The invention relates to an adapter for mounting a conductive pipette, a sample tube opening/closing device, and an automatic sample analysis system and, more specifically, to an adapter for mounting a conductive pipette, a sample tube opening/closing device, and an automatic sample analysis system, in which dispensing of a liquid sample and extraction, amplification and testing of nucleic acids are integrally carried out. The sample tube opening/closing device includes: a housing that forms an inner space isolated from the outside and includes a door for carrying in/out a multi-well plate for biological samples, including a plurality of sample tubes in which biological samples are accommodated; and a sample tube opening/closing part that is installed in the inner space to be spaced apart from the multi-well plate for biological samples and automatically opens and closes the sample tubes.

A laboratory system includes: at least one reactor; a sample extraction device for extracting a sample from the at least one reactor into a sampling space; a fluid supply system including a transportation fluid supply; at least one sample storage container; at least one fluid supply channel connecting the extraction device to the fluid supply system; at least one sample extraction channel connecting the extraction device to the sample storage container, where the fluid supply system is arranged to push the sample from the sampling space through the sample extraction channel to the at least one sample storage container using transportation fluid of the transportation fluid supply.

An object of the invention is to provide a technique capable of enhancing a cleaning effect of a dispensing probe while preventing an influence on an analysis throughput. In a method according to the invention, an inner surface of a dispensing probe is cleaned by repeating an inner surface liquid-feeding period in which a cleaning liquid is fed to an inside of the dispensing probe and an inner surface stop period in which the cleaning liquid is not fed.

Cartridge module, apparatus and method are provided for improving contamination control during biological analyses or nucleic acid analyses protocol. The cartridge module includes a hollow tube and receptacles. A cover layer isolates the receptacles from the ambience while the receptacles allow the tube when attached to a syringe to dispense and aspirate a reagent liquid or a biological sample to and from the receptacle through the cover layer only from a receptacle top opening. The cover layer substantially blocks aerosol exchange between the ambience and the receptacle during the whole process of analyses. Ambience contamination due to accidental spillage from the receptacles is also prevented. A connecting air space reduces change of air pressure inside the receptacles during aspiration or dispensation of liquid.

Cartridge module, apparatus, and method are provided for improving contamination control during biological analyses or nucleic acid analyses protocol. The cartridge module includes a hollow tube and receptacles. A porous cover layer isolates the receptacles from the ambience while the receptacles allow the tube when attached to a syringe to dispense and aspirate a reagent liquid or a biological sample to and from the receptacle through the cover layer only from a receptacle top opening. The cover layer substantially blocks aerosol exchange between the ambience and the receptacle during the whole process of analyses. Ambience contamination due to accidental spillage from the receptacles is also prevented. The porous cover layer reduces change of air pressure inside the receptacles during aspiration or dispensation of liquid.

A sample system for a fluid tank with an opening includes: a head unit, a sample vessel, a transport mechanism, and a controller. The head unit has a hollow body with a head connection that connects to the opening. The sample vessel includes a first sample chamber with a first sample valve disposed in a vessel body that fits within the hollow body. A first sample valve of the sample mechanism actuates to provide fluid communication to the first sample chamber. The transport mechanism connects to the head unit and the sample vessel, and moves the sample vessel between a home position and a first position. In the home position, the sample vessel is positioned within the hollow body. In the first position the sample vessel is lowered to a first level in the fluid tank, at which point the controller actuates the first sample valve.

Provided herein are systems, devices and methods for retaining chromatographic minicolumns in a holding fixture. A retaining apparatus may be provided with a pair of laterally spaced apart upright supports and a horizontal beam spanning between the upright supports to hold them in the laterally spaced apart relationship. The apparatus may be configured to contact a holder plate only along peripheral edges of the holder plate. The apparatus may be configured to slide along the holder plate after the minicolumns have been inserted therein, thereby retaining the minicolumns in the holder plate but allowing access to the minicolumns through vertical holes in the horizontal beam.

The disclosure concerns bacterial cell counting devices, systems and methods thereof. The bacterial cell counting device comprises at least one cartridge for containing reagents; an inlet for introducing a sample containing bacterial cells into the device; an optofluidic chip separately in fluid communication with the cartridge and the inlet; a filter strip passing through the optofluidic chip and in fluid communication with the cartridge and the inlet, the filter strip for trapping or retaining bacterial cells on its surface such that the bacterial cells can interact with the reagents as they flow through the filter strip; and a controller for controlling a sequential flow of reagents and sample to the filter strip via the optofluidic chip. The optofluidic chip is capable of detecting a colorimetric and/or fluorescence output emitted from the bacterial cells modified by the reagents in order for the bacterial cells to be quantified relative to a control.

Provided are an automatic analyzer that can decrease waiting time for a user and reduce running costs as compared with in the past and an operation method for the automatic analyzer. The analyzer includes: a first mechanism group that is used only in analysis for biochemical items; a second mechanism group that is used only in analysis for immunological items; a common mechanism group that is used in analysis for both biochemical items and immunological items; and a control part that activates the second mechanism group and common mechanism group without activating the first mechanism group when analysis for biochemical items is not required, and activates the first mechanism group and common mechanism group without activating the second mechanism group when analysis for immunological items is not required.

A hermetically sealable transfer vessel provides a cover, base, drive system, and sample platform. The cover and base may form a sealed space around the sample platform. A transparent window may be provided for the cover. The drive system provides a securing mechanism that allows the cover to be opened and closed. A mechanical lift is provided that allows the sample platform to be adjusted vertically. The transfer vessel is suitable for several mainstream analytical instruments, including focus ion beam (FIB) instruments. The transfer vessel allows samples to be analyzed by multiple analytical instruments, thereby allowing multi-physics characterizations on an individual sample.