Disclosed are a dilution method and a dilution apparatus. The dilution method includes: adding a sample into a first reactor at a first station of a supply unit; transferring the first reactor to a fifth station of a transit apparatus, and receiving a second reactor at the first station of the supply unit; adding a diluent into the first reactor at the fifth station to obtain a diluted sample; uniformly mixing the diluted sample in the first reactor; transferring the first reactor from the transit apparatus to a dilution transport apparatus; transferring part of the diluted sample in the first reactor to the second reactor; transferring the second reactor to the fifth station of the transit apparatus, and continuing to add the diluent into the second reactor; and uniformly mixing substances in the second reactor. The dilution apparatus includes the supply unit and the transit apparatus.

A flexible instrument control and data storage/management system and method for representing and processing assay plates having one or more predefined plate locations is disclosed. The system utilizes a graph data structure, layer objects and data objects. The layer objects map the graph data structure to the data objects. The graph data structure can comprise one node for each of the one or more predefined plate locations, wherein the nodes can be hierarchically defined according to a predefined plate location hierarchy. Each node can be given a unique node identifier, a node type and a node association that implements the predefined plate location hierarchy. The layer objects can include an index that maps the node identifiers to the data objects.

An automated method for handling an in-vitro diagnostics IVD container in an IVD laboratory is proposed. The method comprises at least the steps of measuring at least one physical quantity of an IVD container, storing the at least one physical quantity in a read and writeable data carrier attached to the IVD container, and retrieving the at least one physical quantity from the read and writeable data carrier attached to the IVD container.

The present disclosure relates to a method and a distribution system to move carriers on a transport plane. The distribution system comprises at least one first carrier and at least one second carrier, a transport plane comprising a number of moving positions, a drive device adapted to move each carrier to the moving positions, and a control device adapted to control the drive device. The control device plans moves for each carrier, checks the planned moves and plans new moves if required before the carriers are moved on the transport plane.

A miniaturized chromatographic inspection apparatus capable of optimal light emission and reading control according to the type of marker, and a control method thereof. The apparatus can comprise: a main body; a cartridge tray with a seated immunochromatographic test cartridge, configured to be accommodated in the main body or to be withdrawn to the outside of the main body; a tray driving unit for moving the cartridge tray; an image sensing unit for recognizing a code expression provided on a surface of the cartridge or excitation light generated from the cartridge; a first light source illuminating the code expression provided on the surface of the cartridge; a second light source illuminating a window of the cartridge to generate the excitation light in the cartridge; and a control unit for controlling the tray driving unit, the first and second light source, and processing information acquired from the image sensing unit.

The invention relates to a vehicle for transporting a biological sample, the vehicle being movable on a circuit, the circuit comprising: —an input path, a first output path and a second output path, —a turn-off enabling the vehicle travelling on the input path to be redirected to the first output path or the second output path, —a first guide path extending along the input path, the turn-off and the first output path, —a guide device which can be configured in: —a first configuration in which the guide device cooperates with the first guide path so as to direct the vehicle to the first output path when the vehicle passes through the turn-off, —a second configuration in which the guide device does not cooperate with the first guide path, enabling the vehicle to reach the second output path.

Assay system including assay apparatus and handheld single use assay devices for ElectroMagnetic Radiation (EMR) examination of a specimen. The assay devices include a housing, a specimen slide for elevation from an initial lowermost specimen introduction position to a final uppermost specimen examination position and a built-in liquid reagent dispensing arrangement for dispensing liquid reagent on the specimen slide. The assay apparatus automatically actuates an assay device and includes an imaging arrangement for obtaining specimen images.

A system for biological analysis includes a housing, a block assembly within the housing having a sample block and a baseplate, a heated cover and a cover carrier. The sample block receives a sample holder comprising an RFID tag. A first drive mechanism generates relative movement between the sample block and the baseplate along a first axis. A second drive mechanism generates relative movement between the heated cover and the cover carrier along a second axis that is different from the first axis. Based on a first command the first drive mechanism releasably engages the sample block and operates the second drive mechanism to releasably engage the heated cover with the cover carrier. The system also includes first and second RFID antennas that receive RFID data from the sample holder RFID tag that is read by at least one RFID reader.

Provided is an automatic analyzer capable of detecting a specimen vessel even when a barcode label is not attached to the specimen vessel. Included are a reagent specimen disk including a mounting unit for mounting a specimen vessel that stores a specimen to be analyzed on an outer peripheral portion thereof, a two-dimensional code arranged on the reagent specimen disk at a back position of the mounting unit, a barcode arranged on a side surface of the specimen vessel, a sensor arranged at a front position of the mounting unit and capable of reading the two-dimensional code and the barcode, and a control unit for determining whether the specimen vessel is mounted on the mounting unit based on whether a contrast value of the light reflected from the two-dimensional code is equal to or greater than a threshold set in advance, by using an output signal of the sensor.

A system for biological analysis includes a housing, a block assembly within the housing having a sample block and a baseplate, a heated cover and a cover carrier. The sample block receives a sample holder comprising an RFID tag. A first drive mechanism generates relative movement between the sample block and the baseplate along a first axis. A second drive mechanism generates relative movement between the heated cover and the cover carrier along a second axis that is different from the first axis. Based on a first command the first drive mechanism releasably engages the sample block and operates the second drive mechanism to releasably engage the heated cover with the cover carrier. The system also includes first and second RFID antennas that receive RFID data from the sample holder RFID tag that is read by at least one RFID reader.