According to an embodiment, a centrifugal separation apparatus includes, a centrifugal separator comprising a retainer and a rotating member for rotation of the retainer, the retainer adapted to retain a workpiece, an imaging unit configured to acquire a detection image of an installation position at which the retainer is placed, a transfer mechanism configured to move the workpiece into the centrifugal separator, and a sensor processing unit configured to detect, based on the detection image acquired after an installation process of placing the workpiece into the retainer and before a rotation process of rotating the rotating member, a state of the workpiece subjected to the installation process.

Systems and methods for automated cap removal with an autosampler system are described. In an aspect, an autosampler system includes, but is not limited to, a sample rack; a sample vessel stabilizer configured to transition the sample rack between a load/unload state and a lock state; an uncapper supported by a first z-axis support; and a sample probe supported by a second z-axis support, wherein the uncapper is configured to remove a cap from a sample vessel held by the sample rack when the sample rack is in the lock state, and wherein the uncapper is configured to change the position of the removed cap to permit access to an interior of the sample vessel by the sample probe without removing the sample vessel from the sample rack.

A rheology system includes a rheometer including a lower plate and an upper plate, a manipulator including an arm, a loading end effector, a cleaning end effector, and a controller communicatively coupled to the rheometer and the manipulator, the controller including a processor and a computer readable and executable instruction set, which when executed, causes the processor to direct the manipulator to couple the loading end effector to the arm, direct the manipulator engage a specimen with the loading end effector, direct the manipulator to position the specimen on the lower plate of the rheometer, direct the upper plate to engage the specimen between the upper plate and the lower plate, direct the manipulator to couple the cleaning end effector to the arm, and direct the manipulator to engage the lower plate with the cleaning end effector.

The present teachings provide apparatuses and methods for automated handling of samples, e.g., biological or chemical samples. The apparatuses and the methods of the present teachings allow automated performance of various sample manipulation steps without manual intervention. In a preferred embodiment, the present teachings provide apparatuses and methods for automated enrichment of templated beads produced by PCR.

A system and method provides a supply of consumables to a processing instrument that uses one or more of the consumables for each of a plurality of processes performed by the instrument. The system includes a loading drawer holding a carrier for receiving a plurality of consumables and an input module for holding a carrier supporting a plurality of consumables thereon and presenting the consumables for access by the instrument. A transporter includes a vertical elevator and a lateral actuator for moving a lift platform vertically and laterally and for transporting carriers on the lift platform with or without consumables supported thereon between the loading drawer and the input module, between the loading drawer and one or more holding shelves, or between the input module and one or more holding shelves. A carrier includes parallel support rails for holding multiple receptacle units and retainer tabs for retaining the units on the support rails.

Slide analysis a gripper with three sensors for controlling a slide grip sequence and at least one rotatable carousel with a slide receiving channel. The systems also include a robot with a robot arm that holds a slide gripper residing inside the housing in communication with the rotatable carousel. The systems also include a load lock chamber and a door sealably coupled to the second end portion and an acquisition vacuum chamber with an X-Y stage and a slide holder with a vacuum seal.

The purpose of the present invention is to embody an inspection device wherein dew condensation in a sample container, in particular, in the lid thereof can be prevented or quickly removed without giving heat shock to a sample in the sample container. For this purpose, provided is an inspection device comprising an isothermal part 110 which comprises a rack 111 and maintains a sample container 150 storing a sample in a temperature-controlled environment, said sample container 150 comprising a plate and a lid, a detection part 120 which comprises an optical device for observing and inspecting the sample stored in the sample container, and a transportation part 130 which transports the sample container from the isothermal part to the detection part and vice versa, wherein at least one of the isothermal part, detection part and transportation part is provided with a member by which the lid of the sample container is held in a state lifted from the plate.

Systems and methods applicable, for instance, to pipette robots. A pipette robot can perform one or more operations regarding deck calibration, one or more operations regarding pipette tip/probe calibration, one or more operations regarding pipette tip pick up, and/or one or more operations regarding tip ejection.

Methods and devices are provided herein for identifying a cell population comprising an effector cell that exerts an extracellular effect. In one embodiment the method comprises retaining in a microreactor a cell population comprising one or more effector cells, wherein the contents of the microreactor further comprise a readout particle population comprising one or more readout particles, incubating the cell population and the readout particle population within the microreactor, assaying the cell population for the presence of the extracellular effect, wherein the readout particle population or subpopulation thereof provides a direct or indirect readout of the extracellular effect, and determining, based on the results of the assaying step, whether one or more effector cells within the cell population exerts the extracellular effect on the readout particle. If an extracellular effect is measured, the cell population is recovered for further analysis to determine the cell or cells responsible for the effect.

Disclosed herein are formulations, substrates, and arrays. Also disclosed herein are methods for manufacturing and using the formulations, substrates, and arrays. Also disclosed are methods for identifying peptide sequences useful for diagnosis and treatment of disorders, and methods for using the peptide sequences for diagnosis and treatment of disorders, e.g., celiac disorder. In certain embodiments, substrates and arrays comprise a porous layer for synthesis and attachment of polymers or biomolecules.