A rack for holding samples and various reagents, wherein the rack may be used for loading the samples and reagents prior to using the reagents. The rack accepts complementary reagent holders, each of which contain a set of reagents for carrying out a predetermined processing operation, such as preparing biological samples for amplifying and detecting polynucleotides extracted from the samples.

The sample container loading or storing unit includes a sample rack tray and a sample rack tray installation portion on which the sample rack tray is installed, the sample rack tray installation portion includes a claw portion that moves in a contact direction with a sidewall portion of the sample rack tray, the sample rack tray includes a claw guard portion provided on the sidewall portion of the sample rack tray, and the claw guard portion is configured to be separated from the sidewall portion of the sample rack tray by being pushed by a sample rack.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for load balancing specimen containers between a plurality of automated detection apparatuses. The method may include receiving a specimen container at a container pick-up station in a first automated detection apparatus; determining loading ability, transfer status, and cell availability of the first automated detection apparatus and one or more downstream automated detection apparatuses; and transferring the specimen container from the first automated detection apparatus to a downstream automated detection apparatus when a first ratio of effective available cell count to effective capacity in the first automated detection apparatus is less than a second ratio of total effective available cell count to total effective capacity of a sum of the first automated detection apparatus and the one or more downstream automated detection apparatuses.

A sampling kit for tissue including a reaction chamber and a sampling device configured for mounting in the reaction chamber and providing a reaction volume defined between the base of the reaction chamber and the sampling device. The sampling device has a proximal handling portion and a distal scraping portion comprising a scraping formation configured to collect a sample of tissue when the distal scraping portion is rubbed against a surface of the tissue. The sampling device comprises an internal lumen configured for the supply of reaction liquid from a distal end of the tissue sampling device to the reaction volume via a distal aperture disposed in the distal scraping portion when the tissue sampling device is mounted in the reaction chamber. An automated high-throughput sampling and indexing system is also described.

An embodiment of the disclosure is a rack adapted to engage a rack handler. The rack includes a rack body. The rack body has a bottom, a top opposite the bottom, and a receptacle that extends from the top toward the bottom. The receptacle is sized to receive the sample collection unit. The rack body has a first interior surface that extends from the bottom toward the top, and a second interior surface that extends from the bottom toward the top. The second interior surface is opposite to the first interior surface so as to at least partially define a slot along the bottom. The rack body also includes an interference groove in the slot along at least one of the first interior surface and the second interior surface. The slot and the interference groove are sized to engage a portion of the rack handler.

An automatic analyzer 1 includes a reagent bottle installation unit 200 that installs a reagent bottle 301 containing a reagent used for analysis; a nozzle unit 210 that couples a supply flow path 220 that connects a location where the reagent is used and the inside of the reagent bottle 301 installed in the reagent bottle installation unit 200 to the reagent bottle 301; and a stopper 202 that is disposed on the movement path of a reagent aspiration nozzle 400 of the nozzle unit 210 and prevents the reagent aspiration nozzle 400 from being inserted into the reagent bottle 301. This automatic analyzer realizes the prevention of misplacement of reagent types and the prevention of removal of the reagents at the incorrect timing with less space and constituent components.

The present invention provides a capping system for biological thermal reaction, which comprises at least one reaction tube, at least one suction unit, and at least one pushing rod. Each of the at least one reaction tube comprises an opening end. The at least one suction unit is used to suck at least one cap and move the at least one cap to the opening end of the at least one reaction tube. The at least one pushing rob is used to push the at least one cap into the opening end of the at least one reaction tube.

A scanning apparatus that can include (a) a scan actuator including a linear actuator and a mount for a removeable vessel, wherein the mount has a mechanical fastener that is configured to engage a complementary mechanical fastener on the removeable vessel, and wherein the linear actuator is configured to translate the mount while the mechanical fastener engages the complementary mechanical fastener on the removeable vessel; (b) a reference surface; and (c) a preload configured to urge the vessel to contact the reference surface, wherein the linear actuator is configured to slide the vessel along the reference surface while the preload urges the vessel to contact the reference surface.

This invention relates to an apparatus for conducting immunoassay test. The apparatus includes a groove unit having a groove along a vertical direction configured to hold a rod-shaped portion of a probe along the vertical direction, and a push pin configured to move along a horizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a first position and a second position. A tip of the push pin is capable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove when the push pin resides at the first position. The distance between the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at the second position.

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.