A pipetting apparatus (10) having a guidance frame (12) having a first linear guidance rail (52) and having a second linear guidance rail (56), the first and the second linear guidance rail (52, 56) proceeding parallel to one another along a displacement axis (VL) and being provided at a distance from one another orthogonally to the displacement axis (VL), and having a pipetting channel (14) which extends along a channel axis (K14) that is nonparallel, preferably orthogonal, to the displacement axis (VL) and which is guided displaceably along the displacement axis (VL) with a first bearing component (54) on the first linear guidance rail (52) and with a second bearing component (58) on the second linear guidance rail (56), is characterized in that the first and the second bearing component (54, 58) are arranged with a spacing (A) from one another along the displacement axis (VL).

A reaction container control system including a reaction container, a sealing lid, a temperature control block, and a heater. The reaction container includes a lower side wall section, an upper side wall section, and an aperture. The sealing lid seals the reaction container by fitting to the aperture of the reaction container. When the sealing lid is fitted to the aperture, light based on an optical state within the reaction container is receivable by a measuring device via the sealing lid. The temperature control block contacts or extends adjacent the lower side wall section, and includes a temperature source operable to increase or decrease a temperature inside the reaction container. The heater contacts or extends adjacent the upper side wall section, and includes a heat source operable to heat the reaction container to prevent condensation on the sealing lid fitted to the aperture.

A pipetting apparatus (10) having a guidance frame (12) having a first linear guidance rail (52) and having a second linear guidance rail (56), the first and the second linear guidance rail (52, 56) proceeding parallel to one another along a displacement axis (VL) and being provided at a distance from one another orthogonally to the displacement axis (VL), and having a pipetting channel (14) which extends along a channel axis (K14) that is nonparallel, preferably orthogonal, to the displacement axis (VL) and which is guided displaceably along the displacement axis (VL) with a first bearing component (54) on the first linear guidance rail (52) and with a second bearing component (58) on the second linear guidance rail (56), is characterized in that the first and the second bearing component (54, 58) are arranged with a spacing (A) from one another along the displacement axis (VL).

An apparatus, system, and method for performing an efficient luminescence measurement are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a nozzle for dispensing a luminescent reagent into a well W in a microplate M, a luminescence measurement unit for measuring luminescence occurring in the well W caused by mixing of the luminescent reagent and a specimen, and a stage (moving unit) for moving the nozzle and the luminescence measurement unit together vertically and horizontally, wherein the nozzle is secured to the stage and the luminescence measurement unit is mounted to be movable vertically with respect to the stage through a holder and springs interposed between the luminescence measurement unit and the holder.

Various embodiments include a system having a pipetting chamber, a set of pipettor cartridges docked in the pipetting chamber, a gantry system mounted on a ceiling within the pipetting chamber, the gantry system including at least one stationary track aligned in a first direction, and a movable track aligned in a second direction distinct from the first direction, the movable track coupled to the at least one stationary track, and a carrier configured to transport each of the set of pipettor cartridges to a pipetting location within the pipetting chamber, the carrier configured to move each pipettor cartridge in a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions.

An instrument for processing a biological sample includes a chassis. Connected to the chassis is a tape path along which a tape with a matrix of wells can be automatically advanced through the instrument, a dispensing assembly for dispensing the biological sample and a reagent into the matrix of wells of the tape to form a biological sample and reagent mixture, a sealing assembly for sealing the biological sample and reagent mixture in the tape, and an amplification and detection assembly for detecting a signal from the biological sample and reagent mixture in the matrix of wells in the tape.

A method and system for automatic in-vitro diagnostic analysis are described. The method includes adding a first reagent type and a second reagent type to a first test liquid during a first and second cycle times respectively. The addition of the first reagent type to the first test liquid includes parallel addition of a second reagent type to a second test liquid during the first cycle time. The addition of the second reagent type to the first test liquid includes parallel addition of a first reagent type to a third test liquid during the second cycle time, respectively.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and devices for automatically transferring samples and/or reagents from sample vessels and/or reagent vessels into at least one receiving vessel In one example embodiment, a pipetting device is disclosed including a pipettor that is movable along a first direction and has at least one first pipetting needle that is movable along an arm of the pipettor along a second direction, substantially normal to the first direction. The pipetting needle is lowerable along a third direction into the individual vessels. In some specific embodiments, the arm of the movable pipettor has at least one second pipetting needle which, regardless of the current position of the first pipetting needle, is movable past the first pipetting needle and is lowerable into the individual vessels.

An instrument for processing a biological sample includes a chassis. Connected to the chassis is a tape path along which a tape with a matrix of wells can be automatically advanced through the instrument, a dispensing assembly for dispensing the biological sample and a reagent into the matrix of wells of the tape to form a biological sample and reagent mixture, a sealing assembly for sealing the biological sample and reagent mixture in the tape, and an amplification and detection assembly for detecting a signal from the biological sample and reagent mixture in the matrix of wells in the tape.

Various embodiments include a system having a pipetting chamber, a set of pipettor cartridges docked in the pipetting chamber, a gantry system mounted on a ceiling within the pipetting chamber, the gantry system including at least one stationary track aligned in a first direction, and a movable track aligned in a second direction distinct from the first direction, the movable track coupled to the at least one stationary track, and a carrier configured to transport each of the set of pipettor cartridges to a pipetting location within the pipetting chamber, the carrier configured to move each pipettor cartridge in a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions.