Instrument Overview

The design of the Polonator G.007 has been driven by the following four goals:

  1. Maximal effectiveness in implementing the Polonator sequence by ligation protocol
  2. Maximal cost-effectiveness, commensurate with achieving goal #1
  3. Maximal reliability to support extended, 24/7 operation
  4. Maximal modularity and serviceability, with all subsystems rapidly replaceable


Features of the Polonator G.007 include:

  • Compact, highly integrated, bench-top instrument – only 74 x 78 x 101 cm.
  • Requires only AC power, a network connection, and a waste line
  • Simple, effective user interface: non-contact hand sensor, LED status, and digital audio prompting
  • Ultra high sensitivity cooled, electron multiplying CCD camera, with up to 2000X internal gain
  • High numerical aperture optics capture photons throughout an 89° emission cone
  • All reagents for a sequencing run store within the instrument, in an easily removable carrier
  • Complete, highly efficient fluidic processing system with 43 valve ports and minimal dead volume
  • Enzymatic mixing chamber provides on-the-fly reagent preparation and delivery
  • Advanced, PID+ servo temperature control (6° to 60°C) for flow cells and reagents
  • Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, with 3 terabytes of on-board storage and two Core 2 Duo PCs
  • Remote Ethernet control of all instrument AC power
  • High performance motion system – 5 nanometer resolution, 200 mm/sec velocity
  • X, Y, and Z axes feature ultra-reliable, non-contact linear motors and linear encoders
  • Fast move and settle times support fluorescent imaging frame rates beyond 20 Hz.
  • Continuous tracking laser autofocus system maintains critical focus at all times
  • Integral 300 watt Xenon light source with one-minute bulb replacement and multi-layer cold mirror
  • Ion sputtered, high film count fluorescence filters deliver “brick wall” wavelength selectivity
  • Liquid light guide provides spatial homogenization, and broad-band 360 to 730 nm illumination
  • High-speed programmable shutter: sub 5 msec exposures, with 1000 levels of intensity control
  • High-speed filter cube indexer with easily changed, modular fluorescent filter cubes
  • Real-time image processing and analysis, with quality metrics and base call output
  • Built-in vibration isolation system supports operation in typical lab environments

The Polonator has been designed from the ground up to be highly serviceable and upgradeable. All subsystems on the Polonator have been designed with a simple and fast “Two bolts and it’s out” approach. Each can be removed for service or upgrade in minutes, in many cases, such as the fluidics module, “shower-curtain” mounting holes allow subsystem removal by merely loosening two or three fasteners, and disconnecting a single electronic connector.