Bio-Rad Helios® Gene Gun System - Manual (Page 14)

Push Bar A metal bar that ratchets the cartridge holder from one position
to the next when the Cylinder Advance Lever is pressed. Move
this bar to the left (outward) prior to inserting a cartridge
holder to provide additional room for maneuvering the cartridge
holder.
LED Display An 11 light display.The display is normally off; inserting a
cartridge holder in the Gene Gun and advancing to position 1
activates the display. The left-most 7 LEDs act to indicate charg-
ing and ready status of the gun. After each firing of the gun and
at reset, the CHARGING LEDs turn-on in bargraph fashion,
left-to-right, throughout the 5 second charging time. Once the
Gene Gun is fully charged, the CHARGED LED will flash, indi-
cating the safety interlock switch can be pressed. Upon pressing
the safety interlock, the ARMED LED’s sequentially flash.
When the trigger is pressed during the 30 sec armed period, the
gun fires and the FIRED LED turns-on for 1 sec. The change
bargraph then operates as described. The last light indicates
battery status : good battery (steady green light) or low battery
(flashing red light). The Gene Gun can be fired when the green
light is illuminated. If the battery is low, neither the safety inter-
lock switch or the trigger button is active and an alarm will beep
three times every 15 sec.
Tubing Prep Station (see Figure 6)
Tubing Prep
Unit Controls
Description
3 Position Switch Located on the motor housing and controls rotation of the tubing
support cylinder. At position (
I ), the tubing support cylinder turns
continuously at 30 revolutions per minute (rpm). At position ( II ),
the tubing support cylinder rotates only while the switch is
depressed. At position (O), no rotation occurs and the unit is off.
Flow Meter Registers the rate of nitrogen flow in liters per min (LPM) into the
tubing support cylinder. The valve on the flowmeter is used to
control the rate of nitrogen flow.
Tubing Support Cylinder A 28" aluminum cylinder with an opening on the right side
leading to a channel which holds the Gold-Coat tubing. The
left side of the channel has a replaceable O-ring into which the
tubing must be inserted. The tubing support cylinder can be
removed by pushing it to the right/left to compress the spring
which holds it in position.
Tubing Cutter (see Figure 7)
An instrument for rapid preparation of cartridges from Gold-Coat tubing. It cuts the tubing into
the exact length and shape required by the Gene Gun.
Tubing Cutter Part Description
Arm A spring-loaded piece that holds a razor blade (used for cutting
the tubing). The razor blade is held in place by the locking knob
on the lock block.
Base The support for the arm. It positions a storage vial under the
tubing channels so that the cut tubing pieces fall into the vial.
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