Thin section preparing method

A thin section preparing method of slicing an embedded block having a biological sample embedded therein by a cutter to prepare a thin section, the method comprising the steps of:

• setting wherein positions of the embedded block and the cutter are individually moved to initial positions set in advance;
• adjusting height wherein the embedded block and the cutter are relatively moved along a vertical direction vertical to an assumed plane to adjust a height of the embedded block set at the initial position to be a predetermined height;
• and
• cutting wherein after the height adjusting step, the embedded block and the cutter are relatively moved along two directions, an approaching and separating direction in parallel with the assumed plane, in the direction in which the embedded block and the cutter approach and separate from each other, and a sliding direction in parallel with the assumed plane and nearly orthogonal to the approaching and separating direction, and the embedded block is sliced to cut off the thin section while the embedded block and the cutter are being relatively slid, motions of the cutter and the embedded block are controlled from the initial positions in such a way that in conducting the cutting step, the embedded block is brought into contact at a same point of a nose of the cutter, and then the cutter is slid in the same direction as a ratio between a velocity in the approaching and separating direction and a velocity in the sliding direction is kept the same, and
• wherein the cutting step is conducted under a same velocity ratio condition by a rough sectioning operation in which the embedded block is roughly sectioned, and by a fine sectioning operation in which the embedded block after roughly sectioned is finely sliced.