US 12,435,371 B2
Nucleic acid sequencing system
Robert C. Kain, San Diego, CA (US); David L. Heiner, San Diego, CA (US); Chanfeng Zhao, San Diego, CA (US); and Kevin Gunderson, Encinitas, CA (US)
Assigned to ILLUMINA, INC., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by ILLUMINA, INC., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 17, 2025, as Appl. No. 19/030,771.
Application 19/030,771 is a division of application No. 18/887,904, filed on Sep. 17, 2024.
Application 18/887,904 is a continuation of application No. 18/050,183, filed on Oct. 27, 2022.
Application 18/050,183 is a continuation of application No. 16/105,262, filed on Aug. 20, 2018, granted, now 11,499,191.
Application 16/105,262 is a continuation of application No. 14/817,639, filed on Aug. 4, 2015, granted, now 10,053,730.
Application 14/817,639 is a continuation of application No. 13/653,979, filed on Oct. 17, 2012, granted, now 9,121,063.
Application 13/653,979 is a continuation of application No. 12/492,073, filed on Jun. 25, 2009, granted, now 8,315,817.
Application 12/492,073 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/020,721, filed on Jan. 28, 2008, granted, now 7,835,871.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/897,647, filed on Jan. 26, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/897,646, filed on Jan. 26, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2025/0163507 A1, May 22, 2025
Int. Cl. C12Q 1/6874 (2018.01); C12Q 1/686 (2018.01); C12Q 1/6869 (2018.01)
CPC C12Q 1/6874 (2013.01) [C12Q 1/686 (2013.01); C12Q 1/6869 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for sequencing nucleic acids, comprising:
a plurality of flow cells for performing sequencing procedures;
a plurality of fluidics stations for performing chemistry cycles of the sequencing procedures, the plurality of fluidics stations comprising:
(i) a first fluidics station configured to receive a first flow cell of the plurality of flow cells, and
(ii) a second fluidics station configured to receive a second flow cell of the plurality of flow cells,
wherein the first fluidics station comprises a pin and a corresponding receptacle, the pin insertable into the receptacle to trigger a response at the first fluidics station, and
wherein the first and second fluidics stations are configured to fluidically communicate with reagent reservoirs and deliver reagents to nucleic acid sites on the first and second flow cells, respectively;
an imaging station for performing imaging cycles of the sequencing procedures, the imaging station comprising a light source and a camera, wherein the imaging station is configured to detect signals indicative of nucleotides present at the nucleic acid sites; and
a system control configured to:
direct repeated relative movement between the first flow cell and the imaging station such that the imaging cycles of a first sequencing procedure can be performed on the first flow cell while the chemistry cycles of a second sequencing procedure are performed on the second flow cell,
direct repeated relative movement between the second flow cell and the imaging station such that the imaging cycles of the second sequencing procedure can be performed on the second flow cell while the chemistry cycles of the first sequencing procedure are performed on the first flow cell,
direct one or more of the chemistry cycles in one of the first sequencing procedure or the second sequencing procedure to occur within a corresponding one of the first fluidics station or the second fluidics station while one or more imaging cycles in the other one of the first sequencing procedure or the second sequencing procedure occurs within the imaging station, and
monitor system quality.