# US 10,478,816 B2 · Fluidics system for sequential delivery of reagents > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,816 B2 - Document ID: US10478816B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/348,907 - Filed: 2016-11-10 - Published: 2017-03-02 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2008-10-22 - Assignees: Life Technologies Corporation - Applicants: Life Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Jonathan Schultz; David Marran - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478816B2 ## CPC - B01L 3/502715: {characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces} - B01L 3/502: {with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures} - B01L 3/50273: {characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids} - B01L 3/502738: {characterised by integrated valves (throttle valves in microfluidic sample containers B01L3/502746)} - B01L 3/502746: {characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles or throttle valves} - B01L 3/502776: {specially adapted for focusing or laminating flows} - B01L 3/52: {Containers specially adapted for storing or dispensing a reagent (B01L3/02 takes precedence; storing or dispensing test elements G01N33/4875; automated reagent dispensing G01N35/1002)} - C12Q 1/6869: Methods for sequencing - G01N 27/447: using electrophoresis - B01J 2219/00389: Feeding through valves - B01J 2219/00394: in multiple arrangements - B01L 3/502769: {characterised by multiphase flow arrangements} - B01L 2200/16: Reagents, handling or storing thereof - B01L 2300/0636: Integrated biosensor, microarrays - B01L 2300/0645: Electrodes - B01L 2300/0861: Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices - B01L 2300/0864: comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting - B01L 2300/0867: Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution - B01L 2300/0874: Three dimensional network - B01L 2300/0877: Flow chambers - B01L 2400/0487: fluid pressure, pneumatics - G01N 35/1002: {Reagent dispensers} - G01N 35/1097: {characterised by the valves (valves in general F16K)} - Y10T 137/0318: Processes - Y10T 137/0424: Liquid cleaning or flushing - Y10T 137/85938: Non-valved flow dividers - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The invention provides a passive fluidics circuit for directing different fluids to a common volume, such as a reaction chamber or flow cell, without intermixing or cross contamination. The direction and rate of flow through junctions, nodes and passages of the fluidics circuit are controlled by the states of upstream valves (e.g. opened or closed), differential fluid pressures at circuit inlets or upstream reservoirs, flow path resistances, and the like. Free diffusion or leakage of fluids from unselected inlets into the common outlet or other inlets at junctions or nodes is prevented by the flow of the selected inlet fluid, a portion of which sweeps by the inlets of unselected fluids and exits the fluidics circuit by waste ports, thereby creating a barrier against undesired intermixing with the outlet flow through leakage or diffusion. The invention is particularly advantageous in apparatus for performing sensitive multistep reactions, such as pH-based DNA sequencing reactions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluidics circuit comprising: a plurality of fluid inlets; a waste port; a fluid outlet; a node in fluid communication with the fluid outlet; a wash fluid inlet in fluid communication between the fluid outlet and the node; a reference electrode in electrical communication with the wash fluid inlet; and a plurality of fluid passages, each fluid passage of the plurality of fluid passages including a junction in unique fluid communication with a fluid inlet of the plurality of fluid inlets, each fluid passage of the plurality of fluid passages providing a distinct fluid pathway between the node and the waste port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluidics circuit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fluid passages are free of valves. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fluidics circuit of claim 1, wherein each distinct fluid pathway is free of impermeable barriers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fluidics circuit of claim 1, wherein the wash fluid inlet includes a passage connected to the fluid outlet, the reference electrode disposed in the passage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fluidics circuit of claim 1, wherein the reference electrode has an uninterrupted fluid pathway through the outlet passage to a flow cell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fluidics circuit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fluid inlets is associated with a plurality of reagents, each reagent of the plurality of reagents is stored in a respective reservoir. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fluidics circuit of claim 1, wherein the outlet passage is in fluid communication with a flow cell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fluidics circuit of claim 1, wherein each fluid passage of the plurality of fluid passages includes a first leg extending from the junction to the node and a second leg extending from the junction away from the node. ### Claim 9 A fluidics circuit comprising: a plurality of fluid inlets; a plurality of inlet passages, each inlet passage uniquely associated with a fluid inlet of the plurality of fluid inlets; a waste port; a fluid outlet; a node in fluid communication with the fluid outlet; a wash fluid inlet in fluid communication between the fluid outlet and the node; a reference electrode in electrical communication with the wash fluid inlet; and a plurality of fluid passages, each fluid passage of the plurality of fluid passages including a junction in unique fluid communication with an inlet passage of the plurality of inlet passages and a fluid inlet of the plurality of fluid inlets, each fluid passage of the plurality of fluid passages includes a first leg extending from the junction to the node and a second leg extending from the junction away from the node, each fluid passage of the plurality of fluid passages providing a distinct fluid pathway between the node and the waste port. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fluidics circuit of claim 9, wherein the plurality of fluid passages are free of valves. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The fluidics circuit of claim 9, wherein each distinct fluid pathway is free of impermeable barriers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The fluidics circuit of claim 9, wherein the wash fluid inlet includes a passage connected to the fluid outlet, the reference electrode disposed in the passage. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The fluidics circuit of claim 9, wherein the reference electrode has an uninterrupted fluid pathway through the outlet passage to a flow cell. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The fluidics circuit of claim 9, wherein the plurality of fluid inlets is associated with a plurality of reagents, each reagent of the plurality of reagents is stored in a respective reservoir. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The fluidics circuit of claim 9, wherein the outlet passage is in fluid communication with a flow cell.