According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a turning device featuring a guide forming a path, and a set of at least three conveying platforms arranged below and successively along the path. The turning device further includes a first and a third conveying platform having a first rotating direction and a second conveying platform having a direction opposite to the first rotating direction.

A method and a cryogenic sample positioning system are provided which include: a sample holder cassette that is vertically coupled to a carousel gear through a first shaft. Each sample holder cassette has a first degree of rotation about the first shaft. A first planet drive gear underlies and is vertically coupled to the carousel gear through a second shaft that extends from the carousel gear through the first planet drive gear. The carousel gear has a second degree of rotation about the second shaft that is different from the first degree of rotation. A planet gear that is laterally connected to a second planet drive gear is interposed between each of the carousel gear and the first planet drive gear. Each of the planet gear and the second planet drive gear selectively define the first degree of rotation, without affecting the second degree of rotation of the carousel gear.

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

There is provided an assay fluid delivery system comprising an array of fluid reservoirs (62), each of which is selectively actuatable to deliver a respective fluid to a fluid channel structure; and a fluid delivery control system (50) comprising a plurality of reciprocally mounted actuators, each associated with a respective reservoir and being movable between a retracted position and an actuating position at which it causes fluid to be delivered from the corresponding reservoir, a plurality of cams (22) with different profiles mounted on a common, rotatable cam shaft (6), each cam being engaged with a respective one of the actuators whereby rotation of the cams causes movement of the corresponding actuators between the retracted and actuating positions, and a motor coupled to the cam shaft for rotating the cam shaft, wherein the cams are shaped relative to one another so as to cause the corresponding actuators to actuate the reservoirs in a predetermined sequence and for predetermined respective times.

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

A sample rack moving mechanism is provided for removing a sample rack loaded with one or more sample containers from a temporary storing section, and returning the sample rack loaded with the sample containers holding the tested sample to the temporary storing section. The sample rack moving mechanism may include a drive element, a cam driven by the drive element to rotate and having a curve contour, a cam follower moving following the outer contour of the cam, a guide groove corresponding to the temporary storing section, having a bottom plane of the same height as a support plane of the temporary storing section for supporting the sample rack, and capable of moving the sample rack, and a support element driven by the cam follower to move upward and downward and driving the sample rack to horizontally move between the temporary storing section and the guide groove.

An automatic analyzer includes a diluted specimen cell turntable, a plurality of reaction lines, and a diluted specimen dispensing unit. The diluted specimen cell turntable has a plurality of diluted specimen cells that contains a diluted specimen. The plurality of reaction lines is supplied with the diluted specimen, in which the diluted specimen is reacted with a reagent. The diluted specimen dispensing unit supplies the diluted specimen contained in the diluted specimen cell of the diluted specimen cell turntable to the plurality of reaction lines. The diluted specimen dispensing unit supplies the diluted specimen from one diluted specimen line provided in the diluted specimen cell turntable to the plurality of reaction lines.

A method of positioning a slide for examination is disclosed. The method includes the steps of placing the slide in a carrier configured to retain the slide, placing the carrier in a cartridge configured to accept the carrier, coupling the cartridge to a microscope, and activating the microscope to automatically extract the carrier from the cartridge and position the carrier such that a portion of the slide is disposed within a field of view (FOV) of the microscope.