To provide a high-throughput automatic analysis apparatus at a lower cost. The automatic analysis apparatus includes an incubator which accommodates a plurality of reaction vessels; a specimen dispensing mechanism which dispenses a specimen into each of the plurality of reaction vessels; a mounting unit which mounts a dispensing tip on the specimen dispensing mechanism; a suction unit which sucks a specimen from a specimen vessel containing the specimen by means of the specimen dispensing mechanism having the dispensing mounted thereon; a discharging unit which is provided in the incubator and discharges the specimen from the specimen dispensing mechanism to the reaction vessel; a disposal unit which discards the dispensing tip; a sensor which detects whether the dispensing tip is mounted to the specimen dispensing mechanism; and a control unit which controls the specimen dispensing mechanism. The mounting unit, the suction unit, the discharging unit, and the disposal unit are arranged along a movement path of the specimen dispensing mechanism. The sensor is arranged so as to be able to detect the dispensing tip at a position sandwiched between any two of the mounting unit, the suction unit, the discharging unit, and the disposal unit.

Automated diagnostic analysis apparatus for analyzing patient specimens may include a probe to aspirate and dispense a bio-liquid. A probe tip on the probe may require replacement after contact with each bio-liquid. The automated diagnostic analysis apparatus may include a probe tip eject device and a waste chute for controlled removal and disposal of the probe tip to mitigate splattering or splashing of any residual bio-liquid in the probe tip as it is removed from the probe. A sloped ramp in the probe tip eject device may engage and remove the probe tip as it rotates through the probe tip eject device. The waste chute may include guides to transfer a removed probe tip directly into a waste bin without any surface contact by the probe tip. Methods of removing and disposing of a probe tip in an automated diagnostic analysis apparatus are described, as are other aspects.

A receptacle delivery system includes a carriage configured to move from a first to a second location of an instrument. The carriage may be configured to removably support a receptacle and may include a receptacle clamping mechanism. The receptacle mechanism may be configured to apply a clamping force to the receptacle as the carriage moves from the first to the second location and release the clamping force as the carriage moves from the second to the first location.

An instrument for detecting signal from a biological sample includes a pipettor module configured to hold a plurality of pipettes in respective pipette positions, to hold liquid in one or more pipette tips, and to pipette liquid in and out of the one or more pipette tips. Each of the one or more pipette tips has a pipette tip point. The instrument further includes one or more magnets positioned such that each of the one or more pipette tips is adjacent one of the one or more magnets.

An automated system for processing a sample contained in a liquid sample container includes an automated tool head configured to rotate about a first axis, and to translate along a second axis different than the first axis, an analytic element positioner having an analytic element holder configured to releasably grip an analytic element, and a specimen transfer device carried by the tool head, wherein the tool head is configured to automatically position a working end of the specimen transfer device to obtain a specimen from a sample container held in the sample container holder, and to transfer the obtained specimen to an analytic element held by the analytic element holder, respectively, through one or both of rotation of the tool head about the first axis and translation of the tool head along the second axis.

The present invention is an automated separation system comprised of a liquid handling device and one or more pipette tip columns, wherein the liquid handling device is equipped with two or more nozzles arranged to respectively receive a pipette tip column comprising separation media. Further, the system includes means for applying either high positive or negative pressure to the column inside chamber above the column bed, enabling aspiration and dispensing into and out of each pipette tip column. To enable sealing to the pressures used to move liquid through the column bed without inadvertently ejecting the column from the nozzle during the separation process, each nozzle has been provided with at least one annular protrusion arranged to engage with the inside of a substantially evenly tapered pipette tip column, without any corresponding recess. Each nozzle may be provided with slide ejector to enable the removal of a pipette tip column.

Devices and methods for performing pre-analysis sample processing of biological and chemical samples using robotic liquid handlers are disclosed. Methods for solid phase extraction, protein precipitation and filtration of biological and chemical samples using automation and the devices in a rapid and convenient way are described.

There is provided an automatic analysis device that can appropriately sort and discard expendable items. The automatic analysis device includes a common transport mechanism that transports a plurality of types of expendable items by common mechanism, a plurality of transport paths that is provided separately from the common transport mechanism, a type determination portion that determines the type of expendable item being transported by the common transport mechanism. The automatic analysis device controls to select one of a plurality of transport paths according to a determination result of the type determination portion and to transport the expendable items transported from the common transport mechanism via the selected transport path.

An automatic pipette system is provided which includes a module body, said body including a stationary contact surface, and an ejection assembly, including a mount for a pipette tip, and a motor, located within the module body and configured to: dispense liquid by actuating a piston in a cylinder, and to move the ejector assembly in a first direction in such a manner that the pipette tip contacts the contact surface and disengages from the mount.

The present invention provides a biomolecule image sensor in which detection molecules are deposed on a light receiving surface of an image sensing element, and method thereof for detecting biomolecule.