An inspection result of a specimen inspection automation system can be reported within a prescribed time, even if a large number of urgent specimens have been input. An instruction reception unit receives turn around time (TAT) information and a discharge instruction. The necessity of discharging a specimen for which the instruction was issued with the discharge instruction is determined and a discharge instruction unit creates a discharge destination and a conveyance route to the discharge destination for the specimen. A discharge mechanism discharges the specimen for which the instruction was issued. Even for a specimen which is caused to wait for processing due to the occurrence of specimen congestion and for which there is a risk of an inspection result reporting delay, an inspection result can be reported within a prescribed time by switching from automatic processing by the system to manual processing by an operator.

Sample analysis system and method are provided. The sample analysis system includes a first sample analyzer, a second sample analyzer, a sample rack transport device, and a sample sorting device provided between the first and second sample analyzers. The sample rack transport device includes a transport track for conveying a sample rack with sample containers to the first and/or second sample analyzer for testing. The first and second sample analyzers are arranged in sequence along a first transport direction of the transport track. The sample sorting device includes a connecting track, a sorting platform, and a sample transfer mechanism. The sample transfer mechanism is capable of moving to a position above the connecting track, so as to transfer the sample container(s) in the sample rack conveyed to the connecting track to a sample rack on the sorting platform. Efficiency of sample analysis is improved.

An automated analyzer is provided with one or more dispensing lines 109, 209 that are each for loading and unloading, at one end thereof, a sample rack 101 having placed therein one or more sample containers accommodating a sample for analysis and for conveying the sample rack back and forth from a dispensing position for dispensing the sample from the sample containers and sample rack removal parts 111, 211 that are provided adjacent to the other ends of the dispensing lines 109, 209 and provide and receive sample racks to and from the dispensing lines 109, 209. According to this configuration, it is possible to convey an urgent sample while suppressing device complexity, preventing cost from increasing, and also maintaining speed.

A sample testing system comprising: a transporting apparatus; a testing apparatus for obtain a sample and performing testing on the obtained sample; and a controller. The controller executes operation of: controlling the transporting apparatus so as to transport the sample rack in first direction, such that each sample container held in a sample rack is transported to a obtaining position on which the testing apparatus obtains a sample and then the sample rack is transported toward the second position; changing, when retesting of a sample contained in a sample container is necessary, the transporting direction from the first direction to second direction, and then controlling the transporting apparatus so as to transport the sample container accommodating the sample, for which retesting is necessary, to the obtaining position again. Sample testing method and a computer program product are also disclosed.

An automated sample inspection system is provided with a conveyance line for conveying sample carriers; an empty sample carrier line for conveying empty sample carriers; and a buffer line for temporarily holding empty sample carriers supplied from the empty sample carrier line to the conveyance line. According to the depletion status of the buffer line of each processing system, and the depletion status of other processing systems adjacent to each processing system, the number of empty sample carriers to be conveyed from the empty sample carrier line to the buffer line of each processing system, and the number of empty sample carriers to be conveyed from the empty sample carrier line of each processing system to the empty sample carrier line of another adjacent processing system are determined. Consequently, delays in the processes in the system can be suppressed due to the suppression of the depletion of sample carriers.

A biochemical analyzer delivery system, comprising a sample feeding track (42), an advancing track (43), a recovery track (44), at least one to-be-tested sub-track (45), at least one emergency sub-track (46) and at least one return sub-track (47); the sample feeding track (42), the advancing track (43) and the recovery track (44) are parallel to each other; the to-be-tested sub-track (45), the emergency sub-track (46) and the return sub-track (47) are disposed between and perpendicular to the sample feeding track (42) and the advancing track (43), an emergency sample may enter the emergency sub-track via the advancing track (43), and then enters the sample feeding track for sample suction. The track-based delivery system can be horizontally disposed in a biochemical analyzer, and can be butt-jointed with a vertical track in the biochemical analyzer, thereby greatly increasing the buffer amount of sample holders without increasing the length of the biochemical analyzer.

A conveyor assembly for transporting a carrier coupled to a receptacle to a processing station located within a housing of an instrument. The conveyor assembly includes a spur conveyor subassembly and a buffer conveyor subassembly for transporting the carrier from a host conveyor assembly to the spur conveyor subassembly. The spur conveyor subassembly includes (i) a rotatable diverter having at least one recess for receiving and moving the carrier between the buffer conveyor subassembly and the spur conveyor subassembly and (ii) a gripper configured to grasp the carrier and move it from the diverter to the processing position located within the housing of the instrument.

A method of operating a laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The system comprises sample container carriers comprising a magnetically active device and configured to carry a sample container, interconnected transport plane modules configured to support carriers, and electro-magnetic actuators arranged in rows and columns below each transport plane module and configured to move a carrier on top of the transport plane modules by applying a magnetic force to the carrier. The method comprises assigning transport plane modules to a route category. At least two traffic lanes are formed on the route categorized transport plane module. The carriers are moved within each traffic lane in a transport direction. The transport directions are opposite to each other. The method also comprises assigning another transport plane module to a waypoint category. A change from one transport direction to the opposite transport direction is possible on the waypoint categorized transport plane module.

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 sample feeding apparatus, a sample analyzing device, and a control method for a sample feeding apparatus are disclosed. At least two of a feeding unit, a temporary storage unit, and a recovery unit together form a vertical stack structure, and a dispatching manipulator transfers a sample vessel among the feeding unit, the temporary storage unit, the recovery unit, and a sample aspiration region. The space in a vertical direction can be reasonably utilized, superposition is performed in space to simplify the dispatching process, and the occupation of a horizontal space is reduced. As a result, the floor space is reduced, and the apparatus is further miniaturized.