Patent ID: 8864997

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 adapter assembly and a base assembly, said adapter assembly moveable within a cavity of said tube in an operational mode; the base 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) releasing the tube from the base assembly; c) lifting the tube and the adapter assembly above the base assembly 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 the backing plate; and h) lowering the tube and the adapter assembly and reconnecting the tube to the base assembly.