Sliding blade microtome
OwnerGeorge Kong, Jian-Qiang Konginventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The sliding blade microtome is a tissue specimen cutting device including a specimen syringe and an adjustable cutting mechanism for diagonally slicing the specimen. The specimen syringe is a cylindrical shaft having a first end and a second end for holding and supporting a specimen. The first end has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the shaft, forming a compressed lip for applying pressure on the specimen prior to slicing by the blade. The pressure used to compress the gelatin and the specimen holds the gelatin and the specimen in a sturdy position to slice the specimen to precision without chatter marks. The specimen is pushed out of the first end of the specimen syringe by a motor mechanism or a manually adjustable micrometer drive.
Claims14
A microtome, comprising:
- a base;
- a bath disposed on the base, the bath being adapted for holding a buffer medium, the bath having a bottom wall and at least one peripheral wall extending around the bottom wall, the bath having a syringe aperture defined therein;
- a specimen syringe having a hollow shaft extending through the syringe aperture of the bath;
- a plunger having a first end and a second end, the first end of the plunger forming a holding surface adapted for having a specimen secured thereto, the plunger being slidably disposed in the specimen syringe;
- and
- a cutting mechanism attached to the base adjacent the first end of the specimen syringe;
- whereby the specimen is pushed through the syringe shaft into the bath and the cutting mechanism slices the specimen within the bath.
A method of slicing a tissue specimen comprising the steps of:
- attaching the tissue specimen to a first end of a plunger;
- embedding the tissue specimen in a gelatin within the specimen syringe;
- compressing the embedded tissue specimen as it exits a first end of the specimen syringe;
- disposing the specimen syringe in a bath;
- and
- sliding a cutting blade across the specimen at the first end of the specimen syringe, thereby slicing the specimen in the bath.
A microtome, comprising:
- a base;
- a specimen syringe mounted on the base, the specimen syringe being a hollow shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end having a compressed lip;
- a plunger having a first end and a second end, the first end of the plunger being adapted for providing a holding surface to which a specimen is disposed;
- and
- a cutting mechanism attached to the base and slidable across the first end of the specimen syringe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.