Patent ID: 7371348

Claim:
An apparatus comprising a plurality of assay chambers, the apparatus comprising, in order, a substrate, a form-in-place gasket, and a cover, wherein the form-in-place gasket, the substrate, and the cover together substantially define a plurality of assay chambers, wherein the form-in-place gasket forms a permanent seal between the form-in-place gasket and the cover producing a plurality of fluid containment structures, each fluid containment structure housing at least one assay chamber; and the apparatus further comprises a plurality of arrays, wherein each array being in operable association with one or more of the assay chambers, wherein each fluid containment structure is contained on the top by the cover, wherein each fluid containment structure is contained on the side by the form-in-place gasket, wherein each fluid containment structure is contained on the bottom by the substrate, wherein the form-in-place gasket, the substrate, and the cover together further define a plurality of inlets and outlets, wherein the inlets and outlets are through the form-in-place gasket in a plane parallel with the substrate and the cover, wherein the inlet and the outlet are disposed on opposite ends of each assay chamber, wherein each assay chamber is in fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet, wherein the form-in-place gasket is between about 10 micrometers and about 250 micrometers thick, wherein the form-in-place gaskets consists of gasket materials selected from at least the following: silicon sealants, urethanes, polysulfides, latex, and acrylic sealants, and wherein the cover and the substrate are made of different materials than the form-in-place gasket.