Patent ID: 9377479
Filing Date: 2016-06-28
CPC Classification: G01N

Claim Text:
1. A system for the automated processing of a plurality of runs of liquid samples according to a process operation plan involving the use of preloaded consumables, said process operation plan requiring a plurality of preloaded consumables to be present in a corresponding plurality of target positions of a rack into which consumables are to be placed when preloaded prior to processing the liquid samples, said system comprising: a processing area including the rack, the rack having cavities configured to contain the plurality of preloaded consumables for the processing of the liquid samples; at least one ultrasonic sensor for determining the presence of the plurality of preloaded consumables in the rack by acoustical waves; a positioning device to which the at least one ultrasonic sensor is fixed and which moves the at least one ultrasonic sensor in at least one direction relative to said processing area; and an instrument including a display and a control computer programmed with a computer program having instructions that, when executed by the control computer, cause the control computer to cause the instrument