Embodiments are directed to transferring and opening reagent containers for use in a clinical analyzer in an in vitro diagnostics (IVD) environment. Contents of a reagent container may be automatically recorded, and the container is positioned and opened, making available its contents to a transfer probe. A set of mechanical fingers open and close relative to one another, to release and grip the reagent container on opposite sides thereof for transferring the container. Once the container is positioned, the mechanical fingers raise and are positioned above a seal concealing the contents of the reagent container. The fingers are configured to close together and travel in a downward trajectory to pierce the seal. The reagent container is originally presented as an un-opened package to prevent spillage and to control reagent life expectancy. According to an embodiment, a method of performing a cycle unload, transfer, and load, without operator intervention, is provided.

A diagnostic laboratory distribution system, wherein the distribution system comprises a number of carriers adapted to carry one or more goods. The distribution system comprises a transport plane adapted to support the carriers and a drive device, wherein the drive device is adapted to move the carriers on the transport plane, and a control device to control the drive device. The distribution system comprises a cover for the transport plane, and humidity sensors connected to the control device and airflow generating devices connected to the control device. The airflow generating devices are distributed over the distribution system to generate an airflow between the cover and the transport plane. The control device is configured to start the airflow generating devices if the humidity sensors measure a humidity above a predefined threshold value.

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

Articles, systems, and methods for transferring liquids that may employ a robot.

A reagent-bottle lid opening mechanism is disclosed, which has a needle for piercing a lid of a reagent bottle to be delivered to a reagent disk, has an aligning mechanism of automatically adjusting a position of the needle with respect to the lid such that a needle body of the needle can stick in the center of the lid, and accurately and repeatedly makes an incision in the center of the lid. As a result, an automatic analyzer is provided that is capable of unsealing the center of the lid of the reagent bottle with accuracy even if the central axis of the needle and the central axis of the lid are offset from each other.

The present disclosure provides a full-automatic gene analysis apparatus and a gene analysis method, and relates to the field of medical detection technologies. The apparatus includes a body, a first taking and placing device, a second taking and placing device, a first lid opening and closing device, a second lid opening and closing device, a sample rack, a consumable rack, a PCR detection device and a centrifugal transfer device. The first taking and placing device is configured to take and place a sample tube or a PCR tube or perform a pipetting operation, a lid is automatically opened and closed by the lid opening and closing device; automatic transfer and centrifuging operations of the PCR tube are realized by the centrifugal transfer device; a PCR detection step is automatically performed by the second taking and placing device and the PCR detection device.

The invention relates to a system for automatic closure of sample vessels (PG), in particular of sample vessels (PG) with medical laboratory samples, with iii. a plurality of identically shaped, stackable closure caps (10) which have a convex outer face and a concave inner face and which are stacked in at least one closure cap stack in such a way that an upper closure cap (10) in the closure cap stack bears with its convex outer face on the concave inner face of a lower closure cap (10) lying immediately below in the closure cap stack, iv. a closure gripper (20) for gripping an uppermost closure cap (10) from the at least one closure cap stack, for transferring the gripped closure cap (10) to the sample vessel (PG) to be closed, and for introducing the gripped closure cap (10) into an opening of the sample vessel in order to tightly close the opening, wherein the closure gripper (20) has a centering piece which can be inserted into a closure cap (10) in such a way that it bears on the concave inner face of the closure cap (10). With such a system, automated closure of sample vessels is possible in a space-saving and efficient way. Furthermore, a method for automatic closure of sample vessels is also disclosed.

A cap attachment-detachment device includes an operation portion that moves in an up-and-down direction, and grips and rotates a cap so as to attach the cap to or attach the cap from a container. The operation portion includes a first grip claw, a second grip claw and the pressing member. The first grip claw and the second grip claw are provided to be opposite to each other and configured to be capable of applying an obliquely upward force inwardly to an upper portion of a side surface of the cap. The pressing member is configured to be capable of coming into contact with an upper surface of the cap.

A robotic liquid handling system may be provided comprising a robotic arm and a controller configured to control the robotic arm to position and operate the robotic arm in a workspace of the robotic liquid handling system. The controller may be configured to, as part of a liquid handling task, control the robotic arm to open a reagent reservoir, wherein the reagent reservoir has an opening which is sealed by a foil. The controller may be configured to control the robotic arm to open the foil by controlling the robotic arm to, using a cutting tip (260), cut at least two flaps in the foil, and using a blunt protrusion, push the at least two flaps downwards into the reagent reservoir to clear at least part of the opening of the reagent reservoir. Further aspects of the invention relate to a computer-implemented method for controlling a robotic arm and to an opening tool (200) comprising the cutting tip and the blunt protrusion.

There are provided an automated analysis device and a reagent storage unit capable of opening a reagent container lid without requiring a large opening force. A reagent storage unit of the invention includes a reagent container unit formed of a plurality of reagent containers formed integrally; a container holder to store and hold the reagent container unit in a fitted state; and a container lid partial opening mechanism to open container lids partially and simultaneously when the reagent container unit is fitted and inserted into the container holder, the container lids opening and closing openings of the reagent containers.