Leica Biosystems ASP6025 - Manual (Page 17)

15 Leica ASP6025
2. Safety
2.3 Safety features on the instrument
The Leica ASP6025 tissue processor is equipped with numerous safety functions and with sophis-
ticated software control mechanisms. These ensure that the specimens remain undamaged in the
event of a power failure or other malfunction during the infiltration process and that the infiltration
is completed successfully.
Overpressure protection
• When power is switched off the pressure air pump and valves default to a safe condition (retort
vented, no pressure generation).
• If the pump is not stopped at the correct moment during the pressurization, the power supply
is interrupted by a separate electronic circuit.
• In addition, there is a safety relief valve that vents all excess air pump output to atmosphere.
Overcurrent protection
• Overcurrent conditions are protected against by both the main fuse and the separate heating
power fuses.
Overheating protection
An error is indicated and all heating is stopped by the microprocessor control if the instrument
detects any of the following conditions:
• Abnormally high temperature (>75 °C),
• Contradictory results of the temperature sensors.
• Failure of one or more heating power control components.
• If the microprocessor fails to interrupt heating power, independent temperature limiting
hardware circuits limit the temperature rise to a safe level.
• If the temperature limiting circuits malfunction, an independent hardware thermal fuse circuit
cuts power to the heating elements.
Over vacuum protection
• The vacuum system is not capable of generating a dangerous vacuum condition.