Device for receiving a chip shaped carrier and process for assembling a plurality of such devices

Abstract

A device for receiving a chip shaped carrier having an active surface, e.g. a surface which carries an array of DNA oligonucleids and which is adapted to be read by an electro-optical reading device. The device comprises: a cartridge having an opening for receiving a liquid sample and including casing parts ( 14, 15 ); a casing part having an inner surface and outer surface, a first cavity for receiving a chip shaped carrier, and means which provide access to that first cavity and thereby to the active surface of the chip shaped carrier; a sealing material which is at least once reversibly liquidifiable; the shape and dimensions of first cavity, chip shaped carrier, and sealing material, being chosen that the chip shaped carrier fits into the space delimited by the sealing material. The process for mounting the carrier in the cartridge essentially consists in placing the carrier in the first cavity and liquidifying the sealing material. In the liquid state, the sealing material closes any gap between the side walls of the first cavity and the carrier, and after solidification, the sealing material constitutes a strong and liquid-tight bond.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for positioning and fastening a second object in a first object, the first object being provided with a seat for said at least one second object, both objects being made of a non-metallic materials, said method comprising 
 forming at least part of the walls of the seat, preferably the circumferential rim, from a liquidifiable solid material which is at least once reversibly liquidifiable by heating it, said solid material being other than said non-metallic materials,    placing the second objects into the seat,    liquidifying said solid material by heating it so that the latter material attaches the first object to the second object, and    allowing said liquidifiable material to cool and resolidify, said liquidifiable material thereby forming a bond between the first object and the second object.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said solid material is a hotmelt material.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first object is made of glass.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said second object is made of a plastic material.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein heat is applied to said liquidifiable solid material locally and essentially sequentially at all sites where a bond between the first object and the second object is to be attained, preferably by using laser light.