Microplates which prevent optical cross-talk between wells

• US 6,033,605 A
• Filed: 01/30/1998
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: Szlosek, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vargot, Mathieu D.
• Application Number:
  US09/016,158
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 264/1.7, 264/2.5, 264/274, 264/279, 264/279.1, 422/99, 422/101, 422/102, 356/256, 356/440
• US Class Current: 264/1.7
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles B29C45/1671 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/03 Cuvette constructions

Abstract

A microplate and a method for manufacturing microplates. The microplate is designed to reduce optical cross-talk during the assaying of samples. The microplate includes a plurality of wells having light permeable sidewalls, a layer of light permeable material forming a bottom of the wells, and ribs of light impermeable material extending through the layer of light permeable material. The method includes steps of inserting a plate of light permeable material into a mold cavity that includes sections shaped to form the sidewalls of the plurality of wells, injecting molten light impermeable material into the mold cavity, and cooling the light impermeable material to form the microplate with the light impermeable material forming the sidewalls of each of the plurality of wells and the plate of light permeable material forming the bottom wall of each of the plurality of wells.

Claims

1. A method of making a microplate having a plurality of wells, each of the plurality of wells having light impermeable sidewalls and a light permeable bottom wall, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) inserting a plate of light permeable material into a mold cavity that includes sections shaped to form the sidewalls of the plurality of wells, the plate being positioned adjacent the sections shaped to form the sidewalls of the plurality of wells in a location corresponding to the bottom walls of the plurality of wells;

(B) injecting molten light impermeable material into the mold cavity; and

(C) cooling the light impermeable material to form the microplate with the light impermeable material forming the sidewalls of each of the plurality of wells and the plate of light permeable material forming the bottom wall of each of the plurality of wells.

2. The method of making a microplate as recited in claim 1, wherein step (B) includes a step of injecting the molten light impermeable material into the mold cavity at a temperature and pressure sufficient to cause the light impermeable material to penetrate at least partially through the plate of light permeable material.

3. A method of making a microplate having a plurality of wells, each of the plurality of wells having light impermeable sidewalls and a light permeable bottom wall, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) inserting a plate of light permeable material into a mold cavity that includes sections shaped to form the sidewalls of the plurality of wells, the plate being positioned adjacent the sections shaped to form the sidewalls of the plurality of wells in a location corresponding to the bottom walls of the plurality of wells;

(B) injecting molten light impermeable material into the mold cavity; and

(C) cooling the light impermeable material to form the microplate with the light impermeable material forming the sidewalls of each of the plurality of wells and the plate of light permeable material forming the bottom wall of each of the plurality of wells;

wherein step (B) includes a step of injecting the molten light impermeable material into the mold cavity at a temperature and pressure sufficient to cause the light impermeable material to penetrate completely through the plate of light permeable material at predetermined locations.

4. The method of making a microplate as recited in claim 3, wherein:

step (A) includes a step of inserting the plate of light permeable material into the mold cavity so that the plate separates the mold cavity into first and second chambers, the mold cavity providing no path for the molten light impermeable material to pass between the first and second chambers other than through the plate of light permeable material.

5. The method of making a microplate as recited in claim 3, wherein:

step (A) includes steps of inserting into the mold cavity a plate of light permeable material that has surface irregularities at the predetermined locations along a first surface, and inserting the plate so that the plate separates the mold cavity into first and second chambers with the first surface of the plate facing the first chamber; and

step (B) includes a step of injecting the molten light impermeable material into the first chamber of the mold cavity.

6. The method of making a microplate as recited in claim 3, wherein:

step (A) includes inserting the plate of light permeable material into a mold cavity having an inner surface for receiving the plate, the inner surface including channels corresponding to the predetermined locations so that the inner surface of the mold cavity does not contact the plate of light permeable material at the predetermined locations.

7. The method of making a microplate as recited in claim 3, wherein step (A) includes steps of:

molding the plate of light permeable material; and

inserting the molded plate of light impermeable material into the mold cavity.

8. The method of making a microplate as recited in claim 3, wherein step (A) includes a step of inserting into the mold cavity a plate of light permeable material that has surface irregularities at the predetermined locations.

9. The method of making a microplate as recited in claim 8, wherein:

step (A) includes a step of inserting the plate of light permeable material into a mold cavity having an inner surface for receiving the plate, the inner surface including channels corresponding to the predetermined locations so that the inner surface of the mold cavity does not contact the plate of light permeable material at the predetermined locations.

10. The method of making a microplate as recited in claim 9, wherein:

step (A) includes a step of inserting the plate of light permeable material into the mold cavity so that the surface irregularities on the plate of light permeable material are aligned with the channels in the inner surface of the mold cavity.

11. The method of making a microplate as recited in claim 9, wherein:

step (A) includes a step of inserting the plate of light permeable material into the mold cavity so that the plate separates the mold cavity into first and second chambers, the mold cavity providing no path for the molten light impenneable material to pass between the first and second chambers other than through the plate of light permeable material.

12. The method of making a microplate as recited in claim 11, wherein:

step (A) includes steps of inserting the plate of light perrmeable material into the mold cavity so that the surface irregularities face the first chamber; and

step (B) includes a step of injecting the molten light impermeable material into the first chamber of the mold cavity.

13. The method of making a microplate as recited in claim 3, wherein:

step (A) includes a step of inserting the plate of light permeable material into a mold cavity having a surface for receiving the plate, the surface including channels corresponding to the predetermined locations so that the inner surface of the mold cavity does not contact the plate of light permeable material at the predetermined locations; and

step (B) includes a step of injecting the molten light impermeable material into the mold cavity so that the molten material fills the channels in the mold cavity surface.

14. The method of making a microplate as recited in claim 13, wherein:

step (A) includes a step of inserting the plate of light permeable material into a mold cavity wherein the channels on the inner surface of the mold include at least one channel disposed between sections of the mold shaped to form the sidewalls of adjacent wells, so that the molten material that fills the at least one channel forms a rib disposed between the first and second wells to prevent light from passing therebetween through the plate of light permeable material.

15. The method of making a microplate as recited in claim 13, wherein:

step (A) includes a step of inserting the plate of light permeable material into a mold cavity wherein the channels on the inner surface of the mold are disposed between sections of the mold shaped to form the sidewalls of adjacent wells, so that the molten material that fills the channels forms a plurality of ribs that separates the layer of light permeable material into a plurality of compartments with each of the plurality of compartments including the bottom of a single one of the plurality of wells.

16. The method of making a microplate as recited in claim 13, wherein:

step (B) includes a step of injecting a light impermeable material that includes a plastic selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile, polycarbonate, polyolefin, polyester, polymethylpentene, and acrylic, and at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, carbon black and thiopene.

17. The method of making a microplate as recited in claim 16, wherein:

step (A) includes a step of inserting a plate of a light permeable material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile, polycarbonate, polyolefin, polyester, polymethylpentene, and acrylic.