In-situ fluidic inspection

Abstract

A method includes engaging a well of a cartridge with a flow sensor of an instrument. The cartridge includes: a rotary valve including a rotatable port and a center port; the well in fluid communication with a channel, the channel including a channel port that the rotatable port is to align to in order to receive fluid from the well; and a flowcell including an inlet gasket in fluid communication with the center port. A source of pressurized air is connected to the flow sensor in order to establish a mass flow of air through a flow path. The flow path extends through one of the flow sensor, the channel, the rotary valve, and the flowcell. The mass flow of air through the flow path is measured with the flow sensor. It is determined if there is one of an air leak and an air blockage within the flow path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an instrument, comprising:
 a cartridge receptacle; and 
 a rotary valve drive assembly; 
   a pressure source; and   a fluidic cartridge carrying a flow cell and to be received by the cartridge receptacle, the fluidic cartridge comprising:
 a rotary valve comprising a rotary channel; 
 a common channel fluidly coupled to the rotary channel, the flow cell to be fluidly coupled to the common channel; and 
 a first well and a second well, each of the first well and the second well comprising a well channel, 
 wherein the rotary valve drive assembly is to interface with the rotary valve to rotate the rotatory valve to align the rotary channel with the well channel of the first well and to fluidly couple the common channel and the well channel of the first well, and 
 wherein the pressure source is to pressurize the first well and to flow fluid from the first well, through the well channel and the common channel and to the flow cell. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the instrument comprises the pressure source and wherein the pressure source comprises a pump. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises air. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluidic cartridge comprises a flow cell chamber and the flow cell is to be received by the flow cell chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first well comprises reagent. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the reagent comprises liquid reagent. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump carried by the fluidics cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the pump is positioned downstream of the flow cell. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the instrument comprises an actuator to actuate the pump. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an instrument comprising a cartridge receptacle;   a pressure source; and   a fluidic cartridge carrying a flow cell and to be received by the cartridge receptacle, the fluidic cartridge comprising:
 a well; 
 a well channel coupled to the well, 
 a common channel; and 
 a valve, 
   wherein the valve is actuatable to fluidly couple the well channel and the common channel, and   wherein the pressure source is to pressurize the well and to flow fluid from the well, through the well channel and the common channel and to the flow cell.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the instrument comprises the pressure source and wherein the pressure source comprises a pump. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid comprises air. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the fluidic cartridge comprises a flow cell chamber and the flow cell is to be received by the flow cell chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the well comprises reagent. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the reagent comprises liquid reagent. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the instrument comprises a rotary valve drive assembly, the valve comprises a rotatory valve, and the fluidic cartridge comprises a second well having a second well channel, wherein the rotary valve drive assembly is to interface with the rotary valve to rotate the rotatory valve to align the rotary channel with the second well channel of the second well and to fluidly couple the common channel and the second well channel of the second well. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an instrument comprising,
 a cartridge receptacle; 
 a rotary valve drive assembly; and 
 an in-situ testing assembly comprising a sensor; 
   a pressure source; and   a fluidic cartridge carrying a flow cell and to be received by the cartridge receptacle, the fluidic cartridge comprising:
 a rotary valve comprising a rotary channel; 
 a common channel fluidly coupled to the rotary channel, the flow cell is to be fluidly coupled to the common channel; and 
 a first well and a second well, each of the first well and the second well comprising a well channel, 
   wherein the pressure source is to pressurize the first well and the sensor is to measure a parameter value,   wherein the instrument is to use the parameter value to determine the presence of a leak or a blockage within the cartridge or the instrument.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the parameter value comprises a pressure value. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the rotary valve drive assembly is to interface with the rotary valve to rotate the rotatory valve and the rotary channel relative to the well channels of the first well and the second well. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a pump carried by the fluidics cartridge. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the pump is positioned downstream of the flow cell. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the instrument comprises an actuator to actuate the pump. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a first valve and a second valve, the valve positioned between the first valve and the second valve.