Gilson Microman M10 User manual

MICROMAN®
ENGLISH
Other languages can be consulted
and downloaded on our website,
www.gilson.com.

2
MICROMAN®
1 - INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on acquiring your new Microman®
pipette. Microman is suitable for many different
types of application, including pipetting volatile,
viscous, dense, or high surface tension liquids.
It is a quality product from Gilson, which is fully
ISO8655 compliant, CE labeled (conforms to
the EC directive on in vitro diagnostic medical
devices).
The six models permit precise and accurate
pipetting of viscous, dense and vaporous liquids.
They also allow contamination free pipetting,
avoiding vapor contamination and cross-
contamination. M25, M50 and M250, with thin
and long CPs are especially suited for use
with long or narrow vessels. M10 and M100
autoclavable models are especially suited for
100 % contamination free pipetting. Enjoy the
following features:
CONTENTS page
1 - INTRODUCTION 2
2 - PARTS CHECK LIST 3
3 - DESCRIPTION 4
4 - OPERATING RANGES AND MATERIALS 5
5 - USING MICROMAN 5
6 - FITTING THE CAPILLARY AND PISTON 6
7 - SETTING THE VOLUME 8
8 - PIPETTING 10
9 - GLP FEATURES 11
10 - TROUBLESHOOTING 11
11 - CLEANING AND DECONTAMINATION 12
12 - SPECIFICATIONS 14

3
ENGLISH
- Microman pipettes are equipped with a posi-
tive displacement mechanism that isolates the
aspirated liquid from the body of the pipette.
The positive displacement mechanism pre-
vents the sample-to-sample contamination
that can result from the aerosol effect.
- Microman uses disposable capillaries and pis-
tons. Changing these parts, which must be the
only ones to make contact with the aspirated
liquids, can provide absolute protection against
the contamination caused by carry-over from
one sample or reagent to another. You simply
have to change the capillary and piston be-
tween each assay; they are automatically and
simultaneously ejected, thus avoiding any risk
to the operator.
- Microman is equipped with a direct reading
volumeter that allows precise and continuous
adjustment of the required volume. Microman
is permanently calibrated at the manufacturing
stage, the capillary and piston are positioned
automatically, therefore it requires no further
calibration.
- Microman requires no lubrication or mainte-
nance, because of the nature and quality of
the materials used in its construction.
2 - PARTS CHECK LIST
Just take a moment to verify that the following
items are present:
- Microman,
- User's Guide,
- Safety bag,
- Adhesive id-tags (strip of 6),
- Capillary-pistons (10),
- Certificate of conformity (including bar-code
sticker).

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MICROMAN®
3 - DESCRIPTION
 Color coded push-button (red for autoclav-
able Microman), and magnifier with volume
range for aspirating, and dispensing.
 Body or handle.
 Capillary.
 Piston.
 Capillary-piston holder.
 Shaft.
 Thumbwheel for setting the volume.
 Volumeter.










} CP

5
ENGLISH
4 - OPERATING RANGES AND MATERIAL
Available Models (Table 1)
Model Volume Range Autoclavable
M10 1 µL to 10 µL Yes
M25 3 µL to 25 µL No
M50 20 µL to 50 µL No
M100 10 µL to 100 µL Yes
M250 50 µL to 250 µL No
M1000 100 µL to 1000 µL No
Materials (Table 2)
Model Spring Clamp Shaft Body Capillary Piston C-P
CP Holder (B) (C) (P)
M10 SS Be Alloy Polyester PVDF Polypropylene Polyester CP10
M25 SS Be Alloy Polyester PVDF Polypropylene Polyester CP25
M50 SS Be Alloy Polyester PVDF Polypropylene Polyester CP50
M100 SS Be Alloy Polyester PVDF Polypropylene Polyethylene CP100
M250 SS Be Alloy Polyester PVDF Polypropylene Polyethylene CP250
M1000 SS Be Alloy Polyester PVDF Polypropylene Polyacetal CP1000
SS = Stainless Steel
Be = Beryllium
PVDF = Polyvinylidene Fluoride
5 - USING MICROMAN
Three simple steps are necessary:
1) Mount the capillary-piston.
2) Set the volume.
3) Aspirate and Dispense.
Microman is automatically calibrated, by cor-
rectly fitting a capillary-piston. After setting the
volume, the volume measured will be accurate
and precise.
☞
☞

6
MICROMAN®
6 - FITTING THE CAPILLARY AND PISTON
Never lubricate the capillary-holder,
capillary, or any other part of the pi-
pette. If the capillary tends to slip off
the capillary-holder, clean the capillary-
holder with ethanol, using a medical
wipe or similar soft tissue.
Microman M25, M50 and M250
Take care not to damage the sealing tip  when
you handle the piston .
1) Verify that the model of capillary-piston
(identified on the Tipack security sticker on
the rack) corresponds to the Microman you
are preparing for use: CP25 is for use with
the M25, CP50 is for use with the M50 and
CP250 is for use with the M250.
2) Press the push-button to the second stop to
open the clamp .
3) Select a piston and slide the stem  fully
into the clamp.






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ENGLISH
4) Slide the mounted piston into the capillary .
5) Gently push the capillary until it snaps onto
the capillary-holder .
Microman M10, M100 and M1000
The capillary-pistons (CP) are
delivered already assembled. To
fit a capillary -piston, follow this
procedure:
1) Verify that the model of - CP -
capillary-piston (identified on
the Tipack security sticker on
the rack) corresponds to the
Microman you are preparing
for use: CP10 is for use with
the M10, CP100 is for use
with the M100 and CP1000
is for use with the M1000.
2) Press the push-button on
the Microman past the first
stop position to the second
stop position. The piston
clamp should now be open
and protruding from the
capillary-holder.
3) Slide the Microman piston
clamp inside the top of the
capillary tube until the piston
clamp is halfway down the
piston mounting stem.
4) Slowly release the push-
button, while pushing the
body of the Microman into
the capillary-piston until it is
firmly seated on the Microman.
Step 2
Step 3





CP

8
MICROMAN®
5) Continue releasing the push-button to ensure
that the piston is secured by the piston
clamp.
6) To ensure that the piston is correctly seated,
and therefore calibrated, slowly press the
push-button until you feel and hear a slight
click.
7- SETTING THE VOLUME
The volume of liquid to be aspirated is set using
the volumeter. The volumeter consists of three
number-dials, which are read from top (most
significant digit) to bottom (least significant digit).
A marker is used to set exact or intermediate
volumes using the scale on the bottom dial. The
dials are colored either black or red to indicate
the position of the decimal point, according to
the model (see examples).
3
6
8
36.8 µL
M50
0
6
8
6.8 µL
M25
1
6
8
168 µL
M250
0
7
5
0.75 mL
M1000
0
6
8
6.8 µL
M10
0
6
8
68 µL
M100
Model Color of volumeter numbers
Black Red
M10, M25, M50 µL 0.1 µL
M100, M250 µL none
M1000 0.1 and 0.01 mL mL
The volume is set by turning the thumbwheel
slowly to reach the required setting.

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ENGLISH
To obtain maximum accuracy
when setting the volume, pro-
ceed as follows:
- when decreasing the volume
setting, slowly reach the re-
quired setting, making sure
not to overshoot the mark.
- when increasing the volume
setting, pass the required
value by 1/3 of a turn and
then slowly decrease the
volume to reach the required
setting, making sure not to
overshoot the mark.
To avoid parallax errors, make sure that the vol-
ume indicator and the selected volume marking
are in your direct line of vision. At close range
you may find it helps to close one eye.

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MICROMAN®
8 - PIPETTING
Aspirating
- press the push-button
to the first stop (1),
- immerse the capillary
2 mm into the liquid,
- slowly, release the
push-button to draw
up the liquid (top
position),
- wipe any liquid from
the outside of the cap-
illary, taking care not to
touch the orifice.
Dispensing
- place the end of the capillary against the inside
wall of the recipient vessel,
- press the push-button slowly to the first
stop,
- keeping the push-button depressed, move the
capillary away from the side wall,
- withdraw Microman from the vessel and re-
lease the push-button.
Ejecting the Piston-capillary:
Press the push-button to the first stop (1),
then press harder to the second stop (2); at
this point the piston and capillary are ejected
simultaneously.
9 - GLP FEATURES
These are as follows:
- No-need-to-touch disposables (capillary-piston).
- Serial Number: engraved on body of the pipette.
Top
1
2

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ENGLISH
- Bar Code: on the box and with
the certificate (can be trans-
ferred).
- ID Tag (Application or User).
- Colour coded push-button blue
for standard Microman, red for
autoclavable Microman.
- Colour-coded magnifier with
volume range.
- Gilson certificate of conformity
according to ISO8655.
- Microman and CP are CE IVD
labeled.
10 - TROUBLESHOOTING
You may be able to identify and to correct the
problem by reference to the following table. If
you can’t solve the problem, contact your Gilson
representative.
Before returning any pipette, ensure that
it is completely free of chemical, biologi-
cal, or radioactive contamination. Use the
safety bag provided by Gilson.
Leaks: change the capillary and piston.
No stroke: the piston is not properly fitted into
the clamp; check that the piston is seated cor-
rectly (refer to pages 6-7).
Difficult to fit a capillary: clean the capillary-
holder with ethanol.
Inaccuracy: you should check the capillary is
correctly mounted on the capillary-holder (refer
to pages 6-7).
Imprecision: change the capillary and piston.
ID Tag
Serial Number

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MICROMAN®
Difficult to set the volume: this suggests that
the pipette is damaged internally; in which case
you should contact your Gilson representative.
If the problem persists ... Contact your Gilson
representative.
11 - CLEANING AND DECONTAMINATION
Microman is designed so that the parts normally
in contact with liquid contaminants, can easily
be cleaned and decontaminated.
Cleaning
The pipette must be cleaned with soap solution
before it is decontaminated.
External
1) Wipe the entire pipette with a soft-cloth or
lint-free tissue impregnated with soap solu-
tion, to remove all dirty marks. If the pipette
is very dirty, a brush with soft plastic bristles
may be used.
2) Wipe the entire pipette with a soft-cloth or
lint-free tissue impregnated with distilled
water.
3) Leave the parts to dry by evaporation or
wipe them with a clean soft-cloth or lint-free
tissue.
Internal
The following components only can be immersed
in a decontaminant solution: clamp assembly,
return spring and capillary-holder (shaft).
1) Unscrew the capillary-holder (shaft).
2) Remove the clamp assembly and return
spring from the shaft.

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ENGLISH
3) Set aside the body (handle) in a dry and
secure location.
4) Clean the individual components using an
ultrasonic bath (for 20 minutes at 50 °C) or
with a soft-cloth and brushes. Small round
brushes with soft plastic bristles may be used
to clean the interior of the shaft.
5) Rinse the individual components with distilled
water.
6) Leave the parts to dry by evaporation or
wipe them with a clean soft-cloth or lint-free
tissue.
7) Reassemble the pipette.
Decontamination
You may refer to the Decontamination Procedure
LT802288 available at www.gilson.com.
Chemical Decontamination
The pipette should be cleaned before it is
decontaminated. Full details of recommended
decontamination procedures for Gilson pipettes
are available from your supplier. Whatever other
decontaminant you use, check with the supplier
of the decontaminant that it is compatible with
the materials used in the construction of the
pipette, and does not attack either of the follow-
ing plastics: Polyester or PVDF (Polyvinylidene
Fluoride).
Non-immersible Parts
1) Wipe the body (handle) of the pipette with
a soft-cloth or lint-free tissue impregnated
with the chosen decontaminant.
2) Wipe the body (handle) of the pipette with
a soft-cloth or lint-free tissue impregnated
with distilled water or sterilized water.

14
MICROMAN®
Immersible Parts
The following components only can be immersed
in a decontaminant solution: clamp assembly,
return spring and capillary-holder (shaft).
1) Unscrew the capillary-holder (shaft).
2) Remove the clamp assembly and return
spring from the shaft.
3) Set aside the body (handle) in a dry and
secure location.
4) Immerse the components in the decontami-
nant solution or wipe them according the
instructions given by the manufacturer or
supplier of the decontaminant.
5) Rinse the individual components with distilled
or sterilized water.
6) Leave the parts to dry by evaporation or
wipe them with a clean lint-free tissue or a
soft-cloth.
7) Reassemble the pipette.
Autoclaving
Only Microman M10 and M100 are autoclavable.
The four other models (Microman M25, M50,
M250, and M1000) are not autoclavable.
1) Unscrew the capillary-holder (shaft).
2) Remove the clamp assembly and return
spring from the shaft.
3) Clean the parts to be autoclaved, especially
the shaft.
4) Put the parts in an autoclaving sack.
5) Autoclave for 20 minutes at 121 °C, 0.1 MPa.
6) Check that the parts are dry before reas-
sembling the pipette.
7) Set the pipette aside to stabilize at room
temperature.

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ENGLISH
12 - SPECIFICATIONS
Microman is a high quality pipette that offers
excellent accuracy and precision. The figures
given in the “Gilson Maximum Permissible Errors”
table were obtained using Gilson CPs. These
figures are only guaranteed by using genuine
Gilson CPs.
Each pipette is inspected and validated by
qualified technicians according to the Gilson
Quality System.
Gilson declares that its manufactured pipettes
comply with the requirements of the ISO 8655
Standard, by type testing. The adjustment is
carried out under strictly defined and monitored
conditions (ISO 8655-6):
• Basis of adjustment, Ex.
• Reference temperature, 20 °C
• Relative humidity, 50%
• Barometric pressure, 101 kPa
• Use of distilled water grade 3 (ISO 3696)
• Ten measurements for each test volume,
which are Nominal Volume, 50% of Nominal
Volume, and the minimum or 10% of Nominal
Volume.
The data given in the table conform to the ISO
8655-2 Standard.
☞

16
MICROMAN®
Performance Tests
Each pipette is inspected and validated according
to the Gilson Quality Assurance System. Based
on extensive historical data, manufacturing con-
ditions and expertise, and in compliance with ISO
standards relative to statistical process control,
the assurance level of this instrument performing
to specifications is 99.8%. Specifications rely on
the quality and consistency for the whole pipet-
ting system; they are guaranteed only when the
pipette is used with Gilson capillary-pistons.
Specifications Table
Maximum Permissible Errors
Model Volume Gilson ISO 8655
(Reference) (µL) Systematic Random Systematic Random
error (µL) error (µL) error (µL) error (µL)
Min. 1 ± 0.09  0.03 ± 0.20  0.10
M10 5 ± 0.10  0.03 ± 0.20  0.10
(F148501) Max 10 ± 0.15  0.06 ± 0.20  0.10
Min. 3 ± 0.25  0.08 ± 0.70  0.30
M25 10 ± 0.27  0.08 ± 0.70  0.30
(F148502) Max. 25 ± 0.30  0.10 ± 0.70  0.30
M50 Min. 20 ± 0.34  0.20 ± 0.70  0.30
(F148503) Max. 50 ± 0.70  0.30 ± 0.70  0.30
Min. 10 ± 0.50  0.20 ± 1.50  0.60
M100 50 ± 0.75  0.30 ± 1.50  0.60
(F148504) Max. 100 ± 1.00  0.40 ± 1.50  0.60
Min. 50 ± 1.50  0.30 ± 6.00  2.00
M250 100 ± 1.70  0.30 ± 6.00  2.00
(F148505) Max. 250 ± 2.50  0.50 ± 6.00  2.00
Min. 100 ± 3.00  1.60 ± 12.00  4.00
M1000 500 ± 5.00  2.50 ± 12.00  4.00
(F148506) Max. 1000 ± 8.00  4.00 ± 12.00  4.00

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ENGLISH
EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
- Microman® M10, M25, M50, M100, M250, M1000
- Positive displacement Capillaries/Pistons
98/79/EC*
on In Vitro Medical Diagnostic
comply with the requirements
of the following European
Directive:
Villiers-le-Bel, October 5th, 2004
S. Solotareff R. Pascal
General Manager Quality Director
GILSON S.A.S.
19, avenue des Entrepreneurs
BP. 145 - 95400 Villiers-le-Bel (France)
Tel.: [phone],
Fax: [phone],
www.gilson.com
* Annex III, self-declared
The company,
Hereby certifies on its sole responsibility that the products
listed below:

18
MICROMAN®
NOTES

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ENGLISH

World Headquarters
Gilson, Inc.
3000 W. Beltline Hwy., P. O. Box 620027, Middleton, WI 53562-0027, USA
Telephone: [phone] or (1) 608-836-1551 Fax: [phone]
Gilson SAS
19 avenue des Entrepreneurs, B. P. 145, 95400 Villiers-le-Bel, France
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
LT801502/A - ©2005 Gilson SAS All right reserved January 2005
English Printed in France