MICRO-REAGENT HANDLER AND CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLY

A planar micro-reagent cartridge comprises a base layer having a fluid receiving cavity formed in a top surface thereof and a fluid disposed within the cavity, and intermediate layer and a top layer. The intermediate membrane layer is bonded to the base layer to seal the fluid receiving cavity and form a fluid reservoir pump chamber. The intermediate layer comprises a resiliently deformable flexible region that overlies the fluid receiving cavity and is configured to be depressed in response to application of pressure, and a hole or rupturable valve region that overlies the fluid receiving cavity. The top layer bonded to the intermediate layer, the top layer having an opening that exposes the deformable flexible region of the intermediate membrane layer and at least one channel that together with the intermediate membrane layer forms a capillary channel having an inlet in fluid communication with the hole or rupturable valve region of the intermediate layer. In use, depression of the deformable flexible region actuates the fluid reservoir pump chamber to pump fluid into the capillary channel or draws fluid into the capillary channel towards the pump chamber.