Reciprocating microtome drive system
AssigneeSakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.
InventorsHwai-Jyh Michael Yang, Xuan S. Bui
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus having a sample sectioning device including a cutting mechanism that is operable to cut sections from a sample and a sample holder that is operable to hold the sample. The apparatus further includes a drive system coupled with the sample holder to drive movement of the sample holder and a reciprocating member coupled to the drive system to drive vertical movement of the drive system. The reciprocating member to move in a reciprocating manner within an angle of rotation of less than 180 degrees. A surface orientation sensor may further be provided that is operable to sense an orientation of a surface of the sample held by the sample holder.
Claims19
A sample sectioning device comprising:
- a cutting mechanism that is operable to cut sections from a sample;
- a sample holder that is operable to hold the sample;
- a drive system coupled with the sample holder to drive movement of the sample holder;
- a reciprocating member coupled to the drive system to drive vertical movement of the drive system;
- and
- a surface orientation sensor that is operable to sense an orientation of a surface of the sample held by the sample holder.
A method comprising:
- positioning a sample that is held by a sample sectioning device relative to a surface orientation sensor;
- sensing an orientation of a surface of the sample held by the sample sectioning device with the surface orientation sensor;
- adjusting the orientation of the surface of the sample held by the sample sectioning device so that the surface of the sample is more parallel with a cutting plane associated with a cutting mechanism of the sample sectioning device;
- and
- producing a vertical movement of the sample sectioning device using a reciprocating member to obtain a section of the sample.
A method comprising:
- aligning a surface of a sample attached to a vertical drive member with a cutting member;
- and
- performing a sample sectioning cycle to obtain a section of the sample by moving the vertical drive member in a vertical direction, wherein moving the vertical drive member comprises moving a reciprocating member attached to the vertical drive member in a reciprocating manner within an angle of rotation of less than 180 degrees.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.