Abstract: A liquid chromatography sample manager includes a sampling mechanism; a sample platter mounted in the sampling mechanism, the sample platter configured to rotate about a first vertical axis; a needle arm mounted within the sampling mechanism, the needle arm configured to rotate about a second vertical axis; and a sample delivery system in fluidic communication with solvent delivery system, the sample delivery system including a sample needle attached to the needle arm, the sample delivery system configured to transfer a first sample from a first sample vial carrier located in the sample platter into a chromatographic flow stream.

Abstract: An improved system and method for the selection and dispensing of reagents onto a target testing medium in an automated laboratory environment. The system utilizes multiple carousels rotatably-mounted upon a central turntable. The position of the central turntable, as well as the rotation of each carousel is controlled by a microprocessor-based control system. Multiple dispensers, each capable of storing and dispensing a particular reagent, are mounted about the circumference of each carousel. This configuration provides much higher reagent density than previously available. The testing medium is positioned at one or more loading stations. The control system directs the central turntable to a position from which a selected one of the carousels can be rotated so as to position a selected dispenser above the testing medium. The selected dispenser is then actuated to release a predetermined reagent onto the testing medium.

Abstract: A biological analysis system comprising at least one inlet and one outlet, at least two biological analysis devices connected to one another by a conveyor defining a closed circuit, each biological analysis device comprising a region for the exchange of tube holding racks with the conveyor. The conveyor and the at least one inlet of the biological analysis system comprise a reader of an identifier of a tube holding rack which reader is designed to communicate an identifier it has read to a controller of the biological analysis system, which controller is designed to apply a specific treatment to a tube holding rack identified by the reader of the conveyor and the identifier of which has not previously been read by the reader of the at least one inlet of the biological analysis system.

Abstract: A fluid sampler system includes a fluidic head including a gas aperture capable of communication with a pressurized gas source, a liquid conduit capable of communication with a sample reservoir, and a seal capable of forming a compression seal to the sample reservoir when gas pressure is applied to the sample reservoir through the gas aperture and capable of displacing a portion of the sample through the liquid conduit; and a positioning apparatus capable of positioning the fluidic head and the sample reservoir in communication with one another. A method for providing an aliquot of sample, includes forming a releasable compression seal to a reservoir including a liquid sample; pressurizing the reservoir with compressed gas; displacing an aliquot of the sample from the reservoir; and transferring the displaced aliquot of the sample to a location.

Abstract: There is provided a sample inspection automation system which uses a single holder as its carrier, which can supply empty holders to a distant processing unit on an extended circling path without delay, and which permits continuous operation in case of a failure through detachment of a failed part for example. The system combining a plurality of processing units has an empty holder circling path with a mechanism to circle empty holders across all processing units within the system in unicursal fashion; stoppers for retaining empty holders on the circling path; and a mechanism for controlling the stoppers on the circling path given an empty holder request from a processing unit. The empty holder circling path is made of a plurality of loops each equipped with the stopper. The sample inspection automation system thus configured supplies empty holders efficiently and simplifies system operation through fallback operation.

Abstract: A plate handling system for a sampling device with a drawtube that includes a vertical actuation system that adjusts the vertical distance between the drawtube and a sample tray, a horizontal linkage system that positions a sample tray in a horizontal plane, and a drive system that drives the rotational motion of the horizontal linkage system. The horizontal linkage system includes a base arm that rotates about a base joint, and a sample arm that rotates about a sample arm joint on the base arm.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes aspirating an aliquot volume of a sample in a primary sample container located in an aspiration position in an aliquotter module, and dispensing the aliquot volume of the sample in a secondary sample container located in a dispensing position in the aliquotter module. The method also includes the step of causing the secondary sample container to leave the aliquotter module before the primary sample container.

Abstract: A smoke evaluation device includes a manifold in fluid communication with a source of smoke, and a first sampling line and a second sampling line in fluid communication with the manifold. The first sampling line and the second sampling line are arranged to convey parallel smoke flows. A first filter station is located in the first sampling line, and is adapted to support a filter paper in fluid communication with the smoke. A first circuit board station is located in the second sampling line, and is adapted to support a circuit board in fluid communication with the smoke.

Abstract: The invention provides extraction columns for the purification of an analyte (e.g., a biological macromolecule, such as a peptide, protein or nucleic acid) from a sample solution, as well as methods for making and using such columns. The columns typically include a bed of extraction media positioned in the column between two frits. In some embodiments, the extraction columns employ modified pipette tips as column bodies. In some embodiments, the method involves adjusting the head pressure of the column during the process, or otherwise controlling or regulating the head pressure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a polar coordinate positioning system. The system can be used, for example, to sample a microtiter plate or sample tubes. In some embodiments, the system orients a sample with respect to a sampling tool using polar coordinates. In some embodiments, the sample is configured to rotate about an axis and move linearly in a direction transverse to the axis, and the sampling tool is configured to move linearly in a direction transverse to the linearly movement of the sample.

Abstract: A pipette including a cylinder part having a cylinder and a tip part, which includes a tip channel connected to the cylinder and a movable piston tightly fit within the cylinder for aspirating liquid into and removing liquid from the tip container attached to the cylinder. In the pipette at least the tip part is made of an elastic material, such as rubber. The tip container can thus be easily and reliably fixed to and removed from the tip container.

Abstract: A module for staging sample tubes and mixing the samples contained in the sample tubes for an automated clinical analyzer. In one embodiment, this module comprises a mixing drum, which is capable of mixing the contents of a sample tube in an end-over-end manner. The mixing drum is capable of mixing samples in the sample tubes without separating the solid components of the sample, e.g., red blood cells from the liquid components of the sample, e.g., plasma. A device for elevating the sample tube in the sample tube carrier can be used to enable the cap of the sample tube to be punctured by a piercing element in a piercing assembly. After the cap of the sample tube is punctured, a probe for aspirating the sample from said sample tube can obtain the sample in the receptacle of the sample tube through a bore in the piercing element. The piercing assembly can include a resiliently biased element for ejecting the sample tube from the piercing assembly.

Abstract: An injection pump assembly 10 in a chemical delivery system for simultaneously delivering reagents into a combinatorial reactor system having multiple injectors. The assembly 10 has a plurality of injectors 12, each injector 12 being in fluid communication with one of the multiple reactors. Each injector 12 has (1) a pump 14 in which a plunger 18 sealingly moves to ingest, store and discharge a flushing solvent 20; (2) a pipette assembly 22 for loading, storing, and discharging one or more reagents into one of the reactors in the combinatorial reactor system, first and second reservoirs for retaining some of the reagents; (3) one or more hollow needles 32, each for selectively delivering a reagent 24 to the first 28 or the second 24 reservoir; (4) a first valve 34 positioned downstream of the first 28 reservoir; and (5) a second valve 36 positioned downstream of the second 30 reservoir. When each valve 34, 36 is in a closed position, the reagents 24, 48 can be stored in isolation from each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically sensing the presence (or absence) of spot dispensers such as pins in various possible mounting locations in the printhead of a microarray spotting instrument. Pin-location data obtained by the method and apparatus is provided to the computer controller of the instrument, which uses the data to control the motion of the printhead during operation of the instrument. A pin detection apparatus includes one or more sensor elements that automatically sense possible pin locations in the printhead for the presence of pins. The sensor elements are preferably arranged in an array corresponding to the array of pin locations in the printhead so that pin detection at each pin location can be performed simultaneously. Various types of sensor elements can be used to locate pins in a printhead. For example, sensors can be used that are remote from or attached to a printhead.

Abstract: This device is directed at filling multiple receptacles without losing integrity of the system. It is also directed at receiving a (sealed) container of receptacles (opened or stopper/closed), opening an access into the sealed container, retrieving receptacles, filling those receptacles, stoppering the receptacles after filling and ejecting the receptacles, either directly into the outside environment or into a closable sack or container, in the latter case while maintaining the integrity of the environment within the device and, if desirable, the sack or closed container.

Abstract: A sample plate structure is provided including a retainer plate having a central recess with a trough along its periphery, a sample insert plate which fits into and rests on contact surface of the recess, and a magnet that is held below the contact surface. A portion of the bottom surface of the insert is formed of a magnetic material. The magnet provides sufficient force to retain the insert plate in the retainer plate during MALDI MS analysis. The sample insert plate is provided with a peripheral configuration, which assures that the sample insert plate is properly oriented within the sample plate support structure and is held flat. A hole for a protrusion allows easy insert installation and alignment against the orientation feature in the recess as well as easy removal of the insert simply by pushing up from underneath the retainer plate. While the insert sample plate can be a consumable, the remaining portion of the apparatus can be reused.

Abstract: The invention concerns a pipette comprising a body, an arm mobile relative to the body along a longitudinal direction to eject a tip fixed to the body and a push button controlling the movement of the arm. The pipette is designed such that the push button is mobile relative to the body in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction by being able to take up any one particular position in a continuous range of positions in said plane and enabling to control the movement of the arm in said any particular position.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for mixing a liquid within a disposable aspirating probe tip so that most of the liquid is forced to move past a transition zone between two different inside diameters to cause rotational mixing. The apparatus and method can be used to provide agglutination of blood, which in turn can be used for blood typing. The probe tip can comprise a single integral piece, or two separate portions. The transition zone can comprise a sharp demarcation between inside diameters, or a smooth one.

Abstract: A fluid level detection system includes an illumination source and a photodetector. The illumination source produces a beam at a fixed angle, which the photodetector is adapted to sense as it is reflected from the surface of a fluid. The photodetector varies in accord with the amount of the reflected beam that impinges on it. This amount, in turn, varies with the distance between the surface of the fluid, the illumination source and photodetector. The system can be used, for example, in automated pipetting applications in which it is important to ascertain the position of a pipette tip with respect to fluid contained within a body to provide safe and effective automatic processing of the fluid without the pipette tip contacting the body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing a sample of flowable material from a closed system inside a receptacle without exposing the sample to the ambient environment. The apparatus includes a housing having an opening at one end for receiving a receptacle and stopper. An end cap is removably mounted to the housing for opening and closing the opening. An inlet is provided in the housing for feeding a cleaning or sterilizing agent or the flowable material to be sampled into an interior of the housing. A clasp is provided to manipulate the receptacle to separate the receptacle and the stopper while the stopper and receptacle are inside of the housing. Once the receptacle and the stopper are separated, the flowable material is fed into the receptacle through the inlet. The clasp is then manipulated to reattach the receptacle and the stopper in order to capture the flowable material.

Abstract: In order to provide an automatic testing apparatus with improved reliability of test results, capable of conducting automatically such operations as sterile testing, microorganism limit testing, insoluble particulate measurement testing, divided portion testing for chemical analysis and chemical reaction testing, etc., and capable of accommodating changes in the specimen or the test container with each sample as well as changes in operating procedures with each sample so as to eliminate the possibility of human error and prevent contamination of the operating environment by human hands, the automatic testing apparatus of the present invention prepares a sample by mounting a set of various pieces of equipment including the specimen or test containers required to be changed with every sample atop a same work base and providing that work base as a unit to within the operating range of a robot, with the robot then handling the various pieces of equipment atop the work base to prepare the sample.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a plurality of arrays of reagent regions is disclosed. A dispensing assembly in the apparatus has a plurality of heads which are spaced for depositing reagents at selected positions in different array areas in a substrate. As the heads in the assembly are advanced along array area, the regions in a row in that array are successively filled, allowing parallel deposition in several array areas at reagent regions which are closely spaced relative to the spacing between deposition heads in the assembly. Also disclosed is a method for producing a plurality of arrays using the apparatus.