Instrument for performing a diagnostic test on a fluidic cartridge A cartridge reader is for carrying out a diagnostic test on a sample contained in a fluidic cartridge inserted into the reader. The fluidic cartridge comprises a fluidic layer comprising at least one sample processing region, at least one collapsible blister containing a liquid reagent, a pneumatic interface, an electrical interface and at least one mechanical valve. The reader comprises a housing; an upper clamp occupying a fixed position relative to the reader, and a lower clamp, movable relative to the first clamp, wherein the upper clamp and the lower clamp define a cartridge receiving region therebetween. The reader comprises a thermal module comprised in the lower clamp, wherein the thermal module comprises at least one thermal stack for heating the at least one sample processing region of the cartridge inserted into the reader. The reader comprises at least one mechanical actuator for actuating the mechanical valve comprised in the cartridge inserted into the reader.

An apparatus for preparing a reagent solution includes an enclosure and a container disposed within the enclosure. The container defines an internal cavity having a compressible volume and defines a passage providing fluidic communication between the internal cavity and the exterior of the container. Optionally, a compressible member is disposed within the internal cavity. A reagent is disposed within the internal cavity.

An apparatus for biological reactions is provided. The apparatus includes a substrate and a plurality of reaction sites within the substrate. A surface of the substrate is configured to have a first hydrophilicity and each surface of the plurality of reaction sites is configured to have a second hydrophilicity to load a substantial number of reaction sites with a sample volume. The sample volume of each loaded reaction site is substantially confined to its respective reaction site. The sample volume is configured to undergo a biological reaction within the reaction site.

The present invention relates to a fluid transport system for an automated slide treatment apparatus for treating one or more tissue samples disposed on slides, whereby the slide treatment apparatus includes a plurality of slide treatment modules arranged to receive ones of the slides, and the fluid transport system includes a fluid dispensing robot configured by a controller to dispense a plurality of reagents to said ones of the slides received in the slide treatment modules to treat said one or more tissue samples respectively.

To provide a high-throughput automatic analysis apparatus at a lower cost. The automatic analysis apparatus includes an incubator which accommodates a plurality of reaction vessels; a specimen dispensing mechanism which dispenses a specimen into each of the plurality of reaction vessels; a mounting unit which mounts a dispensing tip on the specimen dispensing mechanism; a suction unit which sucks a specimen from a specimen vessel containing the specimen by means of the specimen dispensing mechanism having the dispensing mounted thereon; a discharging unit which is provided in the incubator and discharges the specimen from the specimen dispensing mechanism to the reaction vessel; a disposal unit which discards the dispensing tip; a sensor which detects whether the dispensing tip is mounted to the specimen dispensing mechanism; and a control unit which controls the specimen dispensing mechanism. The mounting unit, the suction unit, the discharging unit, and the disposal unit are arranged along a movement path of the specimen dispensing mechanism. The sensor is arranged so as to be able to detect the dispensing tip at a position sandwiched between any two of the mounting unit, the suction unit, the discharging unit, and the disposal unit.

An in vitro diagnostic analyzer and a reagent card. The reagent card includes a reagent card body and a mounting body. The mounting body includes a mounting hole configured to be sleeved on receive a sample tube, a hollow needle disposed in the mounting hole, a sealing portion disposed in the mounting hole, and a gas inlet channel. An end of the hollow needle is capable of being inserted into the sample tube. The sealing portion is capable of being in sealing fit with an outer wall of the sample tube. The gas inlet channel includes a gas outlet hole, a gas inlet hole, and a first flow-stopping structure. The gas inlet hole is disposed in a surface of the reagent card body. The first flow-stopping structure is disposed between the gas outlet hole and the gas inlet hole. The gas outlet hole is configured to be in fluid communication with the sample tube mounted on the mounting hole. The reagent card body includes a sample feeding channel, a test chamber, and a venting end. The sample feeding channel is in fluid communication with a liquid outlet end of the hollow needle. The sample feeding channel and the venting end are both in fluid communication with the test chamber

Provided is an automatic analysis device that can suppress the occurrence of condensation in a reagent cool box and can immediately drain the condensation water generated by introducing outside air. In an automatic analysis device including a reagent cool box that stores a plurality of reagent vessels while keeping the reagent vessels cool, the reagent cool box includes a drain for discharging the condensation water generated inside the reagent cool box, and an outside air introduction path that guides air outside the reagent cool box to the inside, wherein the outside air introduction path is provided along a bottom surface of the reagent cool box, and an outside air discharge port is formed toward an upper opening unit of the drain.

An apparatus for biological reactions is provided. The apparatus includes a substrate and a plurality of reaction sites within the substrate. A surface of the substrate is configured to have a first hydrophilicity and each surface of the plurality of reaction sites is configured to have a second hydrophilicity to load a substantial number of reaction sites with a sample volume. The sample volume of each loaded reaction site is substantially confined to its respective reaction site. The sample volume is configured to undergo a biological reaction within the reaction site.

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel flow analysis method and a novel flow analyzer each of which makes it possible to improve accuracy of an analysis. A flow analysis method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention attains the above object by including: a sample introducing step of introducing a sample into a tube (100); a reagent adding step of adding a reagent to the sample which is transferred through the tube (100); and an analyzing step of quantitatively or qualitatively analyzing the sample to which the reagent has been added and further including, after the reagent adding step and before the analyzing step, a gas-liquid separating step of sequentially removing gas which is present in the tube (100).

A sample processing station includes two or more container holders on a platform that is rotatable about a central axis of rotation. Each holder is configured to rotate about a secondary axis of rotation. The station includes a capping/decapping mechanism to cap or decap a container held in one of the container holders and an elevator with a chuck guide that contact the container holder as the chuck is lowered by the elevator to position the chuck with respect to the cap of the container held in the holder and to hold jaws of the container holder in a closed position. In embodiment, the chuck guide includes a yoke with opposed arms and spindles located near distal ends of the arms that engage beveled shoulders of the container holder.