Patent ID: 7708891

Claim:
A method for conducting maintenance on a chromatography column comprising the steps of: 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 connected to a drive system, said adapter assembly moveable within a cavity of said tube in an operational mode; the adapter assembly comprising a backing plate, a distributor and a bed support assembly fastened to each other by releasable fixing means, said drive system comprising one or more cylinders; 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 with the drive system to provide a gap for access therebetween; d) unfastening the bed support assembly from the distributor and the backing plate by releasing the fixing means without accessing said gap; e) removing the bed support assembly from the column; f) conducting maintenance on the column and/or the bed support assembly and/or said one or more seals; g) returning the bed support assembly to the column and fastening the bed support assembly to the distributor and the backing plate; and h) lowering the adapter assembly with the drive system to an operational position within the tube and reconnecting the adapter assembly to the tube.