Patent ID: 7491363

Claim:
A system for processing a fluid, comprising a device, a rotatable platen, and a holder capable of holding the device on the rotatable platen in two or more different orientations, the holder being pivotably mounted to the platen so as to pivot with respect to the platen between at least a first orientation and a second orientation, the device comprising: a substrate, the substrate including a first surface and a second surface; and one or more sample processing pathways at least partially defined by the substrate, each sample processing pathway comprising an inlet, a first sample-containment region, a second sample-containment region, and a third sample-containment region, the first sample-containment region including an input opening and an output opening, the second sample-containment region including an input opening and an output opening, and the third sample-containment region including at least an input opening, a first fluid communication capable of directing a material in a first direction from the inlet to the input opening of the first sample-containment region, a second fluid communication capable of directing a material in a second direction front the output opening of the first sample-containment region to the input opening of the second sample-containment region, and a third fluid communication capable of directing a material in a third direction from the output opening of the second sample-containment region to the input opening of the third sample-containment region, wherein (1) the first and third directions are substantially parallel to one another, (2) the second direction is transverse to the first direction, (3) upon rotation of the platen while the device is held by the holder in the first orientation, the fluid moves through the first fluid communication, (4) upon rotation of the platen while the device is held by the holder in the second orientation, the fluid moves through the second fluid communication, and (5) the different orientations of the holder on the rotatable platen provide different orientations of the one or more sample processing pathways relative to the rotatable platen.