A cap attaching/detaching device 20 is a device for attaching or detaching a cap 141 in which a screw portion is formed to or from a test tube 14 by rotating the cap 141. A cap grip portion 21 grips the cap 141. A rotation mechanism 22 attaches or detaches the cap 141 to or from the test tube 14 by rotating the cap 141 by rotating the cap grip portion 21. The rotation mechanism 22 has an axial portion 221, and a nut portion 222. The axial portion 221 has an outer peripheral surface on which a screw thread 223 is formed. The nut portion 222 has an inner peripheral surface on which a screw groove 224 to be screwed into the screw thread 223 of the axial portion 221 is formed, and rotatably holds the axial portion 221 in a fixed state. A pitch of the screw thread 223 is the same as a pitch of the screw portion formed in the cap 141.

A reagent storage device of the present disclosure includes a shutter and a moving mechanism. The shutter is configured to open and close an opening in a reagent compartment for housing a reagent container, the reagent compartment being provided with the opening for insertion and removal of a probe used to extract a reagent from inside the reagent container housed in the reagent compartment. The moving mechanism is configured to move the shutter to an overlay position opposing the opening and separated from the opening before moving the shutter downward so as to close off the opening, and is also configured to move the shutter that is closing off the opening upward to open up the opening before withdrawing the shutter from the overlay position over the opening.

An automatic nucleic acid detection system and a method thereof are disclosed. The automatic nucleic acid detection method includes: performing, by an automatic control subsystem, on a nucleic acid extraction machine platform, a nucleic acid extraction on one or more specimens in a sample tray to generate one or more corresponding nucleic acids in the sample tray; distributing, by the automatic control subsystem, on a nucleic acid distribution machine platform, the nucleic acid in each hole of the sample tray and a first reagent into a plurality of holes of a detection tray, wherein the number of holes of the detection tray is greater than that of the sample tray; and performing, by the automatic control subsystem, on a nucleic acid detection machine platform, a nucleic acid detection on the detection tray.

The present invention describes an automated platform for inoculating a variety of receptacles with biological samples for testing and analysis. The lab automation system includes a plurality of modules used to automate the inoculation of media for subsequent analysis. In this regard, the lab automation system has one module to enter specimen/order information and store an inventory of petri dishes. Another module is used to label the sample receptacles with a unique identifier that associates the receptacles with the sample. Yet another module includes a robot for retrieving sample and inoculating the receptacles. The sample inoculation module also includes an apparatus that will receive slides, inoculate those slides, and further process the slides for analysis. Finally, the lab automation system includes a module that streaks the culture media with the sample. Thus, the automated lab system described herein provides consistent samples with minimal input from a lab operator.

A rack to be suspended from a support structure includes a hook portion, an upright portion, and a shelf. The hook portion defines a cavity configured to receive an upper edge of a wall of the support structure therein. The upright wall is connected to and extends from the hook portion. The shelf is connected to the upright wall at a location spaced apart from the hook portion along a height of the upright wall. The shelf projects outward from the upright wall to a distal edge of the shelf that is spaced apart from the upright wall. The shelf defines a plurality of slots through the thickness of the shelf. The slots are open along the distal edge and are configured to accommodate one or more of multiple reclosable container caps or multiple tubes connected to the reclosable container caps.

A specimen preparation device may include: a reagent setting part in which reagent containers each containing a reagent are set; and a dispenser comprising a nozzle that aspirates a reagent from a reagent container and discharges the reagent into a reaction container. The reagent setting part may include a setting part main body that holds the reagent containers, a lid provided to cover the setting part main body from above and comprising first insertion holes formed in the lid, the first insertion holes allowing the nozzle to passing through, a shutter member comprising a second insertion hole formed in the shutter member, the second insertion hole allowing the nozzle to pass through, and a shutter drive that moves the shutter member between an opening position at which the first insertion holes are open via the second insertion hole and a closing position at which the first insertion holes are closed.

A bottle compartment (1, 21) for an analyzer instrument, which bottle compartment comprises a frame (3) with a location (4) for a bottle (10, 23) of liquid, and a tube (7, 24) for aspiration of liquid from a bottle at the location for a bottle by the analyzer instrument, wherein the bottle compartment (1, 21) comprises a handle mechanism (2, 22) connected turnably to the frame (3), which handle mechanism in an open position allows access to the location (4) for insertion and removal of a bottle (10, 23) and in a closed position prevents access to the location, and that the tube (7, 24) for aspiration of liquid is connected to the handle mechanism so that when the handle mechanism is turned to the open position the end of the tube is simultaneously moved from the bottle at the location and when the handle mechanism is turned to the closed position the end of the tube is simultaneously moved inside the bottle at the location.

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 processing station includes two or more container holders on a platform that is rotatable about a central axis of rotation. Each holder is configured to rotate about a secondary axis of rotation. The station includes a capping/decapping mechanism to cap or decap a container held in one of the container holders and an elevator with a chuck guide that contact the container holder as the chuck is lowered by the elevator to position the chuck with respect to the cap of the container held in the holder and to hold jaws of the container holder in a closed position. In embodiment, the chuck guide includes a yoke with opposed arms and spindles located near distal ends of the arms that engage beveled shoulders of the container holder.

The present invention describes an automated platform for inoculating a variety of receptacles with biological samples for testing and analysis. The lab automation system includes a plurality of modules used to automate the inoculation of media for subsequent analysis. In this regard, the lab automation system has one module to enter specimen/order information and store an inventory of petri dishes. Another module is used to label the sample receptacles with a unique identifier that associates the receptacles with the sample. Yet another module includes a robot for retrieving sample and inoculating the receptacles. The sample inoculation module also includes an apparatus that will receive slides, inoculate those slides, and further process the slides for analysis. Finally, the lab automation system includes a module that streaks the culture media with the sample. Thus, the automated lab system described herein provides consistent samples with minimal input from a lab operator.