A test tube rack dispatching method, a pipeline analysis system and a test tube rack. Said method is applied to a pipeline analysis system. The pipeline system comprises a sample conveying mechanism, at least two test devices and at least two test platforms corresponding to the at least two test devices, the sampling mechanism being connected to the at least two test platforms. Said method comprises: scanning a readable and writable label of a test tube rack placed in the pipeline system, so as to read test mode information corresponding to the test tube rack; and dispatching, by the sample conveying mechanism, the test tube rack to a test platform corresponding to the test mode information, so as to test samples on the test tube rack by a test device corresponding to the test platform.

Embodiments are directed to a combination of an automation system that continuously tracks the identity and positions of all of its pucks with a single sample identification station and covers/interlocks in order to provide sample chain of custody without the need to re-identify the sample at points of interaction (aspiration, de-capping, etc.). This eliminates the need to have sample identification stations at each interaction point. This reduction of hardware allows the system to be cheaper, smaller, and more reliable. It also allows not only the automation system, but also existing pre-analytical/analytical equipment connected to the automation system, to run more efficiently.

The present disclosure relates to, a magnetic microbeads adsorption mechanism, which is configured to adsorb a magnetic microbeads in a reaction cup and is provided with a cup inlet station and a cup outlet station; the magnetic microbeads adsorption mechanism includes a pedestal, a turntable and multiple magnetic adsorption components; the turntable is rotatably mounted on the pedestal; the turntable can drive the reaction cup to rotate around a central axis of the turntable; the multiple magnetic adsorption components are arranged on a mounting circumference of the pedestal at intervals; the mounting circumference and rotation track of the reaction cup are concentrically arranged; and during a process when the reaction cup rotates from the cup inlet station to the cup outlet station, the adsorption height of the magnetic microbeads relative to cup bottom of the reaction cup can be changed.

An automated apparatus can provide pre-analytical processing of samples, racking and forwarding to an adjacent analyzer for analysis. The apparatus may have a controller that implements an auto-learn process to teach robotic handlers the locations within the workspace(s) of the apparatus. A robotic sample handler may include a sensor configured to generate a detection signal when in a near vicinity of a fiducial beacon in the workspace of the apparatus for biological sample preparation, preprocessing and/or diagnostic assay performed by one or more analyzers of the automated apparatus. The controller may control the robotic sample handler to conduct a search pattern so that a location of the fiducial beacon may be detected and thereafter calculated to obtain a more accurate location of the beacon. The calculated positions may then serve as a basis for the controlled movement of samples by the robot to and from locations of the workspace.

A method for automated processing of a sample using a first pipette tip container (110) having a first pipette tip comprises the steps of: removing the first pipette tip (160) from the first pipette tip container (110); feeding the sample into the first pipette tip container (110); processing the sample in the first pipette tip container (110). A rack (100) comprises at least one first pipette tip container (110) having a first pipette tip (160), wherein the rack (100) comprises means for identifying an alignment of an orientation of the rack (100) in a rack receptacle of an apparatus for automated processing of a sample. A transport arrangement comprises at least two racks (100), wherein at least one bottom region of a pipette tip container (110) of a first rack (100) is in direct contact with a releasable covering, in particular a tear-off film of a second rack (100).

It is an object to provide a cover slip sticking device capable of improving matching between types of clearing agents and cover slips. As a means for solving the problem, a cover slip sticking device includes a dipping bath (21) in which slide glasses (22) on which specimens are attached are housed to be dipped in a clearing agent, a holder (11) having a cover slip (10) and cover slip information (14), a mounting part (C) on which the holder is mounted, a sticking part (B) sticking the cover slip (10) taken out from the holder (11) on the slide glass (22), a reading unit (62) reading the cover slip information (14), a storage unit (65) storing a type of the clearing agent and matching information between types of clearing agents and types of cover slips and a determination unit (66) comparing the cover slip information (14) read by the reading unit (62) and the type of the clearing agent stored in the storage unit (65) with the matching information to determine whether the types match with each other or not.

The present disclosure describes systems and methods for centering a circular object, such as a petri dish, between a plurality of pins. For example, in one embodiment, a method comprises placing a circular object on a rotatable platform surrounded by three moveable pins. In order to roughly center the circular object, the method further comprises moving, for a first time, all of the pins toward the circular object until at least two out of the three pins are touching the circular object. In order to more accurately center the circular object, the method further comprises: moving all of the pins away from the circular object so that it can be rotated without substantial inference; rotating the platform approximately 60 degrees, wherein rotating the platform causes the circular object to also rotate by approximately 60 degrees; and moving, for a second time, all of the pins toward the circular object.

The present disclosure relates to a method to re-identify a carrier on a laboratory transport system after a system failure. The carrier is associated with an identity and is configured to move over a transport plane of the laboratory transport system. The laboratory transport system comprises a monitoring system configured to monitor motion positions of the carrier on the transport plane when the laboratory transport system is activated. After a system failure, the identity dissociates from the carrier and the carrier keeps moving on the transport plane. After reactivation of the laboratory transport system, a predicted position of the identity is compared to an actual position of the carrier by a control unit of the laboratory transport system. The control unit assigns the identity to the carrier if the predicted position of the identity matches with the actual position of the carrier.

A sample rack that has at least one axially extended receptacle for a sample tube (30). The sample rack has a code arrangement on its outside. This code arrangement contains information regarding the position of the at least one receptacle as well as information regarding the total number of receptacles and/or the dimension of the sample rack. A sample carrier system (1) is further provided that has a sample carrier with at least one sample rack receptacle and a set of sample racks. The sample rack receptacle and the sample racks have interacting mechanisms which characterize their affiliation.

An image acquisition system includes a cassette mounting unit that holds slide glasses in a plurality of stages, a cassette having an identification code imparted thereto being mounted in the cassette mounting unit, an identification code reading unit that reads an identification code from the cassette, an image acquisition unit that acquires image data of a sample held on the slide glass, and a control computer that associates the image data with cassette identification information included in the identification code read by the identification code reading unit, wherein the cassette mounting unit includes a notch portion that exposes a bar code imparted to the cassette, and the identification code reading unit includes an imaging unit that images the identification code exposed from the notch portion in a reading position.