A sample measurement system and method of transporting of racks are provided that collectively supply the consumables to the sample measurement units. The sample measurement system includes: sample measurement units that perform measurement on samples by using consumables; a setting part in which a user sets consumable racks housing the consumables; a first transport path that supplies the consumable racks set in the setting part to one of the sample measurement units; a collector that is arranged adjacent to the setting part and that collects empty racks that are emptied after being transported to at least one of the sample measurement units; and a second transport path that transports the empty racks to the collector.

A toilet for administering a product to a user is disclosed. The toilet includes a bowl, a mechanism for administering the product to the user, a storage structure for storing the product, a sensor that detects a property of the product, and a processor. The bowl is adapted to receiving excreta from the user. The processor compares the detected property with a range of values indicating the suitability of the product for being applied to a user. The processor generates an alert when the detected property falls outside the range of values.

A self-cleaning toilet is disclosed. The toilet includes a bowl adapted to receive excreta, a mechanism that uses a consumable to clean at least a portion of the toilet, a storage structure for storing the consumable, a sensor for detecting a property of the consumable, and a processor. The sensor detects a quantity of the consumable. The processor generates an alert if the quantity of consumable is below a predetermined level. The alert can include providing a maintenance alert, ordering more consumable, and enabling or disabling features of the toilet.

An analytical toilet is disclosed. The toilet includes a bowl for receiving excreta, a mechanism that uses a consumable for analyzing a sample of excreta, a storage structure for storing the consumable, a sensor that detects at least one property of the consumable, and a processor that generates an alert when the property is outside a predetermined parameter. The property the sensor detects can be used to determine at least one of the identity of the consumable, the quantity or supply of the consumable, or a property related to the suitability of the consumable.

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 whilst still ensuring high quality sample preparation for analysis.

Systems and methods are provided for recognizing various sample containers carried in a rack. The systems and methods are performed to identify sample containers in the rack and detect various characteristics associated with the containers and/or the rack, which are evaluated to determine the validity and/or types of the containers in the rack.

A sample measuring apparatus, A reagent container, and a method of measuring a sample are provided. The sample measuring apparatus includes: a container holding unit that holds a reagent container comprising an openable/closable lid portion that covers an opening of the reagent container; a reagent dispensing unit that aspirates a reagent in the reagent container with the lid portion being in an opened state and dispenses the aspirated reagent into a reaction container; a pressing unit that seals the opening, by pressing toward the opening the lid portion laid over the opening; and a measuring unit that measures components contained in a measurement specimen prepared from a sample and the reagent dispensed in the reaction container.

An automated storage system for storing large quantities of samples in trays includes a storage compartment, a tray shuttle compartment abutting the storage compartment on one side and a plurality of independent modules on the other side. The modules perform processing of samples that are retrieved from the storage compartment by a tray shuttle, including extraction of selected samples from retrieved source trays and transfer of the selected samples into a separate, destination tray that can be further processed or removed from the system for use. The independent operation of the modules permits handling and processing to be performed simultaneously by different modules while the tray shuttle accesses additional samples within the storage compartment. In one embodiment, a vertical carousel is used to vertically align a desired tray with the tray shuttle, while the tray shuttle operates within a horizontal plane.

An ultra-deep reservoir stratified water sample and sediment core integrated artificial intelligence sampling device, comprising a sampling device main chamber, an attitude balance sensor, a propeller, a balance base, and a sampler body, wherein the attitude balance sensor and the sampler body are disposed inside the sampling device main chamber; the propeller is disposed outside the sampling device main chamber; and the balance base is located at a bottom end of the sampling device main chamber. The sampling device of the present invention is an intelligent sampling device integrating high-definition underwater topography observation, undisturbed sediment core collection, vertical stratified accurate sampling of water bodies, and real-time in-situ monitoring of key physical and chemical parameters, and can be flexibly applied to deep and shallow water environments under complicated conditions.

An optical characterization apparatus for imaging a specimen container containing a specimen. The optical characterization apparatus includes a moveable hood configured to move between an open state and a closed state relative to a specimen container imaging location and having an interior, wherein when the moveable hood is in the closed state, a specimen container positioned at the specimen container imaging location is at least partially located within the interior of the moveable hood. One or more optical devices coupled to or within the interior of the moveable hood are positioned, when the moveable hood is in the closed state, to allow imaging of a specimen container positioned at the specimen container imaging location. Automated specimen testing systems, optical characterization apparatus, and methods of measuring characteristics of specimen containers are provided, as are other aspects.