Abstract: The present invention relates to a cover for covering one or more sample(s) that are suitable to avoid or minimize evaporation and/or condensation of any vaporizable substance that may be present in the sample(s) or reaction mixture(s), in particular evaporation of substance at the fringes of a vessel or an array of vessels or condensation of a substance on the lid of a reaction vessel or a plate/block containing the sample(s) and/or a cover. This is achieved by providing a device comprising, among others, a force distribution unit that comprises at least one medium or material that is unable to withstand a static shear stress and deforms continuously under the action of a shear force.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a means for covering and to a device for performing processes and/or reactions involving at least one sample, which are conducted in a temperature-controlled environment and which require optical access to at least one sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to means for covering one or more sample(s) that are suitable to avoid or minimize evaporation and/or condensation of any vaporizable substance that may be present in the sample(s) or reaction mixture(s), in particular evaporation of substance at the fringes of a vessel or an array of vessels or condensation of said substance on the lid of a reaction vessel or a plate/block containing the sample(s) and/or the means for covering. This is achieved by providing a device comprising, among others, a force distribution unit that comprises at least one medium or material that is unable to withstand a static shear stress and deforms continuously under the action of a shear force. In a preferred embodiment, this medium or material is a gas, a shear force.

Abstract: A configuration of mini-volume reaction receptacles (1, 16, 41) of which the receptacle housings (2, 17) each enclose an elongated chamber (3, 18, 42) of which the ends are connected to apertures (6, 7, 20, 22) formed in the receptacle housing. The receptacle housings have identical base surfaces and have a small height relative to the base surface, and are stacked on one another while their base surfaces are mutually aligned. At least one aperture of a receptacle housing communicates with at least one aperture of a vertically adjacent receptacle housing, as seen in the direction of stacking. The receptacles (1, 16, 41) are mechanically interlocked in a direction transverse to the direction of stacking and can be plugged one into another. Each receptacle housing defines at least one aperture (6, 7, 22) at its top side that is accessible to a pipette.

Abstract: A configuration of mini-volume reaction receptacles (1, 16, 41) of which the housings (2, 17) each enclose an elongated chamber (3, 18, 42) of which the ends are connected to apertures (6, 7, 20, 22) of the particular housing, said housings exhibiting the same base surfaces and being of low height compared to the base surface and are stacked one on another while their base surfaces are mutually aligned, at least one aperture of a receptacle communicating with at least one aperture of a consecutive receptacle as seen in the direction of stacking, said configuration being characterized in that the receptacles (1, 16, 41) are mechanically interlocked in the direction transverse to the direction of stacking and can be plugged one into another, and each receptacle comprises at least one aperture (6, 7, 22) accessible to a pipette at its top side.