Tissue-Tek VIP 6 AI, Operating Manual

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1. INTRODUCTION
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•
The Tissue-Tek VIP 6 AI is designed as a closed-system
tissue processor to minimize the release of reagent
fumes into the environment. It also contains a fume
control system.
•
An electric interlock mechanism is provided with the
retort lid. When an automatic operation (tissue-
processing, retort cleaning, warm water flush, rinsing,
or solution exchange) is in progress or when the retort
is manually pressurized or vacuumed, the retort lid is
electronically locked.
•
If the unit is unable to pump a reagent into the retort
(e.g., the bottle is empty or not properly connected), the
reagent from the next station in the same solution group
will be pumped into the retort until the level sensor in
the retort is turned on. If the next station cannot be
used, new solution is supplied from the external bulk
reservoir linked (this is the factory default setting).
• When selected and certain safeguard conditions are
met, the solution manager function will allow the
instrument to complete a processing run even if a faulty
pump-in or pump-out condition occurs.
•
Level sensors are provided to ensure positive fluid level
sensing during special procedures such as continuous
mixing.
•
The instrument will stop processing and an alarm will
sound whenever there is an error condition. The
instrument can also be connected to an external alarm.
This alarm will alert personnel in case of an error during
the night or weekend when the laboratory is not
occupied.
•
Two levels of password, administrator and user, can be
entered into the software to prevent access to the
program settings and processing function by
unauthorized personnel.
1.6 Physical Characteristics
1.6.1 Control Panel
The control panel (Figure 1-B) contains the screen display,
which the operator uses to communicate with the instrument
software. The display screen is a 10.4-inch VGA (Video
Graphics Array) TFT color touch screen. All operating
functions are controlled through the display screen (e.g.
displays end time, processing steps, and processing
methods, etc.).
Figure 1-B
1.6.2 Reagent Cabinet
The reagent cabinet (Figure 1-C) holds ten bottles of
processing reagents, designated as stations 1 through 10.
There are four additional stations: Station 15 is a paraffin
waste reservoir used in an automated paraffin transfer
procedure. Stations 16 and 17 hold bottles for xylene and
alcohol used during the cleaning cycle. The final bottle is a
condensation bottle used to collect condensate from the
fume condenser system.
Figure 1-C