An automated system and method for storing/retrieving vessel holders is presented. A first storage compartment comprises first storage sections. A first translating mechanism vertically translates one storage section to a loading level for loading holders into the first storage compartment and translates one storage section to a handing-in level for handing in holders to/from an analyzer. A second storage compartment comprises second storage sections. A second translating mechanism vertically translates one second storage sections to a handing-out level and translates one storage section to an unloading level for unloading holders from the second storage compartment. A first transport mechanism comprises a first conveyor for transporting holders from a first storage section at the handing-in level to a handing-over station. A second transport mechanism comprises a second conveyor for transporting holders from the handing-over station to a second storage section at the handing-out level. A controller operates the mechanisms.

Example automated storage modules for analyzer liquids are described herein. An example apparatus includes a refrigerated storage module having a plurality of shelves (to store a plurality of carriers) and a loading bay having an array of slots to receive one or more of the carriers. The loading bay is accessible by a user for manual loading or unloading of the carriers. The example apparatus includes a first carrier transporter coupled to the storage module to transfer the carriers between the shelves and a first transfer location and a second carrier transporter movable along a track connecting the storage module to an automated diagnostic analyzer. The second carrier transporter is to transfer a first carrier between the first transfer location and a slot in the loading bay and a second carrier between the first transfer location and a second transfer location accessible by the automated diagnostic analyzer.

A slide rack gripper apparatus is provided that simultaneously conveys a plurality of glass slides in the protection of a slide rack within a digital slide scanning apparatus. The slide rack gripper apparatus conveys the plurality of glass slides from a slide rack carousel to a scanning stage for processing. The slide rack gripper includes a first motor attached to a base configured to drive a finger mount attached to the base along a first linear axis. The slide rack gripper apparatus also includes a second motor attached to the finger mount and configured to drive opposing gripper fingers attached to the finger mount along a second linear axis. The second motor is also configured to drive individual gripper fingers along a third linear axis to move the gripper fingers toward each other and away from each other to grasp or release a slide rack.

An analyzer is disclosed. The analyzer comprises a rack slot configured to receive at least one rack, wherein the rack slot comprises a front end, at which the rack is manually loadable into the rack slot, and a rear end, which is opposite to the front end and at which the rack is fully receivable in the rack slot, and a spring device arranged at the rear end, wherein the spring device is configured to provide a biasing force towards the front end, wherein the biasing force is adapted to move the rack towards the front end if not fully received in the rack slot, wherein the spring device is configured to fix the rack in a final position if the rack is fully received in the rack slot. Further, a method for loading a rack into a rack slot of an analyzer and a system comprising an analyzer and a computer controller are disclosed.

A measurement system according to one or more embodiments may include a measurement unit that measures a sample contained in a sample container; a transport unit including a first transporter that transports a rack holding sample containers in a longitudinal direction of the rack to the measurement unit, and a second transporter that transports the rack from the measurement unit; and a rack export-import unit that sets racks thereon, that is capable of transferring each of the set racks in a lateral direction of the rack, that exports the rack to the first transporter from one end side of the rack export-import unit, and that imports the rack transported by the second transporter from another end side of the rack export-import unit. The rack export-import unit includes a transfer prevention section that prevents the rack imported from the other end side from being transferred from the one end side.

Calibration device for a diagnostic device, the diagnostic device comprising a digital imaging device arranged to record an image of at least one sample container containing at least one biological sample. According to the invention, methods include of digitally imaging said at least one sample container, thus obtaining a first image processing the first image, thus obtaining a second image printing a representation of the second image onto a substrate by means of a printing method, thus obtaining the calibration device, wherein said processing of the first image comprises applying at least one transfer function to the first image. The invention further relates to a corresponding calibration device, and a method of calibrating a diagnostic device by means of the calibration device.

Point-of-care biomarker assay apparatus arranged for measuring a presence or concentration of a biomarker in a sample, said biomarker assay apparatus comprising cartridge receiving means arranged for receiving at least one cartridge having multiple chambers designed for receiving a plurality of liquid media comprising said sample, labelled binding reagent, magnetic beads reagent and wash buffer, a sample distribution unit arranged for processing pipetting steps with said chambers, thereby providing a liquid reactant mixture in one or more of said chambers, a magnetic coil assembly arranged for applying a magnetic field to said liquid reactant mixture for separating biomarkers bound to said magnetic beads and said labelled binding reagent, from said reactant mixture, a photo detector or assembly arranged for measuring said presence or concentration of said labelled binding reagent, a control unit arranged for controlling said processing pipetting steps with said chambers, and for controlling said sample distribution unit along said chambers according to a test protocol, wherein said test protocol comprises an order of subsequent processing steps performed in said plurality of chambers to be processed by said sample distribution unit, said processing steps comprising one or more processing pipetting steps by the sample distribution unit and one or more processing incubation steps of the reaction mixture within any of the chambers wherein the control unit being programmed for performing multiple, distinct test protocols.

A parallel preceding system for processing samples is described. In one embodiment, the parallel processing system includes an instrument interface parallel controller to control a tray motor driving system, a close-loop heater control and detection system, a magnetic particle transfer system, a reagent release system, a reagent pre-mix pumping system and a wash buffer pumping system.

The present application provides a sample rack conveying apparatus, a sample rack conveying pipeline, and a sample rack conveying method. The sample rack conveying apparatus includes a track, a detector and dual-channel track switching areas. The detector provided at an outside of the analysis areas to detect whether there is a test tube or not. The dual-channel track switching areas are defined at two ends of the track and positions between every two analysis areas. The track includes an outer track and a parallel inner track. The inner track defines at least two analysis areas. The dual-channel track switching areas include two parallel connecting channels. The connecting channels are moved along a direction perpendicular to the track to transfer the tracks between the inner track and the outer track.

An automatic analyzer is capable of normally maintaining a device condition and exhibiting a stable performance by automatically monitoring a cleaning implementation situation using a wash rack. The automatic analyzer includes an analysis unit, a rack loading unit into which at least a sample rack that holds the sample and a wash rack that holds a cleaning liquid are loaded. A transportation mechanism transports the sample rack and the wash rack to the analysis unit. A management control unit causes the wash rack to be transported to an analysis unit, causes a cleaning operation of the analysis unit by the cleaning liquid held by the wash rack, and causes stopping of the sample analysis operation of the analysis unit to which the wash rack has been transported until a performance of the analysis unit is determined to be normal based on the cleaning operation.