Heat sealing septum for storage plates

Abstract

An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels comprising a sheet of elastomer forming a sealing member having a top and bottom surface, and disposed on a plate containing a plurality of wells for storing fluids. A product that can seal the wells of a multiwell plate, and has the aspects of being vapor resistant, heat sealable, and able to be manipulated by automated analytical equipment. The sealing material is constituted of an elastomer made of synthetic rubber and a layer, comprising a polymer film or a foil attached to one side of the elastomer to form a vapor barrier. The combination of these elements produces a sealing mat that couples the barrier properties of the polymer film or foil with the sealing properties of the elastomer septum.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels comprising: 
 a sheet of elastomer forming a sealing member having a top and bottom surface, 
 disposed on a plate containing a plurality of wells for storing fluids, and said sealing member is thermally bonded to said plate, wherein said elastomer has a propensity to reseal after being punctured.  
   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of  claim 1 , wherein said elastomer is made of a thermoplastic polymer material.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom surface of said elastomer is made of a thermosetting polymer having a chemical affinity to said plate's chemical composition.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of  claim 1 , wherein said elastomer is joined to a film that is compatible to said plate's composition.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels comprising: 
 a) a film of elastomer having a top and bottom surface, bonded to    b) a metallic foil on at least one of said surfaces, and    c) said foil is thermally sealable to a multiwell test plate, wherein said elastomer and foil together make a vapor resistant barrier.    
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of  claim 5 , wherein said elastomer is thermally sealed to said test plate by means of heat bonding a compatible polymer between said metallic foil and said test plate.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels comprising: 
 a) a film of elastomer having a top and bottom surface, bonded to    b) a polymer film on at least one of said surfaces, and    c) said polymer film is thermally sealed to a multiwell test plate, wherein said elastomer and polymer film together make a vapor resistant barrier.    
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of anyone of claims  1 ,  4 , or  5 , wherein said elastomer is made of a thermoplastic polymeric compound chosen from the group consisting of: an elastic material that is made from polypropylene blended with ethylene-propylene diene methylene (EPDM) rubber particles, styrene-butadiene, poly(ester-block-ether), or nylon-block-polyether.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of anyone of claims  1 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  or  7 , wherein said elastomer is made of a cross-linked polymeric compound chosen from the group consisting of: polybutadiene, cross-linked epoxidized polybutadiene, ethylene-propylene diene methylene (EPDM), polyisobutylene, polychloroprene (neoprene), cis-1,4-polyisoprene, polyurethane, nitrile rubber (Buna-N), epichlorohydrin rubber, silicone block copolymers or silicone.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of anyone of claims  1 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  or  7 , wherein said elastomer is hydrophobic.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of anyone of claims  1 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  or  7 , wherein said elastomer's lower surface has a chemical composition that is totally compatible to form a bond with said plate's chemical composition, thereby creating a non-releasable seal.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of anyone of claims  1 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  or  7 , wherein said elastomer's lower surface has a chemical composition that is partially compatible to form a bond with said plate's chemical composition, thereby creating a releasable seal.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of anyone of claims  3   4 , or  5 , wherein said compatible polymer is of a chemically similar composition as that of said test plate.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of anyone of claims  3 ,  4 , or  5 , wherein said compatible polymer is poly(ethylene-co-maleic anhydride).  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of  claim 1  or  5 , wherein said elastomer is made of a polypropylene blended with EPDM rubber particles.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of anyone of claims  3 ,  4 , or  5 , wherein said test plate is made from polypropylene.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of anyone of claims  3 ,  4 , or  5 , wherein said test plate is made from polystyrene.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of anyone of claims  3 ,  4 , or  5 , wherein said compatible polymer melts at a lower temperature than a temperature at which said test plate begins to deform.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of  claim 18 , wherein said lower temperature is at or lower than 165° C.  
     
     
         20 . A method of sealing a fluid container comprising the following steps: 
 a) providing a roll of film made of an elastomer having a top and bottom surface, the bottom surface is bonded to a layer comprising a metallic foil or a thermoplastic film that is compatible with a polymer material of a microtiter test plate, and said test plate having a plurality of wells located in its top surface;    b) cutting an unrolled roll of said film, wherein each cut piece of film corresponds with the length and width dimensions of said top surface of said test plate, whereby each well in said test plate is covered by said film;.    c) disposing planarly said cut piece of film onto said top surface of said test plate;    d) affixing said cut piece of film to said top surface of said test plate, whereby each well in said test plate is covered by said film;    e) applying heat to said cut piece of film to thereby thermo-chemically bond said cut piece of film to said top surface of test plate.    
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels comprising: 
 a) a planar sealing member composed of elastic material and disposed on a plate having a plurality of fluid receiving wells;    b) a metallic foil laminated to said planar sealing member;    c) a rigid lid defined by a peripheral skirt and a top and bottom surface having a predetermined matrix of openings extending through, and said openings correspond to said wells in said plate;    d) wherein said sealing member and metallic foil laminate is either molded or welded to said bottom surface, with said sealing member in direct contact with said bottom surface and said metallic foil exposed toward said open wells in said plate, and said metallic foil is heat sealed to said plate.    
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of  claim 21 , wherein a polymer, that is compatible with said plate's chemical composition, adheres said metallic foil to said plate by thermally bonding.  
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of  claim 21 , wherein said matrix of openings is 96 holes.  
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of  claim 21 , wherein said matrix of openings is 384 holes.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of  claim 21 , wherein said matrix of openings is 1536 holes.  
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for sealing fluid containing vessels of  claim 21 , wherein said lid has a single large rectangular opening.  
     
     
         27 . A microtiter plate having a plurality of fluid receiving wells comprising a planar sealing member composed of an elastomer material and disposed on said plate; a metallic foil laminated to said planar sealing member; a thermoplastic film; a rigid lid defined by a peripheral skirt and a top and bottom surface having a predetermined matrix of openings extending through, and said openings correspond to said wells in said plate; wherein said sealing member and metallic foil laminate is either molded or welded to said bottom surface, with said sealing member in direct contact with said bottom surface and said metallic foil exposed toward said open wells in said plate, and said metallic foil is heat sealed to said plate.  
     
     
         28 . The microtiter plate of  claim 27 , wherein a polymer, that is compatible with said plate's chemical composition, adheres said metallic foil to said plate by thermally bonding.  
     
     
         29 . The microtiter plate of  claim 27 , wherein said matrix of openings is 96 holes.  
     
     
         30 . The microtiter plate of  claim 21 , wherein said matrix of openings is 384 holes to-1536 holes.  
     
     
         31 . The microtiter plate of  claim 27 , wherein said lid has a single large rectangular opening.