A laboratory sample container carrier cleaning apparatus is provided comprising a revolving device, being adapted to move a sample container carrier supplied to the revolving device along a circular path, and a cleaning device, being adapted to clean the sample container carrier being moved along the circular path.

A laboratory sample distribution system comprising a plurality of sample container carriers, each adapted to carry one or more sample containers, each carrier comprising at least one magnetically active device and at least one electrically conductive member, a transport plane adapted to support the carriers, a plurality of electro-magnetic actuators stationary arranged below the transport plane, the actuators being adapted to move the carriers on top of the transport plane by applying a magnetic force to the carriers, a plurality of inductive sensors distributed over the transport plane, a control unit configured to control the movement of the carriers using an output signal provided by the inductive sensors by driving the actuators such that the carriers move along corresponding transport paths, and an evaluation unit configured to linearize the output signal from an inductive sensor by means of a linearization algorithm.

A storage module for a laboratory automation system, a method of operating a laboratory automation system, and a laboratory automation system are presented. Items used by laboratory stations are stored centrally in a storage module and can be transported to the laboratory stations using a laboratory sample distribution system.

A biological sample processing apparatus, including: a pipette block with which a plurality of pipettes for sucking or discharging a biological sample in a multi-well plate in which wells are arranged in a matrix shape along row and column directions are detachably coupled; a pipette block forward and backward transfer unit configured to move the pipette block along a forward and backward direction along a process direction; a pipette block top and bottom transfer unit configured to move the pipette block along a vertical direction; a magnetic field applying unit disposed below the multi-well plate for applying a magnetic field to a well of the multi-well plate; and a heating unit disposed below the multi-well plate so as to be spaced apart from the magnetic field applying unit, for heating a well of the multi-well plate.

A method for performing flexible liquid handling processes among a plurality of consumables includes moving consumables by at least one arm having a magnetic interface device, connecting the at least one arm from the consumables, based on magnetic attraction utilizing said magnetic interface device, and aspirating and dispensing liquids on the consumables by at least one static or quasi-static pipette. The aspiration and dispensing actions are performed without displacement of the pipettes. The method further includes sensing, by the at least one arm, magnetic presence of a matching consumable connector or magnetic vector field modified by a presence of a matching consumable connector. The method includes disconnecting the at least one arm from the consumables based on a repulsive magnetic force.

The present disclosure relates to a laboratory container storage system, a laboratory system comprising the laboratory container storage system, and a method of operating the laboratory system. The laboratory container storage system comprising one or more laboratory container storage devices. Each laboratory container storage device comprises a frame and a storage element comprising a holder configured to receive and release a laboratory container horizontally and to hold the laboratory container in a suspended position above a horizontal surface. The storage element is mounted movably on the frame and configured to be moved between a first transfer position and a storage position and between the storage position and a second transfer position. In the first and second transfer position, the holder is positioned to receive or release the laboratory container horizontally. The storage position is located between the first and second transfer position.

A processing unit for automated preparation of biological samples included in specimen tubes is described herein. The processing unit includes a removable sample preparation component configured to receive specimen tubes, read identifiers associated with the biological samples contained in the specimen tubes, mix reagents included in the specimen tubes, and transfer the specimen tubes to at least one of a centrifuge or a storage compartment. The processing unit further includes a centrifuge loader for automatic loading and unloading of the specimen tubes onto a centrifuge. The automated centrifuge loader includes a magnetic brake that can stop the centrifuge rotor at a precise position to facilitate loading and unloading of a specimen tube. The centrifuge includes a swing bucket designed to pivot around an axis and slide vertically to enable moving the bucket to a position in which the swing bucket can engage with the port where the specimen tube resides.

Provided is a conveyance device capable of reducing the weight of a conveyance device while preventing magnetic saturation. A conveyance device according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a conveyance path (65) in which a conveyed object is moved, an electromagnet provided on the surface of the conveyance path (65) opposite to the surface on which the conveyed object moves, and a drive circuit for supplying a current to the electromagnet, the electromagnet including teeth (22a, 22b) formed from a magnetic body, and windings (21a, 21b) wound onto the surface of the teeth (22a, 22b), a yoke (26) is provided that supports the teeth (22a, 22b), and the relationship between the minimum cross-sectional area Sy of the yoke (26) and the minimum cross-sectional area St of the part of the teeth (22a, 22b) where the windings (21a, 21b) are provided is Sy<St.

Provided is a transport device in which reliability is increased by suppressing deterioration of the transport surface and transport efficiency is increased by suppressing electrical current loss. A transport device 1 comprising a transported body having either a permanent magnet 10 or a magnetic body, and an electromagnet unit in which coils 21 are wound around teeth 25 comprising magnetic bodies, and having recesses on surfaces of the teeth 25 facing the transported body. Specifically, the surfaces of the teeth 25 facing the transported body have at least two surfaces (first facing surface 22, second facing surface 23, etc.) which have different distances to the transported body.

Systems and methods for use in an in vitro diagnostics setting incorporating magnetic shielding to reduce exposure of any of samples, reactants, devices or people from exposure or prolonged exposure to magnetic or electromagnetic fields generated with the system.