The present disclosure provides apparatus and methods for handling slides. The apparatus includes a carrier comprising a retention hole and a cartridge having a case coupled to one or more separators that together define a plurality of compartments each configured to accept the carrier. At least one of the separators comprises a guide hole, with all guide holes are disposed on a first axis. The retention hole of the carrier is aligned with the first axis when the carrier is disposed in a seated position within one of the compartments. The cartridge also comprises a plurality of spacers each partially disposed within at least one of the guide holes.

Automatic device for the automated conduct of analyses, notably medical analyses, including: 43. a storage zone for bottles, 44. an automated sampling system for selectively sampling the content of a bottle among those present in the storage zone, 45. a loading zone for introducing a new bottle into the automatic device, 46. an unloading zone for collecting a bottle previously present in the storage zone, 47. a bottle conveyor and storage system, configured selectively and individually to transport a bottle from a location in the storage zone to the unloading zone or from the loading zone to a location in the storage zone.

The invention discloses a reaction incubation device, an immunity analyzer and a reaction incubation method. The reaction incubation device comprises a reaction unit (10), which is used for bearing and incubating a reaction container; and a transfer unit (20), which is used for removing the reaction container in and out of the reaction unit (10). The reaction unit (10) comprises a rotating device (11). The rotating device (11) is provided with an incubation position which increases a predetermined angle θ at an interval of fixed time T along with the rotating device (11). The transfer unit (20) removes the reaction container out of the incubation position according to variable incubation time ti. With the device, flexible and variable incubation time can be achieved, and the problem of complicated control, low reliability and that high-speed automation is not easy to achieve in the prior art can be solved.

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.

A system for automating the processing of a sample for analysis includes a sample processing unit configured to manufacture a plurality of unit wafers by cutting an analysis target wafer and to manufacture a sample for analysis by applying at least one process to one of the plurality of unit wafers, a sample storage unit including a loading area having a plurality of reception holders, on which a unit wafer and the sample for analysis have been loaded, that are carried in and out, and a sample conveying unit configured to convey the analysis target wafer, the unit wafer, and the sample for analysis respectively between the sample processing unit and the sample storage unit.

The present invention relates to an automatic real-time quantitative amplification system which can perform analysis of various biological samples, and more particularly to an automatic real-time quantitative amplification system in which a plurality of decks for respectively accommodating biological samples are put in a deck storing/transferring device, whereby it is possible to automatically analyze an amount or existence of a target substance containing a target nucleic acid in the biologic sample, such as a particular gene, a particular, a particular pathogenic bacterium and a particular protein, by amplifying the target nucleic acid purified by some processes of purification, purification after culture, or purification after reaction of the target substance contained in the biological sample and then checking an amount of the amplified target nucleic acid.

A unique cap for an automatic test tube recapper is presented. The cap has a conical body with an upper top flange and lower sections for inserting into standard test tubes. The middle section directly under the upper top flange is about 13 mm in diameter. A bottom section under the middle section has a diameter of about 16 mm. The cap has a rounded bottom. The middle and lower sections have diameters similar to the diameters of most common test tubes. One or more nipples with notches cutout are located inside the conical body. The notches grip the lower part of a hammer drive during the driving process but release the hammer drive once the cap has been seated inside the test tube.

A method of setting a handover position of a gripping device at a laboratory automation system is presented. A position of a position determining device held by the gripping device is detected using position sensors in order to determine the handover position. A laboratory automation system configured to perform such a method is also presented.

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.

A sample analyzer includes a suction unit configured to suction a sample in a sample container through a stopper installed in an opening of the sample container; a rack transport unit configured to transport a sample rack holding a sample container along a transport path, and position the sample container held by the sample rack at a suction position by the suction unit; a sample transport unit in which a sample container other than the sample container transported by the rack transport unit is installed and which is configured to transport the installed sample container to the suction position provided on the transport path; a measurement unit configured to measure a sample suctioned by the suction unit from the sample container positioned at the suction position; and an analysis unit configured to analyze the sample based on the measurement result of the measurement unit.