Systems and methods for handling a variety of sample and preparatory fluids in a rack specifically configured for compatibility with predetermined liquid handlers such as automated pipettors or multi-channel manual pipettors and set up for magnetic based sample preparation. The rack can hold all of the necessary sample and reagent vials, and present them to the pipettor in some embodiments in a way that allows for parallel operation. The rack includes slidable magnets that in some embodiments are actuatable directly by the pipettor, eliminating a layer of complexity. Combined with a suitable pipettor the magnet enabled rack supports a multistep magnetic based sample preparation capability in a high throughput manner at one station that enhances sample purity throughout magnetic separation processes.

A pipette module 10 has a pipette-module frame 12 attachable to the z-axis frame 120 of a liquid handling system 100. A translatory-motion frame 14 attached to the pipette-module frame 12 is movable with respect thereto by a motor 16. A pneumatic aspirator assembly 18 including a cylinder 20, tube 24, tube tip 26 and pressure sensor 28 is attached to the translatory-motion frame 14. A piston 22 disposed in the cylinder 20 is fixedly attached to the frame 12. A controller 30 for the pipette module 10 has a liquid surface detection mode which enables a pressure feedback control algorithm causing the motor 16 to move the translatory-motion frame 14 in a z-axis translator motion until a change in a pressure in the tip 26 as sensed by the pressure sensor 28 indicates that the tip 26 has made contact with the liquid surface 110.

A pipetting system is disclosed that includes a pipette head including a multichannel air displacement system for aspirating and dispensing liquids, a pipetting system base that includes a linear guide system along which the pipette head may be moved vertically with respect to the pipetting system base, and counterbalance means for counterbalancing at least a portion of a weight of the pipette head.

Techniques for antenna positioning system having a drive element shared by multiple antennas for positioning about a positioning degree of freedom are described. In some examples, each antenna can be coupled with a rotating spindle, with each antenna spindle being coupled with the shared drive element. By driving a shared drive element, each of the antenna spindles in the system can be rotated via the associated coupling. In some examples, such a coupling may include link arms with an adjustable length to reduce backlash or to apply a preload to the system. In some examples, such a coupling may be configured to position multiple antennas over different orientation ranges in response to the drive element driving over an actuation range, which may include one antenna being idled or otherwise maintained at an orientation while another antenna is driven, or may include different antennas being driven according to different actuation ratios.

The automated pipette manipulation system of the present invention allows for the automated manipulation of any pipette commercially available to aspire and dispense liquids in a chemical or biochemical laboratory setting. Measuring the amount of liquid aspired or dispensed by a pipette is conducted by a load sensor that records the starting point of the displacement of a pushbutton of said pipette and a motor that drives the displacement of said pushbutton a predetermined distance past the starting point that corresponds to a predetermined volume of liquid aspired or dispensed by said pipette. The automated pipette manipulation system of the present invention further detects whether a pipette tip is attached to said pipette and then automatically ejects said pipette tip at the end of a liquid handling process.

The cell transfer device includes a head group including a plurality of heads to which tips are attached and which move along a first direction; a head unit in which the head group is installed and which moves in a second direction and in a third direction; and a plurality of drive motors which are mounted on the head unit and which generate driving force to cause the head to move along the first direction. The plurality of drive motors are separately arranged on one side and the other side in the third direction with the head group provided therebetween. The head group includes a first head and a second head. The first head is driven by the drive motor arranged on the one side in the third direction, and the second head is driven by the drive motor arranged on the other side in the third direction.

A pipetting system is disclosed that includes a pipette head including a multichannel air displacement system for aspirating and dispensing liquids, a pipetting system base that includes a linear guide system along which the pipette head may be moved vertically with respect to the pipetting system base, and counterbalance means for counterbalancing at least a portion of a weight of the pipette head.

An integrated motor cartridge (2) for connection to and for use in a pipetting system comprises a housing (4); a guide tube (14); a piston (16) provided with a plurality of permanent magnets (18), the piston having a pressure tube facing side and a pressure tube distal side, the piston being arranged in the guide tube and the piston having at least one seal (24) with respect to the guide tube; and a coil assembly (20) by means of which the piston can be moved in the guide tube when power is supplied to the coil assembly; wherein the guide tube, the piston and the coil assembly are arranged in the housing. The integrated motor cartridge further comprises a pressure tube connection (6) by means of which the guide tube, on the pressure tube facing side of the piston, can be connected to a pressure tube of the pipetting system in a gastight manner; and a power connection (8) which is coupled to the coil assembly and adapted to be coupled to a power supply arranged outside of the integrated motor cartridge; wherein the integrated motor cartridge can be introduced into and removed from the pipetting system as a unit.

The present invention relates to a pipetting apparatus for aspirating and dispensing metered liquids, encompassing: at least one guidance tube (30) extending along a cylinder axis (Z), the cylinder axis (Z) defining: an axial direction proceeding along its direction of extent; a radial direction proceeding orthogonally thereto; and a circumferential direction extending therearound; a piston (10) received in the guidance tube (30) axially movably relative thereto; a coupling configuration embodied for temporary or permanent coupling of a pipetting tip; and a drive apparatus (32) for driving the piston (10) to move axially relative to the guidance tube (30),

the guidance tube (30) comprising a coupling-side longitudinal end (48) that is located closer to the coupling configuration; and comprising a servicing-side longitudinal end (50) that is located oppositely from the coupling-side longitudinal end (48) and is located farther from the coupling configuration; the piston (10) encompassing at least one permanent magnet (14a, . . . , 14m); and the drive apparatus (32) comprising an energizable coil arrangement (32) at least partly surrounding the guidance tube (30) in a circumferential direction,

the servicing-side longitudinal end (50) of the guidance tube (30) being open or being openably closed off with an intentionally detachably arranged cover (52), so that a withdrawal longitudinal end (54) of the piston (10), located closer to the servicing-side longitudinal end (50) of the guidance tube (30), is movable by an external magnetic field axially out of the guidance tube.

An electronic dosing drive comprising a support structure, a threaded spindle with an external thread for driving a plunger, at least one first guide element is firmly connected, and is guided parallel to the threaded spindle on a second guide element, a spindle nut having an internal thread is engaged with the external thread of the threaded spindle, an electric drive motor having a motor shaft is coupled with the spindle nut and is attached to the support structure, an electric control apparatus is connected to the electric drive motor, where the external thread of the threaded spindle has multiple threaded areas that are separated from each other by first flattenings on their circumference extending in the longitudinal direction, and the first flattenings have guide areas that abut the core diameter of the internal thread of the spindle nut.