A method for detecting a covering state of a laboratory sample container is presented. Light is injected into the laboratory sample container and an optical power is measured at a measuring location. A corresponding laboratory sample distribution system is also presented.

The present invention relates to an autosampler. The autosampler includes a sampling needle, a swing arm, a main shaft, a synchronous rotating pulley, and a rotating shaft sleeve. One end of the swing arm is fixed to the main shaft, and the other end thereof is fixed with the sampling needle for supplying a sample. The rotating shaft sleeve is installed in the synchronous rotating pulley, and the rotating shaft sleeve is mounted on the main shaft. The main shaft can rotate around the central axis of the main shaft in synchronization with the rotating shaft sleeve, and can move up and down in the direction of the central axis with respect to the rotating shaft sleeve. The autosampler is characterized in that it further includes a contact member.

The contact member penetrates the synchronous rotating pulley and the rotating shaft sleeve from one side of the synchronous rotating pulley in the radial direction thereof until it comes into contact with the main shaft. The contact member is in rolling contact with the main shaft. According to the present invention, the contact member may provide a radial force to the main shaft so as to eliminate a fitting gap between the main shaft and the rotating shaft sleeve, and may reliably fix the synchronous rotating pulley and the rotating shaft sleeve so as to ensure the accuracy and reproducibility of the injection position.

A method for performing a magnetic separation procedure that includes transporting a receptacle containing a fluid medium to a first location of a system, where the fluid medium contains both a sample material and a suspension of magnetically-responsive solid supports. At the first location, the fluid medium is exposed to a first magnetic field for a first dwell period, thereby isolating the solid supports within the receptacle, where no portion of the fluid medium is removed from the receptacle at the first location. The receptacle is then transported from the first location to a second location of the system, where the fluid medium is exposed to a second magnetic field for a second dwell period. Following the second dwell period, at least a portion of the fluid medium is removed from the receptacle. A suspension fluid is then dispensed into the receptacle, and the contents of the receptacle are agitated to suspend the solid supports within the suspension fluid.

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

Systems and methods applicable, for instance, to pipette robots. A pipette robot can perform one or more tip presence check operations, one or more tip seal check operations, and/or one or more distance sensing operations, including distance sensing operations which regard determining the height of the surface of a liquid.

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

There is provided an automatic analysis system that freely sets length or width dimensions to a traveling surface and that affects no influence on the layout of an automatic analyzer. In front of the automatic analyzer, a rail line is installed, and a transfer robot moves on the rail line. The rail line restrains roll, pitch, and yaw rotation directions, and thus the transfer robot does not fall. The rail line is fixed to a first jack and a second jack, each jack is in contact with the automatic analyzer and a body with no gap, and thus the roll, pitch, and yaw rotation directions of the rail line that is fixed to the jack are restrained. As a result, the length or width dimensions of a moving mechanism to the traveling surface are freely settable.

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

A system for separating an analyte from other components of a sample includes a receptacle holding station and a magnetic separation station. The receptacle holding station includes one or more stationary, permanent magnets positioned to apply a magnetic field to the contents of a receptacle held stationary within the receptacle holding station. The magnetic separation station includes one or more permanent magnets and is configured to perform a magnetic separation procedure on the contents of a receptacle transported from the receptacle holding station to the magnetic separation station. The magnetic separation procedure includes isolating an analyte immobilized on a magnetically-responsive solid support within the receptacle and removing other components of the sample from the receptacle. The magnetic separation station is configured to provide relative movement between the receptacle and the one or more permanent magnets after the receptacle is transported to the magnetic separation station.

Automated isothermal titration micro calorimetry (ITC) system comprising a micro calorimeter with a sample cell and a reference cell, the sample cell is accessible via a sample cell stem and the reference cell is accessible via a reference cell stem. The system further comprises an automatic pipette assembly comprising a syringe with a titration needle arranged to be inserted into the sample cell for supplying titrant, the pipette assembly comprises an activator for driving a plunger in the syringe, a pipette translation unit supporting the pipette assembly and being arranged to place pipette in position for titration, washing and filling operations, a wash station for the titrant needle, and a cell preparation unit arranged to perform operations for replacing the sample liquid in the sample cell when the pipette is placed in another position than the position for titration.