Patent ID: 6455005
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: B01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A flexible elastomer closure plug mat for standard arrays of open topped sample vials held in a standard array of rows and columns of a first plurality of wells formed in a standard well plate for use in autosampling chromatography equipment, comprisinga flexible elastomer sheet having a top face and a bottom face, a corresponding second plurality of septa closure plugs depending from said bottom face, shaped as hollow convex cylindrical protuberances each provided with a reversely tapered sidewall having a peripheral outer surface and having a proximal upper end and a distal lower end, and a floor having a lower outer surface and spanning and integrally joined to the distal end of each sidewall, the upper proximal end of each sidewall being integrally joined to said flexible elastomer sheet, and a unitary layer of elastomer inert to fluids and substances contained in fluids in said sample vials durably and integrally bonded to the bottom face of said sheet, and to the outer surface of each protuberance floor and sidewall, whereby said flexible mat can be flexed to present one closure plug for insertion in a corresponding open topped vial, and progressively unflexed to bring successive neighboring closure plugs into alignment for insertion in their corresponding vials until all vials in the array have received closure plugs inserted therein and retained by resilient traction in said vials.