Microtome

A microtome, comprising:

• a base;
• a tank disposed on the base, the tank being adapted for filling with a bath for sliced samples;
• a feeding mechanism for feeding select amounts of specimen to be sliced, the feeding mechanism extending through the base into the tank, the feeding mechanism having a housing adapted for holding the specimen;
• a movable cutting mechanism adapted for slicing samples from the specimen fed by the feeding mechanism;
• the cutting mechanism spanning above the feeding mechanism;
• the cutting mechanism having a reciprocating carriage movable in a direction toward and away from the feeding mechanism, and having a blade disposed at an acute angle with respect to the reciprocating direction, the blade vibrating along the acute angle;
• and
• a control mechanism for coordinating operations of the feeding mechanism and the cutting mechanism;
• wherein the combined movements of the carriage and the reciprocating blade minimize cut surface irregularities to produce sliced samples of uniform thickness.