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.

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.

A testing system collects a specimen from a subject and measures the collected specimen to test the specimen, and includes a box to allow at least one of specimen collection for collecting and receiving the specimen, preprocessing for processing the collected specimen before measurement, or specimen measurement for measuring the preprocessed specimen to be performed therein.

A testing system collects a specimen from a subject and measures the collected specimen to test the specimen, and includes a box to allow at least one of specimen collection for collecting and receiving the specimen, preprocessing for processing the collected specimen before measurement, or specimen measurement for measuring the preprocessed specimen to be performed therein.

Provided are a transport device and an analysis system in which a stability of transport at a time of restart is further enhanced while achieving cost reduction by a position-sensorless configuration. A transport device includes: a plurality of coils 25a, 25b configured to generate a thrust to transport a transport container 20; a drive circuit 50 configured to apply a voltage to each of the plurality of coils 25a, 25b; and a calculation unit 40 configured to estimate a position of the transport container 20 based on current information when voltage pulses 80, 81 are applied to the coils 25a, 25b. When a power supply of the device is activated, the calculation unit 40 applies a voltage pulse 80 in a positive direction and a voltage pulse 81 in a negative direction to the target coils 25a, 25b so as to detect the position of the transport container 20 from the current information of current flowing through the coils 25a, 25b.

Provided are a transport device and an analysis system in which a stability of transport at a time of restart is further enhanced while achieving cost reduction by a position-sensorless configuration. A transport device includes: a plurality of coils 25a, 25b configured to generate a thrust to transport a transport container 20; a drive circuit 50 configured to apply a voltage to each of the plurality of coils 25a, 25b; and a calculation unit 40 configured to estimate a position of the transport container 20 based on current information when voltage pulses 80, 81 are applied to the coils 25a, 25b. When a power supply of the device is activated, the calculation unit 40 applies a voltage pulse 80 in a positive direction and a voltage pulse 81 in a negative direction to the target coils 25a, 25b so as to detect the position of the transport container 20 from the current information of current flowing through the coils 25a, 25b.

The present disclosure relates to a circulating device, a circulating method, and a sample analyzer. The circulating device includes a mounting rack and an input mechanism, an output mechanism, a recycling mechanism and a transferring mechanism arranged on the mounting rack. The input mechanism is configured to provide a bearing box holding a reaction vessel. The output mechanism is configured to output the bearing box holding the reaction vessel from the input mechanism. The recycling mechanism is configured to recycle the bearing box, which is from the output mechanism and the reaction vessel held by which has been unloaded. The transferring mechanism includes transferring components corresponding to the input mechanism, the output mechanism and the recycling mechanism simultaneously. The transferring components are configured to not only convey the bearing box holding the reaction vessel from the input mechanism to the output mechanism, but also convey the bearing box, the reaction vessel held by which has been unloaded, from the output mechanism to the recycling mechanism. Thus, the structure of the circulating device is more compact.

The present disclosure relates to a circulating device, a circulating method, and a sample analyzer. The circulating device includes a mounting rack and an input mechanism, an output mechanism, a recycling mechanism and a transferring mechanism arranged on the mounting rack. The input mechanism is configured to provide a bearing box holding a reaction vessel. The output mechanism is configured to output the bearing box holding the reaction vessel from the input mechanism. The recycling mechanism is configured to recycle the bearing box, which is from the output mechanism and the reaction vessel held by which has been unloaded. The transferring mechanism includes transferring components corresponding to the input mechanism, the output mechanism and the recycling mechanism simultaneously. The transferring components are configured to not only convey the bearing box holding the reaction vessel from the input mechanism to the output mechanism, but also convey the bearing box, the reaction vessel held by which has been unloaded, from the output mechanism to the recycling mechanism. Thus, the structure of the circulating device is more compact.

Disclosed is an automated liquid-phase immunoassay apparatus used with a cuvette having a plurality of chambers containing a reagent necessary for detection of an analyte in a biological specimen. The apparatus includes a movable cuvette module equipped with the cuvette, an optical reading module for optical assaying of a material resulting from a reaction between the specimen and the reagent, and a dispenser module which is positioned on the cuvette module and which dispenses the specimen and the reagent to the plurality of chambers of the cuvette and washes the specimen and the reagent therefrom.

Disclosed is an automated liquid-phase immunoassay apparatus used with a cuvette having a plurality of chambers containing a reagent necessary for detection of an analyte in a biological specimen. The apparatus includes a movable cuvette module equipped with the cuvette, an optical reading module for optical assaying of a material resulting from a reaction between the specimen and the reagent, and a dispenser module which is positioned on the cuvette module and which dispenses the specimen and the reagent to the plurality of chambers of the cuvette and washes the specimen and the reagent therefrom.