Patent ID: 7760351

Claim:
An integrated fluid positioning system, comprising: a cartridge including: a hydrodynamic focusing region; a channel region situated downstream and fluidly coupled to the hydrodynamic focusing region; a plurality of sheathing fluid regions fluidly coupled to the hydrodynamic focusing region; at least one sheathing fluid reservoir fluidly coupled to the plurality of sheathing fluid regions; a core fluid region fluidly coupled to the hydrodynamic focusing region; a waste fluid reservoir situated downstream and fluidly coupled to the channel region; an illumination and detection region proximate to the channel region; and wherein the plurality of sheathing fluid regions are separated by at least one barrier that extends from a side wall in the sheathing fluid regions inward toward the core fluid region; and wherein the sheathing fluid enters each of the plurality of sheathing fluid regions through separate input ports.