Cradles for draining liquid from containers are described herein. An example apparatus includes a housing having a bottom wall, a side wall and an open top. The housing is to receive a container having liquid. The example apparatus includes a probe extending upward from the bottom wall toward the open top and is to drain the liquid from the container when the probe is inserted into the container. The example apparatus also includes a sliding lock slidably disposed within the housing that receives a cap or top of the container when the container is inserted into the housing. The sliding lock includes a key slot. The sliding lock is movable when a cap or top of the container has a matching key that engages the key slot, which enables the sliding lock to move downward to expose the probe and drain the liquid from the container.

A pipetting unit (2) with capacitive liquid detection comprises: a pressure tube (10); a shield (12) disposed around the pressure tube (10); a coupling (14) for temporarily attaching a pipetting tip (4) to the pipetting unit (2), wherein when the pipetting tip (4) is connected, an electrical connection is established between the pressure tube (10) and the pipetting tip (4); and an electric circuit (20) coupled to the pressure tube (10) and the shield (12), wherein the electric circuit (20) is configured to apply a time-variable electrical signal to the pressure tube (10), said time-variable electrical signal permitting a capacitive detection of a contact between the pipetting tip (4) and a pipetting liquid (112) when the pipetting tip (4) is connected, and wherein the electric circuit (20) is configured to connect the shield (12) to ground.

An automated method for performing a leakage test of a fluidic system of an in-vitro diagnostic device as well as an automated in-vitro diagnostic device comprising a controller configured to perform the leakage test. The method comprises activating a pump to provide a fluid from a fluid supply into an electrically conductive probe. The probe is positioned so that a tip of the probe is at a predetermined distance from a reference surface of a reference element. In case of leakage, an electrical signal or change in an electrical signal or a change of the electric or magnetic field between the probe and the reference element is detected in a predetermined measuring time period and at least one maintenance action is triggered.

The disclosure relates to a syringe assembly and a syringing method of using the same. The syringe assembly comprises an ultrasonic element, a guide tube and a syringe. The ultrasonic element is used to generate an ultrasonic signal and receive a reflection of the ultrasonic signal. The guide tube comprises a first connecting terminal and a second connecting terminal. The syringe and the guide tube are connected with each other via the second connecting terminal. The syringe assembly according to the present disclosure is able to perform sampling, liquid level detection, clog detection, and the liquid volume detection.

In a sample analyzing apparatus, an injector assembly injects a reagent onto a sample, and luminescent light from the sample is transmitted to a detector. The assembly may be movable toward and away from the sample. The assembly may include one or more needles that communicate with one or more reservoirs supplying reagent or other liquids. The assembly may include a light guide for communicating with the detector. A cartridge may be provided in which the assembly, one or more reservoirs, and one or more pumps are disposed. The cartridge and/or the apparatus may be configured for enabling rinsing or priming to be done outside the apparatus. The cartridge and/or the apparatus may include one or more types of sensors configured for detecting, for example, the presence of liquid or bubbles in one or more locations of the apparatus and/or the cartridge.

The present application relates to a method for operating a dosing device with a control unit and a dosing unit. The dosing unit has a cannula with a first volume and a tip, and also a sampling container fluidically connected to the cannula. In a first step, the dosing unit is moved linearly at a predetermined speed in a first direction along an axis, such that the cannula is moved into a vessel containing at least one liquid. At the same time, fluid is aspirated constantly through the cannula with a predetermined volumetric flow by a pump device. At least one optical parameter of the aspirated fluid is measured by at least one optical sensor, which is arranged between the cannula and the sampling container. When a change of the at least one optical parameter is detected, a first position of the dosing unit on the axis is stored by the control unit and the movement of the dosing unit is interrupted. The control unit then calculates a second position of the dosing unit on the axis, at which second position the tip of the cannula has penetrated a first phase boundary, in particular upon immersion into the liquid. The calculation is performed on the basis of the first position, the predetermined speed, the first volume and the predetermined volumetric flow.

The present disclosure relates to an automatic analyzer for determining a parameter of a sample fluid, including a dosing device comprising at least one dosing chamber, a first fluid flow path connecting a sample receiving vessel to the dosing chamber via a first pump, a tank containing a dilution medium, a second fluid flow path connecting the tank to the dosing chamber via a second pump, a measuring cell in communication with the dosing chamber via a third fluid flow path via a third pump, and a measuring and control system connected to and configured to control the pumps, wherein the first, second, and third fluid flow paths can selectively be blocked or unblocked by at least one valve unit and the measuring and control system is configured to control the at least one valve unit to block or unblock the first, second, and third flow paths.

A system for applying a fluid to a substrate bearing a sample for analysis has an array of sensor plates positioned to sense the presence of fluid in contact with respective areas of the substrate. In a particular embodiment, fluid presence in different areas of the substrate is sensed by the effect of the fluid and its identity on the impedances of capacitors formed between sensor plates within the array. In a more particular embodiment, by polling the sensor array continually while fluid is applied to the substrate determine a coverage map, a fluid dispensing mechanism can be controlled to efficiently cover the entire substrate with fluid a minimal amount of fluid, thereby reducing waste.

Provided is an automatic analyzer in which an abnormality of a flow path including malfunction of an electromagnetic valve or a pressure change portion can be detected using an existing sensor that measures a liquid amount in a container. A syringe 103, a first electromagnetic valve 104, and a second electromagnetic valve 105 are operated such that a predetermined liquid aspirating and discharging operation is performed in a container 101, a liquid discharging unit 108, and flow path systems 113 and 114 and whether or not an abnormality occurs in the flow path system is determined based on a liquid amount measured by the sensor 102.

The present invention relates to a device useful for inspecting a sample. The device includes a camera in order to arrange that camera in an image field so that an interface line and a marker of the camera can be imaged as a recorded image. The device also has an evaluation unit which allows an evaluation of the recorded image and the marking in order to provide information to the observer.