COMPRESSIBLE TRANSPARENT SEALING FOR OPEN MICROPLATES
An apparatus for sealing a microplate, wherein the apparatus comprises a microplate having a first surface and an opposing second surface. A plurality of wells is formed in the first surface of the microplate, wherein each of the plurality of wells is sized to receive an assay therein. A sealing cover is disposed over the microplate adjacent the plurality of wells and is compliant to accommodate variations between the sealing cover and the microplate and/or distribute loads evenly therebetween.
1 . An apparatus for sealing a microplate, said apparatus comprising:
a microplate having a first surface and an opposing second surface;
a plurality of wells formed in said first surface of said microplate, each of said plurality of wells being sized to receive an assay therein; and
a sealing cover disposed over said microplate adjacent said plurality of wells, said sealing cover being compliant to accommodate variations between said sealing cover and said microplate.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a rim portion formed about each of said plurality of wells, each of said rim portions extending upward above said first surface and engagable with said sealing cover to define a sealing interface.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said rim portions are made of a first material and said microplate is made of a second material, said first material being different than said second material.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said rim portions are made of polystyrene.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rim portions are co-molded with said microplate.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said rim portions is plastically deformable and thermally fusible with said sealing cover.
7 . An apparatus for sealing a microplate, said apparatus comprising:
a microplate having a first surface and an opposing second surface;
a plurality of wells formed in said first surface of said microplate, each of said plurality of wells being sized to receive an assay therein; and
a sealing cover disposed over said microplate adjacent said plurality of wells, said sealing cover being compliant and distributing loads generally evenly between said sealing cover and said microplate.
8 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a rim portion formed about each of said plurality of wells, each of said rim portions extending upward above said first surface and engagable with said sealing cover to define a sealing interface.
9 . The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said rim portions are made of a first material and said microplate is made of a second material, said first material being different than said second material.
10 . The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said rim portions are made of polystyrene.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said rim portions are co-molded with said microplate.
12 . The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein each of said rim portions is plastically deformable and thermally fusible with said sealing cover.
13 . An apparatus for sealing a microplate, said apparatus comprising:
a microplate having a first surface and an opposing second surface;
a plurality of wells formed in said first surface of said microplate, each of said plurality of wells being sized to receive an assay therein;
a rim portion formed about each of said plurality of wells, each of said rim portions extending upward above said first surface; and
a sealing cover disposed over said microplate adjacent said plurality of wells, said sealing cover being engagable with said rim portions to define a sealing interface about each of said plurality of wells.
14 . The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said sealing cover is compliant to accommodate variations between said sealing cover and said microplate.
15 . The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said rim portions are made of a first material and said microplate is made of a second material, said first material being different than said second material.
16 . The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said rim portions are made of polystyrene.
17 . The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said rim portions are co-molded with said microplate.
18 . The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein each of said rim portions is plastically deformable and thermally fusible with said sealing cover.