Covaris
LE220 (-plus, R-plus, and Rsc) Setup & Instruction Manual
6
Part Number: 010398 Rev H | November 2019
1.
Introduction
1.1
Overview of the User Manual
This manual contains operation and maintenance instructions for the Covaris LE220-plus, LE220R-plus, and LE220Rsc Focused- ultrasonicators. This
document contains information essential to the proper use and care ,of your equipment. Should any unforeseen problems occur with the normal
operation of the equipment, contact Covaris Technical Support immediately.
The following definitions apply in this manual:
NOTE:
Inconvenience if disregarded.
WARNING:
Personal injury may occur.
CAUTION:
Equipment damage may occur.
There is also a PDF version of this manual, typically available on the computer desktop. Open the manual by double clicking the user manual
icon.
1.2
The LE220-plus Instrument
The LE220-plus Focused-ultrasonicators are based on Covaris Adaptive Focused Acoustics (AFA) technology. These instruments are designed to
provide researchers an integrated stand-alone tool to be used in a laboratory environment. The instrument is ideal for those who work with
tissue homogenization, cell lysis, DNA or chromatin shearing, and other sample preparation steps.
The system is comprised of the:
•
Treatment System
which delivers the acoustic energy to the sample
•
Safety System
which protects users from inadvertently contacting the high intensity acoustic energy
•
Computer and Application Software
which provides an interface to control the device via the API
•
Water Management System;
which consists of a cooler/heater and a UV treatment chamber with particulate filter to maintain water
quality in the instrument bath
1.3
The LE220R-plus Instrument
In addition to the features of the LE220-plus described above, the LE220R-plus is designed to be integrated with a sample handling robot in an
automated work cell. The front door of the safety enclosure contains a cutout providing the robot arm access to the inside of the LE220R-plus
cabinet. The LE220R-plus presents the sample tray at the opening, and the robot arm loads or unloads the sample through the opening. The
LE220R-plus is controlled by custom software built using the Covaris Integration Toolkit.
A light curtain has been added as an additional safety interlock. The light curtain is wired into a safety rated relay controller the output of
which is connected to the Covaris controller board. If an operator reaches through the robot access opening while the system is running, motor
power and acoustics are immediately disabled.
The light curtain consists of invisible, infrared light and an infrared detector. Beams of light on 14 mm spacing are transmitted between the
source and detector. Blocking one or more beams of light trigger the safety interlock system. Acoustics and motion will remain paused until
the beams are unobstructed.
1.4
The LE220Rsc Instrument
The LE220Rsc is an enhanced version of the LE220R-plus. In addition to the features of the LE220-plus and LE220R-plus, the LE220Rsc
contains an extended travel X axis motion stage. This longer travel stage allows treatment of 96 and 384 position well plates using the
Covaris scanning treatment method.
