Thermo Scientific KingFisher Flex User manual

Thermo Scientific
KingFisher Flex
Brief User Manual
Catalog Number N13141
Pub. No. MAN0019871 Rev. A.0
For Laboratory Use.

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Copyright
© 2020 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved. All (other) trademarks are the property of Thermo
Fisher Scientific Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Reproduction of the accompanying user documentation in whole or in part is prohibited.
Patents
This product is protected by the following patents: US 6447729, Method and means for magnetic particle
specific binding assay, and US 6448092, Separation device for microparticles involving a magnetic rod. Thermo
Scientific™KingFisher™Flex also has national and international patents pending.
Disclaimer
Thermo Fisher Scientific reserves the right to change its products and services at any time to incorporate
technological developments. This manual is subject to change without prior notice as part of continuous product
development. Although this manual has been prepared with every precaution to ensure accuracy, Thermo
Fisher Scientific assumes no liability for any errors or omissions, nor for any damages resulting from the
application or use of this information. This manual supersedes all previous editions.
No liability for consequential damages
Thermo Fisher Scientific shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential damages whatsoever arising out of
the use or inability to use this product.
Power failure
The system requires uninterrupted power supply in order to operate correctly. Thermo Fisher Scientific has no
responsibility whatsoever for system malfunctions arising from power failures.
Warranty
The Thermo Scientific™KingFisher™products are fully guaranteed against defective parts and materials,
including defects caused by poor workmanship for a period of one year from the date of delivery.
Thermo Fisher Scientific will repair or replace defective parts or materials during the term of warranty at no
extra charge for materials and labor provided that the products were used and maintained in accordance with
instructions from Thermo Fisher Scientific. The warranty is invalid if products have been misused or abused.
For the warranty to be effective, the product must have been purchased either directly from Thermo Fisher
Scientific or from an authorized Thermo Fisher Scientific distributor. The guarantee is not transferable to a third
party without prior written approval from Thermo Fisher Scientific.
This guarantee is subject to the following exclusions:
Any defects caused by normal wear and tear.
Defects caused by fire, lightning, flood, earthquake, explosion, sabotage, war, riot or any other
occurrence of the character listed above.
Refurbished products that are subject to different warranty conditions.
THIS WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. The seller is not liable for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with the use of the
product or other indirect damages.
This Brief User Manual is a shorter version of the Thermo Scientific™KingFisher™Flex User Manual, Cat. No.
N07669. The safe use of the instrument requires that all instructions are followed accordingly.

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Table of Contents
Introduction to the KingFisher Flex.................................................................................................4
Intended use....................................................................................................................................4
Principle of operation .......................................................................................................................4
Consumables...................................................................................................................................4
Reagents .........................................................................................................................................4
Installation.........................................................................................................................................5
Unpacking the instrument.................................................................................................................5
Releasing the transport locks...........................................................................................................6
Connecting the power supply cable..................................................................................................8
Fitting the shield plate......................................................................................................................8
Fitting the heating block...................................................................................................................9
Inserting the KingFisher Flex head.................................................................................................10
Operational check..........................................................................................................................11
Installing BindIt Software................................................................................................................11
Routine Operation...........................................................................................................................12
Keypad...........................................................................................................................................12
Navigating......................................................................................................................................13
How to start....................................................................................................................................13
Technical Specifications ................................................................................................................14
General specifications....................................................................................................................15
Safety specifications ......................................................................................................................15
In conformity with the requirements.............................................................................................15

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Introduction to the KingFisher Flex
This Brief User Manual is for the KingFisher Flex instrument. It aims to give you a short introduction
on installing the instrument and Thermo Scientific™BindIt™Software as well as starting a
purification protocol from the internal software.
The complete user manuals for the KingFisher Flex instrument and BindIt Software are provided on
CD, or USB, or are available to download from www.thermofisher.com. Read the user manuals in its
entirety before operating the instrument.
Intended use
The KingFisher Flex magnetic particle processor (Figure 1) is intended for laboratory use by trained
personnel. The instrument is intended for automated transfer and processing of magnetic particles
in a microplate scale. Use for self-testing is excluded. It is recommended that Good Laboratory
Practices (GLP) is followed to guarantee reliable analyses.
Principle of operation
The KingFisher Flex magnetic particle processor (Figure 1) is designed for automated transfer and
processing of magnetic particles in microplate format.
The patented technology of the KingFisher Flex system is based on the use of magnetic rods
covered with a disposable, specially designed tip comb and plates. The instrument functions without
any dispensing or aspiration parts or devices.
Before the run samples and reagents, including magnetic particles, are dispensed manually into the
plates according to the corresponding instructions. The protocol that is selected by the user via the
keyboard and display has already been preloaded into the onboard software. BindIt Software can be
used to create and run protocols.
Figure 1. KingFisher Flex magnetic particle processor
Consumables
For details and ordering information on plastic consumables, such as plates, tip combs, etc. used with
the KingFisher Flex instrument, refer to “List of accessories and consumables” in the KingFisher Flex
User Manual (Cat. No. N07669).
Reagents
There is a wide selection of optimized Thermo Scientific™KingFisher™Pure Kits available for
purification of DNA or RNA. A large variety of starting materials can be used, such as blood, cells,
tissues or cell-free body fluids. The DNA or RNA purified with the KingFisher Pure Kits is of high
quality and free of proteins, nucleases, and other contaminants or inhibitors. For more details, visit
our website at http://www.thermoscientific.com/kingfisher.
Transparent lid
Sliding door (open)

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Thermo Scientific Pierce Protein Research Products are available for protein applications. For more
details on kits available, visit http://www.thermoscientific.com/pierce.
The KingFisher Flex is an open system, which gives an opportunity to also use other magnetic
particle kits. The optimal magnetic particle size for the Thermo Scientific™KingFisher™Duo is ca.
1–10 μm.
Installation
This chapter briefly describes the installation of the KingFisher Flex instrument.
Warning! This product contains very strong permanent magnets. People wearing a pacemaker or metallic
prostheses should not use this product. A pacemaker or prostheses may be affected or damaged if it comes in
close contact with a strong magnetic field.
Caution! The KingFisher Flex should not be kept in close proximity to magnetic tapes, computer discs or other
magnetic storage systems, such as credit cards, as these can be damaged by the strong magnetic field of the
KingFisher Flex heads. Do not hold the KingFisher Flex heads close to a PC display, since this may cause
damage to the display. Do not use metal tools when handling KingFisher Flex heads.
Caution! The heating block is specifically designed for the plates listed below to ensure even heating during
the sample process. Using other plates than those recommended may damage the instrument and diminish the
application performance.
Caution! Do not place the KingFisher Flex heads on top of the instrument or any metal surfaces. Keep the
KingFisher Flex heads always in their respective plastic boxes when not in use. It is very important to keep the
KingFisher Flex heads away from each other and other magnets at all times. Interference of the magnets on
one another may cause serious damage to the magnets.
Unpacking the instrument
Move the packed instrument to its site of operation. To prevent condensation, the instrument should
be left in its protective, antistatic plastic wrapping until the ambient temperature has been reached.
Unpack the KingFisher Flex instrument and accessories carefully with the arrows on the transport
package pointing upwards. Remove the instrument from the package and place it on a level surface.
Refer to the enclosed unpacking instructions.
The following notes and instructions are sent with the instrument and are immediately available when
you open the package:
Unpacking instructions
Thermo Scientific™KingFisher™Flex Feedback Form
Warranty Certificate card
Packing instructions/Packing list
Thermo Scientific™KingFisher™Flex User Manual CD/USB
Transportation discrepancy report
BindIt Software package
Caution! Do not touch or loosen any screws or parts other than those specifically designated in the
instructions. Doing so might cause misalignment and will void the instrument warranty.
Warning! The KingFisher Flex weighs approximately 28 kg [62 lbs.] without the transport package and should
be lifted with care. It is recommended that two persons lift the instrument together, taking proper precautions to
avoid injury.
To lift the instrument, put your fingers under the bottom on either sides and lift it with your back
straight.

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Releasing the transport locks
The instrument comes with two transport locks (Figure 2): the tip comb holder transport lock and the
heating block transport lock. Remove both the transport locks. Make sure both the transport locks are
released before you put the instrument into operation.
To release both the transport locks:
Figure 2.KingFisher Flex transport locks fitted
1. To remove the transport lock of the tip comb holder, take hold of the transport lock screw and
firmly turn it counterclockwise according to Figure 3.
Figure 3.Removing the transport lock of the tip comb holder
2. Remove the transport lock by pulling it out of the hole and store it for future relocation (Figure 4).
When relocating the instrument, refer to “How to refit the transport lock of the tip comb holder” in
the user manual.
Heating block
transport lock
Tip comb holder
transport lock

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Figure 4.Tip comb holder transport lock removed
3. The transport lock of the heating block is removed according to Figure 5. Unscrew the transport
lock screw counterclockwise (Figure 5). Lift the screw with the label attached (Figure 6).
Figure 5.Removing the transport lock of the heating block (A)
4. Remove the transport lock screw from the label (Figure 6).
Figure 6.Removing the transport lock of the heating block (B)

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5. Then fasten the screw clockwise to its storage site on the heating block base. The two screws on
the heating block base guide the heating block into the correct position.
Note! Keep the transport locks (Figure 4 and Figure 6) for future transportation of the instrument.
Both the transport locks have been successfully removed.
Connecting the power supply cable
To connect the power supply cable:
Warning! Ensure that the mains switch (Figure 7) on the bottom left of the back/side panel is in the OFF
position. Never operate your instrument from a power outlet that has no ground connection.
1. Connect the mains supply cable to the mains power connector (Figure 7) at the bottom left of the
back/side panel. If you need to use any other type of mains supply cable than supplied, use only
cables certified by the local authorities. Before you plug in the power cable, ensure that the
voltage on the type label at the bottom left of the back/side panel (Figure 7) corresponds to the
local voltage.
2. Connect the instrument to a correctly installed line power outlet that has a protective conductor
that is grounded.
Figure 7.Mains power supply connector
Fitting the shield plate
1. Ensure that the power is switched OFF.
2. The shield plate has to be installed prior to use of the instrument. Use a hexagonal screwdriver
(Allen key) to fasten the two screws (Figure 8).
Figure 8.Shield plate prior to fitting
3. First insert the shield plate into its slot (Figure 9).
USB port
Mains power supply connector
ON/OFF switch
Serial port RS-232C

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Figure 9.Inserting the shield plate
4. When fastening the two plate retaining screws (Figure 10 A), be careful not to drop them inside
the instrument. Figure 10 B shows the shield plate installed.
A
B
Figure 10.Fastening / loosening the shield plate (A) and when in place (B)
Fitting the heating block
Fastening/changing the heating block is controlled by the software.
1. Choose the Change_heatblock protocol under the Maintenance menu by using the up and down
cursor keys.
2. Then press START.
The heating block will thus rise.
3. Insert the heating block by first setting it and then pressing it hard into place (Figure 11 A and B).
The heating block will snap into place at both ends if you have done it correctly.

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A
B
Figure 11.Inserting (A) and pressing the heating block into place (B)
Inserting the KingFisher Flex head
1. Choose the Change_magnet protocol under the Maintenance menu (Maintenance >
Maintenance protocol > Change_magnet) by using the up and down cursor keys.
2. Then press START.
3. Insert the KingFisher Flex head so that the three pins (shown with orange arrows) slot into place
(Figure 12 and Figure 13).
When you insert the KingFisher Flex head, be careful not to damage the magnet rods against the
tip comb holder frame.
4. Confirm the end of the protocol by pressing START.
Figure 12.Inserting the KingFisher Flex head