Back to results
US 5,161,446 AGranted
Microtome
AssigneeLeica Instruments GmbH
InventorsWerner Holbl, Gernot Hansel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeLeica Instruments GmbH
InventorsWerner Holbl, Gernot Hansel
Estimating the term…
In order that biological and histological sections may be produced without the risk of injury and at an expenditure acceptable for hobby and instructional purposes, a specimen arm whose distal end carries a specimen holder is supported on the base plate of the microtome. The specimen arm is attached to the base by a spindle which is mounted on the base plate such that it can be displaced in the direction of the cutting knife. An adjusting member is provided for adjusting the position of displacement of the spindle. Uniform section thicknesses are facilitated by a locking ball received in the adjusting member. A clamp is provided on the base plate for holding commercially available cutting blades at the required clearance angle of the cutting edge. Movement of the specimen arm can be brought about by means of a handle or a crank. When the specimen arm is tilted away, unintentional contact with the cutting edge is prevented by a movable blade guard.
A student microtome comprising, a horizontal base, a knife holder fixed to said base adjacent to one end thereof, spindle mounting means connected to the other end of said base, a spindle having an axis and supported by said mounting means, an elongated specimen arm, one end of said specimen arm being connected to said spindle and adapted to pivot about said spindle axis, a specimen holder positioned at the distal end of said specimen arm, and adjusting means for moving said spindle relative said spindle mounting means and said knife holder.
A student microtome comprising, a horizontal base, a knife holder fixed to said base adjacent to one end thereof, said knife holder being adapted to releasably hold a disposable razor blade having a cutting edge, spindle mounting means connected to the other end of said base, a spindle having an axis and supported by said mounting means, an elongated specimen arm, one end of said specimen arm being connected to said spindle and adapted to pivot about said spindle axis, a first spring resiliently supporting the distal end of said specimen arm higher than said cutting edge, a specimen holder positioned at said distal end for moving a specimen held therein into cutting contact with said cutting edge as said arm is pivoted downward, adjusting means for moving said spindle relative to said knife holder, a blade guard pivotally connected to said base, and a second spring urging said guard toward a first position shielding the cutting edge, said arm being arranged to engage said guard as said arm is pivoted downward toward said knife holder to pivot said guard to a second position exposing the cutting edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.