Patent ID: 7666362

Claim:
A plate assembly comprising: a well plate having a substantially rectangular base wall with a top surface and an outer periphery, a well array extending up from said top surface of said base wall and disposed inwardly from said outer periphery of said base wall, said well array having at least one upwardly open well, a peripheral wall projecting up from said top surface of said base wall and extending around said well array, said peripheral wall including a pair of parallel sides extending between a pair of parallel ends, at least one robotic gripper pad being disposed along each said side spaced from said ends, wherein portions of said sides surrounding each said robotic gripper pad being spaced inwardly from said outer periphery of said base wall and spaced inwardly from said robotic gripper pads; and a lid mounted on said well plate so as to overlie said well array and having a peripheral skirt telescoped over said peripheral wall of said well plate and over said robotic gripper pads, at least portions of said peripheral skirt of said lid being spaced inwardly from said outer periphery of said base wall, wherein said lid includes robotic gripper pads substantially registered with said robotic gripper pads of said well plate.