Systems and methods provide for detection and controlled interaction with one or more objects. The system can include an imaging subsystem (20), a tool subsystem (26) containing one or more tools, a stage subsystem (16) and a control system (40). The control system (40) can integrate controls for each of the other subsystems, which controls can be implement desired functions over a variety of process parameters to perform the controlled interaction.

A method for determining the presence or absence of disposable pipette tips in pipette tip carriers on the work area of a laboratory workstation. Each of the pipette tip carriers has a support panel with receiving holes into each of which a disposable pipette tip can be inserted. The laboratory workstation for carrying out the method has a robot arm with at least one pipette which is designed to receive and dispose of disposable pipette tips. The laboratory workstation has a digital camera which is arranged on a support device and is operatively connected to an analyzing unit. The work area of the laboratory workstation can be completely imaged in at least one first direction using the digital camera.

A robotic arm of an automated pipetting system has a pipetting tip adapter and a slide switch to detect the presence of pipetting tips on the pipetting tip adapter is disclosed. The slide switch has first support member and second support member configured to slide relative to one another between first and second positions along a movement axis, an electrically conducting contact pad arranged on the first support member, an electrically conducting terminal physically attached to second support member in physical contact with the contact pad when support members are in first position, where the terminal is a first resilient and inherently stable wiping member expanding along the movement axis, first wiping member is not in physical contact with the contact pad when support members are in second position, and an electric current can flow between first wiping member and the contact pad when support members are in first position.

Devices and methods for proximity detection based on sound are provided. According to an embodiment, an acoustic probe includes a sound generator and an acoustic sensor, and at least one of the sound generator or the acoustic sensor is disposed within the dispense chamber portion. According to an embodiment, the liquid dispenser includes a sound generator and an acoustic sensor, and further includes one or more side conduits, where at least one of the sound generator or the acoustic sensor is disposed within a cavity of a respective one of the one or more side conduits, wherein the cavity and a connector of each of the one or more side conduits are free from resonance within a frequency range of the sound sensed by the acoustic sensor.

The invention relates to a pipetting device having tube with an opening at one end for suctioning or discharging a sample fluid, and can be operatively connected to a pressure generation device at the other end. A first electrode is formed on the pipetting device that forms a measuring capacitor together with a second electrode formed by at least one part of the sample fluid and that can be received in the tube and the measuring capacitor is operatively connected to a measuring unit, and the measuring unit is designed to determine a volume of the suctioned or discharged sample fluid according to the capacity of the measuring capacitor. The invention also relates to a fluid processing system having a pipetting device of this type, as well as a method for determining a processed fluid volume during pipetting with a pipetting device of this type.

A method of framing a workspace for a working tool of a robotic fluid handler comprises positioning a liquid dispenser within a workspace of the robotic fluid handler using a transport device, moving the liquid dispenser to a general location of a component of the workspace, contacting the liquid dispenser to multiple features of the component, determining a specific location for the general location based on contacting of the liquid dispenser to the multiple features, and registering the specific location to the workspace.

A pipetting device having a lube has an opening al one end for suctioning or discharging a sample fluid and can be operatively connected to a pressure generation device at the other end, a first electrode is formed on the pipetting device and forms a measuring capacitor together with a second electrode formed by at least one part of the sample fluid that can be received in the tube and that measuring capacitor is operatively connected to a measuring unit, and the measuring unit is designed to determine a volume of the suctioned or discharged sample fluid according to the capacity of the measuring capacitor, as well as having a first electrical contact that is designed to create an electrical connection with the working fluid, the first electrical contact can be electrically connected to the measuring unit via a low-resistance converter circuit.

The present invention determines whether or not a mounted tip and a dispensing amount match with each other in order to prevent contamination in a dispensing device. The present invention is provided with a pipette mechanism 108, 109 that performs suction and discharge, a motor 102 that drives the pipette mechanism, and a pressure sensor 113 that detects a pressure of the pipette mechanism. A dispensing tip 110 is mounted to the pipette mechanism. A control computer 116 controls the motor 102, drives the pipette mechanism in a suction or discharge direction, and determines a type of the dispensing tip 110 on the basis of a difference in pressure waveform detected by the pressure sensor 113.

According to one embodiment, an automatic analyzing apparatus includes a piercer, a detector unit, and a sample dispensing probe. The piercer pierces a lid that seals an opening of a sample container containing a sample. The detector unit detects the piercer penetrating through the lid. The sample dispensing probe passes through an inside of the piercer that has penetrated through the lid, enters the sample container, and aspirates the sample.

The invention concerns pipette tips for connecting to a pipette tube of a pipetting device are used for taking up and discharging fluids. The pipette tip is in the shape of an elongated tube forming a pipette body that has an opening at one end and is designed for connecting to the pipette tube at the other end. The pipette tip has a first electrode as a volume measuring electrode of a measuring capacitor and a second electrode as an immersion detector electrode. The first electrode is located on an outer surface of the pipette body or is embedded in the pipette body, and the second electrode is located at least partially on an inner surface of the pipette body.