Block alignment for microtomes

A method for aligning a block specimen in a microtome comprising the steps of:

• providing a device for aligning the block specimen in the microtome, the device comprising:
• a knife holder component removably attached to a knife holder of the microtome;
• a pin alignment component extending vertically from the knife holder component in a direction substantially parallel to the block specimen, the pin alignment component comprising:
• a plurality of front pins extending from a front surface of the pin alignment component configured to slide in response to an angle of the block specimen;
• and
• a plurality of rear pins extending from a rear surface of the pin alignment component and coupled to the front pins;
• and
• an angle indicator indicating an angle between the knife holder component and the pin alignment component;
• wherein the rear pins are configured to indicate the extension of the front pins from the pin alignment component;
• moving the block specimen in the microtome into a position to abut at least one of the plurality of front pins;
• and
• re-positioning the block specimen in the microtome so that substantially all of the plurality of front pins contact the block specimen at about the same distance from the pin alignment component.