assigned to the rack by the processor. The pre-analytical system has an automated station that reads the labels of individual sample containers in the rack that are brought to the automated station on instructions from the processor. Depending on the type of sample container and the type of sample disposed therein, the samples are either prepared for analysis by the automated station or the sample containers are directly passed through the automated station. Prepared samples and passed through samples are passed individually to a batching rack.

Abstract: A hand-held personalized measured dosing inhalation device having one or more cartridges containing vaporizable-liquid, one or more corresponding atomizers configured to vaporize the liquid so as to be inhaled by a user, a micro controller configured to monitor and regulate the vaporization process at one or more of the cartridges, and one or more external biometric sensors configured to be in communication with the controller, wherein the controller regulates vaporization of the liquid only upon authorization conveyed by the biometric sensors and when predetermined conditions are satisfied, the authorization condition being partially determined by input signaling received from internal sensors coupled to the cartridges and/or outlet.

Abstract: A tree shear head assembly is comprised of a connecting frame which provides connecting sections, one of which is angulated at a specific angle to connect to a boom of a motorized vehicle. The connecting frame has a shear structure secured to a lower connecting wall thereof and additional connecting sections for attachment of at least one of a clamping grapple and a tree trunk support fork secured to a support column. The shear structure has a blade which co-acts with a channel formed between gripping plates to immovably arrest a tree trunk being cut by the blade with a slicing action to prevent shattering of the trunk and damage to the tree fibers thereby achieving a clean cut. Different combinations of the shear head assembly with the clamping grapple and/or the tree support fork are easily adapted in combination with the tree shear head assembly.

Abstract: A sealed optical street luminaire having a luminaire housing fitted with a clear, flat lens and provided with an LED light source assembly mounted in the housing. The light source assembly has a heat dissipating LED support member secured to a heat conductive adapter for securement in the luminaire housing. A reflector is secured in the luminaire housing behind the lens which is sealingly positioned about the reflector. The LED support member supports LED modules at a predetermined angle and orientation relative to an inner reflective surface of the circumferential wall of the reflector. The heat dissipating LED support member and the heat conductive adapter dissipate heat through the luminaire housing.

Abstract: A sealed optical street luminaire having a luminaire housing fitted with a clear, flat lens and provided with an LED light source assembly mounted in the housing. The light source assembly has a heat dissipating LED support member secured to a heat conductive adapter for securement in the luminaire housing. A reflector is secured in the luminaire housing. The LED support member supports LED modules at a predetermined angle and orientation relative to an inner reflective surface of the circumferential wall of the reflector. The heat dissipating LED support member and the heat conductive adapter dissipate heat through the luminaire housing whereby to operate the LED modules at a lower temperature than the critical thermal temperature Tc of the LED modules whereby to achieve lifespan, photometric and colorometric rating of the LED modules.

Abstract: A vehicle exhaust system has a first exhaust pipe adapted to be connected to a first exhaust port of an engine, a first expansion chamber connected to the first exhaust pipe, a second exhaust pipe adapted to be connected to a second exhaust port of an engine, a second expansion chamber connected to the second exhaust pipe, a collector connected to the first and second expansion chambers, a third exhaust pipe connected to the collector, and a first muffler connected to the third exhaust pipe. A vehicle having the vehicle exhaust system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sealed optical street luminaire having a luminaire housing fitted with a clear, flat lens and provided with an LED light source assembly mounted in the housing. The light source assembly has a heat dissipating LED support member secured to a heat conductive adapter for securement in the luminaire housing. A reflector is secured in the luminaire housing. The LED support member supports LED modules at a predetermined angle and orientation relative to an inner reflective surface of the circumferential wall of the reflector. The heat dissipating LED support member and the heat conductive adapter dissipate heat through the luminaire housing whereby to operate the LED modules at a lower temperature than the critical thermal temperature Tc of the LED modules whereby to achieve lifespan, photometric and colorometric rating of the LED modules.

Abstract: A retrofit LED lamp assembly for the replacement of light bulbs in optical lamps mounted elevated on support posts is described. The optical lamps have a lamp housing with a reflector secured therein and supporting a light bulb. A glass shade projects the light. The retrofit LED lamp assembly has a support member on which light emitting diodes (LED's) are electrically insulatingly supported to replace the light bulb. An adjustable connection assembly is provided to secure the support member to the reflector. The support member is configured to position the LED's at a predetermined angle and orientation relative to configured reflective surface segments of the reflector whereby to produce a desired oriented photometric light distribution pattern. A heat sink is securable in contact with the support member to dissipate heat. A clear tempered glass lens replaces the glass shade.