Clusters of multiple diagnostic analyzers, as well as, alternatively, to one single analyzer that consists of multiple parallel cores (basic analyzer modules) to provide a scalable and user-friendly system architecture. The invention provides a terminal for loading, identifying and hosting samples and/or consumables to at least two automated analyzer systems, the system comprising a distribution robot with four linear drives and a rotational drive, wherein a first linear drive comprises a sledge that can only move linear and horizontally on a rail; the rotational drive comprises a platform that can rotate around the sledge; a second linear drive comprises a carrier that can only move linear and horizontally on the platform; a third linear drive comprises a hook that can only move linear and horizontally on the carrier; and a fourth linear drive comprises a drive for vertically moving the platform over the sledge.

Disclosed is a specimen rack transport device comprising: a transport mechanism configured to transport, on a placement surface, a specimen rack holding a specimen container; a flow path member configured to receive a specimen spilled from the specimen container onto the placement surface and cause the specimen to flow through the flow path member; and a collecting container configured to collect the specimen having flowed through the flow path member.

An analyzer system for in vitro diagnostics includes a sample handler module having a robot arm that delivers samples from drawers into carriers on a linear synchronous motor automation track. Samples are delivered via the automation track to individual track sections associated with individual analyzer modules. Analyzer modules aspirate sample portions directly from the sample carriers and perform analysis thereon.

It is possible to realize a sample container transfer device capable of handling a plurality of racks in which a sample container can be efficiently transferred from a preprocessing system to a carrier used in an analysis system and can be transferred to a plurality of kinds of carriers of the analysis system. A plurality of kinds of racks A and racks B is held by an empty rack holding area 330. The racks A or the racks B can be used for conveyance of specimen containers according to the application of a specimen. After a fixed number of specimen containers separated by a separation mechanism 301 according to an application are collected by stoppers 303a and 303b, the specimen containers are conveyed to a transfer start position 309 to be transferred from a holder to a rack. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress an occurrence of a state in which the rack does not have a part where no specimen is mounted.

The invention provides a conveyance device having a smaller loss of a winding than that of a related art while increasing thrust for conveying a body to be conveyed, and a specimen analysis system and a specimen pretreatment device including the same. A conveyance device 1 includes: a permanent magnet 10 provided on the side of a specimen rack 111; teeth 22 formed of a second magnetic body; and a winding 21 wound around the side of an outer periphery of the teeth 22, wherein a cross-sectional area of a cross section of a part of the teeth facing the permanent magnet 10 is larger than that of other parts thereof. Alternatively, the conveyance device 1 includes: the permanent magnet 10 provided on the side of the specimen rack 111; the teeth 22 formed of the second magnetic body; and the winding 21 wound around the side of the outer periphery of the teeth 22, wherein a gap Lc between the permanent magnet 10 and the winding 21 and a gap Lt between permanent magnet 10 and the teeth 22 satisfy a relationship of Lc>Lt.

An automated analyzer is provided with one or more dispensing lines 109, 209 that are each for loading and unloading, at one end thereof, a sample rack 101 having placed therein one or more sample containers accommodating a sample for analysis and for conveying the sample rack back and forth from a dispensing position for dispensing the sample from the sample containers and sample rack removal parts 111, 211 that are provided adjacent to the other ends of the dispensing lines 109, 209 and provide and receive sample racks to and from the dispensing lines 109, 209. According to this configuration, it is possible to convey an urgent sample while suppressing device complexity, preventing cost from increasing, and also maintaining speed.

A sample analyzer, comprising a sample storage region, a sample-drawing channel, and a transport mechanism; the sample storage region being provided with a plurality of storage channels; the sample-drawing channel is provided with a sample-drawing position; the transport mechanism comprises an engagement slot, an actuation mechanism and a first moving mechanism; the engagement slot and the actuation mechanism are fixed on the first moving mechanism, the actuation mechanism comprises an actuator and a second moving mechanism, the actuator is drivable by at least one of the first moving mechanism and the second moving mechanism to realize the movement of the sample holder between the storage channels and the engagement slot; during sample drawing, the first moving mechanism drives the engagement slot to move to the sample-drawing channel, the actuation mechanism enables samples to pass through the sample-drawing position and to make a stop for sample drawing.

An autosampler includes an installation part allowing a plurality of racks to be installed therein, a transfer part capable of holding one rack installed in the installation part and moving back and forth in a first movement direction along an installation direction, and a rack transport path used to move the rack held by the transfer part back and forth in a second movement direction intersecting the first movement direction are included. The transfer part is moved forward in the first movement direction to transfer the rack present in the installation part to a side of the rack transport path, and the transfer part is moved backward in the first movement direction to send the rack present in the rack transport path back to a side of the installation part.

An autosampler includes an installation part for racks to be installed therein, an installation part movement mechanism which moves the installation part back and forth in an installation part transport direction and successively transfers the racks to a transport position, and a rack movement mechanism which moves the racks at the transport position forward in a rack transport direction to send out the racks, and moves the racks backward to send the racks back to the installation part after specimens are sampled from the specimen containers held in the racks. Information about inspection item content is accumulated using the installation part, and an accumulation result is compared with the amount of measurement resources, so that sampling is started after it is determined that the measurement resources are not insufficient.

Clusters of multiple diagnostic analyzers, as well as, alternatively, to one single analyzer that consists of multiple parallel cores (basic analyzer modules) to provide a scalable and user-friendly system architecture. The invention provides a terminal for loading, identifying and hosting samples and/or consumables to at least two automated analyzer systems, the system comprising a distribution robot with four linear drives and a rotational drive, wherein a first linear drive comprises a sledge that can only move linear and horizontally on a rail; the rotational drive comprises a platform that can rotate around the sledge; a second linear drive comprises a carrier that can only move linear and horizontally on the platform; a third linear drive comprises a hook that can only move linear and horizontally on the carrier; and a fourth linear drive comprises a drive for vertically moving the platform over the sledge.