Fluid processing device and method

A fluid processing device comprising:

• a plurality of fluid channels comprising a first set of two or more fluid channels and a second set of two or more fluid channels;
• a sample input well associated with each of the plurality of fluid channels;
• a sample output well associated with each of the plurality of fluid channels;
• at least an initial processing station comprising:
• a first initial process pump assembly associated with each of the two or more fluid channels of the first set and a second initial process pump assembly associated with each of the two or more fluid channels of the second set;
• an initial process chamber associated with each of the plurality of fluid channels,
• wherein the first initial process pump assemblies of the initial processing station are configured to be operable in unison to simultaneously move a fluid sample from each sample input well of the associated fluid channel of the first set through a portion of each associated fluid channel of the first set and into each associated initial process chamber, and the second initial process pump assemblies are configured to be operable in unison to simultaneously move a fluid sample from each sample input well of the associated fluid channel of the second set through a portion of each associated fluid channel of the second set and into each associated initial process chamber;
• a first initial reagent pump assembly associated with each of the two or more fluid channels of the first set and a second initial reagent pump assembly associated with each of the two or more fluid channels of the second set;
• an initial reagent input well associated with each of the plurality of fluid channels;
• and
• an initial reagent channel associated with each initial reagent input well connecting the initial reagent input well to the initial process chamber of the associated fluid channel,
• wherein the first initial reagent pump assemblies are configured to be operable in unison to simultaneously move a reagent from each initial reagent input well of the associated fluid channel of the first set through the associated initial reagent channel and into each initial process chamber of the associated fluid channel of the first set, and the second initial reagent pump assemblies are configured to be operable in unison to simultaneously move a reagent from each initial reagent input well of the associated fluid channel of the second set through the associated initial reagent channel and into each initial process chamber of the associated fluid channel of the second set;
• a terminal processing station comprising:
• a first terminal process pump assembly associated with each of the two or more fluid channels of the first set;
• and
• a second terminal process pump assembly associated with each of the two or more fluid channels of the second set, wherein the first terminal process pump assemblies of the terminal processing station are configured to be operable in unison to simultaneously move a fluid through a portion of each associated fluid channel of the first set and into each sample output well of the associated fluid channel of the first set, and the second terminal process pump assemblies of the terminal processing station are configured to be operable in unison to simultaneously move a fluid through a portion of each associated fluid channel of the second set and into each sample output well of the associated fluid channel of the second set;
• and
• one or more intermediate processing stations disposed between the initial processing station and the terminal processing station, wherein each intermediate processing station comprises:
• a first intermediate process pump assembly associated with each of the two or more fluid channels of the first set, and a second intermediate process pump assembly associated with each of the two or more fluid channels of the second set;
• an intermediate process chamber associated with each of the plurality of fluid channels, wherein the first intermediate process pump assemblies of each intermediate processing station are configured to be operable in unison to simultaneously move a fluid from a process chamber of a preceding one of the processing stations through a portion of each associated fluid channel of the first set and into each associated intermediate process chamber of the first set, and wherein the second intermediate process pump assemblies of each intermediate processing station are configured to be operable in unison to simultaneously move a fluid from a process chamber of the preceding processing station through a portion of each associated fluid channel of the second set and into each associated intermediate process chamber of the second set;
• a first intermediate reagent pump assembly associated with each of the two or more fluid channels of the first set and a second intermediate reagent pump assembly associated with each of the two or more fluid channels of the second set;
• an intermediate reagent input well associated with each of the plurality of fluid channels;
• and
• an intermediate reagent channel associated with each intermediate reagent input well connecting the intermediate reagent input well to the intermediate process chamber of the associated fluid channel,
• wherein the first intermediate reagent pump assemblies of the intermediate processing station are configured to be operable in unison to simultaneously move a reagent from each intermediate reagent input well of the associated fluid channel of the first set through the associated intermediate reagent channel and into each intermediate process chamber of the associated fluid channel of the first set, and the second intermediate reagent pump assemblies of the intermediate processing station are configured to be operable in unison to simultaneously move a reagent from each intermediate reagent input well of the associated fluid channel of the second set through the associated intermediate reagent channel and into each intermediate process chamber of the associated fluid channel of the second set.