A microplate processing device having at least one carriage with a first receptacle for microplates where the at least one carriage is movable in a first horizontal direction, and having at least one lift that is movable in a vertical direction, where the microplates can be removed from and supplied to the carriage, the carriage has a through-opening, the periphery, in the vertical projection, can at least in part be situated horizontally within the periphery of a microplate held in the carriage, and the lift has a second receptacle for microplates, the periphery, in the vertical projection, is situated within the periphery of the through-opening, where the second receptacle can be moved unhindered through the through-opening in the vertical direction.

A sample handling device for a laboratory automation system comprising a first carousel with a disc supported on a first axis, a second carousel with a disc supported on a second axis parallel to the first axis, and a transfer element between the first and second carousels is presented. Each disc has recesses distributed radially about the disc perimeter. Each recess receives a tube carrier. The first carousel and the second carousel connect via a passage for transferring sample tube carriers between the first and second carousels. The transfer element is a track switch which when in a rest position partly closes the passage to separate the first carousel from the second carousel. The track switch is swiveled and/or rotated about a third axis parallel to the first axis out of the rest position for transferring a tube carrier from the first carousel to the second carousel via the passage.

Methods of pre-heating a test vessel prior to transfer of the test vessell to an incubator may shorten an incubation cycle, ensure proper temperature of a test specimen in the test vessel, and/or improve testing accuracy and/or throughput in a bio-liquid specimen testing apparatus. The methods include providing a test vessel pre-heating apparatus having a receptacle sized to receive a test vessel therein and having at least one heating unit configured to heat by direct conduction at least one side of the test vessel. The methods also include heating at least one side of the test vessel via direct contact using the at least one heating unit. Specimen testing apparatus and test vessel pre-heating apparatus configured to carry out the method are described, as are other aspects.

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.

This sample rack conveying apparatus is provided with a pusher unit, a linear motion guide, and a conveyance drive mechanism. The pusher unit has a base portion, a moving member, and a base-side guide. The base portion is supported by the linear motion guide so as to be movable in a first guide direction. The moving member is provided with a pusher that pushes a sample rack. The base-side guide supports the moving member such that the moving member is movable in a second guide direction that crosses the first guide direction.

Provided is a connection device to which an automatic analysis device can be connected from a plurality of directions, and a specimen inspection automating system provided with the connection device. A connection device (220) is provided with: a specimen carrier conveyance part (225) that conveys a specimen carrier (10) housing a specimen; and a carousel (221) that is configured so as to be able to hold a plurality of specimen carriers (10) carried in from the specimen carrier conveyance part (225) and that conveys the held specimen carriers (10) to specimen sampling positions (293a, 293b, 293c) for receiving a specimen sampling mechanism (305) from an external automatic analysis device (300) at a prescribed interval.

A sample measurement system according to an embodiment may include: sample measurement units that receive supply of containers and perform measurement on samples; a rack setting unit in which a rack storing the containers to be supplied to at least one of the sample measurement units is set; a first transport path that transports the containers from the rack setting unit to at least one of the sample measurement units; a second transport path that is provided at a position different from the first transport path in a height direction and that transports the containers from at least one of the sample measurement units to the rack setting unit; and a transfer path that transfers the containers between the first transport path and the second transport path.

The present invention relates to the field of biological sample testing technology, and in particular, to a testing system. The testing system includes a reagent reaction vessel and a test device. A reagent storage portion and a push rod movable relative to the reagent storage portion are packaged in the reagent reaction vessel, the reagent storage portion comprises at least one reagent containing cavity, and the reagent containing cavity is sealed by a sealing element; and the push rod is connected to the sealing element, and the push rod is used for cooperation with the test device to separate the sealing element from the reagent storage portion. The test device includes a test cassette, wherein an ejection rod is arranged in the test cassette, and the ejection rod cooperates with the push rod to separate the sealing element from the reagent storage portion. According to the present invention, when the reagent storage portion is inserted, the ejection rod can be quickly pushed to operate, and one operation completes multiple functions such as releasing the reagent, fixing the reagent reaction vessel, and focusing on a test area at the same time, thereby simplifying the reaction steps.

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 biological sample reaction vessel comprising a reagent storage portion and a push rod movable relative to the reagent storage portion is provided. The reagent storage portion comprises at least one reagent containing cavity, and the reagent containing cavity is sealed by a sealing element; and the push rod is connected to the sealing element, and the push rod is used for cooperation with an external test device to separate the sealing element from the reagent storage portion. In reaction, the biological sample reaction vessel cooperates with a test cassette. By inserting the biological sample reaction vessel into the external device, the reagent in the reagent storage portion can be released rapidly.