Valved cartridge and system

Abstract

A method of controlling fluid flow in a fluid channel of fluidic cartridge can include closing a valve by actuating a mechanical actuator against the valve to force a deformable layer against walls of a valve body, wherein the valve body comprises a valve inlet and a valve outlet and each of the valve inlet and valve outlet are fluidically coupled to a fluidic channel; releasing the valve by retracting the mechanical actuator away from the valve body; and moving liquid through the valve by applying positive or negative pressure to the fluidic channel.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of controlling flow in a fluidic channel of fluidic cartridge, the method comprising:
 engaging a cartridge comprising a fluidic channel with a cartridge interface comprising a mechanical actuator, wherein the cartridge comprises:
 a body having a surface defining a valve body fluidically connected to a fluidic channel, the valve body comprising a groove defined by a wall including an upper part and a floor, wherein the wall is curved or sloped in a direction that is non-normal to a plane defined by the surface of the body, and 
 a layer comprising an elastically deformable material attached to a surface of the cartridge body and sealing the at least one valve body at points of attachment, wherein the layer is spaced from the floor, 
   actuating the mechanical actuator and thereby pressing the layer against the floor of the valve body such that contact between the layer blocks fluidic connection between portions of the fluidic channel fluidically connected by the valve body.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising further actuating the mechanical actuator to release the force exerted on the layer, thereby releasing the layer from being pressed against the floor of the valve body. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, in the released state of the layer, applying a pressure to the channel to cause liquid in the channel to flow through between the portions of the fluidic channel connected by the valve body in the released state of the layer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the layer retains sufficient elasticity to resist being pressed against the floor of the valve body in response to negative pressure up to about 10 psi is exerted on the fluidic channel fluidically connected to the valve body. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mechanical actuator comprises a ram and actuating the mechanical actuator causes the ram to apply mechanical pressure on the layer in the direction of the cartridge body. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , the valve body exerts a centering action on the ram toward a center of the valve body as the ram applies pressure on the layer in the direction of the cartridge body. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the ram is mounted on a pivotable arm and actuating the mechanical actuator pivots the arm. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the ram is mounted on a rotatable wheel and actuating the mechanical actuator comprises rotating the wheel. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the cartridge is removably engaged with the cartridge interface. 
     
     
         11 . A method of controlling flow of liquid in a fluidic channel of a fluidic cartridge, the method comprising:
 selectively blocking liquid from flowing from a first portion of a fluidic channel upstream of a valve to a second portion of the fluidic channel downstream of the valve, wherein the selectively blocking the liquid comprises:
 placing the valve in a closed state by actuating a mechanical actuator to cause a layer comprising an elastically deformable material to press against a floor of a valve body fluidically coupling the first portion and the second portion of the fluidic channel; or 
 placing the valve in an open state by actuating the mechanical actuator to cause the layer to move away from the floor of the valve body, while remaining attached to walls of the valve body. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising, in the open state of the valve, applying a pressure to the fluidic channel to cause liquid in the channel to flow from the first portion to the second portion of the fluidic channel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the layer retains sufficient elasticity to resist being pressed against the floor of the valve body in response to negative pressure up to about 10 psi is exerted on the fluidic channel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mechanical actuator comprises a ram and actuating the mechanical actuator causes the ram to apply mechanical pressure on the layer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , the valve body exerts a centering action on the ram toward a center of the valve body as the ram applies pressure on the layer in the direction of the cartridge body. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ram is mounted on a pivotable arm and actuating the mechanical actuator pivots the arm. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ram is mounted on a rotatable wheel and actuating the mechanical actuator comprises rotating the wheel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising engaging the cartridge with a cartridge interface comprising wherein the mechanical actuator, wherein the cartridge is removably engaged with the cartridge interface.