Systems and methods are provided for automatically tailoring treatment of samples in sample containers carried in a rack. The systems and methods may identify sample containers in the rack and/or detect various characteristics associated with the containers and/or the rack. This information may then be used to tailor their treatment, such as by aspirating and dispensing fluid from the sample containers in a way that accounts for the types of the samples/containers carrying them.

A specimen rack transferring device and an automatic analyzer using it are provided which can suppress vibration during transportation of a specimen rack.

In a specimen rack transferring device 200 transferring a specimen rack 4 which places a plurality of specimen containers 5 accommodating specimens, in a side-by-side manner in a longitudinal direction and can carry the plurality of specimen containers, the specimen rack transferring device includes a transport path 201 for transferring the specimen rack 4 in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, a transport arm 6 pushingly advancing the specimen rack 4 from an upstream side toward a downstream side of the transport path 201, and a rack lock mechanism provided at the transport arm 6 and fixing at least a relative position of the specimen rack 4 in a transport direction with respect to the transport arm 6.

An embodiment is a sample analysis system for analyzing a sample that includes at least one test device for analyzing the sample. The system also includes a rack handler operable to move a sample from a first location to a second location along a travel path. The rack handler has a rotation assembly including a) an engagement element for engagement with the sample rack, and b) a motor coupled to the engagement element and is operable to cause rotation of the engagement element. The rotation assembly rotates the sample rack from a first orientation into a second orientation along the travel path when the engagement element engages the sample rack.

A laboratory sample distribution system comprising a plurality of sample container carriers, each adapted to carry one or more sample containers, each carrier comprising at least one magnetically active device and at least one electrically conductive member, a transport plane adapted to support the carriers, a plurality of electro-magnetic actuators stationary arranged below the transport plane, the actuators being adapted to move the carriers on top of the transport plane by applying a magnetic force to the carriers, a plurality of inductive sensors distributed over the transport plane, a control unit configured to control the movement of the carriers using an output signal provided by the inductive sensors by driving the actuators such that the carriers move along corresponding transport paths, and an evaluation unit configured to linearize the output signal from an inductive sensor by means of a linearization algorithm.

The present disclosure relates to a sample analyzer, including: an incubation mechanism, which is used for performing incubation on liquid in a reaction vessel; and a uniform mixing mechanism, which is independently arranged relative to the incubation mechanism and has a transport station and a uniform mixing station, wherein the uniform mixing mechanism includes a carrying member for carrying the reaction vessel, and the carrying member drives the reaction vessel to circularly move between the transport station and the uniform mixing station; and the carrying member conveys the reaction vessel, which is input from the transport station, to the uniform mixing station, so as to uniformly mix the liquid, and conveys the reaction vessel from the uniform mixing station to the transport station, so as to output the reaction vessel to the incubation mechanism.

Systems and methods for use in an in vitro diagnostics setting incorporating magnetic shielding to reduce exposure of any of samples, reactants, devices or people from exposure or prolonged exposure to magnetic or electromagnetic fields generated with the system.

A sample analyzer includes: a reagent container holder including a reagent container holder body configured to hold a reagent container, and a tilt changing part configured to change a tilt of the reagent container holder body; a reagent dispenser configured to aspirate a reagent contained in the reagent container held in the reagent container holder body; a detector configured to detect a signal for analysis from a measurement specimen containing a sample and the reagent dispensed by the reagent dispenser; and a controller that analyzes the sample on the basis of the signal detected by the detector.

Provided is a container transfer device that allows a container to be easily exchanged when the container is located in an exchange area and that can reliably prevent unintentional lifting of the container by fixing the container so as to prevent the container from escaping upward when the container is located in a sampling area. A container transfer device 5A includes a rotating table 31 on which a container 200 accommodating a sample is placed and which moves the container 200 between an exchange area (K) and a sampling area (S), a holding body 32 holding the container 200 placed on the rotating table 31 to allow the container 200 to be pulled out upward, and a movable body 33 fixing the container 200 to prevent the container 200 from escaping upward in the sampling area (S).

Systems, methods and computer-readable media are provided for determining a sequential ordering of predefined transfers for transferring an object from source points of a source array to destination points of a destination array in a laboratory automation system. For each transition to a next transfer, first and second component travel costs between current and next transfer positions are determined. A transition travel cost is determined from the first and second component travel costs. The cost of each sequential ordering of the predefined transfers is based upon an aggregate of the transition travel costs for each ordering of the transfers. The resolved sequential ordering may be based upon the sequential ordering that has the lowest cost.

Systems and methods for use in an in vitro diagnostics setting incorporating magnetic shielding to reduce exposure of any of samples, reactants, devices or people from exposure or prolonged exposure to magnetic or electromagnetic fields generated with the system. Some embodiments provide an automation system for use in an in vitro diagnostics setting comprising an automation track having a sidewall provided with magnetic shielding. In some embodiments, the magnetic shielding comprises an 80% nickel alloy.