The invention provides improved systems, devices, and methods for analyzing
a large number of sample compounds contained in standard multi-well
microtiter plates or other array structures. The multi-well plates travel
along a conveyor system to a test station having a microfluidic device. At
the test station, each plate is removed from the conveyor and the wells of
the multi-well plate are sequentially aligned with an input port of the
microfluidic device. After at least a portion of each sample has been
input into the microfluidic channel system, the plate is returned to the
conveyor system. Pre and/or post testing stations may be disposed along
the conveyor system, and the use of an X-Y-Z robotic arm and novel plate
support bracket allows each of the samples in the wells to be input into
the microfluidic network through a probe affixed to a microfluidic chip. A
clamshell structure having a hinged lid can releasably support the chip
while providing and/or accommodating the electrical, optical, structural,
and other interface connections between the microfluidic device and the
surrounding system.