Abstract: A detection apparatus having a read head including a plurality of microfluorometers positioned to simultaneously acquire a plurality of the wide-field images in a common plane; and (b) a translation stage configured to move the read head along a substrate that is in the common plane. The substrate can be a flow cell that is included in a cartridge, the cartridge also including a housing for (i) a sample reservoir; (ii) a fluidic line between the sample reservoir and the flow cell; (iii) several reagent reservoirs in fluid communication with the flow cell, (iv) at least one valve configured to mediate fluid communication between the reservoirs and the flow cell; and (v) at least one pressure source configured to move liquids from the reservoirs to the flow cell. The detection apparatus and cartridge can be used together or independent of each other.

Abstract: An electroosmotic (EO) pump is provided that includes a housing having a pump cavity, a porous core medium and electrodes. The porous core medium is positioned within the pump cavity to form an exterior reservoir that extends at least partially about an exterior surface of the porous core medium. The porous core medium has an open inner chamber provided therein. The inner chamber represents an interior reservoir. The electrodes are positioned in the inner chamber and are positioned proximate the exterior surface. The electrodes induce flow of a fluid through the porous core medium between the interior and exterior reservoirs, wherein a gas is generated when the electrodes induce flow of the fluid. The housing has a fluid inlet to convey the fluid to one of the interior reservoir and the exterior reservoir. The housing has a fluid outlet to discharge the fluid from another of the interior reservoir and the exterior reservoir. The housing has a gas removal device to remove the gas from the pump cavity.

Abstract: An electroosmotic (EO) pump is provided that includes a housing having a pump cavity, a porous core medium and electrodes. The porous core medium is positioned within the pump cavity to form an exterior reservoir that extends at least partially about an exterior surface of the porous core medium. The porous core medium has an open inner chamber provided therein. The inner chamber represents an interior reservoir. The electrodes are positioned in the inner chamber and are positioned proximate the exterior surface. The electrodes induce flow of a fluid through the porous core medium between the interior and exterior reservoirs, wherein a gas is generated when the electrodes induce flow of the fluid. The housing has a fluid inlet to convey the fluid to one of the interior reservoir and the exterior reservoir. The housing has a fluid outlet to discharge the fluid from another of the interior reservoir and the exterior reservoir. The housing has a gas removal device to remove the gas from the pump cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for fragmenting nucleic acid. The apparatus includes a sample reservoir that comprises a fluid having nucleic acids. The apparatus can also include a shear wall that is positioned within the sample reservoir. The shear wall includes a porous core medium that has pores that are sized to permit nucleic acids to flow therethrough. The apparatus also includes first and second chambers that are separated by the shear wall. The first and second chambers are in fluid communication with each other through the porous core medium of the shear wall. Also, the apparatus may include first and second electrodes that are located within the first and second chambers, respectively. The first and second electrodes are configured to generate an electric field that induces a flow of the sample fluid. The nucleic acids move through the shear wall thereby fragmenting the nucleic acids.

Abstract: A detection apparatus having a read head including a plurality of microfluorometers positioned to simultaneously acquire a plurality of the wide-field images in a common plane; and (b) a translation stage configured to move the read head along a substrate that is in the common plane. The substrate can be a flow cell that is included in a cartridge, the cartridge also including a housing for (i) a sample reservoir; (ii) a fluidic line between the sample reservoir and the flow cell; (iii) several reagent reservoirs in fluid communication with the flow cell, (iv) at least one valve configured to mediate fluid communication between the reservoirs and the flow cell; and (v) at least one pressure source configured to move liquids from the reservoirs to the flow cell. The detection apparatus and cartridge can be used together or independent of each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for fragmenting nucleic acid. The apparatus includes a sample reservoir that comprises a fluid having nucleic acids. The apparatus can also include a shear wall that is positioned within the sample reservoir. The shear wall includes a porous core medium that has pores that are sized to permit nucleic acids to flow therethrough. The apparatus also includes first and second chambers that are separated by the shear wall. The first and second chambers are in fluid communication with each other through the porous core medium of the shear wall. Also, the apparatus may include first and second electrodes that are located within the first and second chambers, respectively. The first and second electrodes are configured to generate an electric field that induces a flow of the sample fluid. The nucleic acids move through the shear wall thereby fragmenting the nucleic acids.

Abstract: An electroosmotic (EO) pump is provided that includes a housing having a pump cavity, a porous core medium and electrodes. The porous core medium is positioned within the pump cavity to form an exterior reservoir that extends at least partially about an exterior surface of the porous core medium. The porous core medium has an open inner chamber provided therein. The inner chamber represents an interior reservoir. The electrodes are positioned in the inner chamber and are positioned proximate the exterior surface. The electrodes induce flow of a fluid through the porous core medium between the interior and exterior reservoirs, wherein a gas is generated when the electrodes induce flow of the fluid. The housing has a fluid inlet to convey the fluid to one of the interior reservoir and the exterior reservoir. The housing has a fluid outlet to discharge the fluid from another of the interior reservoir and the exterior reservoir. The housing has a gas removal device to remove the gas from the pump cavity.

Abstract: An electroosmotic (EO) pump is provided that includes a housing having a pump cavity, a porous core medium and electrodes. The porous core medium is positioned within the pump cavity to form an exterior reservoir that extends at least partially about an exterior surface of the porous core medium. The porous core medium has an open inner chamber provided therein. The inner chamber represents an interior reservoir. The electrodes are positioned in the inner chamber and are positioned proximate the exterior surface. The electrodes induce flow of a fluid through the porous core medium between the interior and exterior reservoirs, wherein a gas is generated when the electrodes induce flow of the fluid. The housing has a fluid inlet to convey the fluid to one of the interior reservoir and the exterior reservoir. The housing has a fluid outlet to discharge the fluid from another of the interior reservoir and the exterior reservoir. The housing has a gas removal device to remove the gas from the pump cavity.