The purpose of this invention is to provide an automated analyzer that is capable of photographing operations at a plurality of processing units while suppressing manufacturing cost growth. This automated analyzer comprises a plurality of processing units for carrying out operations related to analysis, a plurality of measurement instrument mounting parts that are disposed in each of the plurality of processing units and upon which a measuring instrument for measuring the operations of the plurality of processing units can be mounted, and a control unit for controlling the plurality of processing units. The plurality of measurement instrument mounting parts are configured such that the measuring instrument can be removed from each of the measurement instrument mounting parts and such that after being removed from one measurement instrument mounting part, the measuring instrument can be mounted on another measurement instrument mounting part.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides devices and methods for sample extraction from a swab during biological sample processing. In particular embodiments, the devices and methods are configured for use in conjunction with microfluidic devices for sample processing.

An apparatus, multi-well plate and method for automated cell lysis and nucleic acid purification and processing. The plate includes a lysis well, at least one wash well, and an elution well. The apparatus includes a vertically aligned rotor mixer comprising a magnetic tip and actuators for moving the rotor mixer in a vertical and horizontal directions, to transfer magnetic beads from well to well. The rotor mixer is used to vortex lysis mixtures, wherein the vortexing speed is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction between the beads and mixer tip and disperse the beads in solution, to collect nucleic acids such as DNA.

Automatic device for the automated conduct of analyses, notably medical analyses, including: 43. a storage zone for bottles, 44. an automated sampling system for selectively sampling the content of a bottle among those present in the storage zone, 45. a loading zone for introducing a new bottle into the automatic device, 46. an unloading zone for collecting a bottle previously present in the storage zone, 47. a bottle conveyor and storage system, configured selectively and individually to transport a bottle from a location in the storage zone to the unloading zone or from the loading zone to a location in the storage zone.

The present disclosure provides approaches for reducing tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in tobacco. Some of these approaches include genetically engineering tobacco plants to increase one or more antioxidants, increase oxygen radicle absorbance capacity (ORAC), or reduce nitrite. Also provided are methods and compositions for producing modified tobacco plants and tobacco products therefrom comprising reduced TSNAs.

The present invention reduces the turnaround time of an automated analyzer. During a period when cyclic measurement by a measurement unit is unnecessary, a controller washes a reaction vessel using a washing cycle having a cycle time shorter than that of an analysis cycle. A single analysis cycle and a single washing cycle both include a reaction disc stopping period and rotation period. In the washing cycle, there is no time during the stopping period when a sample dispensing mechanism, reagent dispensing mechanism, or stirring mechanism operates but there is a time when a washing mechanism operates. The washing cycle stopping period is shorter than the analysis cycle stopping period. The amount of rotation of the reaction disk in the analysis cycle rotation period is the same as the amount of rotation of the reaction disk in the washing cycle rotation period.

According to one embodiment, an automatic analyzing apparatus includes a feeder and a mixer unit. The feeder is configured to feed a first liquid and a second liquid. The mixer unit includes an inflow part, an internal space, and an outflow part. The mixer unit is configured so that the first liquid and the second liquid fed from the feeder enter through the inflow part, the first liquid and the second liquid entering through the inflow part flow inside the internal space, and the first liquid and the second liquid flowing inside the internal space exit through the outflow part according to an inflow entering through the inflow part.

Disclosed herein are integrated photonics systems (3800) for biosensing including an interrogator photonic circuit (3802) and cartridge (3804) and methods using these systems. The cartridge (3804) comprises a sensor photonic integrated subcircuit. The cartridge (3804) is configured to receive a biological sample. The interrogator photonic circuit (3802) is optically coupled to the cartridge (3804) an comprises: (i) a light source (3806) configured to generate light; and (ii) one or more waveguides configured to carry the light, wherein the light is used to determine a characteristic of the biological sample in the cartridge (3804). A system can have an assembly of a plurality of modular photonic integrated subcircuits. Each subcircuit can be pre-fabricated and can be configured to transfer light to and receive light from another subcircuit based on the first functionality. An output port of a first subset of the subcircuits can be configured to be aligned with an input port of a second subset of the subcircuits. At least one subcircuit can be configured to be removed from the first integrated photonics assembly and connected to a second integrated photonics assembly having a second functionality. The first integrated photonics assembly can be different from the second integrated photonics assembly and the first functionality can be different from the second functionality.

A sample measuring device reduces the frequency with which a user introduces a measurement aid into the sample measuring device is provided. A sample measuring method measures a sample using a container containing a measurement aid which is a solid. The sample measuring method includes loading a predetermined number of measurement aids into a container from a storage chamber in which a plurality of measurement aids are movably stored in a cartridge attached to a sample measuring device, dispensing the sample into the container, and measuring the sample in the container into which the measurement aid has been loaded.

An apparatus and method for simple, low power, automated processing of biological samples through multiple preparation and assay steps. The apparatus and methods described facilitate the point-of-care implementation of diagnostic assays. The apparatus includes mechanical actuating elements using linear and/or rotational motion.