Methods and systems configured to automatically calibrate a pipette to a reference standard. The system comprising: a robotic arm, a pressing-device, configured to firmly hold a pipette and to press a plunger-button of the pipette, a rotating-device configured to rotate/dial a wheel-button of the pipette, at least one liquid source, at least one scaling element, at least one input-device configured to receive real-time input-data, and at least one processor, in communication with the input-device configured to analyze the input-data and accordingly to: control the motion of the robotic arm, control the rotating-device, control the pressing-device, evaluate calibration of the pipette, in reference to a chosen standard, and output a calibration report for the pipette.

A reagent container lid opening and closing mechanism capable of opening and closing a reagent container lid, and an automated analysis device. A reagent container lid opening and closing mechanism includes an opening and closing operation body being movable, and including an opening and closing engagement portion to engage engagement portions provided in upper surfaces of container lids of reagent containers. The opening and closing operation body is movable along a longitudinal axis direction of the opening and closing operation body between a retreated position where the opening and closing operation body is separated from the reagent containers, and an engaged position where an opening and closing engagement portion of the opening and closing operation body engages the engagement portions of the container lids. The opening and closing operation body is movable along a predetermined circular arc trajectory between the engaged position and a lid opening position.

The present invention is provided with: a sample rack body in which test tubes are inserted from insertion openings; a plurality of leaf springs that are provided to the sample rack body and press and hold the test tubes; and adaptors inserted from the insertion openings. The adaptors respectively have cylindrical bodies inserted from the insertion openings. The cylindrical bodies each have formed therein notch sections which cause the corresponding leaf spring to pass through a portion at which the leaf spring is in contact with the test tube and cause the test tube having a small outer diameter than the insertion opening to be held by the leaf spring.

A capping and de-capping apparatus (100) for capping and de-capping tubes (112) disposed in a tube holding rack (111) having a two-dimensional array of apertures (114) for holding the tubes (112). The apparatus (100) comprises a rack support (110) for supporting the tube holding rack (111), a head unit (120) adapted for carrying a cartridge (152) comprising at least one capping and de-capping gripper (122), a drive system (130) for moving the rack support (110) and the head unit (120) relatively towards and away from one another, in order to cause engagement or disengagement of the capping and de-capping gripper (122) with or from a cap (113) of at least one tube (112), and a drive system (140) for rotating the capping and de-capping gripper (122), wherein rotation in one direction causes attachment of the cap (113) to the tube (112) and rotation in the opposite direction causes detachment of the cap (113) from said tube (112).

A sample pretreatment device of an aspect of the present invention includes a conveyance mechanism (22) including a Z-axis guide (223) that linearly moves in two axes of an X axis and a Y axis and expands/contracts in a Z-axis direction on a table (21) where a unit that performs each step of pretreatment is arranged. The Z-axis guide (22) is integrally provided with a liquid handler (224) and a grip handler (225) oriented in opposite directions to each other. A side wall of a housing (20) on the autosampler side is provided with a sample conveyance opening (201). When pretreatment of a sample ends, the Z-axis guide (223) is moved to a position close to the opening (201) in a state where a gripper (228) grips a pretreated plate. An arm (227) enters a housing of the autosampler through the opening (201) and an opening formed in the autosampler, and sets a plate at a predetermined position. Thus, the sample pretreatment device can eliminate the labor of the worker setting a pretreated sample in the analysis device.

Disclosed is a specimen treatment device for treating a specimen accommodated in a reaction container, the specimen treatment device comprising: an installation unit in which the reaction container is installed; a temperature adjusting unit for warming the reaction container installed in the installation unit; and an opening/closing member which can move between a first position at which the temperature adjusting unit is uncovered and a second position at which the temperature adjusting unit is covered.

An automatic processing device for liquid samples includes a sample region, a control module, an image identification device and a centrifuge. The sample region is configured to accommodate a plurality of centrifuge tubes. The control module includes a mechanical module. The mechanical module is configured to unscrew or tighten upper caps of the centrifuge tubes, and is configured to draw liquid from the centrifuge tubes or discharge liquid to the centrifuge tubes. The image identification device is coupled to the control module. The centrifuge is coupled to the control module. The centrifuge is configured to accommodate the centrifuge tubes and perform centrifugal treatment.

A method for managing sample exposure to air on an automation system for performing clinical laboratory in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) includes receiving a sample in a capped container and loading the capped container onto a sample carrier. A plurality of test requests corresponding to the sample is received. Optionally, the capped container may be parked on a sample handler pending readiness of the system to process the test requests. Each test request is associated with one or more analytical modules included in an automated IVD system. In response to determining that the first analytical module is available to perform the first test request, the capped container is reloaded from the sample handler, if necessary, and decapped. Next the system performs prioritized delivery of the decapped container to the analytical modules in order to optimize performance of the assays with respect to the stability of the sample's analytes.

The present invention describes an integrated incubator and image capture module that regulates the incubator atmosphere and obtains high-resolution digital images of sample specimens. The incubator has a cabinet type enclosure that enables the provision of a controlled environment to the contents of the incubator by having at least three ports on one face of the cabinet for the passage of sample containers. Additionally, an image capture module is located immediately adjacent to the incubator. In this regard, using at least three separate access/egress points for the sample containers streamlines operation of the system and enhances preservation of the incubator environment. Furthermore, locating the image capture module directly adjacent to the incubator reduces the amount of time a sample container is exposed to the external environment, thereby reducing the extent to which samples are exposed to potential contaminants and reducing the exchange of the lab and ambient atmospheres.

A sample vessel rack (1), which comprises a frame (2) with a plurality of openings (3) in the upper surface of the frame for sample vessels (9), and a locking plate member (5) movable in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the frame (2) of the rack from a releasing position to a locking position and back, wherein the removal of the sample vessels (9) from the rack is prevented when the locking plate member is in the locking position, the openings (3) of the upper surface of the frame (2) comprises slots (12) formed on their side, and in the locking position a part of the locking plate member (5) sets itself in the area of the slots. The invention also relates to such a method and a sample vessel rack system.