An automated system for processing a sample contained in a liquid sample container includes an automated tool head configured to rotate about a first axis, and to translate along a second axis different than the first axis, an analytic element positioner having an analytic element holder configured to releasably grip an analytic element, and a specimen transfer device carried by the tool head, wherein the tool head is configured to automatically position a working end of the specimen transfer device to obtain a specimen from a sample container held in the sample container holder, and to transfer the obtained specimen to an analytic element held by the analytic element holder, respectively, through one or both of rotation of the tool head about the first axis and translation of the tool head along the second axis.

One embodiment provides a method of controlling a payload temperature in in vitro diagnostics including: moving, using a track system, a plurality of carriers, along one or more paths between a plurality of testing stations, wherein the carrier is configured to hold one or more payloads, and limiting, using a temperature controlling device, temperature change of the one or more payloads, wherein each carrier is configured to hold one or more payloads and move the one or more payloads to one of the plurality of testing stations. Other aspects are described and claimed herein.

Disclosed is a fully-automatic chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer, which comprises a base, a reaction cup conveyance module, a robot-arm sample injection module, an incubation module, a manipulator and transit module, a magnetic-separation cleaning module, and a detection module are mutually independently integrated on the base. The reaction cup conveyance module is used for conveying a reaction cup to a pre-determined position; the manipulator and transit module carries the reaction cup into the incubation module, to incubate the reaction cup for a constant-temperature reaction; the reaction cup in the incubation module is carried to the magnetic-separation cleaning module for magnetic-adsorption cleaning; and the reaction cup after cleaning is carried by the manipulator and transit module to the detection module for detection. A plurality of manipulators and a plurality of transit devices may be disposed as required, to link the mutually independent functional parts of the modules. Further, the instrument may be equipped with detection modules and process modules of various detection platforms, which cooperate with the manipulator and transit module to realize diverse detection in a table-top production line manner.

A method of identifying a tube type. The method includes capturing one or more pixelated images of a cap affixed to a tube; identifying a color of one or more pixels of the pixilated image of the cap; identifying one or more gradients of a dimension of the cap; and identifying the tube type based at least on: the color of the one or more pixels, and the one or more gradients of a dimension of the cap. Apparatus adapted to carry out the method are disclosed as are other aspects.

An automated method for handling an in-vitro diagnostics IVD container in an IVD laboratory is proposed. The method comprises at least the steps of measuring at least one physical quantity of an IVD container, storing the at least one physical quantity in a read and writeable data carrier attached to the IVD container, and retrieving the at least one physical quantity from the read and writeable data carrier attached to the IVD container.

Methods of pre-heating a test vessel prior to transfer of the test vessel to an incubator may shorten an incubation cycle, ensure proper temperature of a test specimen in the test vessel, and/or improve testing accuracy and/or throughput in a bio-liquid specimen testing apparatus. The methods include providing a test vessel pre-heating apparatus having a receptacle sized to receive a test vessel therein and having at least one heating unit configured to heat by direct conduction at least one side of the test vessel. The methods also include heating at least one side of the test vessel via direct contact using the at least one heating unit. Specimen testing apparatus and test vessel pre-heating apparatus configured to carry out the method are described, as are other aspects.

A system for transporting a sample in a clinical analysis system includes a sample container holding the sample, a ferromagnetic base connected to a bottom portion of the sample container, and a puck. The puck is used for transporting the sample container in the clinical analysis system. The puck comprises an embedded magnet for securing the sample container to the puck using the ferromagnetic base.

The invention relates to a vehicle for transporting a biological sample, the vehicle being movable on a circuit, the circuit comprising: —an input path, a first output path and a second output path, —a turn-off enabling the vehicle travelling on the input path to be redirected to the first output path or the second output path, —a first guide path extending along the input path, the turn-off and the first output path, —a guide device which can be configured in: —a first configuration in which the guide device cooperates with the first guide path so as to direct the vehicle to the first output path when the vehicle passes through the turn-off, —a second configuration in which the guide device does not cooperate with the first guide path, enabling the vehicle to reach the second output path.

A preanalytic system is disclosed. The preanalytic system comprises a cap gripper configured to grip a cap of a laboratory sample container, wherein the cap is connected to a rod of a swab located within the laboratory sample container, wherein the cap gripper is further configured to release the cap from the laboratory sample container, and a cutting device configured to cut the rod of the swab when the cap is in a position released from the laboratory sample container.

A distribution system is disclosed. The distribution system comprises a transport plan comprising logical positions, carriers for transporting objects, a drive system to move the carriers on the transport plan between logical positions, a control system configured for controlling the carriers to move on a planned route from a start position to a final destination position on the transport plane via logical positions, wherein the control system comprises a routing system configured for calculating routes for at least two carriers on the transport plane by modeling the transport plane with graphs of nodes, wherein the routing system is configured for calculating the planned routes considering balancing of surface usage of the transport plane, and wherein the routing system is configured for considering temporal blocking of logical positions and/or a considering variable move length and/or considering a variable reservation length.