Patent ID: 7220573

Claim:
An array assay device comprising: (a) a housing comprising: (i) a base comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface and is dimensioned to hold a substrate carrying at least one array; (ii) a cover comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface; and (iii) a snap-fit attachment for holding said cover and said base together to enclose a space between said interior surface of said cover and said interior surface of said base, wherein the cover is shaped and dimensioned to cover a substrate and an array assay area element held by the base when the base and the cover are snap-fit together; and (b) an array assay area element comprising a sealing element and at least one access port, where said array assay area element is dimensioned to cover a substrate comprising a plurality of arrays such that when the base and the cover are snap-fit together, the assay area element is positioned over the substrate and plurality of arrays to provide a substantially vapor and fluid tight assay area around each array of said plurality; and (c) an array substrate comprising a plurality of arrays of addressable probe molecules, wherein said snap-fit is configured to apply a force to said array substrate and array assay element to hold said substrate and array assay area element together to provide a vapor and fluid tight assay area around each array of said plurality.