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: Actuation systems and methods for use with flow cells. In accordance with an implementation, a method includes moving, using an actuator disposed within a manifold assembly, a membrane portion of a membrane of the manifold assembly away from a valve seat to enable fluidic flow from a reagent fluidic line to a common fluidic line. The membrane portion and the valve seat forming a membrane valve. The reagent fluidic line being fluidically coupled to a reagent reservoir. The common fluidic line being fluidically coupled to a flow cell. The common fluidic line has a common central axis and the reagent fluidic line has a reagent central axis that is non-collinear with the common central axis. The method includes urging the membrane portion against the valve seat to prevent fluidic flow from the reagent fluidic line to the common fluidic line.

Abstract: A fluidic device holder configured to orient a fluidic device. The device holder includes a support structure configured to receive a fluidic device. The support structure includes a base surface that faces in a direction along the Z-axis and is configured to have the fluidic device positioned thereon. The device holder also includes a plurality of reference surfaces facing in respective directions along an XY-plane. The device holder also includes an alignment assembly having an actuator and a movable locator arm that is operatively coupled to the actuator. The locator arm has an engagement end. The actuator moves the locator arm between retracted and biased positions to move the engagement end away from and toward the reference surfaces. The locator arm is configured to hold the fluidic device against the reference surfaces when the locator arm is in the biased position.

Abstract: A fluidic device holder configured to orient a fluidic device. The device holder includes a support structure configured to receive a fluidic device. The support structure includes a base surface that faces in a direction along the Z-axis and is configured to have the fluidic device positioned thereon. The device holder also includes a plurality of reference surfaces facing in respective directions along an XY-plane. The device holder also includes an alignment assembly having an actuator and a movable locator arm that is operatively coupled to the actuator. The locator arm has an engagement end. The actuator moves the locator arm between retracted and biased positions to move the engagement end away from and toward the reference surfaces. The locator arm is configured to hold the fluidic device against the reference surfaces when the locator arm is in the biased position.

Abstract: A fluidic device holder configured to orient a fluidic device. The device holder includes a support structure configured to receive a fluidic device. The support structure includes a base surface that faces in a direction along the Z-axis and is configured to have the fluidic device positioned thereon. The device holder also includes a plurality of reference surfaces facing in respective directions along an XY-plane. The device holder also includes an alignment assembly having an actuator and a movable locator arm that is operatively coupled to the actuator. The locator arm has an engagement end. The actuator moves the locator arm between retracted and biased positions to move the engagement end away from and toward the reference surfaces. The locator arm is configured to hold the fluidic device against the reference surfaces when the locator arm is in the biased position.

Abstract: A fluidic device holder configured to orient a fluidic device. The device holder includes a support structure configured to receive a fluidic device. The support structure includes a base surface that faces in a direction along the Z-axis and is configured to have the fluidic device positioned thereon. The device holder also includes a plurality of reference surfaces facing in respective directions along an XY-plane. The device holder also includes an alignment assembly having an actuator and a movable locator arm that is operatively coupled to the actuator. The locator arm has an engagement end. The actuator moves the locator arm between retracted and biased positions to move the engagement end away from and toward the reference surfaces. The locator arm is configured to hold the fluidic device against the reference surfaces when the locator arm is in the biased position.

Abstract: A system for managing multiple parallel library preparation workflows with shared resources includes at least two assay bays configured to prepare a library of samples according to a workflow. A common resource is configured to assist in preparation of the library of samples according to a common resource schedule. The system also includes a scheduler for scheduling workflows according to the common resource schedule. The system receives a first workflow scheduling request for a first assay bay that utilizes the common resource, and a second workflow scheduling request for a second assay bay that utilizes the common resource. The system determines that the first and second workflows conflict in time or space with respect to the common resource, obtains characteristics of the first and second workflows, and assigns the first and second workflows to the common resource schedule based on the characteristics to resolve the conflict.

Abstract: A fluidic device holder configured to orient a fluidic device. The device holder includes a support structure configured to receive a fluidic device. The support structure includes a base surface that faces in a direction along the Z-axis and is configured to have the fluidic device positioned thereon. The device holder also includes a plurality of reference surfaces facing in respective directions along an XY-plane. The device holder also includes an alignment assembly having an actuator and a movable locator arm that is operatively coupled to the actuator. The locator arm has an engagement end. The actuator moves the locator arm between retracted and biased positions to move the engagement end away from and toward the reference surfaces. The locator arm is configured to hold the fluidic device against the reference surfaces when the locator arm is in the biased position.

Abstract: A fluidic device holder configured to orient a fluidic device. The device holder includes a support structure configured to receive a fluidic device. The support structure includes a base surface that faces in a direction along the Z-axis and is configured to have the fluidic device positioned thereon. The device holder also includes a plurality of reference surfaces facing in respective directions along an XY-plane. The device holder also includes an alignment assembly having an actuator and a movable locator arm that is operatively coupled to the actuator. The locator arm has an engagement end. The actuator moves the locator arm between retracted and biased positions to move the engagement end away from and toward the reference surfaces. The locator arm is configured to hold the fluidic device against the reference surfaces when the locator arm is in the biased position.

Abstract: Library preparation systems and methods are disclosed. In an implementation, a modular bay for preparing a library of samples for sequencing, the modular bay comprising a contact dispenser and a working area comprising a working plate receptacle adapted to receive a working plate, a thermocycler, a magnet, and a drawer. The drawer comprising a consumables area adapted to receive a sample plate adapted to contain a sample, and a plurality of consumables for interacting with the sample in the working plate. The contact dispenser is linearly movable in a longitudinal direction between the consumables area and the working area, such that the contact dispenser is configured to (i) move the sample from the sample plate in the consumables area to the working plate in the working area, and (ii) move the plurality of consumables between the consumables area and the working plate in the working area.

Abstract: A fluidic device holder configured to orient a fluidic device. The device holder includes a support structure configured to receive a fluidic device. The support structure includes a base surface that faces in a direction along the Z-axis and is configured to have the fluidic device positioned thereon. The device holder also includes a plurality of reference surfaces facing in respective directions along an XY-plane. The device holder also includes an alignment assembly having an actuator and a movable locator arm that is operatively coupled to the actuator. The locator arm has an engagement end. The actuator moves the locator arm between retracted and biased positions to move the engagement end away from and toward the reference surfaces. The locator arm is configured to hold the fluidic device against the reference surfaces when the locator arm is in the biased position.

Abstract: A fluidic device holder configured to orient a fluidic device. The device holder includes a support structure configured to receive a fluidic device. The support structure includes a base surface that faces in a direction along the Z-axis and is configured to have the fluidic device positioned thereon. The device holder also includes a plurality of reference surfaces facing in respective directions along an XY-plane. The device holder also includes an alignment assembly having an actuator and a movable locator arm that is operatively coupled to the actuator. The locator arm has an engagement end. The actuator moves the locator arm between retracted and biased positions to move the engagement end away from and toward the reference surfaces. The locator arm is configured to hold the fluidic device against the reference surfaces when the locator arm is in the biased position.

Abstract: Non-contact dispensers and related systems and methods are disclosed. In accordance with an implementation, an apparatus includes a non-contact dispenser includes a body defining an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path fluidly coupling the inlet and the outlet. The non-contact dispenser also includes a first valve to control flow into a portion of the flow path, a second valve to control flow out of the outlet, and a pump positioned between the first valve and the second valve.

Abstract: Substrates for performing quantification processes and related systems and methods are disclosed. In an implementation, an apparatus includes a substrate and an imaging system. The substrate includes a pair of plates and a plurality of spacers positioned between the plates to define a gap between the pair of plates. A portion of a sample is to be received within the gap of the substrate and the imaging system is to obtain image data of the portion of the sample. The image data is to be used to determine a concentration of the portion of the sample.

Abstract: Library preparation systems and methods are disclosed. An apparatus includes a plate receptacle, a magnet, a thermocycler, and an actuator. The plate receptacle is to receive a plate having a well and the thermocycler is to adjust a temperature of a sample within the well of the plate and the actuator is to move the magnet relative to the plate receptacle.

Abstract: A fluidic device holder configured to orient a fluidic device. The device holder includes a support structure configured to receive a fluidic device. The support structure includes a base surface that faces in a direction along the Z-axis and is configured to have the fluidic device positioned thereon. The device holder also includes a plurality of reference surfaces facing in respective directions along an XY-plane. The device holder also includes an alignment assembly having an actuator and a movable locator arm that is operatively coupled to the actuator. The locator arm has an engagement end. The actuator moves the locator arm between retracted and biased positions to move the engagement end away from and toward the reference surfaces. The locator arm is configured to hold the fluidic device against the reference surfaces when the locator arm is in the biased position.

Abstract: A fluidic device holder configured to orient a fluidic device. The device holder includes a support structure configured to receive a fluidic device. The support structure includes a base surface that faces in a direction along the Z-axis and is configured to have the fluidic device positioned thereon. The device holder also includes a plurality of reference surfaces facing in respective directions along an XY-plane. The device holder also includes an alignment assembly having an actuator and a movable locator arm that is operatively coupled to the actuator. The locator arm has an engagement end. The actuator moves the locator arm between retracted and biased positions to move the engagement end away from and toward the reference surfaces. The locator arm is configured to hold the fluidic device against the reference surfaces when the locator arm is in the biased position.

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: Actuation systems and methods for use with flow cells. In accordance with an implementation, a method includes moving, using an actuator disposed within a manifold assembly, a membrane portion of a membrane of the manifold assembly away from a valve seat to enable fluidic flow from a reagent fluidic line to a common fluidic line. The membrane portion and the valve seat forming a membrane valve. The reagent fluidic line being fluidically coupled to a reagent reservoir. The common fluidic line being fluidically coupled to a flow cell. The common fluidic line has a common central axis and the reagent fluidic line has a reagent central axis that is non-collinear with the common central axis. The method includes urging the membrane portion against the valve seat to prevent fluidic flow from the reagent fluidic line to the common fluidic line.

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.