G01N2035/046

Specimen inspection automation system and method for managing empty specimen carrier

A sample examination automation system includes a conveyance line, a large-scale sample carrier buffer, an analyzer coupling unit, and a conveyance managing unit. The conveyance line conveys a sample carrier. One or a plurality of sample containers is mountable on the sample carrier. The large-scale sample carrier buffer stores a plurality of the sample carriers. The analyzer coupling unit, which is couplable to an analyzer, incorporates a sample carrier sub-buffer capable of storing the sample carriers by an amount smaller than an amount of the large-scale sample carrier buffer. The conveyance managing unit has a function of controlling a sample carrier conveyance destination. The conveyance managing unit is configured to determine an amount of the sample carriers supplied to the sample carrier sub-buffer via the large-scale sample carrier buffer according to a storage situation of the sample carriers in the sample carrier sub-buffer.

In-situ successively fixing rolling type holding device for use in a low-temperature environmental test chamber
20220341957 · 2022-10-27 ·

The present disclosure provides an in-situ successively fixing rolling type holding device for use in a low-temperature environmental test chamber. The holding device includes a bracket, multiple holding components, and a conveying device. The bracket is fixed in the low-temperature environmental test chamber. The driving mechanism is used for driving the conveying member to rotate, thus making multiple test articles successively pass through the test position in the low-temperature environmental test chamber for the in-situ measurement. The present disclosure can reduce the times of door opening of the low-temperature environmental test chamber during the successive in-situ measurements of multiple test articles in the low-temperature environmental test chamber, thus preventing the door opening and closing of the low-temperature environmental test chamber and the transfer of test article from causing the temperature fluctuation in the temperature field where the test articles are located.

SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING AND MIXING SAMPLES

A sample transport system has a carrier configured to hold a sample tube for a sample to be transported and mixed, a transporter configured to support the carrier, a guide portion configured to impart motion to the carrier on the transporter and deliver the carrier to a destination location, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify instructions associated with the sample, the instructions including a movement profile configured to cause mixing of the sample, communicate with the guide portion to cause the carrier to follow the movement profile on the transporter to cause the mixing of the sample, and deliver the sample to the destination location.

Sample rack for sample analysis system

An embodiment of the disclosure is a rack adapted to engage a rack handler. The rack includes a rack body. The rack body has a bottom, a top opposite the bottom, and a receptacle that extends from the top toward the bottom. The receptacle is sized to receive the sample collection unit. The rack body has a first interior surface that extends from the bottom toward the top, and a second interior surface that extends from the bottom toward the top. The second interior surface is opposite to the first interior surface so as to at least partially define a slot along the bottom. The rack body also includes an interference groove in the slot along at least one of the first interior surface and the second interior surface. The slot and the interference groove are sized to engage a portion of the rack handler.

AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR PREPARING A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE

An automated system for preparing a biological sample containing biological species, and including a support plate wherein one or more through-wells are made, each through-well having two opposite accesses, a first access and a second access, the first access being separated from the second access by a filter-forming porous wall against which the biological sample that is to undergo lysis may be placed, and, for each well: a first mobile member, that can be actuated to move translationally along the axis of the well so as to become inserted across the first access thereof, a second mobile member, that can be actuated to move translationally along the axis of the well so as to become inserted across the second access thereof, stimulation means of mechanical and/or thermal type for stimulating each first mobile member and/or each second mobile member and/or the support plate.

QUALITY CONTROL SAMPLE MEASUREMENT METHOD, SAMPLE ANALYZER, AND SUPPLY DEVICE

A quality control sample measurement method, a sample analysis device and a supply device capable of normally acquiring a measurement result of a quality control sample are provided. The quality control sample measurement method for measuring a quality control sample stored in a cold state includes a step of stirring the quality control sample in a first operation mode (step S2) and a step of measuring the stirred quality control samples (step S3). The stirring in the first operation mode differs from the stirring in the second operation mode for stirring the subject sample collected from the subject.

TRANSPORTING DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING A LABORATORY DIAGNOSTIC VESSEL CARRIER
20170253431 · 2017-09-07 ·

A transporting device for transporting a laboratory diagnostic vessel carrier from a first line portion to a second line portion of a conveying line is disclosed. The first line portion is above the second line portion with respect to gravity. The transporting device comprises first and second transporting portions. The first transporting portion is connected to the first line portion and the second transporting portion is connected to the second line portion. The first transporting portion extends in a first direction and the second transporting portion extends in a second direction different from the first direction. The first and second transporting portions transport the laboratory diagnostic vessel carrier by gravity. The first direction comprises at least a first component and the second direction comprises at least a second component. The second component is opposite to the first component. Further, a conveying line comprising such a transporting device is disclosed.

AUTOMATIC PILL INSPECTION APPARATUS
20170254762 · 2017-09-07 · ·

Provided is an automatic pill inspection apparatus including: a pill feeder supplying pills; a pill supply unit, aligning and transferring pills supplied from the feeder; and a pill alignment and transfer unit, determining and transferring pills such that side surfaces of the pill are sequentially exposed. The apparatus further includes: an upper side surface sensing camera disposed at one side of the upper drum to inspect the upper side surface of the pills; and a post-inversion sensing camera disposed at one side of the lower drum to inspect the lower side surface and the respective side surfaces; and the pills determined as defective according to an inspection result of the upper side surface sensing camera and the post-inversion sensing camera are selectively released into a first supplied pill release box by compressed air, and the pills determined as normal are released into a normal pill release box.

LABORATORY AUTOMATED INSTRUMENTS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS
20170254827 · 2017-09-07 ·

A laboratory automated system can include a host conveyor assembly configured to transport a plurality of carriers and receptacles coupled thereto between at least a sample processing instrument and at least one assay instrument. The system includes an intermediate conveyor assembly configured to transport a plurality of carriers and receptacles coupled thereto from within sample processing instrument to the host conveyor assembly. The system also includes an intermediate conveyor assembly for each assay instrument configured to transport a plurality of carriers from host conveyor assembly to a respective processing position within the assay instrument. The intermediate conveyor assembly coupled to the assay instrument can include a buffer conveyor subassembly configured to receive carriers from the host conveyor assembly, and a spur conveyor assembly configured to transport a carrier to the processing position of the assay instrument.

MAGNETIC SHIELDING FOR IVD AUTOMATION SYSTEM

Systems and methods for use in an in vitro diagnostics setting incorporating magnetic shielding to reduce exposure of any of samples, reactants, devices or people from exposure or prolonged exposure to magnetic or electromagnetic fields generated with the system.