Microtome and method of reversibly altering a microtome

A microtome comprising:

• a microtome blade, the microtome blade having a blade edge;
• and
• a cassette clamp, the cassette clamp having first, second, and third members, the first member having a generally planar surface and a pair of threaded openings, the second member having a pair of openings, first and second opposing surface portions, and a third surface portion, the second member being removably engaged with and rigidly fixed to the first member in a manner such that the pair of openings of the second member are aligned with the pair of openings of the first member, the third member comprising a clamping surface that opposes the third surface portion of the second member and that is movably connected to the first and second members in a manner such that the clamping surface is able to move toward and alternatively away from the third surface portion of the second member, at least a portion of each of the opposing surfaces being closer to the clamping surface of the third member than to third surface portion of the second member, the second and third members being adapted and configured in a manner such that a histological tissue cassette can be biased between the clamping surface of the third member and the third surface portion of the second member with the histological tissue cassette positioned between the opposing surfaces of the second member, the first, second, and third members being movable together relative to the microtome blade in a manner such that the second member can be positioned between the first member and the blade edge of the microtome blade.

A method comprising:

• providing a microtome, the microtome comprising a microtome blade and a cassette clamp, the microtome blade having a blade edge, the cassette clamp having a pair of threaded fasteners and first, second, and third members, the first member having a generally planar surface and a pair of threaded openings, the second member having a pair of openings and a first surface portion, the second member being removably engaged with and rigidly fixed to the first member by the fasteners which pass through the pair of openings of the second member and are threadably engaged with the openings of the first member, the third member comprising a clamping surface that opposes the first surface portion of the second member and that is movably connected to the first member in a manner such that the clamping portion is able to move toward and alternatively away from the first surface portion of the second member, the second and third members defining a first distance that is a closest distance that the clamping surface of the third member is able to move toward the first surface portion of the second member, the second and third members being adapted and configured in a manner such that a histological tissue cassette can be biased between the clamping surface of the third member and the first surface portion of the second member, the first, second, and third members being movable together relative to the microtome blade in a manner such that the second member can be positioned between the first member and the blade edge of the microtome blade;
• and
• removing the second member of the cassette clamp from the first and third members and thereafter attaching a fourth member to the cassette clamp in place of the second member, the removing of the second member from the first and third members comprising threadably disengaging the fasteners from the openings of the first member, the fourth member having a pair of openings and a first surface portion, the attaching of the fourth member to the cassette clamp occurring in a manner such that the fourth member is removably engaged with and rigidly fixed to the first member with the pair of openings of the fourth member aligned with the pair of openings of the first member and the fasteners passing through the pair of openings of the fourth member and being threadably engaged with the openings of the first member, the attaching of the fourth member to the cassette clamp also occurring in a manner such that the fourth and third members are adapted and configured to bias a histological tissue cassette between the clamping surface of the third member and the first surface portion of the fourth member and such that the fourth and third members define a second distance that is a closest distance that the clamping surface of the third member is able to move toward the first surface portion of the fourth member, the second distance being less than the first distance.

A method comprising:

• providing a microtome comprising a first histological tissue cassette clamp;
• providing a second histological tissue cassette clamp;
• securing the second histological tissue cassette clamp to the microtome via the first histological tissue cassette clamp;
• and
• securing a histological tissue cassette to the microtome via the second histological tissue cassette clamp when the second histological tissue cassette clamp is secured to the microtome via the first histological tissue cassette clamp.