Microtitre chemical reaction system

Abstract

A microtiter reaction system ( 15 ), comprising, a support rack ( 16 ) having an array of reaction wells ( 18 ) disposed therein, each reaction well ( 18 ) having an open top end ( 30 ) and a closed bottom end ( 32 ); a plurality of generally funnel shaped reactor caps ( 20 ) with each of reactor cap ( 20 ) being received into open top end ( 30 ) of each reaction well ( 18 ); a porous gas-permeable layer ( 22 ) positioned over support rack ( 16 ), gas-permeable layer ( 22 ) having an array of holes ( 23 ) therein with each hole ( 23 ) being positioned over open top end ( 30 ) of each of the plurality of reaction wells ( 18 ); gasket ( 24 ) positioned over porous gas-permeable layer ( 22 ); and a top cover ( 26 ) positioned over gasket ( 22 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A microtitre reaction system, comprising, 
 a support rack having an array of reaction wells disposed therein, each reaction well having an open top end and a closed bottom end;    a gas-permeable layer positioned over the support rack, the gas-permeable layer having an array of holes therein with each hole being positioned over the open top end of each of the plurality of reaction wells; and    a gasket positioned over the gas-permeable layer.    
     
     
         2 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a base plate dimensioned to be positioned under the support rack, the base plate having an array of receiving holes dimensioned to support the bottom ends of the reaction wells in a nested relationship therein.    
     
     
         3 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 1 , wherein, 
 an outer edge of the gasket contacts an outer edge of the support rack, thereby enclosing the interior volumes of the plurality of reaction wells in a sealed environment.    
     
     
         4 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 1 , wherein, 
 the gasket is self-sealing.    
     
     
         5 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a top cover positioned over the gasket.    
     
     
         6 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 5 , wherein, 
 the top cover further comprises a plurality of retaining clips extending downwardly to matingly interlock with the support rack.    
     
     
         7 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 3 , further comprising, 
 a gas entry port fluidly coupled to the gas-permeable layer permitting gas exchange between the gas-permeable layer and an external environment.    
     
     
         8 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 1 , further comprising, 
 a temperature heating and cooling block dimensioned to be positioned under the support rack, the block having an array of holes dimensioned to support the bottom ends of the reaction wells in a nested relationship therein.    
     
     
         9 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 8 , further comprising, 
 a thermocouple controlled heating element.    
     
     
         10 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 8 , further comprising, 
 a plurality of interior channels passing through the block.    
     
     
         11 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 10 , wherein, 
 the plurality of interior channels form a serpentine flow path.    
     
     
         12 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of generally funnel shaped reactor caps with each of the reactor caps being received into the open top end of each of the reaction wells.    
     
     
         13 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 12 , wherein, 
 the reactor cap comprises a sealing plug portion and an open-ended funnel cone portion.    
     
     
         14 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 12 , wherein, 
 the plurality of reaction caps are held together in an array formation by an interlocking web.    
     
     
         15 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 14 , wherein, 
 the plurality of reaction caps and the interlocking web are integrally formed from a single piece of material.    
     
     
         16 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 1 , wherein, 
 the support rack has an array of passages passing therethrough; and    each of the reaction wells comprise an individually removable reaction well received into one of the passages of the support rack.    
     
     
         17 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 16 , wherein, 
 the reaction well is tightly received into the passage, thereby sealing the passage.    
     
     
         18 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 1 , wherein, 
 the support rack is formed from polypropylene.    
     
     
         19 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 1 , wherein, 
 the reaction wells are formed from polypropylene.    
     
     
         20 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 1 , wherein, 
 the reaction wells are formed from glass.    
     
     
         21 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 1 , wherein, 
 the gas-permeable layer is formed from polypropylele.    
     
     
         22 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 1 , wherein, 
 the gasket is formed from silicone rubber.    
     
     
         23 . The microtitre reaction system of  claim 5 , wherein, 
 the top cover is formed from anodized aluminum.    
     
     
         24 . A microtitre reaction system, comprising, 
 a support rack having an array of passages passing therethrough;    an array of individually removable reaction wells disposed in the passages, each reaction well having an open top end and a closed bottom end;    a plurality of generally funnel shaped reactor caps with each of the reactor caps being received into the open top end of each of the reaction wells;    a gas-permeable layer positioned over the support rack, the gas-permeable layer having an array of holes therein with each hole being positioned over the open top end of each of the plurality of reaction wells;    a self-sealing gasket positioned over the gas-permeable layer, an outer edge of the gasket contacting an outer edge of the support rack, thereby enclosing the interior volumes of the plurality of reaction wells in a sealed environment;    a top cover positioned over the gasket; and    a plurality of retaining clips extending downwardly to matingly interlock with the support rack.