The sample rack conveyance device includes a pusher member, a driving unit, a control unit, a front rack detection sensor, and a pusher movement amount storage unit. The front rack detection sensor moves together with the pusher member, detects an additional sample rack arranged more frontward in the conveyance direction than the sample rack conveyed by the pusher member. The pusher movement amount storage unit stores the movement amount at the time of movement from a sample rack conveyance start position on the pusher member. Furthermore, the control unit controls driving of the driving unit on the basis of the movement amount stored in the pusher movement amount storage unit.

A method and a device for transferring tubes between a laboratory automation system and a sample archiving system are presented. When transferring a tube from the laboratory automation system to the sample archiving system, a tube carrier carrying a tube is conveyed to a first take-over module via a first conveyor. At the first take-over module, the tube is removed from the tube carrier and the empty tube carrier is conveyed away from the first take-over module via a second conveyor. When transferring a tube from the sample archiving system to the laboratory automation system, an empty tube carrier is conveyed to a second take-over module via a third conveyor. At the second take-over module, at least one tube is inserted into the tube carrier and the tube carrier carrying the at least one tube is conveyed away from the second take-over module via a fourth conveyor.

Introduced here are diagnostic systems that are able to autonomously move to a desired location within a healthcare environment. As such, a diagnostic system may allow an operator to conduct a biochemical test on site. A diagnostic system may include (i) a cartridge in which a patient sample can be deposited, (ii) a robotic cart in which the cartridge can be inserted for analysis, and (iii) a control platform that is responsible for managing movement of the robotic cart throughout its physical environment. In addition to having the components needed to analyze the sample deposited into the cartridge, the robotic cart could also include storage for used or unused cartridges. Thus, the robotic cart may not only be able to perform analysis of the sample on site, but the robotic cart may also be able to transport all of the supplies needed to obtain the sample to the operator.

The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optical cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; an optics system including an optical reader and a thermal controller; an optical analyzer; a cooling system; and an improved spectrometer. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optical cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer.

A tube holding microplate including a plate frame; a predetermined array of tube holding receptacles formed in the plate frame, the tube holding receptacles of the predetermined array having a SBS standard pitch corresponding to the predetermined array, and being configured for holding therein sample store and transport tubes that are separate and distinct from the predetermined array of tube holding receptacles, each tube holding receptacle being disposed so as to contain sample specimen in a sample storage array, of the tube holding microplate and to effect, with the sample store and transport tube, delivery of the sample specimen from the sample storage array to a workstation, the predetermined array of tube holding receptacles defining a volume capacity of the tube holding microplate.

An inspection device 50 for a filter inspects the filter, which is provided to a flavor inhalation article. The filter is provided with a mouthpiece end, a solid material, and a communication path that communicates with the solid material and opens to the mouthpiece end. The inspection device is provided with: an illumination for irradiating an inspection light onto the mouthpiece end in an irradiation direction that extends along the axial direction X; a camera for photographing the peripheral surface of the filter in a photographing direction that extends along the radial direction Y of the filter; an image processing unit for processing an image photographed by the camera and detecting a shadow of the solid material; and, an assessment unit for assessing the presence or absence and the quality of the solid material 12 on the basis of the shadow detected by the image processing unit.

The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optical cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; an optics system including an optical reader and a thermal controller; an optical analyzer; a cooling system; and an improved spectrometer. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optical cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer.

The present invention discloses an automatic fecal occult blood detector for detecting a sample kit, comprising: a feed passage and a discharging passage which are provided in parallel and convey a sample kit separately; a transfer platform configured between the feed passage and the discharging passage; a push rod configured to push the sample kit on the feed passage onto the discharging passage through the transfer platform; and an image capturing device provided on one side of the discharging passage to acquire the color band information presented on a test strip. In the present invention, the parallel arrangement of the feed passage and the discharging passage shortens the whole length of the automatic detector, meeting the requirement that the color band information of the test strip is automatically acquired after the sample kit is left in the device a certain time.

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 present disclosure relates to systems, devices, and methods for spinoculation and counterflow centrifugal elutriation. In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a cartridge in an automated system, comprising a liquid transfer bus, a module fluidically coupled to the liquid transfer bus, the module comprising two sub-modules, each configured to perform separate cell processing steps, and at least one selector valve configured to direct fluid to at least one of the sub-modules.