Devices, systems and methods for loading samples

摘要

Certain embodiments described herein are directed to devices and system that can be used to fill a sample cell. In some examples, the system can be configured with a pressure device configured to provide a negative pressure to accelerate filling of the cell with the sample. In some embodiments, the negative pressure can be used to fill a flow cell at a selected fill rate.

主权项

1. A system configured to accelerate viscous sample flow into a flow cell, the system comprising:
a sample introduction device configured to provide a positive pressure; a flow cell fluidically coupled to the sample introduction device and configured to receive sample under the positive pressure from the sample introduction device through a fluid inlet of the flow cell; a timing fluid line between the sample introduction device and the fluid inlet of the flow cell, the timing fluid line sized and arranged to provide a reference sample from the sample introduction device to the flow cell at a reference time; a sensor fluidically coupled to the timing fluid line and at the fluid inlet of the flow cell, the sensor configured to determine a time of arrival of the sample; a valve fluidically coupled to the flow cell at an outlet of the flow cell; and a pressure device fluidically coupled to the valve downstream of the valve, the pressure device configured to provide a negative pressure to the flow cell when the valve is in a second state to accelerate flow of the sample into the flow cell and configured to be fluidically decoupled from the flow cell when the valve is in a first state to permit sample to flow into the flow cell under the positive pressure provided by the sample introduction device.