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Replace the needle annually during the prescribed preventive maintenance (PM) schedule or any time the needle appears damaged or bent.
Recommendation: Waters Technical Service recommends that you replace the needle seal each time you replace the needle. See
Replacing the needle seal and seal port tubing after you complete this procedure.
Warning: To avoid personal contamination with biologically hazardous or toxic compounds, wear clean, chemical-resistant, powder-free gloves when performing this procedure.
Warning: To avoid eye injury, use eye protection when performing this procedure.
Required tools and materials
Needle kit, also known as sample needle cartridge (289016331)
Chemical-resistant, powder-free gloves
Protective eyewear
T20 TORX driver
To replace the sample needle:
Caution: Ensure that you install the needle cartridge before installing the needle, as described in the following procedure. The needle cartridge is heavier than the needle and could easily break it.
Ensure that the system is powered-on.
Open the sample compartment door and the fluidics compartment door.
Remove any sample plates from the sample compartment.
Using the T20 TORX driver, loosen the captive screw that secures the access panel, and then remove the panel.
Figure 1: Captive screw on access panel
Captive screw
Locate the needle cartridge in the sample compartment. The needle cartridge houses the needle and helps to secure it in place.
Figure 2: Needle cartridge location in the sample compartment
Needle cartridge
Sample compartment area
Unscrew the tool-free fitting, and then release it from the top clip.
Figure 3: Tool-free fitting and clip
Top clip
Tool-free fitting
Open the rotating latch on the needle carriage to release the needle cartridge.
Figure 4: Rotating latch on the needle carriage (red arrow indicates counterclockwise direction to open)
Needle cartridge
Locate the block with a small notch that secures the sample needle to the right-hand side of the sample compartment wall. Open the rotating latch, and then remove the step-shape portion of the sample needle from the notch.
Figure 5: Second rotating latch and notch on the sample compartment wall
Block on sample compartment wall
Step-shape portion of the sample needle in the small notch
Second rotating latch on compartment wall
Lift the sample needle out of the puncture needle assembly at the bottom of the needle carriage area, and then remove the needle cartridge from the sample compartment.
Warning: To avoid puncture injuries, handle sample needles, syringes, fused silica lines, and borosilicate tips with extreme care.
Note: To avoid damage to the end of the needle, do not touch or press the end of the sample needle.
Note: The puncture needle assembly consists of the puncture needle, vespel, and PEEK housing.
Figure 6: Removing sample needle from the puncture needle assembly
Sample needle
Puncture needle assembly
Obtain the replacement sample needle. Remove the protective sleeve from the needle tip.
Locate the magnet in the recessed section of the needle carriage arm. Mount the needle cartridge onto the magnet.
Warning: To avoid puncture injuries, handle sample needles, syringes, fused silica lines, and borosilicate tips with extreme care.
Note: To avoid damage to the end of the needle, do not touch or press the end of the sample needle.
Figure 7: Magnet location in needle carriage arm
Needle carriage arm
Magnet in the recessed section
To install the sample needle into the needle carriage assembly:
Slide the sample needle into the vespel guide at the bottom as shown in the following figure.
Insert the ferrule into the needle retainer at the top.
Close the rotating latch by turning clockwise.
Figure 8: Install the sample needle into the needle carriage assembly
Rotating latch (ferrule is behind the rotating latch)
Vespel guide
Route the needle tubing through the notch in the small block on the sample compartment wall. Then turn the rotating latch clockwise to secure the needle tubing in the notch.
Figure 9: Secure the needle tubing in the notch (second rotating latch on compartment wall)
Small block on sample compartment wall
Needle tubing in notch
Rotating latch on sample compartment wall
Connect the sample needle to the extension loop using the tool-free fitting. Then secure the needle tubing in the top clip.
Figure 10: Reconnecting the sample needle to the extension loop
Extension loop
Needle tubing in top clip
Tool-free fitting
Reinstall the access panel and align the tabs at the top of the access panel with the slots in the bezel. Then install the access panel and use the T20 TORX driver to tighten the one captive screw that secures the panel to the front of the system.
Requirement: Ensure that the needle tubing is routed in the clip.
Figure 11: Captive screw on access panel
Captive screw
Close the sample compartment door and the fluidics compartment door.
Recommendation: Waters recommends that you replace the needle seal each time you replace the needle.
Sample manager maintenance procedures
