The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for associating consumable data with an assay consumable used in a biological assay. Provided are assay systems and associated consumables, wherein the assay system adjusts one or more steps of an assay protocol based on consumable data specific for that consumable. Various types of consumable data are described, as well as methods of using such information in the conduct of an assay by an assay system.

A laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The system comprises carriers to carry sample containers. Each carrier comprises a magnetically active device. The system comprises a transport plane to support the carriers and electro-magnetic actuators stationary arranged below the transport plane. The actuators move the carriers on top of the transport plane by applying a magnetic force to the carriers. The system comprises a control device to control the movement of the carriers on top of the transport plane by driving the actuators such that the carriers move along corresponding transport paths simultaneously and independently from one another and a sensor to measure supply currents and/or supply voltages. The actuators are supplied with electrical energy based on the supply currents and/or the supply voltages. The system comprises a monitoring device coupled to the sensor. The monitoring device monitors the actuators temperature based on the measured supply currents and/or supply voltages.

Described is an apparatus for controlling a position of a sample in a liquid chromatography system. The apparatus includes a rotary drive mechanism, a stepper motor and a rotational coupling system such as a drive belt and pulley system. The rotational coupling system transfers the rotational motion of a motor shaft to a shaft of the rotary drive mechanism. Advantageously, the stepper motor is remote to the sample compartment for improved safety in the event that volatile gas accumulates within the sample compartment. The rotary drive mechanism can be configured in a small form factor and can provide highly stable rotation of an attached sample tray to accommodate the requirements of compact liquid chromatography systems. In addition, leakage from inside the sample compartment to the ambient environment is substantially reduced or eliminated, resulting in better thermal control of the sample compartment.

A tube rack transfer device for transferring racks is presented. A first rail extends in a first horizontal direction and a second rail extends in a second horizontal direction orthogonal to the first direction. The second rail moves along the first rail and comprising a transfer head movable along the second rail. The transfer head comprises a control pin to be coupled with one of: an input pusher, translatable in the second direction, for transferring a rack from a carrier to a sampling area of an analyzer; an output pusher for transferring a rack from the sampling area to a carrier; a rack for transferring the rack between different carriers and/or between different positions of the same carrier. An in-vitro diagnostic instrument comprises an analyzer for carrying out tests on biological samples, a sample unit for inputting/outputting racks, a sampling area for withdrawing samples from tubes, and a transfer device.

In examples, a method of controlling customer access to an assay system comprises (a) receiving a system identifier; (b) identifying said system identifier, and (c) utilizing information obtained from the system identifier to perform one or more operations selected from: (i) enabling full access to said system and/or a consumable used in said system; (ii) enabling partial access to said system and/or a consumable used in said system; or (iii) denying access to said system and/or a consumable used in said system.

A positioning system that includes (a) a linear motor that includes a movable magnetic unit and a coil stator, the coil stator includes a group of coil stator segments; wherein the mechanical support unit is mechanically coupled to the movable magnetic unit; (b) a mechanical support element for supporting a sample within a vacuum chamber; (c) a power supply that is configured to independently supply power to different coil stator segments of the coil stator segments to induce a movement of the movable magnetic unit in relation to the coil stator, along a axis; (d) a heat reduction element that is configured to reduce a temperature of the coil stator; and (e) a controller that is configured to control the movement of the movable magnetic unit by controlling the supply of power to the different coil stator segments.

A tube rack transfer device for transferring racks is presented. A first rail extends in a first horizontal direction and a second rail extends in a second horizontal direction orthogonal to the first direction. The second rail moves along the first rail and comprising a transfer head movable along the second rail. The transfer head comprises a control pin to be coupled with one of: an input pusher, translatable in the second direction, for transferring a rack from a carrier to a sampling area of an analyzer; an output pusher for transferring a rack from the sampling area to a carrier; a rack for transferring the rack between different carriers and/or between different positions of the same carrier. An in-vitro diagnostic instrument comprises an analyzer for carrying out tests on biological samples, a sample unit for inputting/outputting racks, a sampling area for withdrawing samples from tubes, and a transfer device.

Proposed is a sample transport apparatus including at least one transport line stage including first and second transport lines each configured to transport sample holders each capable of holding at least one sample along a side wall of a housing along a long-side direction, a drive mechanism configured to transport the sample holders along the first and second transport lines, and wires accommodated in the housing and connected to at least the drive mechanism, in which the first transport line and the second transport line of the transport line stage are arranged in parallel along a long-side side face of the housing, and a first distance between the first transport line and the long-side side face that is adjacent the first transport line is shorter than a second distance between the first transport line and the second transport line.

Actuation systems and methods for use with flow cells. An example apparatus includes a flow cell assembly including a flow cell including at least one channel, a flow cell inlet, and a flow cell outlet. The flow cell assembly includes a gasket assembly operatively fluidically coupled to the flow cell and having a flow cell inlet gasket and a flow cell outlet gasket. The flow cell inlet gasket having a through bore and being fluidically coupled to the flow cell inlet. The flow cell outlet gasket having a through bore and being fluidically coupled to the flow cell outlet. The apparatus includes a reagent cartridge adapted to receive the flow cell assembly and including a pair of reagent cartridge ports adapted to be fluidly coupled to the flow cell inlet gasket and the flow cell outlet gasket.

To prevent liquid sloshing caused by switching a coil to be energized in a transport device. A transport device that transports an object to be transported provided with a magnetic body, the transport device includes: a plurality of coils configured to generate a thrust for transporting the object to be transported; a coil drive unit configured to apply a pulsed voltage to each of the plurality of coils; and a calculation unit. When switching a coil to be energized, the calculation unit determines a width of the pulsed voltage such that a speed or an acceleration of the object to be transported is stabilized based on a position of the object to be transported and a time at which the object to be transported passes through the position or a current flowing through an energized coil in a predetermined period before switching the coil to be energized, and outputs the determined width to the coil drive unit.