A microfluidic group includes a female connector and a male needle connector. The female connector has a connector chamber in a containment body; a duct extending in the containment body to a duct opening on a first face of the connector chamber; a needle entry hole extending from a lateral face of the containment body to a second face, not facing the first face of the connector chamber; and a gasket arranged in the connector chamber. The gasket has a side wall internally delimiting a cavity and extending in part adjacent to the second face of the connector chamber. The cavity of the gasket faces the first face of the connector chamber.

The present invention relates to a fluid transport system for an automated slide treatment apparatus for treating one or more tissue samples disposed on slides, whereby the slide treatment apparatus includes a plurality of slide treatment modules arranged to receive ones of the slides, and the fluid transport system includes a fluid dispensing robot configured by a controller to dispense a plurality of reagents to said ones of the slides received in the slide treatment modules to treat said one or more tissue samples respectively.

A system for detecting analytes in a test sample, and a method for processing the same, is provided. The system includes a cartridge reader unit that has a control unit and a pneumatic system, and a cartridge assembly that prepares the samples with mixing material(s) through communication channels. The assembly has a memory chip with parameters for preparing the sample and at least one sensor. The assembly, pneumatic system, and control unit operate together to prepare the sample and provide the prepared sample to the sensor for detecting analytes, and also process measurements from the sensor to generate test results.

Systems and methods that enable automated spray deposition of biological specimens carried on microscope slides are described herein. Aspects of the technology are directed, for example, to automated specimen deposition systems and methods of generating high-quality, reproducible specimen-bearing microscope slides in automated processing systems.

An in vitro diagnostic analyzer and a reagent card. The reagent card includes a reagent card body and a mounting body. The mounting body includes a mounting hole configured to be sleeved on receive a sample tube, a hollow needle disposed in the mounting hole, a sealing portion disposed in the mounting hole, and a gas inlet channel. An end of the hollow needle is capable of being inserted into the sample tube. The sealing portion is capable of being in sealing fit with an outer wall of the sample tube. The gas inlet channel includes a gas outlet hole, a gas inlet hole, and a first flow-stopping structure. The gas inlet hole is disposed in a surface of the reagent card body. The first flow-stopping structure is disposed between the gas outlet hole and the gas inlet hole. The gas outlet hole is configured to be in fluid communication with the sample tube mounted on the mounting hole. The reagent card body includes a sample feeding channel, a test chamber, and a venting end. The sample feeding channel is in fluid communication with a liquid outlet end of the hollow needle. The sample feeding channel and the venting end are both in fluid communication with the test chamber

A method for the distribution of supports includes positioning a plurality di tubular containers, each containing a plurality of supports impregnated with antibiotics and stacked, in a corresponding plurality of seats of a dispenser. Extraction of at least a first support from a first container, is performed using an extractor, moving the first support between a first position inside of the first container and a second position extracted from the first container. Collection of the first support from the second position by a collector is performed. Transportation of the first support towards a culture plate by the collector is performed, the first support is held at least at the end of extraction, in substantial correspondence of the second position and/or during collection and/or of transportation through the collector, a vacuum is created between the first support and a striking surface using a vacuum holder.

Automated system configured to perform and methods for performing one or more slide processing operations on slides bearing biological samples. The system and methods enable high sample throughput while also minimizing or limiting the potential for cross-contamination of slides. The automated systems can include features that facilitate consistency, controllability of processing time, and/or processing temperature.

The present invention relates to a horizontal-flow-type apparatus for automatically transporting reagent cartridges. The apparatus includes: a magazine (110) in which a plurality of reagent cartridges (1) is stacked; a conveyer belt (120) having a plurality of separating projections (121) arranged in a conveying direction to horizontally separately convey the reagent cartridges (1); a driving motor (130) for driving the conveyer belt (120); a feeding unit (140) for feeding the reagent cartridges (1) stacked in the magazine (110) onto the conveyer belt (120); an examining unit (150) disposed over the front end of the conveyer belt (120) to examine the reagent cartridges (1); and reagent cartridge aligning members (161, 162) disposed in the conveying line of the conveyer belt (120), opposite to the examining unit (150), to align the reagent cartridges (1) in position.

Arrays of integrated analytical devices are provided. The arrays are useful in the analysis of highly multiplexed optical reactions in large numbers at high densities, including biochemical reactions, such as nucleic acid sequencing reactions. In particular, the arrays provide increased efficiency of optical collection and decreased background signal as the lateral dimensions of the unit cell of devices within the array are decreased, for example as they are decreased to 2 μm, or even less.

A stall detection system is provided that determines if a glass slide in motion during an automated process is at risk for being damaged and stops motion in the event of an unacceptable risk of damage. The system includes one or more motors configured to move a glass slide (directly or indirectly). The motors are configured to generate a load resistance value. The system includes one or more processors that monitor the load resistance value of a motor during motion and compares the load resistance value to a predetermined threshold resistance value to determine the risk of a glass slide being damaged. The predetermined threshold resistance value may correspond to a risk of slide breakage in response to a force applied to any surface of the slide, or a risk of losing a controlling grip on a slide rack, or a risk of a motor skipping a motor step.