01443nas a2200157   4500008004100000245008600041210006900127260000800196520075400204100002500958700001800983700002101001700001801022700002301040856022201063       2009                        eng d00aUnited {States} {Patent}: 7485153 - {Fluid} free interface for a fluidic analyzer0 aUnited States Patent 7485153 Fluid free interface for a fluidic   cfeb3 aInstrument-cartridge interfaces for fluidic analyzers that have an instrument and a removable cartridge are disclosed. For example, and in one illustrative embodiment, the instrument may include a needle that is adapted to penetrate a septum on a removable cartridge. In another illustrative embodiment, the instrument may include a plunger that is adapted to deform a deformable membrane on a removable cartridge. In yet another illustrative embodiment, the instrument may include a nozzle that is adapted to mate and seal with a flow channel on a removable cartridge. Techniques for detecting the flow rate in a flow channel on a removable cartridge, as well as the position of fluid in a flow channel of a removable cartridge, are also disclosed.1 aPadmanabhan, Aravind1 aRezachek, Tom1 aBardell, Ron, L.1 aBird, Douglas1 aFritz, Bernard, S.  uhttp://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=15&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=%22Bardell%3B+Ron%22.INNM.&OS=IN/%22Bardell;+Ron%22&RS=IN/%22Bardell;+Ron%22