The invention relates to a station for uncovering a receptacle comprising a body in which a plurality of adjacent holes, initially sealed by a cover, are formed. The station comprises at least one cutting member for making at least one cut in the cover between two adjacent holes, so as to form at least one cover portion closing off at least one of the holes of the receptacle, i.e., the selected hole; and at least one heating gripping device which is arranged so as to heat and remove said cover portion, thereby opening the selected hole.

Disclosed herein is an instrument and associated methods for a fully automated bench-top NULISA platform, comprising an X-Y-Z-gantry, a microtiter plate stage, an incubator, a quantitative PCR module, a decontamination cleaner for microtiter plates, a microtiter plate sealer, a magnetic probe and comb assembly for sample mixing and magnetic bead extraction, a storage unit for reagents and supplies, and a controller.

This invention relates to a cartridge assembly tray for conducting automated biochemical tests, such as immunoassay tests. The tray comprises a base member, a hinged frame and a locking mechanism. The base member includes a plurality of slots within the base member. Each of the plurality of slots is to receive a test cartridge. The hinged frame is coupled to the base member. The hinged frame is capable to rotate to an opened position or a closed position. The hinged frame includes a horizontal push bar configured to apply a downward force to test cartridges received in the plurality of slots when the hinged frame is in the closed position. The locking mechanism is to lock the hinged frame in the closed position when the hinged frame rotates to the closed position.

A liquid handling unit comprising: a sample unit (5) with a carrier (560) for laboratory containers (561), a liquid transfer unit (3,4) for dispensing liquid into some off the laboratory containers (561) and/or for extracting liquid from the laboratory containers (561), wherein the liquid transfer unit (3,4) being arranged above the sample unit (5) and having a holder (41) for dispensing means (43) and/or extracting means that can be raised and lowered, wherein positioning pins (46,47) being arranged on the holder (41) and positioning holes (54,55) being formed in the carrier (560), wherein with raised holder (41), the carrier (560) can pass freely below the positioning pins (46,47) in a horizontal direction and wherein with lowered holder (41), the positioning pins (46,47) can be arranged fittingly in the positioning holes (54,55).

A system for processing samples includes sample supplies to supply samples, a channel connected to the sample supplies, a device connected to the channel to collect first information about the samples, and a controller. The controller is to perform a cycling operation: controlling a first sample supply of the sample supplies to supply a first sample in the first sample supply to the channel, controlling the device to collect the first information about the first sample in the channel, storing data associated with the first sample, including the first information about the first sample, evaluating the data against preprogramed thresholds and implementing the addition of water, chemical, product or recycled product, and controlling the first sample supply to discharge the first sample in the channel into the first sample supply. The controller is to repeat the cycling operation for a second sample.

A system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in urine samples which includes: 1) several disposable cartridges for holding four disposable components including a centrifuge tube, a pipette tip having a 1 ml volume, a second pipette tip having a 0.5 ml volume, and an optical cup or cuvette; 2) a sample processor for receiving the disposable cartridges and processing the urine samples including transferring the processed urine sample to the optical cups; and 3) an optical analyzer for receiving the disposable cartridges and configured to analyze the type and quantity of micro-organisms in the urine sample. The disposable cartridges with their components including the optical cups or cuvettes are used in the sample processor, and the optical cups or cuvettes containing the processed urine samples are used in the optical analyzer for identifying and quantifying the type of micro-organism existing in the processed urine samples.

The invention relates to a station for uncovering a receptacle comprising a body in which a plurality of adjacent holes, initially sealed by a cover, are formed. The station comprises at least one cutting member for making at least one cut in the cover between two adjacent holes, so as to form at least one cover portion closing off at least one of the holes of the receptacle, i.e., the selected hole; and at least one heating gripping device which is arranged so as to heat and remove said cover portion, thereby opening the selected hole.

A clinical instrument analyzer system for automated analysis of patient samples with a system for suspending particles or methods for the separation of particles, such as magnetic particles, is described herein. The system for suspending particles comprises a reagent cartridge comprising a reagent holder for holding a plurality of tubes. The plurality of tubes comprise a mixing tube for holding particles, rotatably mounted in the holder and a motor operatively connectable to a slot longitudinally positioned on the lower section of the mixing tube. The particles in the mixing tube are suspended when the mixing tube rotates in accordance with the embodiments of the invention. The analyzer can be used to analyze bodily fluid samples, such as blood, plasma, serum, urine or cerebrospinal fluid.

This invention relates to a cartridge assembly tray for conducting automated biochemical tests, such as immunoassay tests. The tray comprises a base member, a hinged frame and a locking mechanism. The base member includes a plurality of slots within the base member. Each of the plurality of slots is to receive a test cartridge. The hinged frame is coupled to the base member. The hinged frame is capable to rotate to an opened position or a closed position. The hinged frame includes a horizontal push bar configured to apply a downward force to test cartridges received in the plurality of slots when the hinged frame is in the closed position. The locking mechanism is to lock the hinged frame in the closed position when the hinged frame rotates to the closed position.

The technology described herein generally relates to systems for extracting polynucleotides from multiple samples, particularly from biological samples, and additionally to systems that subsequently amplify and detect the extracted polynucleotides. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on multiple samples of nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides. The technology still more particularly relates to automated devices for carrying out pipetting operations, particularly on samples in parallel, consistent with sample preparation and delivery of PCR-ready nucleotide extracts to a cartridge wherein PCR is run.