Patent ID: 7980149

Claim:
A docking mechanism for releasably receiving a cartridge for use in analysing a sample comprising a fluid, the cartridge having a flow cell for the sample and an electrically operated sensor for performing said analysis, the docking mechanism comprising a clamping mechanism for urging fluid connector means against the cartridge to provide a fluid connection between the flow cell inlet and sample delivery means; the docking mechanism also comprising an electrical connector for engaging the sensor to connect the latter to electrical circuitry for operating the sensor, the electrical connector being movable, towards and away from the sensor, relative to the clamping mechanism, so that, in use, the electrical connector exerts on the sensor a force which is sufficient to maintain the necessary electrical connection, whilst not being so great as to have a substantial detrimental effect on the accuracy of the sensor, wherein the mechanism includes earthed pins for forming a Faraday cage around the electrical connector and the sensor, and wherein the earthed pins are also operable to locate the cartridge in an operable position in the mechanism.