Method and apparatus for presetting specimens in a cutting device
AssigneeLeica Mikrosysteme GmbH
InventorsReinhard Lihl, Hubert Goll, Anton Lang, Paul Wurzinger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In microtomes or ultramicrotomes, it is necessary to preset the specimen (14) onto the knife (16). In order to facilitate and automate this presetting operation, which is intended to guarantee the fastest and most accurate possible positioning of the knife (16) relative to the specimen (14), the spacing (13) between the trimmed surface (15) of the specimen (14) and the specimen holder (22) is ascertained and is transferred to the microtome or ultramicrotome (10). The spacing (13) is preferably ascertained in the trimming device (12).
Claims16
A method for cutting a specimen having a trimmed surface with a microtome or ultramicrotome, comprising the steps of:
- providing a knife holder for a knife and a specimen holder for holding the specimen,
- using a feed device for producing a relative motion between the knife and the specimen, the specimen,
- ascertaining in a trimming apparatus the spacing between the trimmed surface of the specimen and the specimen holder,
- transferring the spacing to the cutting device, and
- inserting the specimen holder into the cutting device.
A microtome or ultramicrotome for cutting a specimen, comprising:
- a knife holder for a knife and a specimen holder for holding the specimen, a feed device for producing a relative motion between the knife and the specimen and a travel measurement system for measuring the change in the spacing between the knife and the specimen holder.
A system for automatically presetting a specimen onto a knife in a microtome or ultramicrotome, the system comprising:
- a travel measurement system for measuring the change in the spacing between the knife and the specimen holder, a device for transmitting the distance, ascertained in a trimming device, between a trimmed surface of the specimen and the specimen holder, and the trimming device is coupled to the cutting device in such a way that the spacing ascertained in the trimming device is transmitted to the microtome or ultramicrotome.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.