Incubator Module Removal and Replacement

NOTE—These incubators are NOT interchangeable.

Parts and Materials Required

• Proper PPE
• Allen wrench, 4 mm
• HIGH TEMP INCUBATOR, ASSY

  or

• AMP INCUBATOR, ASSY

  or

• TRANSITION INCUBATOR, ASSY

Incubator Hardware Comparison

Warning— There are three UNIQUE incubators in the Panther System! Because of these differences, the incubators CANNOT be interchanged! For example, you cannot use an Amp Incubator in lieu of a High Temp Incubator!

The comparison table below shows the differences between the three incubators:

Incubator	Base Plate	Fan	Magnets
High Temp	No holes	11.8W Sunon	None
Transition	No holes	6.7W Sunon	None
Amp	6 holes for RTFs	6.7W Sunon	Yes

Time Required

• 30 minutes (does not include re-teaching the Distributor)

Removal Procedure

MTUs may be present in module. It is necessary to remove all MTUs to avoid contamination.

1. Put on proper PPE.
2. Clear all MTUs from the Panther System.
3. Close the Service Software, if necessary, and power down the system.
4. Carefully open the Service Drawer.
5. Locate the Incubator to be replaced.
6. Remove the Mid Bay front panel.
   1. Using a 4 mm Allen wrench, loosen the four 5 mm screws that secure the Mid Bay front panel.

      

   2. For the Amp Incubator, remove the external fan with a long handled 4 mm Allen wrench to remove the two 5 mm screws that secure the external fan and unplug the connection.

      

7. Using a long handled 4 mm Allen wrench, remove the two screws that secure the Incubator. There are 2 screws on the sides and 1 locating pin on the front under the incubator door.

   

8. Remove the COP cable connected to the Incubator.
9. Slide forward toward the front of the system and raise upward to remove the Incubator from the system.
10. Remove the Incubator from the Panther System.

    NOTE—If returning the module, decontaminate the module and complete the COD/OBF/RMA Form [19-02-APX-A].

Replacement Procedure

1. Verify that the DIP switch settings are correct according to the replaced Incubator's PCB.

   DIP Switch	Transition Incubator	HT Incubator	Amplification Incubator
   1	ON	OFF	OFF
   2	OFF	OFF	ON
   3	OFF	OFF	OFF
   4	OFF	OFF	OFF

2. Installation of the incubators is the reverse of the removal procedure.

   NOTE—If the front foot is installed too low or too high, improper Linear Distributor teaching or crashing will occur.

   

   NOTE—Ensure that the front incubator mounting peg is correctly seated in the slot. Adjustments may need to be made to the side mounting feet to correctly locate the mounting screws. After the mounting screws are re-installed, ensure that the Linear Distributor head does not contact the incubator foam cap or the front of the incubator door during rotation – further adjustment of the incubator mounting may be required to allow clearance if the distributor is contacting the front of the incubator.

   

   NOTE—The Amp Incubator has a splash shield and an external fan that may be removed to ease service.

3. Carefully close the Service Drawer.
4. Start up Service Software.
5. Load Panther System firmware to the incubator.

   NOTE—Firmware should only be loaded if the Incubator was replaced with a new module. There is no need to load firmware if the incubator is not being replaced with a new module.

Note— If replacing an incubator on an ATLAS System (IEH/ROKA), after running Firmware, refer to TB-01307 to update all 3 incubator Parameters. ATLAS assays run at different temperatures than AptimaAutomated Probe Transcription Mediated Amplification. Trade name for amplified NAT infectious disease assays and reagents designed for use with Hologic's instrument platforms. assays. After setting the new incubator parameters, shutdown, go back into SSW, and check to make sure they were saved correctly.

Alignment / Calibration

1. Perform an Incubator Slot Alignment procedure.
2. Teach the Distributor to the Incubator.

Verification

1. Perform a System Level Operational Qualification.
2. Verify that the Incubator is within temperature specification.
3. If an Amp Incubator was replaced AND RTFs were moved from the old incubator to new incubator then a PQ is required.