G E H E A L T H C A R E SE 1200 Easy Breeze ™ Air Gel Drying System User Manual 80-6290-71 SE1200-IM/Rev C/8-98
Hoefer® is a registered trademark and Easy Breeze™ is a trademark of GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences Inc. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or organizations.
Important User Information English Please read this entire manual to fully understand the safe and effective use of this product. The exclamation mark within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance instructions in the literature accompanying the instrument. If you have any comments on this manual, please send them to us at: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences Inc.
Renseignements importants d’utilization Français Wichtige Benutzerinformationen Deutsch Pour une bonne compréhension et une utilisation en sécurité maximale, il convient de lire entièrement ce manuel. Dans la documentation qui accompagne l’instrument un point d’exclamation dans un triangle équilatéral a pour but d’attirer l’attention de l’utilisateur sur des instructions importantes de fonctionnment ou de maintenance.
C ONTENTS Air Dryer Function and Description 3 Unpacking 3 Specifications 4 Operating Instructions 6 Setting up the Dryer 6 Preparing the Gel for Drying 7 Thin Gels Thick Gels Assembling the Gel Drying Stacks Working with Gel Frames That are Not Preassembled Working with Preassembled Gel Frames 7 7 8 8 8 Drying the Gels 10 Care and Maintenance 11 Troubleshooting 12 Visualization Notes 13 Direct Autoradiography 13 Fluorography 13 Bibliography 13 Customer Service Information 14 T
Air Dryer Function and Description Air Dryer Function and Description The SE 1200 Easy Breeze Air Gel Dryer dries polyacrylamide gels by circulating air around gels that are supported on at least one side by semi-permeable cellophane. The dryer circulates air that is either at ambient temperature, or heated to ≅43 °C (low setting) or ≅54 °C (high setting). Two 20 cm x 20 cm drying frames and a loading platform (20 cm x 20 cm) are included.
Air Dryer Function and De scription Specifications 115 V~ model Max. wattage 1325 W Max. voltage 105 - 125 V ~ Frequency 57 -63 Hz 230 V~ model Max. wattage 1325 W Max. voltage 210 - 250 V ~ Frequency 47 -63 Hz Environmental operating conditions Indoor use 4 – 40 °C Humidity up to 80% Altitude up to 2000 m Installation category II Pollution degree 2 Dimensions width x depth x height 32 x 51 x 27 cm (12.5 x 20 x 10.5 in.) Product certifications EN61010-1, UL3101-1, CSA C22.2 1010.
Air Dryer Function and Description Important information Informations Importantes Dryer Placement Mise en Place du Sécheur • • Afin d’assurer une bonne circulation d’air, placer le sécheur de façon à ce que la partie frontale du sécheur et les orifices d’aération à l’arrière ne soient pas obstrués. • Il est recommandé d’utiliser le sécheur sous une hotte aspirante durant le séchage de gels traités avec des solvants organiques ou tout autre produits potentiellement dangereux.
Operating Instructions Operating Instructions Setting up the Dryer 1. Place the dryer in a well ventilated area such as under a fume hood. 2. Plug the mains power cord into a properly grounded receptacle. The mains power switch operates the fan, which circulates air that is either at ambient temperature or heated if the heater is switched on.
Operating Instructions Preparing the Gel for Drying Listed below are recommended procedures to ensure optimum drying results for gels of different thicknesses and acrylamide concentrations. Thin gels (0.75 mm or less) are recommended for best results. This drying method is not recommended for: • Agarose gels, which are generally too thick. • Polyacrylamide gels attached to GelBond® film. Thin Gels (Gel thickness ≤0.75 mm—or—gel thickness >0.75 mm and acrylamide ≤10% T) 1.
Operating Instructions agents include EN3HANCE™ and sodium salicylate. For these, use 1% glycerol in the final cold water soak to minimize gel cracking. 3. Load the gel onto the drying frame as described below. Assembling the Gel Drying Stack Gel frames that are delivered in the same package as the Easy Breeze are preassembled. When you order additional SE 1210 Series gel frames, you must install the eight knobs that lock the inner frame in place before they can be used.
Operating Instructions Figure 2 Frame parts and gel drying stack assembly (frame size 20 cm x 20 cm or 20 cm x 25 cm) Outer frame, Hoefer label faces up. Screw 8 knobs into the threaded holes in the outer frame. Cellophane or Mylar Orient the frame so that the screws face down. Gel Cellophane Inner frame, with word UP facing up Loading platform 6. Turn the frame assembly over. Turn each knob ¼ turn so that the long edge is perpendicular to both frames. (See Figure 3.
Operating Instructions Drying the Gels 1. Slide each frame assembly into the Easy Breeze dryer, driest assembly on top, knobs facing up. Turn on the power switch (-) and then set the heater temperature switch to the high (=), low (-), or fan only (o) setting.
Care and Maintenance Care and Maintenance Cleaning NOTE Never autoclave or heat any component above 55 °C. After each use, wipe the dryer with a damp cloth. Clean each frame with mild soap and water, rinse thoroughly with water and distilled water, and allow to air dry. Never use abrasive cleansers on any part. Do not expose the frame to solutions or vapors of aromatic or halogenated hydrocarbons, ketones, esters, alcohols (over 30%), or concentrated acids (over 25%).
Tro uble shooting Troubleshooting Gel or cellophane cracks All gels • • • • • Handle the gel and cellophane with care. Fully hydrate the cellophane with distilled water just before use and avoid stretching it during assembly. If the cellophane is drying too quickly, instead of hydrating it in distilled water, soak it in the same glycerol solution used for the gel. Always remove all air bubbles before drying. Lower the heat setting. Load frame assemblies into the dryer from the top down.
Visualization Notes Visualization Notes Direct Autoradiography Prepare the gel in the usual manner and expose to film as directed with the instructions accompanying the film. Exposure times, especially for medium energy beta-emitters such as 14C and 35S can be quite long. For maximum sensitivity of these types of labels, use fluorography.
Cus to mer Serv ice Information Customer Service Information Technical Service and Repair GE Healthcare offers complete technical support for all our products. If you have any questions about how to use this product, or would like to arrange to repair it, please call or fax your local GE Healthcare representative. NOTE Request a copy of the GE Healthcare “Health and Safety Declaration” Form before returning the item. No items can be accepted for servicing or return unless this form is properly completed.