When the consumable is to be conveyed by a reagent gripping mechanism 110 and a reagent conveyance mechanism 111 during analysis of the sample, a control unit operates such that an operation of a device to access the storage unit is stopped, and makes a plan of operation of the reagent gripping mechanism 110 and a reagent conveyance mechanism 111 such that the consumable is conveyed also at a timing at which an operation of the device is stopped, the timing inevitably occurring after the former stop. Accordingly, an automatic analyzer is provided in which occurrence of an unnecessary empty cycle caused when plural consumables are replaced during analysis can be suppressed compared to a prior art.

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 process and system for handling biological tissue samples through work stations in which at least one work stations includes a plurality of independent work locations. The handling system includes a main transport apparatus operatively connected to input and output stations and to the work stations for moving bidirectionally the samples among these; a plurality of secondary transport apparatuses operatively connected to the main transport apparatus and each respectively operatively connected to independent work locations of one of the work stations and configured to move bidirectionally the samples among these; and a control arrangement of the transport apparatuses for managing routing and handling of the samples in the work stations according to a work protocol associated with the samples and for managing routing and handling of the samples in the work locations according to a workload of the work locations and the work protocol associated with the samples.

The automatic analyzer includes a storage unit storing the reaction containers of cleaning target by day unit in such a manner that all the reaction containers mounted on a reaction disk are to be cleaning target within a plurality of days, and a control unit exerts a control in such a manner that during an operation state after the sample of analysis object is dispensed to the reaction containers, a sample of analysis object in each of the reaction containers is analyzed, and not the sample but a detergent is dispensed to the reaction containers of cleaning target of an appointed day, the reaction containers of cleaning target of the appointed day being stored in the storage unit, to soak and wash the reaction containers for a certain time.

An automatic assaying system having a multiplex pipette cartridge section in which pipette cartridges are docked. At least one pipette cartridge has a different pipetting characteristic from another corresponding pipette cartridge, the different pipetting characteristic being selectable from a number of different pipetting characteristics. A multiplexing work item holder has an array of work item holder docks that dock corresponding work item holders selectable from pipette trays and pipette tip set racks that define the selectable different pipetting characteristic. One or more of the work item holder docks are indexed to selectably multiplex both the different interchangeable pipette trays and the at least one pipette set rack. A carrier moves the pipette cartridge or a work item holder carriage and a controller selects the at least one pipette tip set rack corresponding to a work item holder dock so as to effect automatic selection of the different pipetting characteristic.

Methods and systems can implement queues for an automation system that services a plurality of modules connected to one another by a transport mechanism, a processor can determining a desired queue for a module. An IVD analyzer can include an automation system, a plurality of stations configured to interact with objects transported by the automation system, and one or more processors that maintain a plurality of queues for at least a subset of the plurality of stations in memory and assign a plurality of the objects to each of the plurality of queues. Objects assigned to each of the plurality of queues need not be located physically proximate to a station associated with each of the plurality of queues.

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.

In order to increase efficiency, to minimize the size of the apparatus and in order to reduce the workload of the operator who runs the analyzer, the apparatus for the automated analysis of liquid samples, including a sample tray, at least two reagent trays, at least two reaction trays, and at least two measuring devices. The sample tray is arranged in the center of the analysis area, the at least two reaction trays are arranged adjacent to the sample tray, the at least two reagent trays are arranged adjacent to the reaction trays and the at least two measuring devices are arranged adjacent to the reaction trays. Between the sample disc and each of the at least two reaction trays there is a pipetting device. Between each of the at least two reagent trays and their corresponding reaction trays there is a pipetting device.

A modular laboratory-style computer-controlled system for multistep chemical processing for use in laboratory automation or chemical production is disclosed. The system comprised a plurality of interconnectable electrically-powered controllable chemical process modules having chemical input and output ports and at least one communications interface. Interconnection among the chemical process modules include both chemical flow interconnections for the transport of chemical materials and network interconnections for the transport of communications signals. In some implementations chemical flow interconnections are software controllable.

A sample pretreatment system is equipped with a pipetting device for pipetting multiple primary samples to make multiple aliquot samples. The sample volume expected to be held in a test tube is set as a minimum guaranteed volume for each type of test tube; and a minimum guaranteed volume value is set for each type of the test tubes. A cumulative totaling unit adds up cumulatively the aliquot volumes of the aliquot samples based on pipetting request information with regard to the supplied test tubes. A reading unit reads the minimum guaranteed volume of the supplied test tube; and an aliquot sample preparation unit compares the minimum guaranteed volume successively with the cumulative total values of the aliquot volumes of the aliquot samples, and causes a pipetting device to pipette a maximum number of the aliquot samples in a manner not exceeding the minimum guaranteed volume.