A conveyor device for conveying test tube holders in a laboratory distribution system is presented. The conveyor device is a screw conveyor device comprising a helical track having a helix axis and a drive shaft having an axis of rotation parallel or coaxial to the helix axis, which drive shaft is adapted to be driven to rotate about the axis of rotation for causing a movement of one test tube holder or a plurality of test tube holders contacting the helical track between an entry region and an exit region. The entry region and the exit region are spaced in a direction of the helix axis. A laboratory distribution system for conveying test tube holders and a laboratory automation system comprising a laboratory distribution system are also presented.

The present invention provides a pipetting workstation comprising a pipetting mechanism bracket and a plurality of pipetting mechanisms; wherein, the pipetting mechanism comprises a mobile seat, a mobile rod movably mounted on the mobile seat; a mobile rod drive mechanism; a linear rail fastening seat; and a pipette body disposed at the lower end of the mobile rod. The present invention further provides usage of the pipetting workstation in such aspects as liquid sampling and liquid transferring. The pipetting workstation provided by the present invention can effectively reduce the impact and vibration during the operation, has small noise and running in a stable and reliable manner. The pipetting mechanism of the workstation of the present invention can operate more flexibly and reach more positions of plate.

A conveyor device for conveying test tube holders in a laboratory distribution system is presented. The conveyor device is a screw conveyor device comprising a helical track having a helix axis and a drive shaft having an axis of rotation parallel or coaxial to the helix axis, which drive shaft is adapted to be driven to rotate about the axis of rotation for causing a movement of one test tube holder or a plurality of test tube holders contacting the helical track between an entry region and an exit region. The entry region and the exit region are spaced in a direction of the helix axis. A laboratory distribution system for conveying test tube holders and a laboratory automation system comprising a laboratory distribution system are also presented.

A novel technique is provided for automatically performing the separation and transfer of analyte, and subsequent processing. A sample separation/transfer device (100) is a device for separating analyte by way of electrophoresis, dispensing the separated analyte from a dispensing part (50a) inside a buffer tank (30), and transferring the separated analyte to a transfer membrane (1) by way of causing the transfer membrane (1) to abut the dispensing part (50a) and move, in which the device includes a liquid delivery pump (11a, 11b) that replaces the liquid filling the buffer tank (30).

A transport mechanism transports an analysis chip including a body part and a pair of engagement ribs in a transport direction orthogonal to the width direction, the transport mechanism including: a pair of screw shafts disposed parallel to each other along the transport direction, each of which has a shaft body and a helical protrusion helically formed on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft body, and propels the analysis chip in the transport direction by rotating about their axes while the helical protrusions are engaged with the engagement ribs; a transport table that extends along the transport direction and has a plurality of stop positions where the analysis chip is stopped; and a processor that controls rotation of the screw shafts to control movement of the analysis chip between the plurality of stop positions and stopping of the analysis chip at the plurality of stop positions.

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.