To minimize cross talk in systems and methods for detecting two or more different optical signals emitted from each of a plurality of reaction receptacles, an excitation signal associated with each of the optical signals has a known excitation frequency, and any detected signal having a frequency that is inconsistent with the excitation frequency is discarded. The receptacles are moved relative to optical sensors configured to detect each unique optical signal from an associated receptacle, and to further minimize cross talk, the optical sensors are arranged so that only one reaction receptacle at a time is in a signal detecting position with respect to one of its associated optical sensors, and the optical sensors are grouped by the optical signal they are configured to detect so that a first optical signal is detected from each of the reaction receptacles before a second optical signal is detected from the reaction receptacles.

Systems and methods for processing sample processing devices. The system can include a sample processing device comprising a detection chamber, a motor configured to rotate the sample processing device about an axis of rotation, and an optical module operatively positioned relative to the sample processing device and configured to determine whether a selected volume of material is present in the detection chamber of the sample processing device. The method can include rotating the sample processing device about an axis of rotation, and determining whether a selected volume of material is present in the detection chamber, while rotating the sample processing device. In some embodiments, determining whether a selected volume of material is present can be performed by optically interrogating the detection chamber for an optical property of the material.

An image acquisition device includes a cassette mounting unit in which a cassette is detachably mounted, the cassette holding the slide glasses in a plurality of stages in a predetermined arrangement direction, a light source that emits inspection light toward the cassette, a scanning unit that performs scanning with the inspection light in the arrangement direction, a light reflection unit that is disposed on the back surface side of the cassette and reflects the inspection light emitted from the light source, a light detection unit that detects reflected light including the inspection light reflected by at least one of the light reflection unit, the cassette, and the slide glass, and outputs a detection signal, and an information generation unit that generates holding information on a holding position and/or a holding state of the slide glass held in the cassette on the basis of the detection signal.

In order to provide a biological sample analysis apparatus capable of preventing a container storing a sample from being charged and of measuring only a luminescence intensity of light emitted from the sample accurately, a biological sample analysis apparatus for rapid microbiological test analyzes light generated from a biological origin substance contained in a sample, and includes a holder that holds a plurality of containers storing the sample, a photodetector fixed at a predetermined position, a holder drive mechanism that drives the holder and sequentially positions each of the containers held by the holder at a detection position detected by the photodetector, and a neutralizer that neutralizes the containers held by the holder.

Described is a testing system for performing specimen testing, such as residual seal force (RSF) testing and/or compression friction (CF) measurement testing. The testing system comprising a column supported by a base structure, a load cell supported by said column, a specimen plate configured to receive a plurality of specimens, a motor, and controller. The load cell is configured to move along the column toward and away from the base structure via a crosshead coupled to an actuator. The plurality of specimens comprising a first specimen and a second specimen. The controller is configured to control the motor to adjust a position of said specimen plate.

A gripper assembly (20) includes a cylinder (22), a deformable gripping portion (210), a piston (24), and an ejector (260). The gripper assembly is suitable for picking and placing a vessel (10) by gripping a gripped portion (102) of the vessel. The gripping portion extends from adjacent an end of the cylinder. The gripping portion has a spring-like property that allows deformation as the vessel is engaged thereby holding the vessel. The piston is slidably disposed inside the cylinder. The ejector includes a head portion (270) adjacent a first end of the ejector and a plunger portion (26) adjacent a second end of the ejector. The head portion of the ejector is slidably disposed inside the cylinder separately from the piston. The plunger of the ejector is partially disposed within the deformable gripping portion for engaging the vessel.

The gripper assembly may be used to align an analyzer instrument (800).

The present invention relates to a biochemical assay apparatus in which a sample processing device is controlled by a detection instrument through a series of linear and rotary actuations to execute a biochemical assay on a biological fluid sample.

An on-axis, angled, rotator device is disclosed. The rotator device may include a container containing a slot for receiving a sample. An angle of the slot may be configured to be between 0 and 180 degrees relative to a perpendicular irradiation plane of a radiation device. The rotator device may include a cup positioned within an opening of the container. Additionally, the rotator device may include a driveshaft configured to transmit torque to cause the cup to be rotated when the cup is positioned within the opening. When the sample resides within the slot and the driveshaft transmits the torque to the cup, the cup may cause the sample to rotate about a center axis of the sample. The angle of the slot containing the sample and the rotation of the sample about the center axis may facilitate uniform radiation exposure to the sample when the radiation device emits radiation.

An automatic analyzer includes a plurality of storage container holding units, a dispensing container holding unit, a plurality of dispensing devices, a dispensing abnormality detector, and a drive control unit. The plurality of dispensing devices each include a dispensing probe. The dispensing abnormality detector is provided in each dispensing device. The drive control unit is configured to control driving of each dispensing device based on a detection result of the dispensing abnormality detector. If a dispensing device in which an abnormality is detected is a first dispensing device, the drive control unit is configured to cause a dispensing process of a cycle in which the abnormality is detected to be performed again. If the dispensing device in which the abnormality is detected is not the first dispensing device, the drive control unit is configured to end the dispensing process of the cycle and start the next cycle.

Provided is a connection module with a high degree of freedom for an automatic analyzer which does not depend on a device as a discharge destination. For this purpose, a module to be connected to an automatic analyzer with a rack rotor mechanism includes: a rack discharge mechanism for moving a rack from the rack rotor mechanism to a rotation holder; a rack rotating mechanism for rotating the rack moved to the rotation holder; a conveyor mechanism for transporting the rack from the rack rotating mechanism to a discharge port; and a feeder mechanism for pushing the rack out of the rotation holder to the conveyor mechanism, in which the rack rotating mechanism rotates the rotation holder from a direction parallel to the rack discharge mechanism to a direction parallel to the feeder mechanism and the conveyor mechanism in the selected rotation direction.