Flow cell liquid degassing system and method

Abstract

A system utilizes a flow cell for holding an analyte of interest for examination, such as a genetic material to be imaged for sequencing. Liquids, such as reagents and washing fluids are introduced into the flow cell during operations. A degasser removes gasses from at least some of the liquids before introduction into the flow cell. The liquids may be resident in the flow cell during detection operations, such as imaging. At least one fluid may be moved bidirectionally into and from the flow cell, such as for reuse. Another fluid may be moved unidirectionally through the flow cell to remove bubbles that may be present in the system.

1 . A system comprising:
 a first flow line to fluidically connect with a first lane of a flow cell;   a second flow line to fluidically connect with a second lane;   a first selector valve in selective fluidic communication with the first flow line and the second flow line, the first selector valve to selectively fluidically couple to one of the first flow line, the second flow line, or both the first flow line and the second flow line;   a second selector valve in fluidic communication with the first selector valve, the second selector valve to select a flow path to a selected liquid recipient from a plurality of flow paths to corresponding liquid recipients and to receive a selected reagent from the selected liquid recipient via the selected flow path;   a pump in fluidic communication with the first flow line and the second flow line;   a degassing system to degas the selected reagent prior to flowing the selected reagent into the selected one of the first flow line, the second flow line, or both the first flow line and the second flow line; and   an imaging system to image an analyte supported in one of the first lane or the second lane.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow line is to return a reagent aspirated from the liquid recipient by the pump back into the selected liquid recipient when the pump is actuated to push the reagent through the first flow line, the first selector valve is fluidically coupled to the first flow line, and the second selector valve is selecting the selected liquid recipient. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the degassing system comprises a vacuum degasser. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the vacuum degasser comprises a chamber, a vacuum pump to draw a vacuum on the chamber, and a semi-permeable tube disposed within the chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is to pump the selected reagent unidirectionally to a disposal recipient. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is to pump the selected reagent bidirectionally into and out of an inlet of the first lane of the flow cell. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a bypass line, wherein the first selector valve is in selective fluidic communication with the bypass line and to selectively fluidically couple to the bypass line. 
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 a flow line to fluidically connect with a flow cell;   a selector valve in fluidic communication with the flow line, the selector valve to select a flow path to a selected liquid recipient from a plurality of flow paths to liquid recipients and to receive a selected reagent from a selected liquid recipient via the selected flow path;   a pump in fluidic communication with the flow line and the selector valve; and   a degassing system to degas the selected reagent prior to flowing the selected reagent into the flow cell.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the flow line is a first flow line to fluidically connect with a first lane of the flow cell, the system further comprising a second flow line to fluidically connect with a second lane. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a second selector valve in fluidic communication with the first flow line and the second flow line, the second selector valve to selectively fluidically couple to one of the first flow line, the second flow line, or both the first flow line and the second flow line. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the degassing system is fluidically interposed between the selected liquid recipient and the selector valve. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the degassing system comprises a vacuum degasser. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the vacuum degasser comprises a chamber, a vacuum pump to draw a vacuum on the chamber, and a semi-permeable tube disposed within the chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the flow line is to return a reagent aspirated from the liquid recipient by the pump back into the liquid recipient and out of the flow cell. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 actuating a selector valve to select a liquid recipient from a plurality of liquid recipients, the selected liquid recipient containing a selected reagent for introduction into a flow cell via a flow line fluidically connected with the flow cell;   aspirating, using a pump, the selected reagent from the selected liquid recipient;   flowing the selected reagent through a degassing system to degas the selected reagent; and   flowing, via the flow line, the selected reagent into the flow cell.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising flowing the selected reagent unidirectionally through the flow cell to dislodge a bubble within a lane of the flow cell. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising flowing the unidirectionally flowed reagent to a disposal recipient. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising flowing the selected reagent bidirectionally into and out of an inlet of the flow cell. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the degassing system comprises a vacuum degasser. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the degassing system is fluidically interposed between the selected liquid recipient and the selector valve.