A conveyor assembly for transporting a carrier coupled to a receptacle to a processing station located within a housing of an instrument. The conveyor assembly includes a spur conveyor subassembly and a buffer conveyor subassembly for transporting the carrier from a host conveyor assembly to the spur conveyor subassembly. The spur conveyor subassembly includes (i) a rotatable diverter having at least one recess for receiving and moving the carrier between the buffer conveyor subassembly and the spur conveyor subassembly and (ii) a gripper configured to grasp the carrier and move it from the diverter to the processing position located within the housing of the instrument.

A sample tube includes a barcode split into components at the bottom of the sample tube. Each barcode component stores less than the full data output from the barcode, but the components combine to full data output. Redundant diagonal components provide for error checking. A center region between the barcode components supports an electrical circuit or an optical or acoustic window. The sample tube may have a sidewall with a substantially cylindrical open end and non-cylindrical end closed with a bottom, the non-cylindrical end orienting the sample tube in a rack. Additional non-cylindrical surfaces are provided to orient the sample tube relative to complementary surfaces at a gripper. The sample tube of a particular application is positioned in an acoustic dispensing system where acoustic waves are transmitted through a center window for surveying and dispensing.

A system and method include a swab, configured to collect particles for detection by a particle detection system, that includes integral, machine-readable identification data that identifies the swab and is used by the particle detection system to at least activate one or more functions of the particle detection system associated with an efficacy of the swab for use by the particle detection system.

System for providing marked containers comprising a computerised control system storing at least one unique identifier for each container, to be applied to a respective container, a printing unit comprising an ink delivery station, operatively connected with said computerised control system, able to print said identifier on each container, comprising a printing head filled with ink and having a plurality of nozzles configured for spraying said ink on an external surface of each container, displacement means able to perform a relative rotation, translation or rotary translation between each container and the printing head during the printing of the identifier on the container, said displacement means being operatively connected with said computerised control system.

A sample tube includes a barcode split into components at the bottom of the sample tube. Each barcode component stores less than the full data output from the barcode, but the components combine to full data output. Redundant diagonal components provide for error checking. A center region between the barcode components supports an electrical circuit or an optical or acoustic window. The sample tube may have a sidewall with a substantially cylindrical open end and non-cylindrical end closed with a bottom, the non-cylindrical end orienting the sample tube in a rack. Additional non-cylindrical surfaces are provided to orient the sample tube relative to complementary surfaces at a gripper. The sample tube of a particular application is positioned in an acoustic dispensing system where acoustic waves are transmitted through a center window for surveying and dispensing.

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for producing a wax block containing a tissue sample (1), comprising: a container (4) into which the tissue sample (1) is placed; and a dispensing apparatus (10) for dispensing different substances (8) into the container (4). The apparatus (1) according to the present invention is notable for the fact that it comprises an emptying device (23) for emptying the container (4); and a control unit (22) is provided, which is designed to apply control to the dispensing apparatus (10) and to the emptying device (23) in such a way that in several successive cycles, at least one of the substances is respectively dispensed into the container (4) and the container (4) is emptied again after a specific time period.

A sample-containing device configured to be placed into a sample processing instrument for performing a process on a sample contained in the device includes redundant identification features, such as machine-readable tags. A first machine-readable information tag is read before the device is placed in the instrument, and a second machine-readable information tag is read after the device is in the instrument. Information read from the two tags is compared to determine if there is proper correspondence between the information read from the tags to ensure that the correct sample processing device was placed in the instrument.

A cartridge, an analysis system, and a method for testing a sample, such as, environmental, food or biological sample, wherein the cartridge has two memory elements that are different and/or can be read out by different methods and which correspond to the cartridge or to the batch thereof.

A system for automation of sample preparation is disclosed. The system for automation includes a fixture configured to hold a sample and a reader system configured for receiving information pertinent to the sample. In various implementations, the system includes a cutting system configured for removing a portion of the sample. In various implementations, the system includes a cutting system configured for cutting the sample into at least two portions. In various implementations, the system further includes a first bin for collecting a first portion of the at least two portions of the sample. In various implementations, the system also includes a second bin for collecting a second portion of the at least two portions of the sample. In various implementations, the plurality of specimens are arranged linearly along one direction or arranged laterally in a two-dimensional array.

An analyzer and a method for reading a test result of a test apparatus are provided. The analyzer includes an analyzer (1) housing, and a drive system, a photoelectric system, a data processing system and a result output system disposed in the analyzer (1) housing. The test apparatus is carried by an objective stage (10) of the drive system to get in and out of the analyzer (1) to read the test result. The analyzer (1) compact in size and stable in operation is applicable to testing of various biochemical indicators and can improve the efficiency of medical testing.