A process and system for handling biological tissue samples through work stations in which at least one work stations includes a plurality of independent work locations. The handling system includes a main transport apparatus operatively connected to input and output stations and to the work stations for moving bidirectionally the samples among these; a plurality of secondary transport apparatuses operatively connected to the main transport apparatus and each respectively operatively connected to independent work locations of one of the work stations and configured to move bidirectionally the samples among these; and a control arrangement of the transport apparatuses for managing routing and handling of the samples in the work stations according to a work protocol associated with the samples and for managing routing and handling of the samples in the work locations according to a workload of the work locations and the work protocol associated with the samples.

Provided are a specimen transport system and a specimen transport method that support a transport method using an electromagnetic actuator and can transport a specimen at higher speed and more stably as compared to the related art.

A plurality of detection points each configured by a magnetic pole 207 and detecting a position of a magnetic body 203, and a plurality of transport paths provided above the plurality of detection points so as to cover the plurality of detection points are provided, in which among the plurality of transport paths, detection ranges 301A, 301B, and 301C of first detection points constituting a first transport path are different from detection ranges 301A, 301B, and 301C of second detection points constituting a second transport path different from the first transport path.

A clinical diagnostics system provides at least one biochemical analyzer and a track with one or more carriers for clinical samples, wherein the track and carriers are configured to effect carrier motion in a horizontal plane and the biochemical analyzer is arranged above the track and the one or more carriers.

Provided are methods and apparatuses for controlling a position of a target point on a processing result relative to a focus point of a focusing sensor system for determining properties of the processing result. The method includes the steps of determining an initial focus point of the focusing sensor system, controlling rotation of the cartridge and disc, checking whether the initial focus point of the focusing sensor system corresponds to the target point on the processing result, comparing (x, y) target positions in captured images with the initial focus point of the focusing sensor system, adjusting rotation of the cartridge and disc such that the focus point of the focusing sensor system corresponds to the target point on the processing result, and detecting and examining signals received from the focusing sensor system for determining properties of the processing result.

The present disclosure describes automated systems and methods for handling objects, such as culture plates or dishes. For example, in one embodiment, the present disclosure describes an automated stacker and de-stacker comprising a clamping mechanism, a lift pad, a pair of pins, and a cabinet. A stack of culture plates may be stored in the cabinet. During a stacking operation, the pair of pins may be raised to stop a culture plate traveling along a conveyor track. Once stopped, the culture plate may be raised above the conveyor track by the lift pad and clamped by the clamping mechanism. During a de-stacking operation, the clamping mechanism may be opened, and the culture plate may be lowered onto the conveyor track by the lift pad.

The object of the invention is to realize an automatic analyzer capable of suppressing an increase in cost without greatly changing the configuration even when the configuration of an inspection system is changed, and reducing burden of an operator. A pin to be fitted into a hole formed in a specimen container conveying unit is formed on a specimen container conveying unit mounting surface at a position below a specimen suction position, and it is possible to make relative positions between components of a specimen dispensing unit and the specimen container conveying unit at the time of a specimen dispensing operation, as well as driving conditions when moving each axis of the specimen dispensing unit identical even when the types of the specimen container conveying unit are different, and it is possible to ensure stability of the same specimen dispensing operation before and after changing the specimen container conveying unit. Although it is necessary for an operator to memorize a procedure of maintenance work relating to the specimen container conveying unit, work procedures relating to other units of the automatic analyzer are not changed and it is not necessary to memorize new maintenance procedures of the other units, and thus the burden of the operator can be reduced.

A transport device includes: a calculation unit 40 configured to estimate a position of a transport container 20 based on a current value detected by a current detection unit 30; and a storage unit 45 configured to store a current change amount for each of a plurality of magnetic poles 25 when a pulse voltage of a fixed value is applied to respective coils 21 of the plurality of magnetic poles 25 in a state where a permanent magnetic 10 is not on a transport surface. The calculation unit 40 estimates the position of the transport container 20 based on a deviation between a current change amount of a coil 21 acquired at a time of detecting the position of the transport container 20 and the current change amount of the corresponding coil 21 in the state where the permanent magnetic 10 is not present, which is stored in the storage unit 45. This configuration provides a transport device capable of detecting a position of a sample transport carrier with high sensitivity without using a container carrier detection device, and an analysis system including the transport device.

A system for placing sample tubes into tube receptacles includes a sample handling device that includes an electrical signal, relating to an operating condition, such as a position error, a tube receptacle, and a processor configured to control the sample handling device in response to the electrical signal. The processor observes the operating condition for signal artifacts that indicate that a sample vessel being placed has encountered a holding spring and subsequently the bottom of the tube receptacle. The processor provides substantially real-time control of the motion of the sample handling device in response.

A lab automation system receives an instruction from a user to perform a protocol within a lab via an interface including a graphical representation of the lab. The lab includes a robot and set of equipment rendered within the graphical representation of the lab. The lab automation system identifies an ambiguous term of the instruction and pieces of equipment corresponding to the ambiguous term and modifies the interface to include a predictive text interface element listing the pieces of equipment. Upon a mouseover of a listed piece of equipment within the predictive text interface element, the lab automation system modifies the graphical representation of the lab to highlight the listed piece of equipment corresponding to the mouseover. Upon a selection of the listed piece of equipment within the predictive text interface element, the lab automation system modifies the instruction to include the listed piece of equipment.

Methods of positioning a gripper to pick or place a specimen container from a sample rack. One method includes providing a robot including the gripper, the gripper moveable in a coordinate system by the robot and including gripper fingers, providing a sample rack including receptacles containing specimen containers, providing data, obtained by imaging, regarding the specimen containers in the sample rack, and dynamically orienting the gripper based upon the data. The data may include population and/or configuration data and the dynamic orientation may include gripper finger opening distance, gripper finger rotational position, and/or gripper offset distance. Gripper positioning apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed, as are other aspects.