An improved system and method for the selection and dispensing of reagents onto a target testing medium in an automated laboratory environment. The system utilizes multiple carousels rotatably-mounted upon a central turntable. The position of the central turntable, as well as the rotation of each carousel is controlled by a microprocessor-based control system. Multiple dispensers, each capable of storing and dispensing a particular reagent, are mounted about the circumference of each carousel. This configuration provides much higher reagent density than previously available. The testing medium is positioned at one or more loading stations. The control system directs the central turntable to a position from which a selected one of the carousels can be rotated so as to position a selected dispenser above the testing medium. The selected dispenser is then actuated to release a predetermined reagent onto the testing medium. The system can be configured so that multiple reagents can be dispensed, each from an associated dispenser, onto a single or multiple testing mediums. Each of these actuated dispensers being positioned over the targeted testing medium(s) positioned at one or more loading stations.

Assay system including assay apparatus and handheld single use assay devices for ElectroMagnetic Radiation (EMR) examination of a specimen. The assay devices include a housing, a specimen slide for elevation from an initial lowermost specimen introduction position to a final uppermost specimen examination position and a built-in liquid reagent dispensing arrangement for dispensing liquid reagent on the specimen slide. The assay apparatus automatically actuates an assay device and includes an imaging arrangement for obtaining specimen images.

It is possible to realize a sample container transfer device capable of handling a plurality of racks in which a sample container can be efficiently transferred from a preprocessing system to a carrier used in an analysis system and can be transferred to a plurality of kinds of carriers of the analysis system. A plurality of kinds of racks A and racks B is held by an empty rack holding area 330. The racks A or the racks B can be used for conveyance of specimen containers according to the application of a specimen. After a fixed number of specimen containers separated by a separation mechanism 301 according to an application are collected by stoppers 303a and 303b, the specimen containers are conveyed to a transfer start position 309 to be transferred from a holder to a rack. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress an occurrence of a state in which the rack does not have a part where no specimen is mounted.

Provided is an automatic analyzer in which a linear movement unit and a rotational movement unit that access to a same location can be arranged in a same plane. The automatic analyzer includes a linear movement unit configured to access to an access point by a linear movement, a rotational movement unit configured to access to the access point by a rotational movement, and a control unit configured to control an operation of the linear movement unit and the rotational movement unit so that the linear movement unit and the rotational movement unit do not interfere with each other.

Automated test instruments electronically determine and/or obtain cell availability of cells of a holding structure in an incubated test chamber and for each of a plurality of open and available cells and electronically identify neighboring cells, electronically determining whether each of the identified neighboring cells are occupied or empty and, if occupied, electronically evaluating at least one of a test status or a time from load of a specimen container held therein. The instruments then electronically rank each of the plurality of open and available cells based at least in part on whether the identified neighboring cells are occupied or empty and the at least one of test status or time from load of the occupied cells of the identified neighboring cells. The loading mechanism is then directed to load an incoming specimen container into a selected one of the open and available cells based on the ranking.

A management unit 101 for integrally managing a sample conveyance system 100 generates conveyance path information for conveying a holder 30 on the basis of conditions of conveyance tiles 401 detected by control drivers 301, 302, 303, 304 that perform detection of conditions and driving of the conveyance tiles 401, and control units 201, 202, 203 that manage operations of the plurality of conveyance tiles 401 and that can move the holder 30 in a planar two-dimensional direction, generate a conveyance path of the holder 30 on the basis of the conveyance path information, generate command signals for the conveyance tiles 401, and output the signals to the control drivers 301, 302, 303, 304.

An improved system and method for the selection and dispensing of reagents onto a target testing medium in an automated laboratory environment. The system utilizes multiple carousels rotatably-mounted upon a central turntable. The position of the central turntable, as well as the rotation of each carousel is controlled by a microprocessor-based control system. Multiple dispensers, each capable of storing and dispensing a particular reagent, are mounted about the circumference of each carousel. This configuration provides much higher reagent density than previously available. The testing medium is positioned at one or more loading stations. The control system directs the central turntable to a position from which a selected one of the carousels can be rotated so as to position a selected dispenser above the testing medium. The selected dispenser is then actuated to release a predetermined reagent onto the testing medium. The system can be configured so that multiple reagents can be dispensed, each from an associated dispenser, onto a single or multiple testing mediums. Each of these actuated dispensers being positioned over the targeted testing medium(s) positioned at one or more loading stations.

A sample container transport system for moving sample containers in an in-vitro diagnostic (“IVD”) laboratory system is proposed, the sample container transport system comprising a gripping apparatus for gripping sample containers, and a robotic movement apparatus for moving the gripping apparatus in multiple directions, characterized in that the sample container transport system comprises a multidimensional-force sensor that is designed for detecting a multidimensional-force signal indicative of forces in multiple directions acting on a sample container gripped by the gripping apparatus. Further, a method for using the sample container transport system is proposed.

A lab system configures robots to performs protocols in labs. The lab automation system receives, via a user interface, an instruction from a user to perform a protocol within a lab. The instruction may comprise text, and the lab may comprise a robot configured to perform the protocol. The lab system converts, using a machine learned model, the text into steps and, for each step, identifies one or more of an operation, lab equipment, and reagent associated with the step. In response to detecting an ambiguity/error associated with the step, the lab system notifies the user via the user interface of the ambiguity/error. The lab system may receive one or more indications from the user that resolve the ambiguity/error and update the associated steps. For each step, the lab system configures the robot to perform an identified operation, interact with identified lab equipment, and/or access/use an identified reagent.

A lab system accesses a first protocol for performance by a first robot in a first lab. The first protocol includes a set of steps, each associated with an operation, reagent, and equipment. For each of one or more steps, the lab system modifies the step by: (1) identifying one or more replacement operations that achieve an equivalent or substantially similar result as a performance of the operation, (2) identifying replacement equipment that operates substantially similarly to the equipment, and/or (3) identifying one or more replacement reagents that, when substituted for the reagent, do not substantially affect the performance of the step. The lab system generates a modified protocol by replacing one or more of the set of steps with the modified steps. The lab system selects a second lab including a second and configures the second robot to perform the modified protocol in the second lab.