Provided are methods for the automated loading and/or automatic processing of one or more samples in an automated sample processing device. Also provided are automated sample loading systems and devices that include automated sample loading systems or devices that are utilized in such systems.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to methods for rapid, sensitive, and high-throughput nucleic acid testing of biological samples, e.g., blood, serum, or plasma samples from donors, as well as systems capable of performing such high-throughput nucleic acid testing.

A device for agitating and collecting biological liquid samples comprises an agitator of racks of tubes and a sampling apparatus capable of collecting a biological liquid sample in a tube. The device also comprises a scheduler arranged to specify an order of sampling from the tubes independently of the order in which the tubes are positioned in the respective racks and the order in which the racks are inserted into the device. The scheduler is arranged to control the agitator and the sampling apparatus to process the tubes in accordance with the sampling order.

A device for agitating and collecting biological liquid samples comprises an agitator of racks of tubes, a sampling apparatus capable of collecting a biological liquid sample in a tube, and a changer capable of gripping a tube on a rack received in the agitator and moving it to the sampling apparatus. The agitator is capable of agitating at least three racks simultaneously, and the device also comprises a scheduler capable of determining destination data for a tube and destination data for the rack which receives this tube, and of determining for each tube a final location based on the destination data of the tube and the destination data of the racks received in the device, which final location designates a rack, received on the agitator and a position on this rack and can be different from the location of the tube when the rack that received it has been introduced into the device, and arranged to control the changer in order to grip a tube, present it to the sampling apparatus and replace it after sampling at the final location.

An automatic cell isolation and collection system for sorting out target cells from a sample includes a crush module, a centrifuge module, a transport module, and a control unit. The centrifuge module includes centrifuge tubes and a magnetic mechanism providing a magnetically attractive force to at least one of the centrifuge tubes. The control unit electrically communicates with the crush module, the centrifuge module, and the transport module, and controls operation of the crush module, transport of the sample via the transport module after the sample is crushed by the crush module, centrifugation of the centrifuge module, and operation of the magnetic mechanism for providing the magnetically attractive force.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring the optical state on the inside of a reaction vessel. The apparatus includes: linking portions that optically connect with the interior of the reaction vessel that is linkable with reaction vessels, a connecting end arranging body having an arranging surface that arranges and supports along a predetermined path, connecting ends to which is provided back ends of the light guide portions, the front ends thereof being provided to the linking portions, the connecting ends being provided to the linking portions; a measurement device having measuring ends that are successively optically connectable with the connecting ends, and in which light based on the optical state is receivable by optical connections between the connecting ends and the measuring ends; and a light guide switching mechanism that successively optically connects the connecting ends and the measuring ends.

An extracting device 200 includes a plurality of extraction vessels 210 which retain a solution containing magnetic particles and a sample, an oscillating mechanism 220 which oscillates the extraction vessels 210, magnet bodies which exert a magnetic force on extraction vessels 210, a magnet moving mechanism 258, 259 which moves the magnet bodies between a contact position in which the magnet bodies are in contact with the extraction vessels 210 and a non-contact position, a temperature adjustment unit which adjusts a temperature of the extraction vessels 210, a temperature adjustment unit moving mechanism 248, 249 which moves the temperature adjustment unit between a contact position in which the temperature adjustment unit is in contact with the extraction vessels 210 and a non-contact position in which the temperature adjustment unit is not in contact with the extraction vessels 210, and a control unit which controls an action of each of the mechanisms.

Disclosed is a sample processing apparatus, comprising: a first mechanism unit having a first operation range of movement and that carries out a first process on a container with a sample, the first operation range comprising an overlap region and a non-overlap region; a second mechanism unit having a second operation range of movement and that carries out a second process on the container after completion of the first process, the second operation range comprising the overlap region but not the non-overlap region; an operation detector that senses operation of the first mechanism unit; and a controller that causes the first mechanism unit to stop the first process and retreat from the overlap region and that causes the second mechanism unit to continue the second process upon detection of abnormality in the first mechanism unit based on the detection result by the operation detector.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to a sample stainer for automatically staining samples with one or more reagents. The stainer comprises a trough base with predetermined pattern to hold one or more trough. Each trough comprises a plurality of compartments that is capable of being filled with one or more reagents required for staining samples. The stainer also comprises a slide holder for holding slides having sample collected from the users. The slide holder comprises a plurality of compartments, each compartment comprising one or more slots to hold the slides. The stainer further comprises a motion control unit that is configured to control the rotary motion of the trough base and linear motion of the slide holder during the staining process. The stainer also comprises a user interface configured to receive inputs including slide information and staining process related information from user to perform the staining of the sample.

If an air bubble is entrained when a reagent is added to a sample, disturbance caused by this air bubble may prevent accurate optical measurement, thereby reducing accuracy for measuring blood clotting ability. The position to dispense the reagent depends on accuracy of stopping a reagent dispensing mechanism and dimensional errors of individual detectors, and thus conventional reagent discharging method may entrain an air bubble because a distance between a nozzle for dispensing the reagent and an inner wall of a reaction vessel is not constant and conditions for dispensing the reagent to the sample vary. In the present invention, an automatic analyzer with a nozzle for sucking and discharging the reagent for blood clotting reaction is provided with a dispensing mechanism that keeps a constant position for the nozzle to discharge the reagent by pressing the nozzle against the inner wall of the reaction vessel within the elastic range.