A plate transport device includes a main body, first and second moving members and first and second elastic members. The main body has an intermediate supporter. The first and second moving members have first and second supporters, respectively. The first and second moving members are supported to be movable in a first direction with respect to the main body. The first elastic member is provided between the intermediate supporter and the first supporter, and supplies a first biasing force directed toward the intermediate supporter in the first direction to the first moving member. The second elastic member is provided between the intermediate supporter and the second supporter, and supplies a second biasing force, which is directed toward the intermediate supporter in the first direction and opposite to the direction in which the first biasing force is directed, to the second moving member.

The present invention provides an automatic analysis device and an automatic specimen processing system having a component-rack supply mechanism that, in a state where a plurality of component racks each having a disposable component mounted thereon are stacked, separates only a component rack at the leading stage of the stack from the other component racks, and supplies the separated component rack to the automatic analysis device or the automatic specimen processing system. Specifically, the automatic analysis device and the automatic specimen processing system have a supply mechanism including a separation mechanism that, in a state where a plurality of component racks are stacked, separates only a component rack at the leading stage of the stack from the other component racks, where the separation mechanism includes a movable mechanism having a pair of downward-movement prevention members that can separate the leading stage from the second stage of the stacked component racks; and a correction mechanism having a pair of correction members that correct a positional deviation of the component racks in order to avoid an influence of the positional deviation of the stacked component racks.

An automated analyser for high-throughput assay testing for the presence of a biological or biochemical substance includes a plurality of sample process stations to receive analysis vessels and perform one or more processing or analysis steps on samples retained in the analysis vessels and including at least an incubation station to receive a plurality of the analysis vessels, provide illumination to each sample of each analysis vessel in the incubation field, and maintain the plurality of analysis vessels at predetermined incubation temperatures. The analyser includes an analysis vessel transfer system to transfer analysis vessels between the process stations, an imaging system to image illuminated samples in the analysis vessels retained in the incubation field, and a resource controller. The resource controller controls the analysis vessel transfer system, controls the imaging system, receives optical image information from the imaging system, and instructs an image processor to process the image information.

A specimen transport apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a holder including first and second trenches and configured to hold a specimen; a first transporter including a first protrusion to engage with the first trench and configured to transport the holder by transferring the first protrusion engaged with the first trench in an extension direction of the second trench; a second transporter including a second protrusion to engage with the second trench and configured to transport the holder by transferring the second protrusion engaged with the second trench in an extension direction of the first trench. The first trench is formed in at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the holder. The second trench is formed in at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the holder, and is formed to extend to a lateral surface of the holder.

Luminescence test measurements are conducted using an assay module having integrated electrodes with a reader apparatus adopted to receive assay modules, induce luminescence, preferably electrode induced luminescence, in the wells or assay regions of the assay modules and measure the induced luminescence.

Described is an interface module for robotic loading and unloading of a liquid chromatography sample manager. The module includes a transfer drawer receiving apparatus having a device track and a drawer drive system configured to transport a transfer drawer along the device track into and out from a sample tray of a sample manager. The transfer drawer receives a sample-vial carrier that holds samples to be analyzed. The module further includes a window apparatus that has a window controllable to be in an open state or a closed state. When in the open state, transport of the transfer drawer through the window into or out from the sample manager permits loading of the sample-vial carrier into the sample tray and unloading of the sample-vial carrier from the sample tray. In the closed state, the window apparatus substantially seals the internal environment of the sample manager from the ambient environment.

The invention provides a method for regulated manipulation of a biological sample. The method includes selecting the biological sample, initiating a first manipulation on the selected biological sample and performing a second manipulation, subsequent to the first manipulation. The invention also provides an automated system for regulated manipulation of a biological sample. The system includes a stage for positioning the sample, a sensing means coupled to the stage, a first manipulation device positioned in the plane of the stage for a first manipulation of the biological sample, a second manipulation device positioned in-plane or out of plane of the stage for a second manipulation of the biological sample and an analyzer coupled to each of the first manipulation device and the second manipulation device. The coupling enables the analyzer to independently regulate the first manipulation device, the second manipulation device and a combination thereof.

A rover-based integrated laboratory system including autonomous mobile robots is disclosed. Namely, a rover-based integrated laboratory system is disclosed comprising a workspace; a laboratory component within the workspace, the laboratory component being adapted to perform a laboratory technique; a labware component within the workspace that is adapted to be used in the laboratory technique; and a rover component within the workspace that is operatively connected to the laboratory and the labware components, the rover component being an autonomous mobile robot.

Incubation system and method for automated cell culture and/or testing. An exemplary incubation system may comprise a housing forming a chamber. A rack may define storage positions to support an array of sample holders inside the chamber. A detection robot may be configured to capture one or more images of cells contained by one or more wells of each sample holder while the sample holder remains at one of the storage positions of the rack. A fluid handling station may be configured to add fluid to, and/or remove fluid from, one or more wells of each of the sample holders inside the housing. At least one plate robot may be configured to move sample holders between the rack and the fluid handling station. A computer may control operation of the detection robot, the fluid handling station, and the at least one plate robot.

Luminescence test measurements are conducted using an assay module having integrated electrodes with a reader apparatus adapted to receive assay modules, induce luminescence, preferably electrode induced luminescence, in the wells or assay regions of the assay modules and measure the induced luminescence.