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.

The present disclosure provides a HTP microbial genomic engineering platform that is computationally driven and integrates molecular biology, automation, and advanced machine learning protocols. This integrative platform utilizes a suite of HTP molecular tool sets to create HTP genetic design libraries, which are derived from, inter alia, scientific insight and iterative pattern recognition. The HTP genomic engineering platform described herein is microbial strain host agnostic and therefore can be implemented across taxa. Furthermore, the disclosed platform can be implemented to modulate or improve any microbial host parameter of interest.

A system for automated microorganism identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing comprising a reagent cartridge, a reagent stage, a cassette, a cassette, stage, a pipettor assembly, an optical detection system, and a controller is disclosed. The system is designed to dynamically adjust motor idle torque to control heat load and employs a fast focus process for determining the true focus position of an individual microorganism. The system also may quantify the relative abundance of viable microorganisms in a sample using dynamic dilution, and facilitate growth of microorganisms in customized media for rapid, accurate antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

A pretreating apparatus includes a transferring mechanism configured to transfer a storing container storing an unpretreated sample or a pretreated sample, a pretreating portion having a port in which the storing container storing the sample is installed by the transferring mechanism, configured to pretreat the sample in the storing container installed in the port, and a diluting portion configured to suck a predetermined amount of the pretreated sample from the storing container and supply the sample and a diluent to an empty storing container to dilute the sample.

An automated pre-analytical processing method and an apparatus for pre-analytical processing of samples to be forwarded to an adjacent analyzer for analysis. Rack label information is read and communicated to a processor. From the rack label information, the processor determines where to route the rack. The pre-analytical system has a rack robot that conveys racks to discrete locations depending upon the routing information assigned to the rack by the processor. The pre-analytical system has an automated station that reads the labels of individual sample containers in the rack that are brought to the automated station on instructions from the processor. Depending on the type of sample container and the type of sample disposed therein, the samples are either prepared for analysis by the automated station or the sample containers are directly passed through the automated station. Prepared samples and passed through samples are passed individually to a batching rack.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for host cell improvement utilizing epistatic effects. The systems and methods described herein are host cell agnostic and therefore can be implemented across taxa. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods can be implemented to modulate or improve any host cell parameter of interest.

Provided is an automated analysis device capable of a more accurate determination of the sizes of bubbles included in a liquid. The automated analysis device includes a detection unit which detects bubbles included in a liquid, an internal standard solution syringe which executes a first liquid supply operation in which a liquid is supplied via the detection unit, a diluent syringe, a sipper syringe, solenoid valves, and a control device which determines whether the size of the bubbles detected during the first liquid supply operation is normal or not based on the operation speed of the liquid supply unit, and controls the operation of the liquid supply unit according to the determination.

The present invention relates to a sample diluting and dispensing device. The sample diluting and dispensing device according to the present invention includes: a sample holding plate in which a holding part for holding a plurality of sample vessels is formed; a moving unit for transferring the sample holding plate in a plane direction and a height direction; a sample supply unit for supplying a sample to the sample vessel; a diluent supply unit for supplying a diluent to the sample vessel; a scale installed below the sample holding plate to measure a weight of the sample vessel; and a controller for receiving a weight measurement result from the scale and controlling an operation of each of the sample holding plate, the sample supply unit, and the diluent supply unit.

An automatic analyzer includes: a specimen holding unit configured to hold a specimen container in which a specimen is stored; a dispensed container holding unit configured to hold a plurality of dispensed containers; a dispensing probe configured to separate a predetermined amount of the specimen from the specimen container, and configured to dispense the specimen into the dispensed container; a probe washing device configured to wash a leading end of the dispensing probe in a washing liquid; and a controller configured to control driving of the dispensing probe. The controller includes an arithmetic processing unit configured to calculate a concentration of the specimen in the specimen container. The specimen is subject to dilution with the washing liquid adhered to the leading end of the dispensing probe in the probe washing device. The arithmetic processing unit sets a maximum number of times for dispensing the specimen, based on the concentration.

A liquid-metering device for discharging metered liquid in the nanometer range, includes a pipetting-tip receiving device defining, at least in a metering-ready operating position of the liquid-metering device, a receiving space that runs along a virtual receiving axis and is designed to receive a portion of a pipetting-tip. The liquid-metering device also includes a triggering plunger moveable relative to the pipetting-tip receiving device, between a standby position and a triggering position. The liquid-metering device also includes movement drive, which is coupled to the triggering plunger so as to transmit motion, and a control device for controlling operation of the movement drive. A first and second deformation formation define therebetween an axial longitudinal region of the receiving space as a deformation region, in which region the first and second formations can be brought closer or farther away to/from one another. The triggering plunger is located in the deformation region.