TAN Bead Maelstrom 8 Autostage User manual

Magnetic Rotary Mixer
Maelstrom 8-channel Handler

Table of Contents
About This Manual........................................................................................................1
1 Introduction ........................................................................................................2
2 Equipment List ....................................................................................................4
3 Overview.............................................................................................................5
4 Environmental Requirements .............................................................................7
5 Safety Instructions and Guidelines......................................................................7
6 Before Usage.......................................................................................................8
7 Switch on or off...................................................................................................9
8 Main Page .........................................................................................................10
9 Functional Keys .................................................................................................11
10 Guide Mode ......................................................................................................13
11 Manual Mode....................................................................................................15
12 Edit Page ...........................................................................................................16
To edit the protocol on the M8-H .................................................................16
To edit the protocol in computer..................................................................19
13 Setting Page ......................................................................................................21
14 Error Messages .................................................................................................23
15 Cleaning and Maintenance ...............................................................................25
16 Disposal.............................................................................................................25
17 Patents..............................................................................................................26
18 Accessories........................................................................................................27
19 Appendix...........................................................................................................28
Revised: V2.0_201807

1
About This Manual
The label on the instrument, the User manual, and other packaging material may
contain the following symbols:

2
1Introduction
Maelstrom 8-channel Handler (the M8-H) is a magnetic bead handling equipment
with high speed stirring function, which can spin up to 3000 rpm. With eight 2500
gauss magnetic rods, intuitive interface and simple operation, the M8-H can
accomplish any application of magnetics beads.
Please read this manual carefully before usage.
NOTE: Low battery level of the M8-H might cause the interruption of experiments.
Specifications
Model:
Maelstrom 8-channel Handler
Weight:
600 g
Dimensions:
32.7 x 11.2 x 6.3 cm
Power:
5 V, 2 A
Battery:
3.7 V, 2850 mAh
Capacity:
8 samples per run
Process
volume:
50 μl – 1500 μl
Spin speed:
500 - 3000 rpm
Magnetic
rod:
DIA: 2.0mm, 2500 gauss
Display:
2.4” LCD, 240 x 320 pixel

3
Operation Principle
The M8-H equips eight magnetic rods which can collect and transfer magnetic beads
from one well to another. With the spin tips, suspensions can be mixed by the M8-H
with the adjustable spin speed which is up to 3000 rpm. Purified nucleic acids can be
obtained after the steps of lysis, wash and elute.
Intended Use:
▪The M8-H can be used with the TANBead Nucleic Acid Extraction System
Maelstrom 8 Autostage (the M8-H Autostage). This model offers a fully
automated nucleic acid platform.
▪The M8-H can be used in combination with TANBead Nucleic Acid Extraction Kit
to extract DNA/RNA from specimen.
▪The M8-H can handle magnetic beads for purification of nucleic acid.
Safety and EMC Information:
Safety Requirements
▪The medical device has passed the tests and conformed to the standards of IEC
61010-1:2010, “Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement,
control, and laboratory use - Part 1: General requirements”.
▪The medical device has passed the tests and conformed to the standards of IEC
61010-2-101:2015, “Safety requirements for electrical equipment for
measurement, control and laboratory use - Part 2-101: Particular requirements
for in vitro diagnostic (IVD) medical equipment”.
EMC Requirements
▪The medical device has passed the tests and conformed to the standards of IEC
61326-1:2012 & IEC 61236-2-6:2012, “Electrical equipment for measurement,
control and laboratory use - EMC requirements - Part 2-6: Particular
requirements - In vitro diagnostic (IVD) medical equipment”.
▪The medical device has passed the tests and conformed to following standards:
EN 61326-1:2013
EN 61326-2-6:2013
EN 61000
EN 62304:2015
IEC 62366-1:2015-02

4
2Equipment List

5
3Overview

6

7
4Environmental Requirements
Operation condition:
Temperature: 4-40℃
Humidity: 40-80%
Storage and transportation condition:
Temperature: 8-40℃
Humidity: 0-85%
Maximum operating altitude: 2000 m
To avoid shortening of the lifespan of the instrument, use the M8-H in a location
that meets the following criteria:
Choose a location that has good air circulation.
Do not use the M8-H in a location with large temperature variability or high
humidity.
5Safety Instructions and Guidelines
This device can be used with potentially biohazardous materials. Use
appropriate personal protective equipment (gloves, safety goggles, lab coat,
etc.) for handling and disposing of biohazardous materials.
Under normal condition, sound pressure level from the M8-H does not exceed
80 dBa otherwise, it might cause a hazard. Please contact technical support in
case of higher sound pressure level.
This device can be hazardous due to the use of chemical and biohazardous
substances.
Users should adhere to their institutional guidelines for the handling and
disposal of all infectious substances used with this device.
It is important to clean the device after every use. If samples or reagents have
been spilled, it is required to clean the instrument immediately to avoid damage
or contamination of samples.
This device is designed to use with the compatible spin tips. Using incompatible
spin tips may cause poor extraction performance.
Read this user manual thoroughly prior to operating the device. Failure to read,
understand, and follow the instructions in the manual may result in damage to
the device, injury to laboratory and operating personnel or reach the poor
performance. TANBead and its agents are not responsible for the consequences
caused by the reasons above.

8
6Before Usage
Before first use, charge the M8-H to unlock shipping mode.
Before each use, please mount the spin tips to the M8-H.
1. Assemble the adaptor plug to the transformer. (Fig.1 and Fig.2)
2. Insert the Micro USB of transformer into the charging port of the M8-H. (Fig.3)
3. The M8-H will be turned on automatically without pressing any button. This
indicates the M8-H has been unlock from shipping mode.
NOTE: The automatic turn on only happens at first charging.
4. When the M8-H is plugged into charging port, the charging indicator on the
screen will turn orange. (Fig.4) After the M8-H is fully charged, it will be off.
5. Under normal circumstance, 25℃/75℉ and 1 atm, battery takes 1.5 hours for a
full charge.
6. The battery level and the requiring time for a full charge may vary under different
circumstances.
7. The battery level will decrease slowly even when the M8-H is not being used.
8. Do not disassemble the M8-H.
9. For assistance, please contact your local distributor or manufacturer (TANBead).
Fig.1
Fig.2
Fig.3
Fig.4

9
7Switch on or off
Press menu button to switch on the M8-H.
To turn off, press menu button for 3 seconds.
M
R
M
R
ON
Press menu button (M)
OFF
Press menu button (M)
for 3 seconds
M
R

10
8Main Page
From Main page, user can choose to operate the M8-H in Guide mode or Manual
mode. To pre-set or edit program, please enter edit page. To set up system beep sound,
auto-off, time and date, please enter the setting page. Further system information can
be found in setting page.

11
9Functional Keys
Menu Button
1. Press menu button to turn on the M8-H. To turn it off, press the menu button
for 3 seconds.
2. User can return to main page without saving changes by pressing menu button
twice.
3. In Guide mode, user can exit program by pressing menu button twice.
Rod Button
1. In manual mode, press rod button to extend the magnetic rods. To withdraw
the magnetic rod, just press the rod button again.
2. In edit page, user can change the input method by pressing rod button (R).
ON
Press menu button (M)
OFF
Press menu button (M)
for 3 seconds
RETURN
Press twice
M
R
M
R
M
R
M

12
The Click Wheel
1. In manual mode, use up or down key to increase or reduce the spin speed. Use
left or right key to change the spin direction.
2. In Edit page, use left and right keys to move to each factor. Use up and down
keys to adjust the factor.
3. In setting page, use up and down keys to move cursor. Press enter/mixing trigger
to select.
The Enter/Mixing Trigger
1. Press enter/mixing trigger to activate the enter function.
2. In guide mode, press enter/mixing trigger to start the chosen program.
3. During the processing program, press enter/mixing trigger to pause the step.
4. In manual mode, press enter/mixing trigger to start mixing.
5. In Edit page, press enter/mixing trigger to confirm the parameters. After editing,
move the cursor to save button by the click wheel, and press enter/mixing
trigger to save the change.

13
10 Guide Mode
Follow the instructions on the screen, and press enter/mixing trigger to proceed.
There are pre-installed programs in the M8-H. Use click
wheel and enter/mixing trigger to select.
About editing the program
Please refer to the instructions of edit page for further
editing.
Mixing Collection Vapor Pause Finish

14
Mixing
Mount the spin tips to the M8-H, press enter/mixing trigger to start
mixing. Press enter/mixing trigger again to stop mixing.
Collection
When mixing stopped, raise the M8-H off the wells, and press rod
button to extend magnetic rods. After the rods are completely
extended, slowly insert the M8-H with the spin tips into the well. The
beads will be collected on to the spin tips.
Vapor
After the beads in well are complete collected on the spin tips, raise
the M8-H off the wells and sit the beads in the air for vaporing.
Pause
When the M8-H is connected with the M8-H Autostage, user can
include a pause step based on experimental workflow. During the
pause step, a program paused message will be shown on the screen
and the M8-H starts beeping to remind user.
Finish
When all steps of the program are completed, a finish message will
be appeared on the screen.

15
11 Manual Mode
User can perform each operation separately in manual mode.
Mixing
1. Mount the spin tips to the M8-H.
2. Insert the M8-H to the bottom of wells and press enter/mixing
trigger to start mixing.
3. Press enter/mixing trigger to stop mixing.
4. Use up or down keys to accelerate or decelerate of spin speed.
5. When the spinning is stopped, use left and right keys to change
the spin direction.
Collection
1. When mixing stopped, raise the M8-H off the wells and press
rod button to extend magnetic rods.
2. After the rods are completely extended, slowly insert the M8-
H into the wells. The beads will be collected on the spin tips.
3. Raise the M8-H off the wells, slowly place the M8-H with beads
collected on the spin tips into the target wells.
4. Submerge the spin tips with collected beads in solution and
press rod button again to withdraw the magnetic rod. The
beads will be released in the target wells.

16
12 Edit Page
User can edit, copy, rename or delete programs in edit page. In the absence of the
M8-H Autostage, the program serves as a guide to lead user through the operation in
guide mode.
NOTE: The status of “Stand Connection” should be set as “Disable” (The path of Stand
Connection: Setting → System Param Setting → Stand Connection).
With the M8-H Autostage, the program acts as an automation script to coordinate
the M8-H and the M8-H Autostage.
NOTE: The status of “Stand Connection” should be set as “Enable” when the M8-H
connects with the M8-H Autostage.
To edit the protocol on the M8-H
Select the target program. User can edit, delete or copy the
program.
Program number:
User can store maximum 50 programs (01-50).
Well capacity:
The volume of solution in the well.
Input value: from 50 to 1500 (μl).
The moving range of the spin tips will be optimized based
on this volume.
Temperature:
Temperature in centigrade.
Range: from 20 to 70 (℃)
Enable: select for setting same temperature for all steps.
NOTE 1: These two switches are acting as “Select All” function, user can set the same
temperature for each step by using these two switches.
NOTE 2: These two switches will be cleared every time after program finish, but the
temperature which was set last time, will be remained in each step.

17
Program name:
Maximum 14 characters.
Press rod button (R) to switch between input keys
(abc, ABC, 123, @, DEL, INS)
abc: a-z
ABC: A-Z
123: 0-9
@: - ( )
DEL: press enter/mixing trigger to delete a character
INS: press enter/mixing trigger to insert a character
Step:
User can configure maximum 40 steps in a program.
Please refer to the manuals of the reagents for detailed operation description.
Well:
User can choose a well to set the specific action.
When it is connected with the M8-H Autostage, the M8-H can process maximum
12 columns of wells.
Mode:
Performable actions
Mixing (define Well, Time, Stir, RPM, Temperature, Enable parameters)
Collection (define Well, Time, Temperature, Enable parameters)
Vapor (define Well, Time, Temperature, Enable parameters)
Pause (define Temperature, Enable parameters)
End
RPM:
The speed of spin
Input value from 500 to 3000.
It is recommended to set the spinning speed at least 3000 rpm for the efficient
mixing.
Time:
Operation time of each action
Format: Minutes: Seconds (Minute: 00-59, Second: 00-59)

18
Stir:
Frequency of rotation change.
Input value from 0-990.
Number “20” means the spin direction changes every 20 seconds.
Procedure:
1. Press enter/mixing trigger to select the target program
2. In Cap. & Temp. Edit page, user can change the volume of each well and set a
temperature for whole program by entering a value and ticking in enable box.
3. Press up key to start editing the details of each step.
4. Press enter/mixing trigger at name field, you can rename the program.
5. Press rod button to switch input keys, and press enter/mixing trigger to enter.
6. Use left and right keys of click wheel to move the cursor.
7. Use up and down keys of click wheel to adjust the factor.
8. Set the step at Step field.
9. Set the action at Mode field.
10. Set the target well at Well field.
11. Set the period of the step at Time field.
12. Set the temperature value at Temperature field, please tick in the enable box
for temperature control.
13. Stir field indicates the frequency of rotation change. Number “20” means the
spin direction will change every 20 seconds.
14. Adjust the mixing speed at RPM field.
15. Move the cursor to save button and press enter/mixing trigger to save the
change.
NOTE: The temperature control only functions when the M8-H connects to the M8-H
Autostage