Micromanipulator for a cryomicrotome

A method of operating a microtome system having

• a cryomicrotome with a working space and a sectioning device comprised of a preparation holder and a knife edge,
• a micromanipulator,
• a tool for retaining a specimen support, and
• a transfer container that comprises at least one receiving opening for a said specimen support and that is replaceably insertable in the working space,
• wherein a portion of the micromanipulator that controls position of the tool is located outside the working space,
• comprising the steps of:
• retaining a preparation by the preparation holder;
• in a sectioning operation, guiding the preparation holder and the knife edge past one another inside the working space to thereby produce thin sections of the preparation;
• and
• before the sectioning operation, positioning the tool by the micromanipulator to a position at which the tool retains the specimen support proximate the knife edge;
• and
• maintaining, by the micromanipulator and the tool, the specimen support proximate the knife edge and substantially stationary during the sectioning operation and loading of a thin section of the preparation produced by the sectioning operation from the knife edge onto the specimen support.