Patent ID: 8007745

Claim:
A sample preparation assembly, comprising: a sample carrier, a sample preparation device in which said sample carrier is positioned, said device comprising at least one well having an inlet, a bottom portion having an inner surface leading to a drain, and at least one passageway formed in said inner surface of said bottom portion; said at least one passageway having a dimension smaller than the smallest dimension of said carrier such that fluid communication between said well inlet and said drain, around said sample carrier, is maintained via a space between said sample carrier and said drain when said carrier is in said well and is positioned on said at least one passageway, said at least one passageway tapering such that it is deeper as it approaches said drain; a source of vacuum in fluid communication with said well, and wherein an adsorptive structure is positioned in said drain; wherein said inner surface has a center, and wherein said inner surface slopes inwardly towards said center.