An automatic sampling apparatus for taking liquid samples for the qualitative or quantitative determination of at least one analyte contained in the sample liquid includes a sample line that can be fluidically connected to the sampling station, a pump device, at least one sample container that can be fluidically connected to the sample line, and an electronic control system. The electronic control system is configured to fluidically connect the sample line to the sample container such that a fluid flow path extending from the sampling station through the sample line into the sample container is formed. The electronic control system is further configured to transport, using the pump device, a definable volume of the sample liquid, in the form of a liquid sample, along the fluid flow path into the sample container. The sampling apparatus is configured for concentrating or extracting the analyte present in the liquid sample.

End effector assemblies according to the present disclosure include a tool body mounted to a robotic arm and an impedance-measuring tip coupled to the tool body. The impedance-measuring tip defines a first volume to receive a fluid and a first dispensing outlet for dispensing the fluid. The impedance-measuring tip includes an impedance-measuring sensor configured to output a signal indicative of a change in impedance. A tip extension is fluidically coupled to the impedance-measuring tip that defines a second volume for receiving the fluid. A camera is coupled to the tool body and configured to capture image data of the second volume that captures at least a visual representation of a number of cells or other objects in the second volume. A pump is coupled to the impedance-measuring tip to dispense the fluid from the first volume into the second volume and from the second volume into a receptacle.

A nucleic acid extraction system, comprising: a nucleic acid extraction plate, and a pipetting device and positive pressure device that are arranged side by side, the pipetting device comprising: an infusion device, an infusion device mounting frame, an infusion device driving unit, and a plurality of infusion units, each of the infusion units comprising: a reagent supply device and a reagent flow controller; the positive pressure device comprises: a plug, an air pipe, a positive pressure provider and a positive pressure driving device. The nucleic acid extraction system is highly efficiency and low-cost when extracting nucleic acid.

A cell smearing apparatus comprising: a mixed solution container accommodation unit accommodating a mixed solution container containing a mixed solution of cells and a preservation solution; a suction unit suctioning the mixed solution from the mixed solution container accommodated in the mixed solution container accommodation unit; a sensor unit sensing variation of the mixed solution suctioned by the suction unit; and a controller controlling a suctioning speed of the suction unit based on a value sensed by the sensor unit. The present invention allows cells to be examined to be smeared as a monolayer on a slide for microscopic examination.

A substrate for sample analysis including: a substrate including a rotation axis; a first chamber, which includes a first space which retains the liquid; a second chamber, which includes a second space which retains the liquid discharged from the first chamber; and a first flow passage, which includes a path connecting the first chamber and the second chamber in which the first flow passage has a first opening and a second opening, the first opening and the second opening are connected to the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively, and the first opening is positioned on a side closer to the rotation axis than the second opening, in which the first space includes a first region, which includes a portion extending from the first opening and in which the first space of the first chamber has a capacity larger than a capacity of the first flow passage.

[Problem to be solved]

There is provided a dispensing control method and a dispenser that suppress the division of an air layer and that obtain high dispensing accuracy.

[Solution]

An automatic analyzer includes: a nozzle 20 that dispenses a dispensed liquid 23; a syringe motor 209 that generates a pressure fluctuation for controlling a flow velocity on aspiration or discharge of the dispensed liquid 23 in the nozzle 20; a piping 210 that connects the nozzle 20 to the syringe motor 209; and a controller 102 that controls operations of the nozzle 20 and the syringe motor 209. The controller 102 calculates positions of interfaces 31 to 34 in the piping 210, and the controller 102 controls the flow velocity based on the positions of the interface 31 to 34 and orientations of the interfaces 31 to 34 that move.

An automatic analyzer which realizes stable reagent heating and high dispensing accuracy includes a thermostat bath for controlling a reagent or a reaction solution in reaction cells arranged on a circumference of a reaction disk to have a constant temperature; a first reagent dispensing mechanism dispenses a reagent into the reaction cells; a photometer detects transmitted light or scattered light in the reaction cell; and a disposable reaction container for allowing the sample and the reagent to mix and react with each other. The analyzer also includes a second reagent dispensing mechanism with a reagent heating function which dispenses the reagent into the disposable reaction container; a coagulation time detection section; a reaction container temperature control block; a reagent dispensing syringe which is connected to the second reagent dispensing mechanism; and a fluid temperature control mechanism which controls the temperature of an internal fluid of the reagent dispensing syringe.

A droplet generating method includes the steps of providing a micro-pipe having an outlet end; providing a liquid driving device to generate a flow of a first liquid; locating and positioning the micro-pipe which extends along a vertical longitudinal axis; connecting the liquid driving device with the micro-pipe so that the first liquid flows and is emitted out from the outlet end; providing a container, which is positioned at least in-part below the micro-pipe and adapted to contain a second liquid including a liquid surface disposed at a position located between a highest and a lowest positions; and either vertically or horizontally vibrating the micro-pipe, and thereby forming a plurality of droplets of the first liquid emitted from the outlet end at a position below the liquid surface of the second liquid.

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for detecting foam in a specimen container. The method includes the following steps: transporting a specimen container into a locator well; centering the specimen container in the locator well; rotating the specimen container around a vertical axis in the locator well; imaging the specimen container during the rotation; analyzing an image of the specimen container captured during the rotation; and detecting foam in the specimen container based on the analysis of the image. An apparatus configured to perform the steps is also provided. The method and apparatus may be used in conjunction with a system for automatically determining whether a sample is positive for microorganism growth.

Methods for preparing a biological sample for testing by Maldi where such methods are selected based on sample parameters. Maldi scores are obtained for a range of sample parameters (e.g. McFarland, dispense volume and number of dispenses). From the data, sample preparation parameters can be selected for a biological sample being prepared for Maldi testing. One sample preparation strategy uses multiple dispenses of sample with an intervening drying step, which yields more accurate Maldi scores, particularly for samples at the low range of McFarland values (e.g. below about 2).