The present invention relates to pipette tips for connecting to a pipette tube of a pipetting device that is used for taking up and dispensing fluids. A pipette tip is shaped as a long tube that forms a pipette body with an opening on one of its ends and the other end is designed to connect to the pipette tube. The pipette tip is characterised in that it has an electrode as a volume measuring electrode of a measuring capacitor. The present invention further relates to pipetting devices with a pipette tip, methods for determining the volume of a fluid sample in such a pipette tip, methods for recognising such a pipette tip on a pipetting device, methods for producing such a pipette tip, uses for such a pipette tip and a set of pipette tips.

In a case where a dispensing tip is imaged from below, liquid attached to the tip falls downward and contaminates an imaging mechanism. An automatic analyzer includes: a buffer that has a hole for holding a tip for dispensing, the hole passing through the tip; a probe for dispensing having a tip to which the tip is attached; an imaging unit that images the tip; and a controller that controls the tip such that the tip is mounted on the probe by pressing the probe against the tip that passes through the hole to be held by the buffer, in which the imaging unit is disposed to image the tip from an upper side to a lower side in a gravity direction.

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.

The automatic analyzer includes a sample storage section for accommodating a plurality of samples, a reagent storage section for accommodating a plurality of reagents, an analysis section for carrying out an analysis by reacting the sample with the reagent, a display, a storage section for storing a setting of an operation item to be automatically executed, which is effective only at restarting, and a control section which displays a screen for setting the operation item to be automatically executed upon acceptance of power shutdown operation by an operator during the analysis on the display to accept the setting from the operator, and automatically executes or omits execution of the operation item to be automatically executed, which has been set by the operator in accordance with the setting read from the storage section at the restarting.

A device for determining a position and/or an extension of a drop in a position determination space, where the device has a camera having an objective and a beam splitter in the recording area of the camera, and the device is designed in such a way that light coming from the position determination space can enter the objective of the camera along a first light path as well as along a second light path, where light along the first light path can be reflected at a first reflector element in the direction of the beam splitter and can be transmitted through the beam splitter towards the objective, and where light along the second light path can be reflected at a second reflector element in the direction of the beam splitter and can be reflected at the beam splitter towards the objective.

An insert mounted in a mixing cup and used by an automated chemical analyzer for removing a targeted component of a liquid sample includes a porous matrix formed of or carrying in an immobilized state functionalized particles having properties such that the targeted component of the liquid sample adheres to the functionalized particles. When the liquid sample is expelled from a disposable tip fitted on the end of a pipette forming part of the automated chemical analyzer into the mixing cup, the liquid sample is drawn into the matrix of the insert by capillary action, whereupon the targeted component of the liquid sample adheres to the immobilized functionalized particles of the matrix.

A sample preparation apparatus includes a robotic system providing movement in three orthogonal directions to an arm operable to receive a pipette tip and to facilitate movement of fluid into and out of the pipette tip. Optionally, the robot can include a gripper arm in addition to the pipette receiving arm. In addition, the sample preparation apparatus can include a tray for receiving pipette tips, receptacles for receiving tubes, an apparatus for forming an emulsion, a device for forming particles that include copies of the polynucleotide, a device for enriching the particles, as well as a centrifuge for loading such particles onto a sensor array. The sample preparation apparatus can further include receptacles for holding containers of reagent solutions.

A sample liquid-sending device of the present technology includes a drive mechanism, a suction mechanism, and a controller. The drive mechanism supports a sample container and is configured to be capable of moving the sample container, the sample container including a storing portion that stores a suspension containing a sample. The suction mechanism includes a nozzle configured to be inserted into the storing portion, and suctions the suspension through the nozzle. The controller is configured to be capable of controlling the drive mechanism such that a bottom of the storing portion and a suction port of the nozzle are separated from each other by a predetermined distance.

The invention relates to a pipetting device having an exchangeable pipette tip for suctioning and discharging fluid volumes for use in automated laboratory systems. The invention relates to a pipetting device having a pipette tip detection unit and for detecting a pipette tip on a pipette device of this type. A detection unit detects whether a pipette tip is connected to the pipette tube or determines a characteristic feature of the connected pipette tip. The pipette tip forms at least one portion of a first electrode when the pipette tip is in electrical operative contact with the pipette tube and, e.g., a pipette tip holder, a contact for setting down the pipette tip holder or a working table over which the pipette tube can be moved forms at least one portion of a second electrode.

The present invention relates to a method for determining the position of a robotic arm in an automatic liquid handling system in which a measurement probe with a first electrode is arranged on the robotic arm and, together with a second electrode formed by at least part of a working area or at least part of a container or container carrier forms a measurement capacitor that is operatively connected to a measurement unit for measuring an impedance, in particular a capacitance of the measurement capacitor. The method involves moving the measurement probe along a first path, detecting a first change in the impedance, in particular in the capacitance of the measurement capacitor at a first point on the first path, and defining at least one first reference spatial coordinate for a control unit of the robotic arm on the basis of the first point on the first path.