An automated biological or chemical sample processing system includes a dock frame and at least one dock frame module. The dock frame includes at least one docking interface that operably couples and interfaces the dock frame with laboratory equipment. The dock frame defines a spine structure of the system alongside which a variable number of laboratory equipment are arrayed. The dock frame extends longitudinally and has a variable elongated configuration and longitudinal length. The at least one dock frame module includes the docking interface, where each module is interchangeable with another module, and has control features with a predetermined relationship to a reference datum of the dock frame module and with a reference datum of the dock frame so that the at least one dock frame module is interchangeably coupled in linear configuration with at least the other dock frame module to select the variable elongated configuration and longitudinal length.

The present invention relates to a method for acquiring information on a cause of prolongation of coagulation time. The present invention also relates to a device, a system and a computer program for analyzing blood coagulation.

To provide an automatic analyzer in which a reaction container can be smoothly inserted into a hole of an incubator. An automatic analyzer 100 analyzing a sample includes: an incubator 105 having a hole 202 into which a reaction container 114 containing a mixture of the sample and a reagent is to be inserted; and a transfer unit 109 configured to transfer an unused reaction container 114 to the incubator 105 and insert the reaction container 114 into the hole 202. A lubricating member 203 having a self-lubricating property is provided at an inlet port of the hole 202.

A laboratory sample container carrier handling apparatus is provided comprising a revolving device, a guiding surface, and a force-applying device, wherein the force-applying device is adapted to apply a force to a laboratory sample container carrier supplied to the revolving device to such an extent that the laboratory sample container carrier is forced against the guiding surface to such an extent that the laboratory sample container carrier rolls off at the guiding surface pushed by the revolving device. A laboratory automation system is also provided comprising such a laboratory sample container carrier handling apparatus and to a use of such a laboratory sample container carrier handling apparatus for handling a laboratory sample container carrier in, in particular such, a laboratory automation system.

An automatic analyzer which realizes stable reagent heating and high dispensing accuracy includes a thermostat bath for controlling a reagent or a reaction solution in reaction cells arranged on a circumference of a reaction disk to have a constant temperature; a first reagent dispensing mechanism dispenses a reagent into the reaction cells; a photometer detects transmitted light or scattered light in the reaction cell; and a disposable reaction container for allowing the sample and the reagent to mix and react with each other. The analyzer also includes a second reagent dispensing mechanism with a reagent heating function which dispenses the reagent into the disposable reaction container; a coagulation time detection section; a reaction container temperature control block; a reagent dispensing syringe which is connected to the second reagent dispensing mechanism; and a fluid temperature control mechanism which controls the temperature of an internal fluid of the reagent dispensing syringe.

The gripping mechanism is a gripping mechanism for gripping a cuvette T, the gripping mechanism comprising: a sandwiching section 50 for holding the cuvette T in a laterally sandwiching manner; a pressing section 60 for pressing downward an upper end surface of the cuvette T held in a sandwiching manner by the sandwiching section 50, wherein the pressing section 60 is arranged such that, with the cuvette T being held in a sandwiching manner by the sandwiching section 50, a central axis of the cuvette T along a vertical direction coincides mutually with a central axis of the pressing section 60 in the vertical direction.

Example automated storage modules for analyzer liquids are described herein. An example apparatus includes a refrigerated storage module having a plurality of shelves (to store a plurality of carriers) and a loading bay having an array of slots to receive one or more of the carriers. The loading bay is accessible by a user for manual loading or unloading of the carriers. The example apparatus includes a first carrier transporter coupled to the storage module to transfer the carriers between the shelves and a first transfer location and a second carrier transporter movable along a track connecting the storage module to an automated diagnostic analyzer. The second carrier transporter is to transfer a first carrier between the first transfer location and a slot in the loading bay and a second carrier between the first transfer location and a second transfer location accessible by the automated diagnostic analyzer.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed an apparatus for nucleic acid extraction and an operation method thereof. The apparatus for nucleic acid extraction includes: a first rack having a plurality of sample tube receivers arranged in a circle; a second rack having a plurality of elution tube receivers arranged in a circle on an outer side thereof and a washing solution receiver positioned at the center thereof, a part of the washing solution receiver extending outwards to have projections formed in alternation with a plurality of the elution tube receivers; a main body having the first and second racks arranged to position the first rack on the top of the second rack; a rotational driver for separately rotating the first and second racks; a dispenser for separately dispensing a washing solution and an eluting solution into sample tubes; and a pressurizer for maintaining the inside of the sample tubes under raised pressure.

An automatic analysis device has a plurality of types of photometers having different quantitative ranges, and an analysis control unit for quantifying the desired component in specimens based on measurement values of one or more photometers selected from among the plurality of types of photometers. The analysis control unit: sets a switching region in an overlap region of respective quantitative ranges of the plurality of types of photometers, said switching region having a greater width than does the variation in quantitative values of the desired component based on the measurement values of photometers having the same specimen; compares the quantitative value of a quantitative range portion that corresponds to the switching region and the quantitative values of the desired component based on the measurement values of the photometers; and selects a photometer to be used in quantitative output of the desired component from among the plurality of types of photometers.

A method for measuring optical signal detector performance that includes directing light emitted from an optical signal detector onto a first non-fluorescent surface portion in a first detection zone of the optical signal detector. A first characteristic of light detected by a first sensor of the first optical signal detector is measured while the first non-fluorescent surface portion is in the first detection zone of the optical signal detector. Light emitted from the optical signal detector is directed into a first void in the first detection zone of the optical signal detector. A second characteristic of light detected by the first sensor of the optical signal detector is measured while the first void is in the first detection zone of the optical signal detector. And an operational performance status of the optical signal detector is determined based on at least one of the first characteristic and the second characteristic.