Abstract: A laboratory sample distribution system with a number of sample container carriers, each comprising at least one magnetically active device and adapted to carry a sample container; a transport plane adapted to support the carriers; a number of electro-magnetic actuators stationary arranged below the transport plane and adapted to move a corresponding carrier located on top of the transport plane by applying a magnetic force to the carrier; a touch panel arranged below the transport plane adapted to generate position signals (PS) depending on positions of the carriers located on top of the transport plane; a position determination unit adapted to determine the positions of the carriers located on top of the transport plane in response to the position signals (PS); and a control unit adapted to control the operation of the laboratory sample distribution system in response to the determined positions of the carriers.

Abstract: A configurable device for the flexible provision of connections and/or functions in a biopharmaceutical process includes a body in which predefined pipe sections and plug-in locations are formed by recesses in the material of the body. The configurable device further includes a plurality of functional elements which are adapted to be inserted into the plug-in locations.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a diagnostic system includes an instrument coupled to a client device and having at least one sample processing bay. The diagnostic system has a software architecture including instrument software (ISW) associated with the instrument. The ISW receives an assay definition file (ADF) that has a control file and an assay analysis module (AAM) file. The processing bay prepares and senses the sample according to parameters in the OPUS file and then generates sensor scan data. The diagnostic system then analyzes the sensor scan data and prepares a report according to the AAM file.

Abstract: A sample measuring apparatus and a method of circulating air in a reagent storage are provided. The sample measuring apparatus includes: a measuring unit that measures a sample by using a reagent stored in a reagent container; a reagent storage that stores the reagent container; a reagent container holder arranged in the reagent storage and that holds the reagent container; a fin that circulates air in the reagent storage; and a driving unit that drives the reagent container holder and the fin to rotate.

Abstract: A stool resuspension solution comprising a hemoglobin stabilization reagent is provided. In some embodiments, the hemoglobin stabilization reagent may be an osmolyte, a polyvalent cation, a sugar or polysaccharide and, optionally, a polyvalent cation, a protoporphyrin, or an HRP stabilization component and, optionally, a polyvalent cation. A method of stabilizing hemoglobin in a stool sample in the solution is also provided, as well as a sample collection device containing the solution.

Abstract: Purifying target biomolecules, such as nucleic acids or proteins, from a biological source is a time intensive process and is typically performed by a skilled technician or scientist owing to the highly technical nature of the work. Systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein enable the automated bioprocessing and purification of target biomolecules from a biological source. For example, an instrument and disposable cartridge are provided for automatedly isolating and purifying nucleic acids (such as plasmid DNA from a bacterial culture) or for isolating protein from any biological sample. Such an exemplary instrument and cartridge can work in concert to timely release, mix, and move the target biomolecule and various reagents and buffers through a target biomolecule purification process, resulting in a purified target biomolecule with less manual oversight than traditional approaches.

Abstract: A transfer system (1) is a transfer system (1) that transfers a sample container (S) containing a sample from a transfer source device (100) to a transfer destination device (200) disposed adjacent to the transfer source device (100), and the transfer system (1) includes an arm (2) having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end portion facing the transfer destination device (200), and a first catcher (4) for detachably holding the sample container (S) at the distal end, a drive mechanism (14) provided in the transfer source device (100) and configured to drive the arm (2) to move the first catcher (4) between a first position in the transfer source device (100) and a second position in the transfer destination device (200), and a second catcher (16) provided in the transfer destination device (200) and provided so that the sample container (S) is delivered and received between the first catcher (4) and the second catcher (16) when the first catcher (4) reaches the second position.

Abstract: A moving mechanism and a spray mechanism are controlled to spray a reagent from a nozzle to a sample plate while relatively moving the sample plate and the nozzle. The reagent is applied to an entire application area by moving a spray spot of the reagent sprayed from the nozzle, on the sample plate from a start point to an end point. At this time, the spray spot is moved in a sample placement area after a spray amount of the reagent from the nozzle and a moving speed of the spray spot become constant.

Abstract: Platforms for enzymatic assays for biomarkers, including systems, methods, and measuring devices by which a biomarker, such as creatinine, is measured using a small amount of biological fluid, such as blood, plasma, or serum. The measuring device or biosensor can be a test strip including a layered active component assembly positioned between two outer layers which enables multi-step enzymatic reactions operating in kinetic and/or endpoint (in which the reaction is allowed to near completion), and generally includes multiple layers with primary enzyme(s), coupling enzyme(s), and reagents to produce an optical signal correlated to the concentration of a biomarker in the sample. The test strip can be read using a portable optical reader coupled to a smart phone or tablet.

Abstract: Methods and systems of analyzing and quantifying a surface acidity on a low surface area sample are disclosed. The methods include analyzing a quantity of an effluent molecular probe desorption from a temperature programmed desorption (TPD) process and system, by employing a mass spectroscopy (MS) system. The molecular probe is chemically adsorbed on a clean surface of the sample before the TPD process. The sample has a surface area to mass ratio of less than 5 m2/g. In some embodiments, the total surface area analyzed in the method can be as low as 3 m2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluidic device in which solutions of different concentrations can be easily obtained.

Abstract: An optical positioning code disk, device and method for a microfluidic chip are provided. A cross section of an outer contour of the code disk is circular. N light transmissive openings are arranged uniformly around the code disk. The device includes: the code disk, a positioning pin, a rotating shaft, a motor, an internal photoelectric switch and an external photoelectric switch. A positioning surface is provided on the rotating shaft. The motor is fixedly connected with an end of the rotating shaft, and the other end of the rotating shaft passes through a center of the cross section of the code disk. The internal and external photoelectric switches are configured to identify the light transmissive openings on the code disk.

Abstract: A method of reducing quality problems associated with patient sample collection and delivery is provided. It is possible that the method can provide a chain of custody process to better track a sample from the initial point of sample collection to the final point of sample testing. Such a method can also include providing an alert to indicate a potential problem with the quality of the diagnostic test result when a measured parameter exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: An analyzer having an inner chassis surrounded by a housing includes sample and dilution probes, a mixing housing including first and second mixing chambers, a flow cytometer including a flow cell, and sample and sheath pumps configured to perform first and second pluralities of tasks, respectively. The first plurality of tasks includes: aspirating sample into the sample probe, dispensing sample from the sample probe into the first and second mixing chambers, delivering first sample-dilution fluid mixture to the flow cell, and delivering second sample-dilution fluid mixture to the flow cell. The second plurality of tasks includes: dispensing sheath to the flow cell in cooperation with the delivery of the first sample-dilution fluid mixture to the flow cell, and dispensing sheath to the flow cell in cooperation with the delivery of the second sample-dilution fluid mixture to the flow cell.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a target peptide through a detection approach such as mass spectrometry is provided, including: introducing at least one guard molecule to mix with the target peptide; and applying the detection approach for the characterization of the target peptide. Each guard molecule is configured to have similar characteristics as the target peptide, yet is still distinguishable therefrom by the detection approach, such as having a mass spectrometry-distinguishable different M/z value compared with the target peptide. The method can be used to characterize a neoantigen peptide through mass spectrometry, upstream of which the method can further include steps for tissue sample preparation, HLA molecules enrichment, elution, clean-up, and purification. Some or all of these steps can be configured to be executed in a substantially automatic manner with little or no manual intervention. A system for implementing the neoantigen analysis method is further provided.

Abstract: A sample analysis system is available that can include a remote sampling system, at least one analyzer, and a controller. The remote sampling system can include a plurality of sample sources for providing a corresponding sample therefrom; and a plurality of sample collection devices selectively coupled to any of the plurality of sample sources for receiving at least one of the samples therefrom. The at least one analyzer can be coupled to the plurality of the sample collection devices for receiving at least one of the samples therefrom. The controller can be coupled with the remote sampling system and the at least one analyzer, the controller configured to control which of the sample sources is actively coupled to a given sample collection device at a given time.

Abstract: An automatic analysis device that avoids carryover and prevents deterioration of analysis performance without controlling reaction cell position is provided with: a reaction cell in which a sample and a reagent are mixed and allowed to react; a light source that radiates light onto the mixed liquid of the sample and the reagent; a detector that detects the light radiated from the light source; and a cleaning mechanism that cleans the reaction cell. The cleaning mechanism includes an intake nozzle that draws in liquid from the reaction cell and a discharge nozzle that discharges the liquid into the reaction cell; the intake nozzle and the discharge nozzle can move vertically; and the intake nozzle is cleaned by lowering the intake nozzle into the reaction cell, in which a cleaning liquid or cleaning water have been accumulated, without drawing in the cleaning liquid or the cleaning water.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a pathogenic microorganism sample collection and preservation device with a protection function, including a sampler and a preservation container; the sampler and the preservation container are both packaged by independent aseptic packaging bags. The sampler includes a sample collection mechanism, a holding mechanism, and a protection mechanism arranged between the sample collection mechanism and the holding mechanism. Before sample collection, the preservation container is sealed by an assorted sealing cover. The sample collection and preservation device of the present disclosure is convenient for holding and flexible adjustment of a sample collection angle. The protection mechanism between the holding mechanism and the sample collection mechanism plays a role of shielding, thus avoiding the problem of cross contamination.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer is capable of transporting a sample at an optimum timing and a method of transporting the sample. An automatic analyzer includes an analysis unit which measures a sample, a transport unit which transports the sample to the analysis unit, and a control unit which controls the analysis unit and the transport unit. A sample is transported to the analysis unit by a time of starting an aspirating operation on the sample by allowing the analysis unit to perform a pre-measurement operation for each measuring method which needs to be performed before aspirating the sample even when the sample is still in the transport unit.

Abstract: A sensing element for a chemiresistor sensor and a method of making such a sensing element is disclosed. The sensing element may include: one or more first type of 3D elements, each comprising a first type of chemiresistor particles; and one or more second type of 3D elements, each comprising a second type of chemiresistor particles. At least one of the one or more first type of 3D elements and at least one of the one or more second type of 3D elements may have one or more joint surface. The first type of chemiresistor particles may differ from the second type of chemiresistor particles by at least one of: a type of nanoparticle core and a type of organic ligands bonded to each nanoparticle core.