To provide a high-throughput automatic analysis apparatus at a lower cost. The automatic analysis apparatus includes an incubator which accommodates a plurality of reaction vessels; a specimen dispensing mechanism which dispenses a specimen into each of the plurality of reaction vessels; a mounting unit which mounts a dispensing tip on the specimen dispensing mechanism; a suction unit which sucks a specimen from a specimen vessel containing the specimen by means of the specimen dispensing mechanism having the dispensing mounted thereon; a discharging unit which is provided in the incubator and discharges the specimen from the specimen dispensing mechanism to the reaction vessel; a disposal unit which discards the dispensing tip; a sensor which detects whether the dispensing tip is mounted to the specimen dispensing mechanism; and a control unit which controls the specimen dispensing mechanism. The mounting unit, the suction unit, the discharging unit, and the disposal unit are arranged along a movement path of the specimen dispensing mechanism. The sensor is arranged so as to be able to detect the dispensing tip at a position sandwiched between any two of the mounting unit, the suction unit, the discharging unit, and the disposal unit.

The present disclosure relates generally to methods and systems for detecting, characterizing biomarker expression and morphological analysis in cell samples. The methods allow for the use of automated platforms to stain cells for molecular biomarkers and Romanowsky-type staining for cell morphology analysis. Cells that are prepared according to the disclosed methods can also be used in the diagnosis of certain conditions.

A dispensing device which has a dispensing channel extending between a supply opening and an output opening into the course of which a pump, a selection valve and a dispensing valve are connected. The selection valve is also connected to a pressurised air source. The dispensing device allows a dispensed output of a fluid, wherein a buffer channel portion is filled by the pump in a pump dispensing phase, to which buffer channel portion pressure is applied from the pressurised air source during a pressurised air dispensing phase such that a precise fluid output is subsequently possible by clocked actuation of the dispensing valve until the target fluid amount has been reached.

A dispensing device which has a dispensing channel extending between a supply opening and an output opening into the course of which a pump, a selection valve and a dispensing valve are connected. The selection valve is also connected to a pressurised air source. The dispensing device allows a dispensed output of a fluid, wherein a buffer channel portion is filled by the pump in a pump dispensing phase, to which buffer channel portion pressure is applied from the pressurised air source during a pressurised air dispensing phase such that a precise fluid output is subsequently possible by clocked actuation of the dispensing valve until the target fluid amount has been reached.

An integrated fluid ejection and spectroscopic sensing system may include a fluid ejector to eject a droplet of fluid through an ejection orifice towards a deposition site, a sensor array, a dispersive element to project light onto the sensor array. The dispersive element, the sensor and the fluid ejector are joined as part of an integrated unit.

A quality control method for a diagnostic analyzer includes performing a quality control test or a plurality of specimen tests; determining, with a controller, that a result of the quality control test or a plurality of specimen test results is outside of a threshold; monitoring one or more mechanical devices of the diagnostic analyzer with the controller; receiving, by the controller, an error code indicating an error in a mechanical device of the one or more mechanical devices; and initiating a calibration procedure in response to the result of the quality control test or the plurality of specimen test results being outside of the threshold and receiving the error code. Other apparatus and methods are disclosed.

Systems and methods for continuous flow polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are provided. The system comprises an injector, a mixer, a coalescer, a droplet generator, a detector, a digital PCR system, and a controller. The injector takes in a sample, partitions the sample into sample aliquots with the help of an immiscible oil phase, dispenses waste, and sends the sample aliquot to the mixer. The mixer mixes the sample aliquot with a PCR master mix and diluting water, dispenses waste, and sends the sample mixture (separated by an immiscible oil) to the coalescer. The coalescer coalesces the sample mixture with primers dispensed from a cassette, dispenses waste, and sends the reaction mixture (separated by an immiscible oil) to the droplet generator. The droplet generator converts the sample mixture into an emulsion where aqueous droplets of the reaction mixture are maintained inside of an immiscible oil phase and dispenses droplets to the digital PCR system. The digital PCR system amplifies target DNAs in the droplets. The detector detects target DNAs in the droplets. The controller controls the system to run automatically and continuously.

The technology described herein generally relates to systems for extracting polynucleotides from multiple samples, particularly from biological samples, and additionally to systems that subsequently amplify and detect the extracted polynucleotides. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on multiple samples of nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides. The technology still more particularly relates to automated devices for carrying out pipetting operations, particularly on samples in parallel, consistent with sample preparation and delivery of PCR-ready nucleotide extracts to a cartridge wherein PCR is run.

A pipetting device for outputting amounts of a dosing fluid of less than 1 μl including a fluid volume; a pipetting plunger that can be moved along a plunger path, wherein a displacement of the pipetting plunger brings about a first pressure change in the fluid volume; a movement drive which is force-transmittingly connected to the pipetting plunger in order to drive the pipetting plunger such that it moves along the plunger path; a sound source which is designed to generate at least one sound impulse as a second pressure change in the fluid volume; and a control device which is designed to control the movement drive and the sound source, the pipetting device having a pipetting channel which extends along a channel axis and in which both the pipetting plunger is moveably accommodated along the channel axis as the plunger path and the fluid volume is accommodated, wherein the fluid volume includes a working gas which wets a plunger surface of the pipetting plunger, wherein, in addition, the sound source is designed and arranged to generate the at least one sound impulse in the working gas.

An automated analyzer includes an analysis operation part that causes a sample and a reagent to react and based on the reaction result performs analysis of the sample, wherein: the automated analyzer includes a plurality of units constituting the analysis operation part, a temperature adjustment mechanism that heats or cools the units, a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the units, and a control part that controls the temperature adjustment mechanism. The control part sets the measurement startable temperature range of each unit, which is the temperature range of the operation specification thereof, and the operable temperature range, which is a temperature range that is wider than the measurement startable temperature range, and starts the analysis process of the sample when the temperature of each unit has entered the operable temperature range.