FujiFilm FLA-8000 User manual

FLA-8000
OPERATION MANUAL
2002. Jan. Version 3.0
Version 3

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Contents
Contents
Part 1 PRECAUTIONS ......................................................................................3
1. Grounding Safety............................................................................................................... 5
Purposes of grounding ..............................................................................................................................5
Grounding work..........................................................................................................................................5
2. Laser Safety........................................................................................................................ 6
Lasers used.................................................................................................................................................6
Applicable safety standards......................................................................................................................6
Laser safety.................................................................................................................................................6
Instrument cover ........................................................................................................................................6
3. High-Voltage Safety ........................................................................................................... 8
4. Regulations and Standards .............................................................................................. 8
5. Radiation Safety................................................................................................................. 9
Relationship with radiation hazard prevention law ................................................................................9
Radio isotope pollution .............................................................................................................................9
6. Radiation Hazard Prevention Related to Radioisotope Pollution ............................... 10
Controlled area .........................................................................................................................................10
Limit of superficial pollution ...................................................................................................................10
Installation site of instrument .................................................................................................................10
Carrying out of the controlled area ........................................................................................................10
7. Radioisotope (RI) Pollution............................................................................................. 11
RI pollution of IP ....................................................................................................................................... 11
Pollution of instrument body ..................................................................................................................12
8. Maintenance of SHG Laser ............................................................................................. 12
9. Installation Environment ................................................................................................. 12
10. Precaution for Disposal................................................................................................. 12
11. Other Instructions..........................................................................................................13
Slide carrier...............................................................................................................................................13
Gel Carrier .................................................................................................................................................14
IP Carrier....................................................................................................................................................15
Part 2 SYSTEM CONFIGURATION ................................................................17
1. Features of Instrument .................................................................................................... 18
2. Standard System Configuration ..................................................................................... 19
Part 3 Switching On and Off ..........................................................................21
Part 4 Scanning Slide Glass Samples ..........................................................23

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Contents
Part 5 Usage of IPs.........................................................................................49
1. Usage of IPs ..................................................................................................................... 50
1.1 About IPs .............................................................................................................................................50
1.2 Available IPs........................................................................................................................................50
1.3 Checking the exposure surface ..........................................................................................................50
1.4 Instructions on handling IPs .............................................................................................................51
1.5 Precaution before exposure..............................................................................................................52
1.6 Erasing IPs ..........................................................................................................................................53
2. Exposing and Scanning IPs............................................................................................ 54
2.1 Tools and materials ............................................................................................................................54
Part 6 Scanning IPs........................................................................................57
Part 7 Scanning Gel Samples........................................................................77
Part 8 Setting Optional Filters .....................................................................101
Part 9 Daily Maintenance .............................................................................105
1. Maintenance of SHG Laser ........................................................................................... 106
Part 10 Troubleshooting ..............................................................................107
Troubles in FLA-8000 body ............................................................................................... 108
Countermeasures according to warning and error messages.......................................111
Other Troubles ................................................................................................................... 127
Part 11 Specifications ..................................................................................129
Major Specifications .......................................................................................................... 130
Image Scanning Specifications ........................................................................................ 130
Power Supply Facilities..................................................................................................... 131
Part 12 Warranty...........................................................................................133
Warranty of FLA-8000........................................................................................................ 134
Repair Service Period of Product..................................................................................... 134

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Part
1
PRECAUTIONS

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This section describes the matters that require special attention to the safe use of the FLA-8000.
This section shows the general precautions for using the FLA-8000, some of which are also described in other
sections.
CAUTION
*Do not place a vase, flowerpot or glass containing water in it
or metallic object on this instrument. If water or metallic object
penetrates into the instrument, it may cause a fire, electric
shocks or electrocution.
*Do not place a heavy object on this instrument. If it falls down
or drops, it may cause injury.
WARNING
CAUTION
*Do not modify this instrument. Unauthorized modification may
cause a fire, electric shocks or electrocution.
*If a metallic piece, water, fluid or foreign matter is put in the
instrument, turn off the instrument, disconnect theAC power
cable, and contact the dealer. Using the instrument with foreign
matters in it may cause a fire, electric shocks or electrocution.
*Ask the dealer to move this instrument when needed.
*When you use the instrument for a long time, take a rest for
10 to 15 minutes every hour and give your eyes and hands a rest.

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It is quite important to ground an electric or electronic instrument.
The purposes of grounding are as shown below:
(1)Preventing damages to the instrument caused by charging of the metallic
casing originating from deterioration or defects of insulating material of the
electrical circuits of the instrument.
(2)Preventing electrostatic hazards caused by static electricity in the instrument.
(3)Eliminating noises by equalizing the potential levels of the instrument casing
and ground.
(4)Preventing lightning damages.
This instrument requires class D grounding.
Class D grounding prevents electric shocks or electrocution in the case where
electric current leaks from an instrument whose source voltage is 300 VAC or less.
The class D grounding resistance must obligatorily be 100 ohms or less.
Exclusive grounding work should desirably be carried out in conformity to the
electric facility technical standards.
1. Grounding Safety
Purposes of grounding
Grounding work
1. Grounding Safety
WARNING
Ground this instrument. Afailure to ground the instrument may
cause leakage, resulting in a fire, electric shocks or electrocu-
tion. Consult the dealer if it is impossible to ground the instru-
ment.

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The FLA-8000 uses the following three lasers:
(1)LD laser, class IIIb, wavelength of 635 nm, maximum power of 20 mW (CW)
(2)SHG laser, class IIIb, wavelength of 532 nm, maximum power of 5.5 mW (CW)
(3)SHG laser, class IIIa, wavelength of 473 nm, maximum power of 2 mW (CW)
(Optional)
This instrument meets the laser radiation safety requirements specified in the Code
of Federal Regulations (21 CFR, Chapter 1, Subchapter J).
It also conforms to EN60825-1/A11 (1996), Class 1 Laser Product.
2. Laser Safety
Lasers used
Applicable safety standards
This instrument conforms to the above-mentioned standards and is designed to be
safe against laser radiation. The laser leak level is suppressed below 22.1 mJ for
sufficiently safe operation, provided the user carries out operation (including user
maintenance) of the instrument properly.
The cover is fixed with screws to the instrument. If you loosen these screws or
detach the cover, laser beam may leak out. Never loosen these screws or detach
the cover. Such an act is allowed to a serviceman only.
Laser safety
Instrument cover
Never detach the inner cover screwed to this instrument. If it is
detached, laser beam may leak and you may loose your eye-
sight.
WARNING
2. Laser Safety

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This instrument employs a high-voltage power supply for photo-multipliers (PMTs).
However, the user is completely free from the possibility of touching the high-volt-
age power supply, provided the user carries out operation (including user mainte-
nance) of the instrument properly.
3. High-Voltage Safety
4. Regulations and
Standards
WARNING
Never detach the cover from the instrument. This instrument
has high-voltage circuits. If you detach the cover, you may pos-
sibly get an electric shock or be electrocuted in the worst case.
This instrument fits or conforms to the regulations and standards shown below.
* Standard List
EMC
Japan VCCI, Class A (Conformance)
USA FCC Rules, Part 15, Class A
Europe EMI EN55022 (1998)
EMS EN55024 (1998)
Safety
Europe EN61010-1 (1993)
TUV approval (TUV PS)
Laser
USA 21 CFR, Chapter I, Subchapter J, Part 1040.10 Laser Prod-
ucts Europe EN60825-1/A11 (1996)
CE LV Instruction (73/23/EEC)
EMC Instruction (89/336/EEC)
* Use a host PC that conforms to the European Standards when this instrument is
used in an European country.
3. High-Voltage Safety / 4. Regulations and Standards

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This instrument is not equipped with any radioisotope (RI) or radiation generating
unit. Therefore, it is not regulated by the radiation hazard prevention law or rel-
evant regulations.
This instrument is, however, capable of reading image plates (IPs). The IP surface
may be polluted by radioisotope (RI), depending on the sample condition.
Such pollution is greatly influenced by the sample condition, and it is quite difficult
to foresee the degree of pollution.
Radioisotope pollution may harm the FLA-8000 body due to improper operation or
an unexpected trouble. The performances of the FLA-8000 will not be deteriorated
even if it is polluted by radioisotope.
However, it is not easy to know about the degree of pollution of objects that sustain
such radioisotope pollution.
5. Radiation Safety CAUTION
Follow the instructions of your radiation administrator if radio
isotope pollution occurs.
Relationship with radia-
tion hazard prevention law
Radio isotope pollution
5. Radiation Safety

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Article 1, paragraph 1 of the law enforcement rules (Prime Minister's Office ordi-
nance No.56) for prevention of radiation hazards due to radioisotope and so forth
defines the controlled area as "a place where the dose equivalent related to exter-
nal radiation exceeds the dose equivalent determined by the Director General of
the Science and Technology Agency (hereinafter referred to as the Director Gen-
eral), the concentration of radioisotope in the air exceeds the concentration deter-
mined by the Director General, or the radioisotope concentration on the surface
polluted by radioisotope exceeds the concentration determined by the Director
General."
Article 4, paragraph 3 of Notice No. 15 of the Science and TechnologyAgency that
determines the quantity, etc. of radiating isotope specifies that radioisotope con-
centration on the surface polluted by radioisotope must be one tenth of the con-
centration defined in Article 8.
Article 8 and Table 3 of this Notice define the limits as shown below:
(1)Superficial concentration of radioisotope that radiates alpha rays: 4 Bq/cm2
(2) Superficial concentration of radioisotope that does not radiate alpha rays: 40 Bq/cm2
This instrument is capable of reading not only IP but also fluorescent pigment
label samples (Non-RI method). Therefore, it is recommended that the user should
install it outside the controlled area and use RI-indicated samples without contact-
ing them with IPs directly.
When a sample is in direct contact with an IP, it is generally known that the sample
for making an auto-radiogram contains quite a small quantity of radioisotope.
However, the degree of superficial pollution of the IP is greatly influenced by the
dryness of the sample and dose of radioisotope in an experiment and may exceed
the limits mentioned in [Limit of superficial pollution] above.
When the instrument reads an IP with a polluted non-exposure area, it may be
polluted. The degree of such superficial pollution greatly differs with users' opera-
tion conditions. Superficial pollution may exceed the limit mentioned above.
As mentioned above, install this instrument in the RI controlled area if the user
uses RI-indicated samples in direct contact with IPs.
If it is necessary to carry out the instrument and its laboratory, which were in-
stalled and have been used in the controlled area, out of the controlled area, it
should be made sure that the degree of the superficial pollution is below the limits
mentioned in [Limit of superficial pollution] above.
6. Radiation Hazard
Prevention Related to
Radioisotope Pollu-
tion
Controlled area
Limit of superficial pollu-
tion
Installation site of instru-
ment
Carrying out of the con-
trolled area
6. Radiation Hazard Prevention Related to Radioisotope Pollution

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This instrument is capable of reading IPs. The IP surface may be polluted by
radioisotope (RI), depending on the sample conditions, if a sample is in direct con-
tact with the IP surface. If a part of the protection layer is damaged and the fluores-
cent material surface is RI-polluted, such pollution may not be eliminated.
Dispose of RI-polluted IPs as non-flammable radioactive waste.
If RI-polluted IPs are stored with other non-polluted IPs, pollution may be tran-
scribed to the non-polluted IPs. Be very careful.
IPs may be used repetitively and accordingly should be protected against RI pollu-
tion. If an RI sample is used in direct contact with an IP, cover the RI sample with
Saran Lap®or other lapping film to prevent it from touching the IP surface.
Note this it is difficult to eliminate the RI pollution completely if the IP surface is RI-
polluted.
Note: Saran Lap®is the registered trademark ofAsahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
7. Radioisotope (RI)
Pollution CAUTION
Follow the instructions of your radiation administrator if radio
isotope pollution occurs.
RI pollution of IP
7. Radioisotope (RI) Pollution

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The IP surface may be polluted by radioisotope. Therefore, RI pollution may ex-
pand to the inside of the instrument in the case of improper operation.
It is necessary to use the instrument properly in order to prevent expansion of RI
pollution (to the inside of the instrument), though the performances of the instru-
ment will not be deteriorated even if the instrument is RI-polluted.
The SHG laser employed in this instrument requires periodical calibration. If it is
not calibrated periodically, SHG-laser reading may be disabled or the life of the
SHG laser may be reduced.
See Part 9 "Daily Maintenance" of this manual for the details of the SHG laser
maintenance procedures.
Note: When the user turns on and starts the instrument, the SHG laser is
calibrated automatically. Thus, the user need not pay special attention
to periodical calibration. If the user does not use the instrument for a
long time, start it once every 30 days to execute calibration.
This instrument reads IPs and fluorescent samples in a well-lighted room. How-
ever, do not install it in a place exposed to the direct sunlight, which is not suitable
to IP reading and may cause temperature rise inside the instrument or shield leak-
age, resulting in a failure of proper operation of the instrument. Install the instru-
ment in a place that meets the temperature and humidity conditions shown in "Ma-
jor Specifications" (shown on page 128).
It is not certain that this instrument will not be RI-polluted, depending on the operating
conditions, even if it is installed out of the controlled area. Before disposing of the
instrument body, IPs and other materials and tools, check superficial pollution as men-
tioned in 6 "Radiation Hazard Prevention Related to Radioisotope Pollution" above.
Dispose of them as radioactive waste if the superficial pollution level exceeds the
limit. Most of the parts composing of this system fall under the category of the
industrial waste. If the superficial pollution level is below the limit, dispose of the
instrument body, IPs and other materials and tools as industrial waste in confor-
mity to the "law with regard to disposal and cleaning of waste." (The instrument
body and IPs are industrial waste.)
Pollution of instrument
body
8. Maintenance of SHG
Laser
9. Installation Environ-
ment
10. Precaution for
Disposal
8. Maintenance of SHG Laser / 9. Installation Environment / 10. Precaution for Disposal

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11. Other Instruc-
tions
Slide carrier
Slide carrier
CAUTION
*The slide carrier weighs 420 g. If it drops onto your feet,
your feet will be injured.
*The slide carrier consists of precision parts. Handle it with
great care. If it drops or impact or external force is applied to
it, it may be deformed and become unusable.
11. Other Instructions

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Gel Carrier CAUTION
*The gel carrier weighs 460 g.
The gel carrier has built-in glass. Be very careful not to drop it.
Never put any objects other than samples on the glass or apply
pressure to the glass.
*Be very careful not to break the gel carrier glass. Broken
glass may cause injury.
*The gel carrier with the following defects are unusable:
Distortion
Lack of ends
Flaws of the glass
Breakage of the glass
Gel Carrier
11. Other Instructions

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IP Carrier
*The IP carrier weighs 370 g.
If it drops onto your feet, your feet will be injured.
*The IP carrier becomes unusable if it drops and deforms or its
ends are lost.
IP Carrier
11. Other Instructions
CAUTION

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Part
2
SYSTEM CONFIGURATION

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The FLA-8000 employs solid lasers of wavelengths suitable to excitation of fluo-
rescent pigments originally developed by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. It combines
several lasers of different wavelengths with three types of filters and reads slide
glass and gel dyed with various fluorescent pigments.
In addition, it may read image plates (IPs) originally developed as radiation energy
sensors by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
After reading an IP, the FLA-8000 emits beams onto it uniformly inside the eraser
to erase the after-image. It is possible to use IPs repeatedly by erasing after-
images. This feature saves costs. Besides, compactly designed IPs are easier to
handle than the traditional X-ray film.
With these features, a single FLA-8000 enables not only gel imaging of DNA, RNA
and protein but also automatic radiography.
This instrument system has the following features:
* Making a high-sensitivity and high-resolution image of slide glass and gel dyed
with fluorescent pigments.
* Provides very-high-resolution images equivalent to X-ray film.
* Reusable IPs featuring very high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, reliable
linearity and high resolution.
* Capability of executing other analysis during IP exposure.
* High resolution, high sharpness and linearity high above other film-less systems.
* System configuration requiring no darkrooms or automatic development systems.
1. Features of Instrument
1. Features of Instrument