Patent ID: 6682926
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: B01J,B01L,C40B,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A device for packaging a chip shaped carrier having an active surface which is adapted to be read by an electro-optical reading device, said device comprising(a) a cartridge having a processing chamber and an opening for introducing a liquid sample into said processing chamber, said cartridge comprising a casing part, (b) said casing part having an inner surface which faces said processing chamber and an outer surface, a first cavity for receiving a chip shaped carrier, and means which provide visual access to said first cavity, and thereby to said active surface of said chip shaped carrier, said first cavity having a bottom surface and inclined side wall surfaces which extend between said outer surface of said casing part and said bottom surface and which form an obtuse angle with that bottom surface, (c) a sealing frame which is part of said casing part and which is made of a compressible material, said sealing frame being connected to said bottom surface of said first cavity, and (d) a locking frame, (e) the shape and dimensions of said first cavity, said chip shaped carrier, said sealing frame, and said locking frame, being such that (e.1) said chip shaped carrier fits into the space delimited by said sealing frame, and a gap, exists between said sealing frame and the inclined side wall surfaces of said first cavity, (e.2) said locking frame, is larger than said gap, said locking frame is however insertable into said gap, by pressure exerted on said locking frame against said casing part, said pressure causing a compression of said sealing frame and a corresponding pressure on a substantial part of the outer surface of the lateral periphery of said chip shaped carrier, said outer surface of said chip shaped carrier being in contact with said sealing frame.