A pretreatment device for performing pretreatment using a liquid sucked by a probe from an inside of a septum-attached container includes: a container holding unit which has a space for accommodating the septum-attached container and is provided with a hole into which the probe is inserted with respect to a septum of the septum-attached container to be stored; an installation unit in which the container holding unit is detachably installed; and a fixing unit which fixes the container holding unit to the installation unit in a state where the container holding unit is detachably installed in the installation unit, to solve the above-described problem.

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 automated analysis device has a reaction container constructed on a reaction disc, a reaction tank for immersing the reaction container in water, a water level sensor, a reagent probe that suctions/discharges a reagent to the reaction container, and a controller. In the reagent probe, a water detection unit that detects the presence of water is provided at a prescribed site, the reagent probe being capable of detecting the water level in the reaction tank. The controller detects the water level in the reaction tank in at least three locations (e.g., a first water level confirmation part, a second water level confirmation part, and a third water level confirmation part) by using the water level sensor and the reagent probe, and has a function for confirming the levelness of the reaction tank or an apparatus on which the reaction tank is installed.

A sample installation part in which a sample container accommodating a sample to be subjected to biochemical analysis is installed, and consumables installation parts in which consumables to be used for the biochemical analysis are installed are accommodated in an apparatus body of a biochemical analysis apparatus. The apparatus body is provided with an opening part that leads to a sample tray. An instruction receiving unit receives a movement instruction for moving the sample tray from a normal position where the sample installation part is disposed on the opening part side to a consumables replenishment position where the consumables installation parts are disposed on the opening part side. A driving control unit moves the sample tray from the normal position to the consumables replenishment position in a case where the movement instruction is received by the instruction receiving unit.

Methods and systems for sensing headspace vial presence are described herein. In one embodiment, a system can include a sample probe, a fluid source in fluid communication with the sample probe, one or more of a pressure sensor and a flow sensor in fluid communication with the sample probe, and a processor configured to: (a) receive a first set of signals from the one or more of the pressure and flow sensors, execute an ejection procedure to remove a sample vial from the sample probe, receive a second set of signals from the one or more of the pressure sensor and the flow sensor during step (b), (d) detect whether the ejection procedure is successful from the first set of signals and the second set of signals, and (e) in response to the detecting, initiate one or more actions selected from the group consisting of: a remediation and an alert.

A sample collection apparatus, being configured for preparing a plurality of liquid samples for a sample processing, includes a collection device including a plurality of collection vessels being configured for accommodating the liquid samples and for providing the liquid samples for the sample processing, wherein the sample collection apparatus is shaped for positioning the collection device directly in a carousel of an autosampler apparatus, in particular a liquid chromatography autosampler apparatus. Preferably, a holder device is provided which is configured for holding the collection device during collecting the liquid samples and during providing the liquid samples for the sample processing, and the holder device is shaped for positioning the holder device with the collection device directly in the carousel of the autosampler apparatus. Furthermore, a sample preparation apparatus including the sample collection apparatus and a sample collection method are described.

Methods and systems for capture object-based assays, including for determining a measure of the concentration of an analyte molecule or particle in a fluid sample, are described. The methods and systems may relate to high sensitivity detection of analytes, sometimes using assay conditions and sample handling that result in the capture and detection of a high percentage of the analyte molecules or particles in a fluid sample using relatively few capture objects. Apparatuses and methods for immobilizing capture objects with respect to assay sites, in some instances with unexpectedly high efficiencies are also described. Some such apparatuses involve the use of force fields and fluid meniscus forces, alone or in combination, to facilitate or improve capture object immobilization. Also described are techniques for utilizing a relatively high percentage of capture objects in an assay sample, such as by using disclosed sample washing techniques, imaging systems, and analysis procedures that can reduce capture object loss.

An automatic sample injection system (1) includes at least an injector (2). The injector (2) includes a turret (10) comprising a plurality of vial receiving holes (30) that are corresponding to a plurality of types of vials having different sizes, the plurality of vial receiving holes (30) being provided on the same circumference on an upper surface of the turret, the turret being configured to rotate so that the plurality of the vial receiving holes (30) are each moved along a circumferential track, and a controller (22) configured, in a case where a sampler (4) for supplying a vial to the injector (2) is provided, to recognize a size of a target vial to be supplied at the time when the target vial is supplied from the sampler (4) and to arrange the vial receiving hole (30) corresponding to the target vial at a delivery position (P) set on the circumferential track.

The present invention provides a nucleic acid analysis device that, even when a plurality of flow cells is handled, does not require an increase in the required movement amount, and can be reduced in size by reducing the size of a stage mechanism. This nucleic acid analysis device is characterized by having a sample container containing a nucleic acid sample to be analyzed, an imaging means for observing the nucleic acid sample, and a stage mechanism for moving the sample container, and is characterized in that the stage mechanism has two translation means and at least one rotation means, one of the two translation means is disposed on the upper surface of the rotation means, and the other is disposed on the lower surface of the rotation means.

Methods and systems are provided for the identification of sample cells in a sample tray that is placed in a chromatography autosampler. A cell gripper and labels are also provided to facilitate such identification.