Patent ID: 8211370

Claim:
A polymer synthesizer for synthesizing one or more polymers, said synthesizer comprising an airtight cabinet configured to maintain therein a positive gas pressure, said cabinet comprising a lid and having mounted therein a plurality of tip dispensers, each one of said tip dispensers being connectable to a reagent container via a reagent dispense line and a reagent dispense valve, said synthesizer comprising: a. a plurality of synthesis columns, each of said synthesis columns being configured to receive at least one reagent in order to synthesize at least one polymer, each of said synthesis columns comprising an upper extremity and a lower extremity; b. a block comprising a plurality of waste columns and a plurality of waste channels, said waste columns being disposed into groups such that for each of said groups, every waste column is simultaneously and continuously fluidly connected to one of said waste channels, each of said waste channels being fluidly connected to a waste valve and each of said waste valves being continuously fluidly connected to a waste system such that every waste columns of one or more of said groups can be simultaneously drained at any given time and independently of other said groups, at least some of said waste columns having sealingly received therein said lower extremity of one of said synthesis columns, said block being displaceable in a substantially horizontal plane along two perpendicular axes wherein said block is displaced along both of the axes independently of the other axis such as to align at least one of said synthesis columns with at least one of said tip dispensers in order for said at least one of said synthesis columns to receive said at least one reagent.