LID FOR A MICROTITER PLATE

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a lid for a microtiter plate, which has a plurality of cavities arranged on a top of the microtiter plate and serve for receiving samples, wherein the lid is securable on the microtiter plate such that it covers of the microtiter plate. The lid has a basic body, which is embodied such that at least in regions, which are located above the cavities when the lid is on the microtiter plate, it is transmissive for light of predeterminable wavelength, and wherein the lid includes at least one closure element, which is embodied and/or arranged in such a manner that it closes at least one of the cavities in the microtiter plate when the lid is on the microtiter plate.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A lid for a microtiter plate, which has a plurality of cavities, which are arranged on a top of the microtiter plate and serve for receiving samples, wherein the lid is securable on the microtiter plate in such a manner that it covers at least the top of the microtiter plate, wherein the lid has a basic body, which is embodied in such a manner that at least in regions, which are located above the cavities when the lid is on the microtiter plate, it is transmissive at least for light of at least one predeterminable wavelength, and wherein the lid includes at least one closure element, which is embodied and/or arranged in such a manner that it closes at least one of the cavities in the microtiter plate when the lid is on the microtiter plate.

17. The lid as claimed in claim 16, wherein the basic body of the lid has a number of holes, wherein the holes are arranged in such a manner on the basic body that when the lid is on the microtiter plate they are located at least partially above the cavities.

18. The lid as claimed in claim 17, wherein an optical element is arranged in at least one of the holes.

19. The lid as claimed in claim 16, wherein the closure element is at least in regions, which are located above the cavities in the microtiter plate when the lid is on the microtiter plate, transparent at least for light of at least one predeterminable wavelength.

20. The lid as claimed in claim 16, wherein the closure element is a film.

21. The lid as claimed in claim 16, wherein the closure element is secured on a face of the basic body, which faces the microtiter plate when the lid is on the microtiter plate.

22. The lid as claimed in claim 16, wherein the closure element has an adhesive- or clinging layer on a face facing the microtiter plate when the lid is on the microtiter plate.

23. The lid as claimed in claim 16, wherein the basic body is embodied pot shaped in such a manner that the basic body has a floor portion, which is matched to the dimensioning of the top of the microtiter plate, and wherein the basic body has extending essentially perpendicularly to the floor portion a lateral portion, which at least partially surrounds the microtiter plate when the lid is on the microtiter plate.

24. The lid as claimed in claim 16, comprising at least one spacer, which is embodied and/or arranged in such a manner that, in a spacing position of the spacer the lid is arranged at a predeterminable distance from the microtiter plate or an additional lid when the lid is on the microtiter plate or the additional lid, and the spacer is transferable into a closure position, in which the predeterminable distance is subceeded.

25. The lid as claimed in claim 24, wherein the spacer is transferable from the spacing position into the closure position by exerting a force.

26. The lid as claimed in claim 23, wherein the space holder is arranged in the region of the lateral portion of the basic body and protrudes at least partially into an internal volume formed by the lateral portion.

27. The lid as claimed in claim 28, wherein the basic body has at least one formation.

28. A system comprising a microtiter plate and a lid comprising: a lid for a microtiter plate, which has a plurality of cavities, which are arranged on a top of the microtiter plate and serve for receiving samples, wherein the lid is securable on the microtiter plate in such a manner that it covers at least the top of the microtiter plate, wherein the lid has a basic body, which is embodied in such a manner that at least in regions, which are located above the cavities when the lid is on the microtiter plate, it is transmissive at least for light of at least one predeterminable wavelength, and wherein the lid includes at least one closure element, which is embodied and/or arranged in such a manner that it closes at least one of the cavities in the microtiter plate when the lid is on the microtiter plate.

29. An automatable laboratory working space comprising: a lid for a microtiter plate, which has a plurality of cavities, which are arranged on a top of the microtiter plate and serve for receiving samples, wherein the lid is securable on the microtiter plate in such a manner that it covers at least the top of the microtiter plate, wherein the lid has a basic body, which is embodied in such a manner that at least in regions, which are located above the cavities when the lid is on the microtiter plate, it is transmissive at least for light of at least one predeterminable wavelength, and wherein the lid includes at least one closure element, which is embodied and/or arranged in such a manner that it closes at least one of the cavities in the microtiter plate when the lid is on the microtiter plate.

30. An automatable laboratory working comprising: a lid for a microtiter plate, which has a plurality of cavities, which are arranged on a top of the microtiter plate and serve for receiving samples, wherein the lid is securable on the microtiter plate in such a manner that it covers at least the top of the microtiter plate, wherein the lid has a basic body, which is embodied in such a manner that at least in regions, which are located above the cavities when the lid is on the microtiter plate, it is transmissive at least for light of at least one predeterminable wavelength, wherein the lid includes at least one closure element, which is embodied and/or arranged in such a manner that it closes at least one of the cavities in the microtiter plate when the lid is on the microtiter plate, and an apparatus affecting temperature of a sample.

Description

[0041] The invention as well as advantageous embodiments thereof will now be explained in greater detail based on the appended drawing, the figures of which show as follows:

[0042] FIG. 1 a microtiter plate with a lid,

[0043] FIG. 2 two plan views of embodiments of the lid with holes,

[0044] FIG. 3 a preferred embodiment of a lid of the invention having a basic body comprising a floor portion and a lateral portion as well as a spacer,

[0045] FIG. 4 the microtiter plate and the lid of FIG. 3, wherein the lid is applied on the microtiter plate, with a detail view of the formations,

[0046] FIG. 5 the microtiter plate and the lid of FIG. 3, wherein the lid is on the microtiter plate, with a detail view of the spacer.

[0047] FIG. 6 two embodiments of the spacer,

[0048] FIG. 7 a stack of sequentially following lids and microtiter plates of FIG. 5, superimposed by means of the spacer, and

[0049] FIG. 8 a stack of sequentially following lids.

[0050] In the figures, equal elements are provided with equal reference characters.

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a microtiter plate 1, on whose top O a plurality of cavities 2 are arranged for receiving samples. Above the microtiter plate 1 is a lid 3 of the invention having a basic body 4 and a closure element 5. The closure element 5 is matched to the dimensioning of the basic body 4 and embodied in the form of a film, which is secured on the basic body 4. When the lid 3 is secured on the microtiter plate 1, the cavities 2 are closed by the lid and sealed from the surroundings. According to the invention, the basic body 4 of the lid 3 is at least partially transmissive for light of at least one predeterminable wavelength, especially in regions, which are located above the cavities 2 in the microtiter plate 1 when the lid 3 is on the microtiter plate 1. The lid 3 is, preferably, thus, at least partially transparent. In this embodiment, the basic body 4 as well as the closure element 5 are completely transparent.

[0052] Two other possible embodiments of the lid 3 are shown in FIG. 2. Shown, in each case, is a view of the basic body 4 of the lid from above. In both embodiments, a plurality of holes 6 are arranged in the basic body. The holes 6 are, in such case, arranged in such a manner that they are above the cavities 2 of the microtiter plate when the lid 3 is on the microtiter plate 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 2a, the number of holes 6 corresponds to the number of cavities 2, wherein the holes 6 align with the cavities 2 and have equal diameters. In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 2b, the number of holes 6 is, in contrast, less than the number of cavities 2. In such case, in each case, a hole 6 is arranged over a row of cavities 2 in the microtiter plate 1. Arranged in the holes 6 can be, for example, viewing windows, or optical elements.

[0053] Shown in FIG. 3 are two perspective views of an additional embodiment of a lid 3 of the invention with spacers 7 and formations 8. FIG. 3a shows a view of the lid 3 from above, and FIG. 3b a view from below. The basic body 4 of the lid includes in this case, a floor portion 4a and a lateral portion 4b, wherein the spacers 7 and formations 8 are both arranged in the region of the lateral portion 4b. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the lid includes four spacers 7 and four formations 8, wherein the spacers 7 and formations 8 are, in each case, arranged pairwise on mutually opposite sides of the lateral portion 4b. In such case, the spacers 7 are, in each case, arranged on a side of the lateral portion 4b in parallel with the longitudinal axis L and the formations 8, in each case, on a side of the lateral portion 4b in parallel with a breadth axis B.

[0054] The shown arrangement and number of spacers 7, and formations 8, are, however, not limiting. Thus, the number of spacers 7, and of formations 8, and/or the arrangement of the same, can be different in other embodiments.

[0055] As evident from FIG. 3b, the floor portion 4a is, furthermore, embodied in a region, which faces the top O of the microtiter plate 1 when the lid 3 is on the microtiter plate 1, to seal from the surroundings. To this end, a circularly shaped sealing element 9 is provided at each of the holes 6. This embodiment of the floor portion 4a is, however, not absolutely necessary. A sealing from the surroundings can also be achieved, for example, by the closure element 5 (not shown here).

[0056] Shown finally in FIG. 4 are the microtiter plate 1 and the lid 3 of FIG. 3, wherein the lid 3 is secured on the microtiter plate 1. FIG. 4a shows a front view in parallel with the longitudinal axis L of a system formed of the microtiter plate 1 and the lid 3. An enlarged sectional illustration is shown FIG. 4b. The lid 3 is secured on the microtiter plate 3. The holes 6 in the lid 3 are arranged above the cavities 2 in the microtiter plate 1, wherein the cavities 2 are closed by the closure element 5. An enlarged view of area A of FIG. 4b is shown in FIG. 4c. The formations 8, here in the form of windows, enable in the case of an arrangement of lids 3 and microtiter plates 1 or of lids 3 in a stack a simplified, especially automatable, handling of the lid 3. The formations 8 serve especially for automated withdrawal of an individual lid 3 from a stack and placement thereof on a microtiter plate 1.

[0057] FIG. 5 shows an illustration corresponding to that shown in FIG. 4 of the microtiter plate 1 and the lid 3 in a view in parallel with breadth axis B. FIG. 5a shows, such as in FIG. 4a, a schematic drawing, while in FIG. 5b an enlarged sectional illustration is shown. The spacer 7 includes a holding element 10, which protrudes into an internal volume of the lid 3 formed by the lateral portion 4b. An enlarged view of the region of FIG. 5b labeled with letter B is shown in FIG. 5c. The spacer 7 is located in the illustration shown in this case, in the closure position P2. In this embodiment, the holding element 10 protrudes in this position P2 without resistance into a corresponding hollow 11 of the microtiter plate 1. A hollow 11 in the microtiter plate 1 is, however, not necessary for the present invention. For other embodiments of the spacer 10, which can use a clamping mechanism, for example, such a corresponding hollow 11 is not required in the microtiter plate 1.

[0058] It is to be noted here that an arrangement of the spacer 7 in parallel with breadth axis B and an arrangement of the formations in parallel with the longitudinal axis L are not required in the context of the present invention. Rather, also other arrangements are possible and fall within the scope of the present invention. Such is also the case with respect to the number of spacers 7 and formations 8. In the embodiment shown here, four spacers 7 and four formations 8 are used. Another number of spacers 7 and/or formations 8 is, however, likewise possible.

[0059] Shown in FIG. 6 are two other embodiments for a lid 3 of the invention with spacers 7 each having a holding element 10. In both embodiments, the spacer 7 is located in a neutral position P3. The spacer 7 is located in this position P3, for example, when the lid 3 is not on a microtiter plate 1, for example, in the case of an arrangement of plurality of lids 3 on top of one another in a stack, such as shown in FIG. 8. In the embodiment of FIGS. 6a and 6b, the holding element 10 is stylus shaped, wherein a region a.sub.1 of the holding element 10 facing the floor surface 4a of the lid 3 extends in parallel with floor surface 4a of the lid 3, while the floor surface 4a far region a.sub.2 of the holding element 10 is so embodied that a diameter of the holding element 10 decreases with growing distance from the lateral portion 4b of the lid 3. The region a.sub.1 facing the floor surface 4a of the lid 3 can especially have an at least partially planar area, which in the closure position P2 of the lid 3 lies essentially flushly against the microtiter plate 1. In the embodiment of FIGS. 6c and 6d, in contrast, the holding element is conically embodied and has no planar area extending in parallel with the floor portion 4a. As already mentioned, the spacer can, however, also be embodied without a corresponding holding element 10. For example, it can use a clamping mechanism for securing the lid 3 on the microtiter plate 1.

[0060] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate advantages of the present invention relative to automated handling and relative to the stackability of lids 3 of the invention, or of systems composed of alternating microtiter plates 1 and lids 3.

[0061] FIG. 7 shows a stack of two microtiter plates 1 and two lids 2, which follow one another alternatingly. FIGS. 7a and 7b are schematic drawings, while FIG. 7c is an enlarged view of the region B of FIG. 7b. The microtiter plates 1 and lids 3 are embodied analogously to FIG. 4, or FIG. 5, as the case may be. In contrast to FIG. 5, however, the holding element 10 of the spacer 7 is located, in each case, in the spacing position P1 and lies on the microtiter plate 1.

[0062] FIG. 8 shows a stack of three lids 3 arranged on top of one another. FIG. 8a shows a perspective view of the stack, while in FIG. 8b a sectional illustration is shown. The floor portion 4a and the lateral portion 4b of each lid 3 are embodied and/or arranged relative to one another in such a manner that in the margin of the lid 3 an edge 12 is present. The edge 12 is embodied, for example, in the form of a step, whose width is matched to the thickness of the wall of the lateral portion 4b. A stacked lid 3 can, thus, be supported on the edge 12 of the lid 3 below. The edge 12 can, such as in the embodiment of FIG. 8, on the one hand, extend completely around the floor portion 4a of the lid 3. It is, however, also an option to provide such an edge 12 only along two opposite sides of a lid 3.

[0063] The formations 8 extend in the illustrated embodiment from the lateral portion 4b through the edge 12 to the floor portion 4a. It is understood, however, that also other embodiments of the formations 8 are possible and fall within the scope of the present invention. Regarding the spacer 7 (here not shown in detail), it is, again, to be noted that in the case of an embodiment such as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 the holding element 10 is located in the case of an arrangement of a plurality of lids 3 in the form of a stack, in each case, in the neutral position P3.

[0064] The solution of the invention thus, enables, in simple manner, a stacking of either a plurality of microtiter plates 1 or lids 3 on top of one another or the alternating stacking of the plurality of microtiter plates 1 and lids 3 on top of one another.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0065] 1 microtiter plate [0066] 2 cavities [0067] 3 lid [0068] 4 basic body [0069] 4a floor portion [0070] 4b lateral portion [0071] 5 closure element [0072] 6 holes [0073] 7 spacer [0074] 8 formation in the lid [0075] 9 closing element [0076] 10 holding element [0077] 11 hollow in the microtiter plate [0078] 12 edge [0079] L longitudinal axis [0080] B breadth axis [0081] O top [0082] a.sub.1,a.sub.2 regions of the holding element [0083] P1 spacing position [0084] P2 holding position [0085] P3 neutral position