US3828641A - Apparatus for adjusting the elevation of a specimen in microtomes, particularly ultramicrotomes - Google Patents

Apparatus for adjusting the elevation of a specimen in microtomes, particularly ultramicrotomes Download PDF

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Publication number
US3828641A
US3828641A US00305627A US30562772A US3828641A US 3828641 A US3828641 A US 3828641A US 00305627 A US00305627 A US 00305627A US 30562772 A US30562772 A US 30562772A US 3828641 A US3828641 A US 3828641A
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United States
Prior art keywords
specimen
arm
knife
movement
elevation
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US00305627A
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English (en)
Inventor
H Sitte
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C Reichert Optische Werke AG
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C Reichert Optische Werke AG
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
    • G01N1/04—Devices for withdrawing samples in the solid state, e.g. by cutting
    • G01N1/06—Devices for withdrawing samples in the solid state, e.g. by cutting providing a thin slice, e.g. microtome
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
    • G01N1/04—Devices for withdrawing samples in the solid state, e.g. by cutting
    • G01N1/06—Devices for withdrawing samples in the solid state, e.g. by cutting providing a thin slice, e.g. microtome
    • G01N2001/065—Drive details
    • G01N2001/066—Drive details electric
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
    • G01N1/04—Devices for withdrawing samples in the solid state, e.g. by cutting
    • G01N1/06—Devices for withdrawing samples in the solid state, e.g. by cutting providing a thin slice, e.g. microtome
    • G01N2001/068—Illumination means
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T83/00—Cutting
    • Y10T83/647—With means to convey work relative to tool station
    • Y10T83/6492—Plural passes of diminishing work piece through tool station
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T83/00—Cutting
    • Y10T83/647—With means to convey work relative to tool station
    • Y10T83/654—With work-constraining means on work conveyor [i.e., "work-carrier"]
    • Y10T83/6545—With means to guide work-carrier in nonrectilinear path

Definitions

  • the specimen In microtomes, particularly ultramicrotomes, the specimen is often moved through a distance in the order of 5-10 millimeters. These small strokes create difficulties if the specimen is eccentrically disposed in plastic material, as is shown by way of example in FIG. 1a, or if an extended specimen is embedded in a thin block and only an eccentrically disposed portion'of the specimen is of interest. Specimens are embedded in most cases in plastic blocks which are 5-8 millimeters in diameter and have been polymerized about the specimen. The eccentricity of the specimens is frequently fl millimeters and the specimen diameter is usually about 1-2 millimeter.
  • the cutting time must be restricted to the minimum essential.
  • the minimum movement is of an order between 2 millimeters and 5 millimeters.
  • vertical adjustment of the knife can be accomplished best by a vertical displacement of the knife holder or by a vertical adjustment of the specimen resulting from displacement of a part of the specimen carrier arm. It has been discovered that an exact vertical displacement of the knife for a predetermined length and a straight-line displacement of the specimen at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the specimen carrier arm for a predetermined length requires a readjustment at the specimen-knife interface because the specimen moves along an arcuate path during the cut. Therefore, this form of adjustment is complicated and does not give the desired results.
  • the elevation of the specimen carrier arm can be adjusted in a simple manner and with a high degree of accuracy for the required specimen detail and there is no need for adjusting movement which adversely affects the precision bearing for the specimen carrier arm.
  • One adjustment of the knife is sufficient and the knife may be used in a single, standardized elevation regardless of the eccentricity of different specimens.
  • FIG. 1a' shows a specimen which is highly eccentri DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  • the body 1 carries a compound slide 2, on which knife holder 3 provided with an adjusting means 4 is mounted.
  • the body I also carries mount 5, which includes brackets, supports and other rigid elements (all not shown) and on which arm 7 is movably mounted by bearing 6.
  • This bearing is a precision bearing and preferrably is self-adjusting to eliminate conventional bearing clearance.
  • Arm 7 carries the specimen holder 8 in a rotatable mount 9, which is manually adjustable along an arcuate segment member 10.
  • the specimen 11, embedded in a conventional manner such as in plastic, is gripped by specimen holder 8.
  • the feeding system, not shown. is conventional and provides for cutting sections having a thickness in the range from 0.05-2.5 microns.
  • Conventional feeding systems may be mechanically or thermally operated or may be combined mechanical-thermal system and the feedingmovement. may be imparted, to the specimen carrier arm, to knife 26 or both.
  • motion is transferred to specimen 11 by eccentric cam, or the like, v13 mounted on drive shaft 12 and link 14 driven by eccentric l3'at one end and detachably pivoted carrier arm 7 at the other end.
  • Rotation of drive shaft 12 results in an up and down alternate motion of the link 14 and of arm 7 in the direction of double arrows 15 and-16a, respectively.
  • this movement should be minimized so that the optimum cutting speed of the specimen for making the sections is ensured with a relatively high cutting frequency and a relatively high angular speed of the drive shaft.
  • the optimum cutting speeds are within a range of 0.1-2 millimeters per second, as has been mentioned above.
  • Specimens which can be cut only with difficulty such as adipose tissues, require extremely low cutting speeds for example. When such specimens are cut at high speeds, the cut may result in artefacts or produces microvibrations at the specimenknife interface, resulting in undulations in the ultrathin section.
  • the drive shaft 12 is rotatably supported by housing 16, which can be moved in the direction of the double arrow 16a.
  • An adjusting device utilizing convention components such as a transmission comprising a wedge-shaped camwheel, or of a worm gearing is used to position housing 16.
  • a particularly simple arrangement is illustrated using bevel gears 17 and 18.
  • Bevel gear 17 is mounted on shaft 19, which can be manually rotated by knob 20.
  • Bevel gears 17 and 18 may be designed to be self-locking, or the knob 20 may be releasably secured from rotation, for example by clamping, to provide adjustment which is maintained during operatlon.
  • Housing 16 in which the drive shaft 12 is mounted is adapted to be supported by a carrier member 21 recounted on body 1 of the instrument.
  • a spring 22 is provided, which at one end is connected to body 1 and at the other end is connected to housing 16. This arrangement ensures that the means for a vertical adjustment have a stable mounting, will reliably respond to any forces, will transmit even the slightest adjusting movement to arm 7, and also ensures that any adjustment, e.g., to an eccentricity e as shown in FIG. 1, may be effected and maintained without any backlash.
  • Housing 16 is also provided with an indicator 23, which has scales or graduations and which is indirectly connected to the link 14 and indicates corresponding motion of the link.
  • Body 1 is provided with mask 24, which is formed with an aperture located adjacent to graduations or scales of indicator 23.
  • the position indicator behind the mask reveals the vertical setting of arm 7 as well as the changes in the position.
  • the aperture may be in'a housing wall, not shown. in this case, the scale or graduation is provided on the outside of the housing wall.
  • Knob 20 may have adjustable graduations or scales (not shown) so that a predetermined vertical adjustment can be imparted to housing 16.
  • the graduations may be designed as a distance measuring graduation so that specific adjustment can be rapidly effected to position a specimen at a particular setting.
  • FIG. 3 shows a modified, very compact embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention. This embodiment is combined with a drive motor, which is disposed outside the microtome or ultramicrotome.
  • a substantially horizontally extending level 29 is rotatably or pivotally mounted by bearing 28 and near its other end cooperates with drive shaft 12.
  • the up and down alternate movement of the arm 7 is accomplished by means of the eccentric 13 mounted on drive shaft 12, and link 14.
  • the elevation of the specimen 1 l is adjusted by knob or handwheel 30, and which by means of a shaft 31 rotates the cam 32 -so that follower 33 causes level 29 to be pivotally moved about the bearing 28 in the direction of the double arrow 34.
  • Knob 30 is provided with at least one graduation or scale 35 and can be releasably secured in position by clamping.
  • the stressed spring 22 holds cam 32 in engagement with follower 33 to eliminate backlash.
  • Pulley 38 is connected by at least one transmission belt 39-to pulley 40, which is fixed drive shaft 12.
  • the separation of the driving motor from the microtome or ultramicrotome affords the advantage that shocks and vibrations will be absorbed by the drive means and the belts and are not transmitted to the instrument. This will be particularly significant if the alternate motion is rapid. it is also possible to mount the microtome or ultramicrotome on a specially designed stand, which damps vibration, and to mount the motor separately so that the two are connected only by the flexible belt.
  • a tension member 41 is arranged around the axis of bearing 28 and operates the feed drive, not shown, as well as the means for retracting the specimen for return movement.
  • Tension member 41 is secured to a control 43, which is movable about axis 42 and which, in response to rotation of the drive wheel 12 and cam 44 moves in the direction of the double arrow 45 to operate the feed movement.
  • the means for adjusting the specimen carrier be de signed and arranged as specifically shown, although drive means, a rotatable externally threaded shaft adapted to cooperate with an internally threaded passage to move said positioning means upon rotation of said shaft to provide adjustment of the position of said arm with respect to said knife to accommodate eccentricity of the specimen in the plastic, said positioning means carrying a graduated scale to indicate the relative position of said arm with respect to said knife. and a graduated cylindrical scale connected to said shaft to provide visual means indicating the distance the arm is moved.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
US00305627A 1971-11-12 1972-11-10 Apparatus for adjusting the elevation of a specimen in microtomes, particularly ultramicrotomes Expired - Lifetime US3828641A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT976471 1971-11-12

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US3828641A true US3828641A (en) 1974-08-13

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US (1) US3828641A (de)
CA (1) CA1006781A (de)
DE (1) DE2246852A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2160240A5 (de)

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4126069A (en) * 1976-12-13 1978-11-21 Kabushiki Kaisha Akashi Seisakusho Microtome
US4395075A (en) * 1982-03-24 1983-07-26 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours & Co. Misalignment system for a microtome
US4505175A (en) * 1983-01-21 1985-03-19 Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Gmbh Microtome
US4659173A (en) * 1983-12-15 1987-04-21 Rmc, Inc. Microtomy specimen block having a fiber optic transmission medium therein and method of forming the same
US4702464A (en) * 1984-08-22 1987-10-27 Cambridge Instruments Gmbh Guide device for guiding a movable part of an apparatus relative to a fixed part of the apparatus
US5161446A (en) * 1990-10-19 1992-11-10 Leica Instruments Gmbh Microtome
US5299481A (en) * 1990-09-11 1994-04-05 Leica Aktiengesellschaft Carrier arm seal for a microtome of ultramicrotome
US5461953A (en) * 1994-03-25 1995-10-31 Mccormick; James B. Multi-dimension microtome sectioning device
US5752425A (en) * 1995-12-25 1998-05-19 Chuo Precision Industrial Co., Ltd. Microtome
US5881626A (en) * 1995-08-26 1999-03-16 Leica Instruments Gmbh Rotary microtome with a crank mechanism
US6209437B1 (en) * 1994-08-15 2001-04-03 Micron Laborgerate Gmbh Microtome
US20030019310A1 (en) * 2001-07-25 2003-01-30 Olympus Optical Co., Ltd Electromotive stage for microscope
US20030167892A1 (en) * 2002-03-09 2003-09-11 Klaus Foerderer Feeding mechanism for a microtome
WO2003093799A1 (de) * 2002-04-27 2003-11-13 Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg Vorrichtung zur anfertigung von probenschnitten
US20050241449A1 (en) * 2004-05-01 2005-11-03 Chen Ching M Cutting machine for cutting paper into chips
US20060123970A1 (en) * 2004-12-10 2006-06-15 Boeckeler Instruments Inc. Microtome and ultramicrotome with improved carrier arm
US20080000339A1 (en) * 2006-07-03 2008-01-03 Leica Microsystems Nussloch Gmbh Crank Drive System Of A Shaft Of A Microtome
WO2008030279A3 (en) * 2006-09-06 2008-08-07 Jian-Qiang Kong Method and device for cutting fresh tissue slices
US20170350921A1 (en) * 2015-01-05 2017-12-07 Private Institution "Nazarbayev University Research And Innovation System" Scanning probe microscope combined with a device for modifying the surface of an object
US11209340B2 (en) * 2017-10-11 2021-12-28 Leica Microsystems Ltd., Shanghai Rotary microtome and control method for the same

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2822726A (en) * 1955-04-08 1958-02-11 Sorvall Inc Ivan Microtome
AT238963B (de) * 1963-07-29 1965-03-10 Reichert Optische Werke Ag Mikrotom, insbesondere Ultramikrotom, mit gelenkig, spielfrei und kraftschlüssig miteinander verbundenen Lagerelementen
AT238964B (de) * 1963-07-29 1965-03-10 Reichert Optische Werke Ag Einrichtung zum Verschieben des Schneidebereiches an Mikrotomen, besonders Ultramikrotomen, mit Wechselantrieb
US3191477A (en) * 1961-07-03 1965-06-29 Danon David Microtome

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2822726A (en) * 1955-04-08 1958-02-11 Sorvall Inc Ivan Microtome
US3191477A (en) * 1961-07-03 1965-06-29 Danon David Microtome
AT238963B (de) * 1963-07-29 1965-03-10 Reichert Optische Werke Ag Mikrotom, insbesondere Ultramikrotom, mit gelenkig, spielfrei und kraftschlüssig miteinander verbundenen Lagerelementen
AT238964B (de) * 1963-07-29 1965-03-10 Reichert Optische Werke Ag Einrichtung zum Verschieben des Schneidebereiches an Mikrotomen, besonders Ultramikrotomen, mit Wechselantrieb

Cited By (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4126069A (en) * 1976-12-13 1978-11-21 Kabushiki Kaisha Akashi Seisakusho Microtome
US4395075A (en) * 1982-03-24 1983-07-26 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours & Co. Misalignment system for a microtome
US4505175A (en) * 1983-01-21 1985-03-19 Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Gmbh Microtome
US4659173A (en) * 1983-12-15 1987-04-21 Rmc, Inc. Microtomy specimen block having a fiber optic transmission medium therein and method of forming the same
US4702464A (en) * 1984-08-22 1987-10-27 Cambridge Instruments Gmbh Guide device for guiding a movable part of an apparatus relative to a fixed part of the apparatus
US5299481A (en) * 1990-09-11 1994-04-05 Leica Aktiengesellschaft Carrier arm seal for a microtome of ultramicrotome
US5161446A (en) * 1990-10-19 1992-11-10 Leica Instruments Gmbh Microtome
US5461953A (en) * 1994-03-25 1995-10-31 Mccormick; James B. Multi-dimension microtome sectioning device
US6209437B1 (en) * 1994-08-15 2001-04-03 Micron Laborgerate Gmbh Microtome
US5881626A (en) * 1995-08-26 1999-03-16 Leica Instruments Gmbh Rotary microtome with a crank mechanism
US5752425A (en) * 1995-12-25 1998-05-19 Chuo Precision Industrial Co., Ltd. Microtome
US6920803B2 (en) * 2001-07-25 2005-07-26 Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. Electromotive stage for microscope
US20030019310A1 (en) * 2001-07-25 2003-01-30 Olympus Optical Co., Ltd Electromotive stage for microscope
US7313993B2 (en) * 2002-03-09 2008-01-01 Leica Microsystems Nussloch Gmbh Feeding mechanism for a microtome
US20030167892A1 (en) * 2002-03-09 2003-09-11 Klaus Foerderer Feeding mechanism for a microtome
WO2003093799A1 (de) * 2002-04-27 2003-11-13 Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg Vorrichtung zur anfertigung von probenschnitten
US20050241449A1 (en) * 2004-05-01 2005-11-03 Chen Ching M Cutting machine for cutting paper into chips
US7437984B2 (en) * 2004-12-10 2008-10-21 Boeckeler Instruments Inc. Microtome and ultramicrotome with improved carrier arm
US20060123970A1 (en) * 2004-12-10 2006-06-15 Boeckeler Instruments Inc. Microtome and ultramicrotome with improved carrier arm
US20080000339A1 (en) * 2006-07-03 2008-01-03 Leica Microsystems Nussloch Gmbh Crank Drive System Of A Shaft Of A Microtome
US7900545B2 (en) * 2006-07-03 2011-03-08 Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh Crank drive system of a shaft of a microtome
WO2008030279A3 (en) * 2006-09-06 2008-08-07 Jian-Qiang Kong Method and device for cutting fresh tissue slices
US20100175520A1 (en) * 2006-09-06 2010-07-15 Jian-Qiang Kong Method and device for cutting fresh tissue slices
CN101500767B (zh) * 2006-09-06 2010-12-15 孔健强 用于切割新鲜组织切片的方法和设备
US8109184B2 (en) 2006-09-06 2012-02-07 Jian-Qiang Kong Method and device for cutting fresh tissue slices
US20170350921A1 (en) * 2015-01-05 2017-12-07 Private Institution "Nazarbayev University Research And Innovation System" Scanning probe microscope combined with a device for modifying the surface of an object
US10054613B2 (en) * 2015-01-05 2018-08-21 Private Institution “Nazarbayev University Research And Innovation System” Scanning probe microscope combined with a device for modifying the surface of an object
US11209340B2 (en) * 2017-10-11 2021-12-28 Leica Microsystems Ltd., Shanghai Rotary microtome and control method for the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2246852A1 (de) 1973-05-30
FR2160240A5 (de) 1973-06-22
CA1006781A (en) 1977-03-15

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