Patent ID: 7785862

Claim:
An array comprising: a fiber optic faceplate substrate that comprises: a planar top surface comprising a plurality of reaction chambers and an optically transparent silicon dioxide thin film coating disposed on the surface of said reaction chambers that is from 0.1-5.0 microns thick and is impermeable to water; a polished optically conductive planar bottom surface; a first and a second side edge each comprising a bevel of about 45 degrees located along the optically conductive planar bottom surface and a notch removed from a corner of the fiber optic faceplate that connects the first side and a first end at an angle of about 45 degrees; wherein the first and the second beveled side edges and the notch operatively couple to a retaining structure within an analytical instrument and provide proper positioning of the reaction chambers and the optically conductive planar bottom surface relative to a fluidic chamber and an imaging system within the analytical instrument.