A sample processing station includes two or more container holders on a platform that is rotatable about a central axis of rotation. Each holder is configured to rotate about a secondary axis of rotation. The station includes a capping/decapping mechanism to cap or decap a container held in one of the container holders and an elevator with a chuck guide that contact the container holder as the chuck is lowered by the elevator to position the chuck with respect to the cap of the container held in the holder and to hold jaws of the container holder in a closed position. In embodiment, the chuck guide includes a yoke with opposed arms and spindles located near distal ends of the arms that engage beveled shoulders of the container holder.

A sampling assembly, including a sampling needle, a first pipeline, a second pipeline, a driving member, a first switching member, and a second switching member, is disclosed. The first pipeline is connected between the sampling needle and the first switching member. The second pipeline is connected between the first switching member and the driving member. The first switching member is used for connecting or disconnecting the first pipeline and the second pipeline. The second pipeline is connected, by means of the second switching member, to a negative pressure source. The sampling time of the sampling assembly of the present disclosure is relatively short. The present disclosure further discloses a sample analyzer and a sampling method.

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.

A composite analysis device, configured to perform a plurality of types of analyses, which prevent a shortage of a volume of a specimen. The analysis device can execute a plurality of measurement processing steps for a biological sample based on order information. The analysis device includes: a pierce nozzle unit which pierces a hole in a sealed sample container in which the biological sample is contained, collects the biological sample, and discharges the biological sample into a predetermined containing unit; a sample nozzle unit which dispenses the biological sample contained in the containing unit into one or more cuvettes; and a control device which control operations of the pierce nozzle unit and the sample nozzle unit based on the order information.

A pretreatment device for performing pretreatment using a liquid sucked by a probe from an inside of a septum-attached container includes: a container holding unit which has a space for accommodating the septum-attached container and is provided with a hole into which the probe is inserted with respect to a septum of the septum-attached container to be stored; an installation unit in which the container holding unit is detachably installed; and a fixing unit which fixes the container holding unit to the installation unit in a state where the container holding unit is detachably installed in the installation unit, to solve the above-described problem.

The present invention relates to a needle (1), wherein the needle (1) comprises a channel (12) extending through the needle (1), wherein the needle (1) comprises a needle tip (11), wherein the channel (12) comprises an opening at the needle tip (11), wherein the needle (1) defines an axial direction (x), wherein the axial direction (x) defines a distal direction and a proximal direction, wherein the needle tip (11) is a distal portion of the needle (1), and wherein the needle tip (11) comprises a first surface section (112) and a second surface section (111), wherein the first surface section (112) is arranged at a first angle (α) with respect to the axial direction (x) and the second surface section (111) is arranged at a second angle (β) with respect to the axial direction (x), wherein the first angle is different from the second angle. The present invention also relates to a corresponding apparatus, system and use.

An automatic chemical solution formulating device combines and mixes stored solids and liquids into user specified formulations and dispenses those formulations into containers. Chemical solids are stored in cartridges of material separated into predetermined dosages (for example in reeled blister packs), avoiding the need for weighing during formulation. Elements include user interface, computer-controlled automated loading and unloading port for reagent-containing cartridges, cartridge conveyor system, reader for identifying cartridges, blister-pack strip drive system, punching mechanism to release reagents, portioning chamber to mix solvent with solids or liquids with optional portioning, accommodating formulation delivery port, position sensors, liquid flow measuring devices, liquid and gas pumps and valves, and label printer. The combination of these elements allows high-speed formulation and dispensing of user-specified formulations.

An automatic analyzing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a specimen container, a piercer, a detector, and processing circuitry. The specimen container is a container in which a specimen is housed, an opening of the specimen container being sealed by a cap. The piercer pierces the cap by a distal end. The detector detects a blot on the cap. The processing circuitry controls a piercing operation of the piercer.

The present disclosure provides approaches for reducing tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in tobacco. Some of these approaches include genetically engineering tobacco plants to increase one or more antioxidants, increase oxygen radicle absorbance capacity (ORAC), or reduce nitrite. Also provided are methods and compositions for producing modified tobacco plants and tobacco products therefrom comprising reduced TSNAs.

A container for a reactive product including a container body having a neck delimiting a neck opening; a closure member comprising a puncturable closure membrane which tightly seals off the neck opening; a suction tube located in the container body and comprising a first end portion attached to the closure member and a second end portion extending in the proximity of the bottom of the container body; and a cap attached to the neck and comprising a passage opening which is located facing the puncturable closure membrane and the first end portion of the suction tube, the cap being configured so as to enable the penetration of a sampling needle through the passage opening and the puncturable closure membrane such that the sampling needle is fluidly connected to the suction tube, and so as to enable the penetration of a venting needle through the passage opening and the puncturable closure membrane such that the venting needle is fluidly connected to an internal volume of the container body.