CPC B01L 3/502738 (2013.01) [F16K 99/0013 (2013.01); F16K 99/0028 (2013.01); G01M 3/26 (2013.01); G01M 3/2876 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0644 (2013.01); F16K 2099/0084 (2013.01)] | 10 Claims |
1. A method comprising:
engaging a well of a cartridge with a flow sensor of an instrument for operating the cartridge, the cartridge comprising:
a rotary valve comprising a rotatable port and a center port,
the well in fluid communication with a well channel, the well channel comprising a well channel port that the rotatable port is to align to in order to receive fluid from the well,
a first pinch valve comprising a first inlet and a first outlet,
a second pinch valve comprising a second inlet and a second outlet,
a syringe pump in fluid communication with the first outlet and the second inlet, and
a flowcell comprising an inlet gasket and an outlet gasket, the flowcell operable to engage and disengage the inlet gasket with the center port and the outlet gasket with the first inlet;
engaging the flowcell inlet gasket with the center port of the rotary valve and the flowcell outlet gasket with the first inlet of the first pinch valve;
connecting a source of pressurized air to the flow sensor in order to establish a mass flow of air through a flow path, the flow path extending through one of the flow sensor, the well channel, the rotary valve, the flowcell, the first and second pinch valves and the syringe pump;
measuring the mass flow of air through the flow path with the flow sensor; and
determining if there is one of an air leak and an air blockage within the flow path.
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