Provided is a sample introduction system for sequentially introducing a plurality of samples into an analyzer 200, the system including: an auto-sampler 300 including a sampling needle 302 for suctioning a sample from each well 312 provided in a plate 311 placed on a sample rack 310 or from a sample container 313 placed in the well 312, a needle drive mechanism 303 for driving the sampling needle 302 in horizontal and vertical directions; an operation section 10 for allowing a user to command the needle drive mechanism 303 to drive the sampling needle 302; and a display controller 28 for displaying, on a screen of a display section 30, an identification of the well 312 related to a reference point defined on the plate 311 in a correction process conducted by the user by manipulating the operation section 10 no as to operate the needle drive mechanism 303 so that the sampling needle 302 is transferred to a predetermined position serving as the reference point.

A histology processing cassette comprising a box comprising a compartment for holding a biological tissue sample, the box having a bottom face comprising at least in part a sample support surface and being transmissible to radiation, an open top face, and two side walls, a back wall and a front wall, the box having dimensions greater than a standard size histology processing cassette and comprising a recess in the front wall adapted to receive a standard size cassette which has a front wall comprising a unique identifier for the biological tissue sample such that upon insertion of the standard cassette in the recess the unique identifier on the front wall of the standard cassette is readable.

Disclosed herein are scientific instrument support systems, as well as related methods, computing devices, and computer-readable media. For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided that includes generating a sample identifier for a sample, receiving sample information for the sample, and generating a data structure ledger for the sample. The data structure ledger includes an initial ledger block with the sample identifier and the sample information. The method also includes receiving experiment data relating to the sample, generating an experiment ledger block in the data structure ledger. The method further includes receiving a request for a report corresponding to the sample, querying the data structure ledger to receive ledger data corresponding to the request, and generating the report based on the ledger data received in response to the query.

An inspection system for a plurality of separable inspection objects, which may accommodate different inspection applications and facilitate the use of linear or straight sections in the conveying path. The inspection system may include a feed device for inspection objects, a conveying device for inspection objects, an inspection unit, and an ejecting device. The feed device is configured to feed the inspection objects to a feed position of the conveying device. The conveying device includes a plurality of receptacles, with each receptacle being configured and disposed such that exactly one inspection object of the plurality of inspection objects can be conveyed along a conveying path in said receptacle and that two respective inspection objects from the plurality of inspection objects have a spacing along the conveying path that is defined by the plurality of receptacles. The inspection unit is disposed at an inspection position on the conveying path.

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 system including a housing, a sample rack for holding a plurality of sample receptacles, and a reader for reading two-dimensional machine-readable labels associated with the plurality of sample receptacles as the sample rack moves between first and second positions within the housing. The system further includes a processing and control unit adapted to decode the two-dimensional machine-readable labels read by the reader and to associate each of the decoded two-dimensional machine-readable labels with an associated sample receptacle based on a measured position of the sample rack when the two-dimensional machine-readable label was read.

An apparatus including a reagent cartridge and a reaction chamber, the reagent cartridge having a reagent capsule removably positioned therein for dispensing of a reagent onto the reaction chamber. A system including a linearly translatable mounting assembly having a plurality of mounting stations dimensioned to receive at least one fluid dispensing cartridge, a linearly translatable bulk reagent dispensing assembly having a plurality of bulk reagent dispensing nozzles coupled thereto and a receiving assembly positioned beneath the mounting assembly and the bulk reagent dispensing assembly, the receiving assembly including a plurality of reaction stations. A method including determining an inventory of an automated sample processing system, downloading a processing protocol from a central controller to the automated sample processing system, operating the automated sample processing system based on the processing protocol and independently of the central controller and dispensing a reagent from the automated sample processing system.

The present invention provides an automatic analysis system whereby the time from when a specimen is received to when a result is output can be reduced even when an automatic analyzer is in a standby state. Provided is an automatic analysis system comprising an automatic analyzer for analyzing a patient specimen, a conveyance device for conveying the specimen to the automatic analyzer, and a control unit for controlling the automatic analyzer and the conveyance device, the automatic analysis system being characterized in that the control unit causes the automatic analyzer in a standby state to transition to an operation state when patient information is received from a medical information system or the conveyance device.

A sample receptacle can be used for ordering assays to be performed by an automatic sample processing instrument. The sample receptacle can include a body defining a chamber for containing a sample and a label. The label can include discrete areas configured to be altered from a first assay order state to a second assay order state. Each discrete area has a known association with a different assay. The label can also include assay-identifying indicia indicating the respective assay associated with a respective discrete area.

A method of processing a sample in a receptacle having one or more assay order states can include automatically determining assay order states of the discrete areas and performing an assay on the sample, using the automatic sample processing instruments, based on the determined assay order states of the discrete areas. Each discrete area has a known association with a different assay. Each discrete area can be altered from a first assay order state to a second assay order state. The method includes a step of automatically determining assay order states of the plurality of discrete areas by determining whether each discrete area has been altered from the first assay order state to the second assay order state.