A device for handling laboratory plates comprising a base platform and opposing gripping members including one or more gripping members each pivotally attached to a first side of the base platform and one or more gripping members each pivotally attached to a second side of the base platform, wherein said gripping members extend down from the base platform and include a gripping tip disposed at the end of the gripping member, and methods of using the same.

Load lock assemblies for a sample analysis system, such as a mass spectrometry system, include a load lock chamber having longitudinally opposing first and second end portions and a through channel, a door coupled to the second end portion, and a seal assembly coupled to the first end portion. The seal assembly includes a rigid seal housing member coupled to a housing of the load lock chamber. The rigid seal housing member includes a port forming part of the first end portion of the through channel of the load lock chamber. The rigid seal housing member can include a self-centering cartridge and/or a flexure member coupled to the housing of the load lock chamber. Where used, the flexure member has an outer perimeter that extends above and below the rigid seal housing member and includes an aperture that is aligned with the port of the rigid seal housing member.

A pathological specimen preparation device includes a stage portion including a stage, a reagent supply portion 150 capable of supplying a reagent to a substrate W mounted on the stage, a washing portion capable of supplying a washing solution to the substrate, an electric field stirring portion capable of stirring the reagent or the washing solution supplied to the substrate by applying an electric field to the reagent or the washing solution, and a control unit, wherein the washing portion, the reagent supply portion, and the electric field stirring portion are sequentially disposed in a Y direction as a first direction, and the device includes a stage transport mechanism that moves the stage in the Y direction, and a stage tilting mechanism that tilts the stage in an X direction as a second direction crossing the Y direction when the stage is positioned in the washing portion.

A test strip code reader is provided. The test strip code reader includes a test strip carrier for accommodating a test strip, a first conductive element for decoding a code of the test strip, a second conductive element configured to be in a contact state or a separation state with the first conductive element, and an activation element having a body and a plurality of protrusions, wherein the body is used to prevent the first conductive element from being contaminated, and according to whether the plurality of protrusions are actuated by the test strip, the contact state or the separation state between the first conductive element and the second conductive element is determined to decode the code of the test strip.

An apparatus for depositing and staining a cellular sample, includes a slide processing module comprising a specimen input port (SIP) dock configured to receive a SIP consumable comprising the cellular sample, and position the SIP consumable such that a spray nozzle of the SIP consumable and an air nozzle of the slide processing module are aligned prior to a deposition operation, and a user interface configured receive an input from a user that configures the deposition operation and a staining operation, and an auxiliary systems module, coupled to the slide processing module, comprising a chassis including a removable storage container configured to hold a plurality of bottles comprising one or more of a reagent, a buffer solution, or an ethanol-based fixative, and an electronics subsystem configured to execute, based on the input from the user, a pre-programmed protocol for the deposition operation and the staining operation.

An automated system is provided for performing slide processing operations on slides bearing biological samples. In one embodiment, the disclosed system includes a slide tray holding a plurality of slides in a substantially horizontal position and a workstation that receives the slide tray. In a particular embodiment, a workstation delivers a reagent to slide surfaces without substantial transfer of reagent (and reagent borne contaminants such as dislodged cells) from one slide to another. A method for automated processing of slides also is provided.

An apparatus for spreading at least one reagent on at least a portion of a microscope slide includes a spreading device positionable in association with a microscope slide in a way that the spreading device defines a gap between the spreading device and the microscope slide and in a way that the spreading device and the microscope slide are movable relative to one another to spread at least one reagent on at least a portion of the microscope. The spreading device has a reservoir in which the at least one reagent is stored in a way that the at least one reagent is dischargeable from the reservoir onto the microscope slide when the spreading device is positioned in association with the microscope slide.

A system for use in sample analysis that includes a biosensor reagent that includes living biological cells that are adapted to recognize an analyte of interest; a plurality of reservoir cards, wherein each reservoir card is adapted to store the biosensor reagent; and at least one dispensing unit for storing the reservoir cards and dispensing the reservoir cards one at a time, wherein the at least one dispensing unit further includes a housing that includes an internal chamber for containing a plurality of reservoir cards stacked on top of one another; a moveable platform positioned within the housing, wherein the platform is positioned beneath the stack of reservoir cards, and where in the platform is adapted to lift the stack of reservoir cards a predetermined distance after a reservoir card has been dispensed; and a shuttle positioned within the housing, wherein the shuttle is positioned on top of the stack of reservoir cards, and wherein the shuttle is adapted to dispense a single reservoir card from the dispensing unit when the shuttle is actuated.

In some aspects, automated rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems for performing a multi-assay testing sequence can include an automated incubation assembly having a nest assembly adapted to house at least one test panel having a plurality of wells for receiving a sample comprising microorganisms originating from a clinical sample, the incubation assembly facilitating incubation of one or more test panels in order to undergo the multi-assay testing sequence; a robotic handling assembly configured to accept one or more incoming test panels and move them to and from the incubation assembly for incubation between each assay of the multi-assay testing sequence; an automated liquid handling assembly configured to exchange one or more fluids in the plurality of wells of the test panels; and an optical assembly for interrogation and readout of each assay of the multi-assay testing sequence being performed in the plurality of wells.

An analysis device includes a guide-in section, a placement section, an illumination member, a pressing member, and a measurement member. The guide-in section is configured to guide a rectangular block shaped analysis kit containing a sample. The analysis kit is placed on the placement section in the guide-in section. The illumination member is inserted into an insertion hole formed in the analysis kit, contacts a bottom of the insertion hole, and illuminates light onto the sample. The pressing member is configured by a separate body to the illumination member and presses the analysis kit such that the analysis kit placed on the placement section is sandwiched between the pressing member and the placement section and retained at a predetermined position. The measurement section measures a component present in the sample using light illuminated from the illumination member onto the sample in the analysis kit placed on the placement section.