A sample preparation cartridge for use with a sample preparation device, the cartridge includes a housing defining plural separate segments, at least one of said segments comprising a fixed section of a pipette component; and a moveable head comprising a pipette tip, the head being configured, in use, to be moved between a position in which the pipette tip is in sealed engagement with the fixed section of pipette component and a position in which pipette tip is positioned adjacent to another of said plural segments. With the present invention a disposable sample preparation cartridge and corresponding analytical reader can be provided in a very cost effective and simple manner.

A pipette-tip connecting device has a base, a first positioning mechanism, a second positioning mechanism, a connecting seat, a pipette-fixing seat, and a tilt actuator. The first positioning mechanism extends along a first direction. The second positioning mechanism is linked to the first slider and extending upward and downward along a second direction. The connecting seat is mounted on the second slider such that positions of the connecting seat along the first direction and the second direction are controlled by the first positioning mechanism and the second positioning mechanism respectively. The pipette-fixing seat is mounted on the connecting seat and is pivotal relative to the connecting seat. The pipette-fixing seat has a pipette-tip connector which moves in the first direction and the second direction when the pipette-fixing seat pivots. The tilt actuator controls a relative angle between the pipette-fixing seat and the connecting seat.

The present invention relates to an immunoassay device and an immunoassay method. According to an aspect of the present invention, an immunoassay device includes a measurement unit provided with a detection unit disposed at one side of a stage accommodating cartridges having a plurality of wells to move in a direction, in which the plurality of cartridges are arranged, and capable of measuring a state within the well disposed at the outermost side, and including a shielding plate that moves to cover an opened upper portion of the well disposed at the outermost side to block introduction of light into the well.

A sampling system that includes a traverse, a sample aspiration module body, and a mechanical system. The sample aspiration module body is configured to travel along the traverse. The mechanical system is configured to move the traverse from a first position to a second position, wherein both the first position and the second position lie in the same plane.

Systems and methods are described for integrated sample container cover removal and sample probe positioning. In an example implementation, an autosampler system includes, but is not limited to, a z-axis support rotatable about a z-axis of an autosampler deck; a sample probe support structure coupled to the z-axis support, the sample probe support structure configured to hold a sample probe to withdraw a fluid-containing sample held within a sample container supported by the autosampler deck; and a sample cap remover coupled to the z-axis support in an orientation that is rotationally offset from the z-axis support with respect to the sample probe support structure, the sample cap remover configured to lift a cap from the sample container to provide access to an interior of the sample container by the sample probe supported by the sample probe support structure.

An advanced incubation system is disclosed for monitoring biological specimens. The system can include an incubation chamber and multiple specimen drawers, each drawer housing a plurality of receptacles designed to hold biological specimen vessels. These drawers can slide between an open position, allowing access to the receptacles, and a closed position, where they can be sealed within the incubation chamber. The system is equipped with a series of imagers, and each can be aligned with a receptacle to capture high-resolution digital images of the specimens. Additionally, the system can include a plurality of illuminators that provide consistent lighting across the receptacles.

An automatic analyzer for making measurements for different analysis processes by a compact mechanism. The apparatus performs inspection for plural different analysis processes and includes: an incubator for holding plural reaction vessels on circumferential positions, first and second dispensing mechanisms each having a dispensing nozzle capable of arc-shaped movement around a rotational axis and vertical movement, in which a first locus of an arc-shaped movement of the dispensing nozzle of the first dispensing mechanism and a second locus of the arc-shaped movement of the dispensing nozzle of the second dispensing mechanism intersect the circumference of the incubator where the reaction vessels are arranged, while the first locus and the second locus do not intersect, the first dispensing mechanism is used in a first inspection having a first reaction period, and the second dispensing mechanism is used in a second inspection having a second reaction period longer than the first reaction period.