A printing module configured to print a label on a curved surface of an article includes an expandable printing mechanism configured to be expanded to an open configuration for receiving the article or contracted to a closed configuration placing the curved surface in an operative position with respect to a print head and an article moving assembly configured to grasp and hold the article and effect relative movement between the curved surface and the print head. The printing mechanism includes contact elements, such as rollers, that contact or otherwise engage the article when the printing mechanism is in the closed configuration and maintain the curved surface in the operative position with respect to the print head during relative movement between the curved surface and the print head.

This disclosure describes a slide comprising a substrate, a RFID or WISP, and a temperature sensor, wherein the slide is capable of communicating with an external communications device via the RFID or WISP. In some implementations, the RFID or WISP of the slide comprises an antenna, an integrated circuit, a memory unit, and a power source, such that it is capable of measuring and logging data related to time and temperature. In some implementations, the RFID or WISP and temperature sensor are embedded in the substrate to prevent direct contact with mounted specimens. In some implementations the slide further comprises displayed content. In some implementations, the displayed content is linked to a database of information. The various implementations of this invention may describe a slide utilizing any number of the features described above in any combination.

A printing module configured to print a label on a curved surface of an article includes an expandable printing mechanism configured to be expanded to an open configuration for receiving the article or contracted to a closed configuration placing the curved surface in an operative position with respect to a print head and an article moving assembly configured to grasp and hold the article and effect relative movement between the curved surface and the print head. The printing mechanism includes contact elements, such as rollers, that contact or otherwise engage the article when the printing mechanism is in the closed configuration and maintain the curved surface in the operative position with respect to the print head during relative movement between the curved surface and the print head.

The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for associating assay information with an assay consumable used in a biological assay. Provided are assay systems and associated consumables, wherein the assay system includes a reader adapted to read/erase/write information from/to an assay consumable identifier associated with the assay consumable. Various types of assay information are described, as well as methods of using such information in the conduct of an assay by an assay system.

A method and device for handling supports which support biological cell cultures or auxiliary agents for treatment of biological cell cultures, using one or more modules, at least one of which is a handling device. Each one of a plurality of supports rests with its edges on support elements, and, depending on the type of supports or the type of auxiliary means supported thereby, the supports require different storage heights, some of which are greater than one or more times a standardized vertical spacing of the support elements. The supports have an information carrier, the information of which can be read by a reading device and can be evaluated by a computing device. For optimal use of the compartments of the storage device, the information contains details about the storage height of the support in question and the handling of the supports is performed using these details.

Described are exemplary embodiments of a syringe identification system for use with a positive displacement pipette, such as a handheld powered positive displacement pipette. An exemplary syringe identification system may include a sensor, such as a color sensor, that is located at or near a distal end of the pipette and arranged such that the sensor is operative to read an identifying marking(s) on a syringe that has been installed to the pipette. The sensor may be a color sensor having an illumination source and configured to read a color code on the syringe. The color code may be usable to identify the syringe to the pipette.

The invention provides a method for selecting a color for a chemistry or instrument based upon a parameter of a test, the method including: identifying a color corresponding to a parameter of a test for the parameter; selecting, if the color corresponding to the parameter has not previously been used for another parameter, the color for designating a chemistry or an instrument as corresponding to the parameter; selecting, if the color corresponding to the parameter has previously been used for another parameter, a different color other than the color for designating a chemistry or an instrument as corresponding to the parameter, wherein the selecting a color other than the color comprises identifying a color having a measure of change in visual perception of the different color against other previously selected colors a predetermined value from the other previously selected colors; and utilizing the selected colors for parameters across both chemistries (102, 104, 105) and instruments (101, 103) that are utilized in tests for the parameters.

A printing module configured to print a label on a curved surface of an article includes an expandable printing mechanism configured to be expanded to an open configuration for receiving the article or contracted to a closed configuration placing the curved surface in an operative position with respect to a print head and an article moving assembly configured to grasp and hold the article and effect relative movement between the curved surface and the print head. The printing mechanism includes contact elements, such as rollers, that contact or otherwise engage the article when the printing mechanism is in the closed configuration and maintain the curved surface in the operative position with respect to the print head during relative movement between the curved surface and the print head.

A test device is configured for diagnostic testing and includes an optical readable medium, in turn including a pattern of spots of material arranged on a surface of the device. Several patterns may be provided. The patterns accordingly formed may be human and/or machine readable. They may notably encode security information, e.g., indicating whether the device has already been used. The spots may notably be inkjet spotted. In addition, a method is provided for decoding information encoded in a pattern of such a test device. In embodiments, liquid is introduced in the device, which comprises additional spots having a substantially different solubility than spots forming the actual pattern. Thus, the additional spots get solubilized in and flushed by the liquid as the latter wets them, and an initially hidden pattern may be read, which is formed of the remaining spots (not solubilized). Encoding methods are also provided.

Among other things, the present invention is related to devices, systems, and methods of performing biological and chemical assays for certain analysis and to the identification, tracking, and monitoring of these devices and systems.