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.
Claims11
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 movement of the drive system, wherein the reciprocating member rotates along an angle of rotation between 0 degrees and 180 degrees;
- and
- a surface orientation sensor that is operable to sense an orientation of a surface of the sample held by the sample holder.
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 rotating member coupled to the drive system to drive movement of the drive system, the rotating member having a reciprocating arm and a vertically oriented rotating disk member attached to the reciprocating arm;
- and
- a surface orientation sensor that is operable to sense an orientation of a surface of the sample held by the sample holder.
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 rotating member coupled to the drive system to drive movement of the drive system, the rotating member having an arm operable to rotate 180 degrees between a first vertical position and a second vertical position;
- and
- a surface orientation sensor that is operable to sense an orientation of a surface of the sample held by the sample holder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.