1. Microtomes
Leica Microsystems, GmbH (2006), Ultramicrotome [image]. Retrieved from

2. Summary Quiz Clinical Use History Specifications
Principles of Operation
Block Diagram
Commercial Examples
Preventive Maintenance
Common Problems
Test Procedures

3. Clinical Use
In order to examine the tissue sample in a microscope one must cut in to thin slices from 1 microns to 10 microns (micrometers) thick

4. History
Cuts on the order of 100 µm, through which light can be transmitted
George Adams, Jr/Alexander Cummings
John Hills (1774), Figures of 'an eighteenth century Microtome’ [drawing]. Retrieved from

5. History Greek mikros, meaning "small" temnein, meaning "to cut"
Microtome 1905
Tamorlan (2007), Microtome [image]. Retrieved from

6. Principles of Operation
Categories:
Sledge microtome
Yvan Lindekens (no date), Bass sledge microtome [image]. Retrieved ftom

7. Principles of Operation
Categories:
Rotary microtome
By Rainer Ziel.Salino01 at de.wikipedia [Attribution], from Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from

8. Principles of Operation
Categories:
Cryostat microtome
(frozen sections in a liquid nitrogen chamber)
Orlando (2005) Cyrostat Microtome [image] . Retrieved from

9. Principles of Operation
Categories:
Ultramicrotome (extremely thin sections )
Frost Museum (2007), Ultramicrotome [image]. Retrieved from

10. Principles of Operation
Categories:
Laser microtome
Holger Lubatschowski (2009), Laser Microtome Schematic [image]. Retrieved from

11. Principles of Operation
Sample Preparation:
Frozen
(5 and 7 degrees cut)
Resin
Paraffin
(2 and 4 degrees cut)
Uphras (2004), Microtome ultras [image]. Retrieved from

12. Principles of Operation
Knife profiles:
Rainer Ziel (2009), Microtome knife profiles [image]. Retrieved from

13. Controls
Orlando (2005) Cyrostat Microtome [image] . Retrieved from

14. Commercial Examples
Microtomes [screenshot] retrieved from

15. Common Problems Knife Disposable knives are often reused
Reusable knives are NOT sharpened periodically
Cutting angle is too great: compression
Cutting angle is too fine: vibration causing chatter in the section
Uphras (2004), Microtome ultras [image]. Retrieved from

16. Common Problems Wrong specimen preparation gelatin (50 to 200 microns)
freezing (5 to 20 microns)
paraffin (1 to 15 micron)
paraffin/wax/resin mixtures (0.5 to 2 microns
resin (0.05 to 1 microns)
Dirty microtome cover
microtome should be covered after each use

17. Preventive Maintenance
Clean surface
Advice to removed knife after each use
Very light oil to prevent corrosion and improve the operation

18. Questions