Biological reagent carrier devices and methods are disclosed, which employ RFID techniques to associate information with biological reagents.

A specimen analyzer for continuously measuring a plurality of samples, using a reagent container which comprises a wirelessly writable and readable storage medium is disclosed. A specimen analyzing method is also disclosed. The analyzer comprises a reagent dispenser, a measurement unit, a memory which stores information regarding a remaining amount of the reagent in a reagent container, and a wireless communication unit. The analyzer causes the reagent dispenser to continuously carry out aspiration of the reagent from the reagent container, updates the information in the memory in response to an aspiration of the reagent by the reagent dispenser, and causes the wireless communication unit to write the information in the memory to the storage medium when the continuous aspiration is completed.

The present invention is directed generally to devices and methods for manipulating laboratory pipettes in a programmable manner. The present invention is directed to an apparatus and methods for allowing a user to instruct the device to perform a specific process; identifying the type, location and identity of the consumables to be used; manipulating a plurality of pipettes for performing the liquid handling; monitoring the process during and after its execution; generating a detailed report for the plurality of actions. Other aspects of this invention include optimization of the liquid dispensing performances of a pipette; monitoring and controlling individual actions by means of vision; virtualization of the protocol definition by means of a reality augmented software interface; integration of the system in a conventional laboratory environment workflow.

A sample-containing device configured to be placed into a sample processing instrument for performing a process on a sample contained in the device includes redundant identification features, such as machine-readable tags. A first machine-readable information tag is read before the device is placed in the instrument, and a second machine-readable information tag is read after the device is in the instrument. Information read from the two tags is compared to determine if there is proper correspondence between the information read from the tags to ensure that the correct sample processing device was placed in the instrument.

A method for coding and identification of biological samples for in vitro fertilization comprises the steps of applying to receptacles intended for unfertilized eggs and sperm, respectively, an identification code characteristic of the patient; placing unfertilized eggs and sperm, respectively, in the receptacles; storing, transporting and admixing the respective samples in receptacles which each carry the same code; and implanting the resulting embryo in the patient. The identification code may based on RFID technology, in which sample vessels (12) are codified by the application of an RFID tag (13).

A method for fluid handling that includes reading information about a receptacle holder with an RFID reader and transmitting the information from an RFID transponder disposed on a first body of the receptacle holder that supports a fluid-containing receptacle. This information is used to align a robotic fluid transfer device with the first fluid-containing receptacle. Detecting a change in capacitance between an electrically conductive probe of the robotic fluid transfer device and an electrical ground or voltage source capacitively coupled to fluid contained in the first fluid-containing receptacle is an indication that the probe has contacted the fluid contained in the first fluid-containing receptacle. Once it is determined that the probe has contacted the fluid, the fluid transfer device aspirates a portion of the fluid contained in the first fluid-containing receptacle.

Systems and methods for passively redirecting liquid contaminants from the active region of riding surfaces of track systems for liquid handler systems, including surface energy gradient, channels, and roughness gradients. The described techniques redirect liquids in a passive manner, without requiring any additional electromechanical components or active control systems that would draw additional power and require additional layers of control architecture to manage.

A system for performing a molecular analysis workflow includes a reaction holder or a reaction substrate, such as a multi-well reaction plate, with a reaction holder/substrate RFID tag, and/or a reagent container with a reagent container RFID tag, and an instrument and/or device that includes an RFID reader/writer operable to read and/or write information to and from the reaction holder/substrate RFID tag and/or the reagent container RFID tag. The reaction holder/substrate RFID tag and the reagent container RFID tag can be utilized separately or together to send and receive and store information, for example, for a workflow of a molecular analysis, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Devices and methods for measuring the quantity of multiple analytes in a sample can include a device designed such that each of the analyte sensing elements is configured to measure the quantity of a predetermined analyte and machine executable instructions configured to select the proper analyte sensing element corresponding to the analyte to be measured.

A slide transfer device is configured to transfer a plurality of slides from a first container to a second container, which can improve compatibility between slide preparation devices and microscopes. The first container is configured to receive slides from a slide preparation device, and the second container is configured to provide slides to a slide loader of a microscope. The first container may not be compatible with the microscope slide loader. The first container may differ from the second container by one or more of a maximum distance across, a slide capacity, a number of slide receptacles, a distance between slide receptacles, or a size of slide receptacles. The plurality of slides comprises a first orientation and a first order in the first container and the slide transfer device is configured to provide the plurality of slides to the second container with a second orientation or a second order.