Patent ID: 7780853

Claim:
A method for conducting maintenance on a chromatography column comprising: a) providing a chromatography column comprising: a dispersion system comprising a nozzle including a mobile phase pathway connected to a liquid inlet; a tube with an adaptor assembly, said adapter assembly moveable within a cavity of said tube in an operational mode; the adapter assembly comprising a distributor and a bed support fastened to each other by releasable fixing means; a collection system opposing the dispersion system; and one or more seals; b) disconnecting the adapter assembly from the tube; c) lifting the adapter assembly above the tube to provide a gap for access therebetween; d) unfastening the bed support from the distributor by releasing the fixing means; e) removing the bed support from the column with a handling device; f) conducting maintenance on the column and/or the bed support and/or said one or more seals; g) returning the bed support to the column with said handling device and fastening the bed support to the distributor; and h) lowering the adapter assembly to an operational position within the tube and reconnecting the adapter assembly to the tube.