Patent ID: 7695688
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: B01L,G01N

Abstract:
1. A filling apparatus for filling a microplate, said microplate having a plurality of wells, each of said plurality of wells being sized to receive an assay therein, said filling apparatus comprising: a substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, said substrate further having a first assay input port, a plurality of staging capillaries extending through said substrate, and a first plurality of microfluidic channels, at least one of said first plurality of microfluidic channels fluidly coupling said first assay input port with at least one of said plurality of staging capillaries, each of said plurality of staging capillaries having an inlet and an outlet; a second assay input port in fluid communication with a second plurality of microfluidic channels, said first assay input port and said second assay input port being opposingly spaced across said substrate; a barrier feature formed between said first plurality of microfluidic channels and said second plurality of microfluidic channels; and at least one of said first plurality of microfluidic channels and said second plurality of microfluidic channels having a heatstake portion, said heatstake portion being configured in a pre-heatstaked condition permitting flow of the assay therethrough and subsequently in a post-heatstaked condition inhibiting flow of the assay therethrough; wherein said heatstake portion further comprises a reduced material area thereby defining a reduced thermal capacity for an increased rate of heatstaking.