A multiple reaction parallel measurement apparatus is intended to measure a large number of reactions quickly, simply and with high accuracy. The apparatus includes: a plurality of light guiding paths corresponding to a plurality of reaction spot array elements, including a measuring end able to be in proximity of or in contact with each one of the reaction spots, and arranged to guide light generated by a reaction at the reaction spot to a connecting end; a measurement head arranged such that the measuring ends reach all together predetermined measurement positions of the corresponding reaction spots of the reaction spot array elements at a predetermined scan period; a light guiding path selector including a light guiding region optically connected to the connecting end; a light receiving unit; and a digital data converter to obtain digital data by converting image region data obtained from the light receiving unit.

The automated pipette manipulation system of the present invention allows for the automated manipulation of any pipette commercially available to aspire and dispense liquids in a chemical or biochemical laboratory setting. Measuring the amount of liquid aspired or dispensed by a pipette is conducted by a load sensor that records the starting point of the displacement of a pushbutton of said pipette and a motor that drives the displacement of said pushbutton a predetermined distance past the starting point that corresponds to a predetermined volume of liquid aspired or dispensed by said pipette. The automated pipette manipulation system of the present invention further detects whether a pipette tip is attached to said pipette and then automatically ejects said pipette tip at the end of a liquid handling process.

A sample analyzing apparatus for performing an optical-based measurement on a sample includes a housing, a first light source, excitation optics, a first light detector, emission optics, and a monitoring system, all of which are disposed in the housing. The monitoring system is configured for monitoring a movable component disposed in the housing. The monitoring system includes one or more light sources for illuminating the movable component, and one or more light detectors for detecting light reflected from the movable component in response to being illuminated.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic analyzer that detects a liquid level by using an electrostatic capacity system. Feature values are extracted from time-series oscillating frequency data of an alternating current signal that is output by an oscillation circuit in a period from a time point at which a dispensing probe starts moving downward till a time point at which a certain period of time has elapsed. On the basis of the feature values from the time-series oscillating frequency data, it is determined whether or not the liquid level in a container has been detected properly, by using different methods. Whether a gap is present between the tip portion of the dispensing probe and the liquid level in the container and a reason for the gap are determined from a combination of multiple determination results obtained by using the methods.

A method for automatically defragmenting pipette tips in a tip tray during the performance of a procedure defined by a protocol stored in memory of a fluid handling system, the method comprising determining locations of open receptacles in the tip tray where pipette tips are absent, determining locations of filled receptacles in the tip tray where pipette tips are present, and using the fluid handling system to move pipette tips from filled receptacles to open receptacles to complete strings of filled receptacles in the tip tray.

An examination apparatus includes: a detecting unit; a specimen dispensing unit that has a nozzle, on which a chip is mounted at a distal end thereof, and a moving mechanism which moves the nozzle; a camera that captures an image of the nozzle on which the chip is mounted; and a processor that is configured to control the moving mechanism and the camera, wherein the processor is configured to acquire the image of the nozzle on which the chip is mounted from the camera before the specimen is discharged to the reaction cell through the nozzle, and the processor is configured to control the moving mechanism on the basis of a distal end position of the chip in the image such that the moving mechanism moves a distal end of the chip to a predetermined target discharge position inside the reaction cell.

An object of the invention is to provide a low-cost automatic analyzer without reducing a throughput. A cleaning tank is arranged such that a detection timing for a dispensing tip occurs when the dispensing tip moves to the cleaning tank, and a sensor that monitors the cleaning tank is arranged. By performing an operation of returning to the cleaning tank after an operation in a sample discharge area, the dispensing tip can be detected at all timings at which the dispensing tip needs to be confirmed during normal analysis by one sensor that monitors the cleaning tank.

The present invention provides a disposable ultra-filtration system comprising a disposable pipetting tip and a disposable ultra-filtration cartridge, wherein the cartridge includes a membrane filtration chamber and a dead-end channel. In use, a piston in the pipette pressurizes air within the channel; the pressurized air can subsequently move the piston and cause a reverse flow back through the membrane of the cartridge, unplugging the pores thereof. Also disclosed is an automated workstation incorporating the disposable ultra-filtration system, and a system comprising the automated workstation, useful for measuring the free therapeutic drug concentration and free hormone concentration in a sample.

Systems and methods are described for a non-contact method for positioning a tip of an object. A light beam of known dimensions is projected and a position of the tip of the object relative to the light beam is adjusted. Light scatter indicative of the tip of the object being positioned within the dimensions of the light beam is detected and a position of the tip of the object is determined based at least in part on the known dimensions of the light beam and the detected light scatter.

The present invention provides a disposable ultra-filtration system comprising a disposable pipetting tip and a disposable ultra-filtration cartridge, wherein the cartridge includes a membrane filtration chamber and a dead-end channel. In use, a piston in the pipette pressurizes air within the channel; the pressurized air can subsequently move the piston and cause a reverse flow back through the membrane of the cartridge, unplugging the pores thereof. Also disclosed is an automated workstation incorporating the disposable ultra-filtration system, and a system comprising the automated workstation, useful for measuring the free therapeutic drug concentration and free hormone concentration in a sample.