In-line pressure accumulator and flow-control system for biological or chemical assays

Abstract

Flow-control system includes a fluid reservoir configured to store a fluid, a pressure accumulator in flow communication with and positioned downstream from the fluid reservoir, and a loading zone that is configured to receive and fluidly couple to a flow cell having a biological or chemical sample. The loading zone is in flow communication with and positioned downstream from the pressure accumulator. The flow-control system also includes a system pump in flow communication with and positioned downstream from the loading zone. The system pump is configured to induce a flow of the fluid from the fluid reservoir and through the pressure accumulator and the loading zone. The pressure accumulator is configured to receive fluid from the fluid reservoir during a filling operation. The pressure accumulator is configured to impart pressure on the fluid and drive the fluid toward the loading zone during a pressure-assist operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of delivering a reagent to a flow cell, the method comprising:
 fluidly coupling a flow cell to a loading zone of a flow-control system, the flow-control system, comprising:
 a reagent reservoir that stores a reagent, 
 a pressure accumulator that is fluidly coupled to the reagent reservoir and the loading zone through a first valve configured to be selectively positioned in a first valve open state and a first valve closed state, 
 the loading zone is fluidly coupled to the pressure accumulator through a second valve configured to be selectively positioned in a second valve open state and a second valve closed state, and 
 a system pump that is fluidly coupled to the loading zone and positioned downstream from the loading zone; 
   flowing the reagent from the reagent reservoir into the pressure accumulator by positioning the first valve in the first valve opened state and the second valve in the second valve open state; and   flowing the reagent from the pressure accumulator into the loading zone by positioning the first valve in the first valve closed state and the second valve in the second valve open state and by reducing an operating volume of the pressure accumulator.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a reaction occurs with a portion of the reagent when the reagent is flowed into the loading zone. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second valve is a selector valve. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure accumulator includes a wall actuator configured to change the operating volume by moving a chamber wall of the pressure accumulator. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the pressure accumulator is configured to be coupled to a pressure source, wherein the operative volume is reduced by the wall actuator applying a positive pressure from the pressure source against the chamber wall. 
     
     
         6 . A method of delivering a reagent to a flow cell, the method comprising:
 fluidly coupling a flow cell to a loading zone of a flow-control system, the flow-control system, comprising:
 a reagent reservoir that stores a reagent, 
 a pressure accumulator that is fluidly coupled to the reagent reservoir and the loading zone through a first valve configured to be selectively positioned in a first valve open state and a first valve closed state, 
 the loading zone is fluidly coupled to the pressure accumulator through a second valve configured to be selectively positioned in a second valve open state and a second valve closed state, and 
 a system pump that is fluidly coupled to the loading zone and positioned downstream from the loading zone; 
   flowing the reagent from the loading zone into the pressure accumulator by positioning the first valve in the first valve closed state and the second valve in the second valve open state and by increasing an operating volume of the pressure accumulator.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a reaction occurs with a portion of the reagent when the reagent is flowed into the loading zone. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second valve is a selector valve. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the pressure accumulator includes a wall actuator configured to change the operating volume by moving a chamber wall of the pressure accumulator. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure accumulator is configured to be coupled to a pressure source, wherein the operative volume is increased by the wall actuator applying a negative pressure from the pressure source against the chamber wall. 
     
     
         11 . A method of delivering a plurality of reagents to a flow cell, the method comprising:
 fluidly coupling a flow cell to a loading zone of a flow-control system, the flow-control system, comprising:
 a plurality of reagent reservoirs, each of the plurality of reagent reservoirs storing one of the reagents, 
 a plurality of pressure accumulators, each of the plurality of pressure accumulators fluidly coupled to one of the reagent reservoirs and the loading zone, 
 a plurality of first valves, each of the plurality of first valves between one of the reagent reservoirs and one of the pressure accumulators, each of the plurality of first valves configured to be selectively positioned in a first valve open state and a first valve closed state, 
 the loading zone is fluidly coupled to the pressure accumulators, and 
 a system pump that is fluidly coupled to the loading zone and positioned downstream from the loading zone, 
   flowing a selected reagent from one of the reagent reservoirs into one of the pressure accumulators by positioning one of the first valves in the first valve opened state; and   flowing the selected reagent from the one of the pressure accumulators into the loading zone by positioning the one of first valves in the first valve closed state and by reducing an operating volume of the one of the pressure accumulators.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a reaction occurs with a portion of the selected reagent when the selected reagent is flowed into the loading zone to form a used reagent. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 flowing the used reagent from the loading zone into the one of pressure accumulators by positioning the first valve in the first valve closed state and by increasing the operating volume of the one of the pressure accumulators; and   flowing the used reagent from the one of the pressure accumulators into the loading zone by positioning the one of first valves in the first valve closed state and by reducing the operating volume of the one of the pressure accumulators.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the flow-control system further comprises a plurality of second valves, each of the plurality of second valves between one of the plurality of pressure accumulators and the loading zone, each of the plurality of second valves configured to be selectively positioned in a second valve open state and a second valve closed state;
 wherein the flowing the selected reagent from one of the reagent reservoirs into one of the pressure accumulators further comprises positioning one of the second valves in the second valve opened state; and   wherein the flowing the selected reagent from the one of the pressure accumulators into the loading zone further comprises positioning the one of second valves in the second valve open state.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the flow-control system further comprises a selector valve between the plurality of pressure accumulators and the loading zone;
 wherein the flowing the selected reagent from one of the reagent reservoirs into one of the pressure accumulators further comprises positioning the selector valve to fluidly couple the system pump to the loading zone; and   wherein the flowing the selected reagent from the one of the pressure accumulators into the loading zone further comprises positioning the selector valve to fluidly couple the system pump to the loading zone.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the flow-control system further comprises a plurality of second valves, each of the plurality of second valves between one of the plurality of pressure accumulators and the loading zone, each of the plurality of second valves configured to be selectively positioned in a second valve open state and a second valve closed state;
 wherein the flowing the used reagent from one of the loading zone into one of the pressure accumulators further comprises positioning one of the second valves in the second valve opened state; and   wherein the flowing the used reagent from the one of the pressure accumulators into the loading zone further comprises positioning the one of second valves in the second valve open state.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the flow-control system further comprises a selector valve between the plurality of pressure accumulators and the loading zone;
 wherein the flowing the used reagent from one of the reagent reservoirs into one of the pressure accumulators further comprises positioning the selector valve to fluidly couple the system pump to the loading zone; and   wherein the flowing the used reagent from the one of the pressure accumulators into the loading zone further comprises positioning the selector valve to fluidly couple the system pump to the loading zone.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the flow control system further comprises a manifold, wherein the plurality of pressure accumulators and the plurality of first valves are mounted on the manifold. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each of the pressure accumulators comprises a chamber wall and a wall actuator configured to move the chamber wall. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pressure accumulators are configured to be fluidly coupled to a pressure source, wherein the wall actuator of each of the pressure accumulators selectively applies a pressure from the pressure source to the chamber wall.