An automatic analyzer which is capable of detecting a dispensing abnormality with a high degree of accuracy without causing the decrease in the determination performance or the increase in the calculation amount caused by the configuration balance of the reference database is implemented. A dispensing nozzle of a sample dispensing mechanism 50 is immersed in a dispensing target contained in a specimen container 11 and sucks the dispensing target, and internal pressure of the dispensing nozzle of the sample dispensing mechanism 50 of ejecting the sucked dispensing target to a reaction container 41 is detected through a pressure sensor 54. A plurality of feature quantities are extracted from a waveform of the detected pressure, and a determination result is output through a linear combination formula using an optimal coefficient for a determination function that receives a plurality of feature quantities and outputs one value. The determination result indicates whether or not dispensing of the sample dispensing mechanism 50 is performed normally in accordance with the magnitude of the output result of the determination function.

A sample analysis substrate rotatable to transfer a liquid includes a substrate including a rotation shaft, a first holding chamber, a second holding chamber holding a first liquid discharged from the first holding chamber, a main chamber holding the first liquid discharged from the second holding chamber, a first flow path with the first holding chamber and the second holding chamber, and a second flow path having a third opening and a fourth opening respectively connected with the second holding chamber and the main chamber. The first holding chamber includes a portion farther from the rotation shaft than a position thereof connected with the first opening. The second holding chamber includes a portion farther from the rotation shaft than a position thereof connected with the second opening. In the second flow path, the third opening is closer to the rotation shaft than the fourth opening.

A handheld medical analyzer works with different disposable application cartridges to perform a variety of interrogations on specimen samples. One application includes attaching a biological microelectromechanical systems (BioMEMS) cartridge that generates blood coagulation profiles indicative of particular forms of coagulation disorders. The device makes coagulopathy testing simpler for small hospitals, clinics, ambulances, remote locations and individuals and permits for a larger number of parallel or serial devices operating simultaneously. One insertion of a cartridge actuates an oscillating circular motion to generate a blood coagulation profile based on a change in rotational motion as blood coagulates in a sample. Change in rotational motion is analyzed through a video camera such as in a smartphone and is plotted to show an amplitude over time. Actuation of the BioMEMS can be achieved by magnetic actuation of a motor controlled by an iPhone or a smart phone to provide a specific rotational pattern.

Instruments, systems, and methods for measuring optical density of microbiological samples are provided. In particular, optical density instruments providing improved safety, efficiency, comfort, and convenience are provided. Such optical density instruments include a handheld portion and a base station. The optical density instruments may be used in systems and methods for measuring optical density of biological samples.

An analysis device uses an analysis chip having two regions of a first region, which has a reagent reacting with a substance to be tested, and a second region, which does not have the reagent, and includes a first light source that irradiates the first region with light from a first surface side, a second light source that irradiates the second region with light from a second surface side, a first photodetector that detects first output light and that outputs a first detection signal corresponding to the first output light, a second photodetector that detects second output light and that outputs a second detection signal corresponding to the second output light, and a processor that acquires the first detection signal, acquires the second detection signal, and corrects the first detection signal with the second detection signal to derive a concentration of the substance to be tested.

Disclosed are a microfluidic device and a sample analysis apparatus using the microfluidic device. According to an exemplary embodiment, there is provided microfluidic device including: a rotating body; and at least one microfluidic structure disposed at a predetermined interval in the rotating body, wherein the microfluidic structure includes a pretreatment unit which shares a solution injected through a solution injected through a solution inlet with another adjacent microfluidic structure through a sharing channel and performs a pretreating process for a sample injected through a sample inlet and the solution; a storage unit which is located outside the pretreatment unit in a radial direction in the rotating body and separately stores the sample and solution pretreated by the pretreatment unit based on a rotational direction of the rotating body; and a detection unit which distributes a target material in the pretreated sample from the storage unit and performs the detection on the distributed target material.

A centrifugal microfluidic system. The centrifugal microfluidic system includes a top layer, a bottom layer, and a middle layer. The middle layer may include an inlet chamber, a radial guide channel, a moveable magnet, a first connecting channel, a sealing beam, a target chamber, a second connecting channel, and a first stationary magnet. When the middle layer rotates around the center of the middle layer with a speed less than a threshold rotational speed, the fluid sample is prevented from flowing to the target chamber from the inlet chamber. When the middle layer rotates around the center of the middle layer with a speed greater than the threshold rotational speed, the fluid sample is allowed to flow to the target chamber from the inlet chamber through the first connecting channel and the second connecting channel.

Apparatus (2) for testing a liquid specimen, which apparatus (2) comprises: (i) a container (4) for the liquid specimen; (ii) a lid (6) for closing the container (4) after the liquid specimen has been provided in the container (4); (iii) first securing means (8) by which the lid (6) is secured to the container (4); (iv) a test capsule (10) for securing to the lid (6) when the lid (6) is on the container (4); (v) second securing means (12) by which the test capsule (10) is secured to the lid (6); and (vi) a response chart (14) which is operable in response to contact with the liquid specimen, and the apparatus (2) being such that: (vii) the lid has an openable portion (18) which when opened permits a liquid specimen in the container (4) to enter the test capsule (10); (viii) the test capsule (10) has opener means (20) for opening the openable portion on the lid (6) when the test capsule (10) is secured to the lid (6); and (ix) the response chart (14) is inside the test capsule (10) and is contacted by the liquid specimen when the liquid specimen enters the test capsule (10).

An automatic analysis device and a sample analysis method. The automatic analysis device (100) comprises: a loading unit (20) for loading a sample and/or a reagent to a reaction vessel; a reaction unit (10) for incubating, and washing and separating reactants in a reaction vessel; a measurement unit (80) for measuring reaction signals in the reaction vessel; and a transferring unit (50) for transferring the reaction vessel between different locations. The device (100) realizes incubation, washing and separation of the reactants in the reaction vessel by utilizing the reaction unit (10) as a center. The measurement unit (80) independent of the reaction unit (10) measures the signals in the reaction vessel.

An air cushion pipette comprises at least one seat configured to releasably hold a pipette tip and a displacement apparatus comprising a displacement chamber including a displacement element configured to be displaced therein. A drive apparatus is coupled to the displacement element and configured to displace the displacement element in the displacement chamber. An overstroke apparatus comprises a lower stop and is configured such that a stop element displaces the lower stop downwards when the stop element presses against the lower stop, wherein the downward displacement of the lower stop is limited to a first overstroke. A displaceable overstroke limiting element is configured to enable the displacement of the lower stop downwards by the first overstroke in a release position and limit said displacement to a second overstroke that is shorter than the first overstroke in a blocking position.