Patent ID: 8187535

Claim:
An analytical system comprising one or more movable devices for use in performing one or more operations, a plurality of stations each having associated therewith one or more receivers for receiving one or more of the movable devices so that a prescribed operation can be commenced at the respective station, at least one transport mechanism for transporting the movable devices from station to station, and a controller for directing the transport mechanism to leave at least one of the movable devices with the receiver(s) in a first one of the stations thereby to free the transport mechanism for transport of at least one other movable device between stations while the movable device or devices left at the first station are used to perform a prescribed operation at the first station, wherein the movable devices include one or more sampling probes for aspirating and/or dispensing an agent, wherein at least one of the sampling probes is not tethered to any stationary component of the system, and wherein the at least one sampling probe includes a plunger and a motive device for moving the plunger in response to a command signal.