Microtome

• US 20040149106A1
• Filed: 04/05/2004
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HESS Consult GmbH
• Original Assignee: HESS Consult GmbH
• Inventors: Hess, Hans-Jurgen
• Granted Patent: US 7,111,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/575
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/06 providing a thin slice, e.g. microtome
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/066 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2873 Cutting or cleaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/061 With manually actuated means to disturb cyclic operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/081 With randomly actuated stopping means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/141 With means to monitor and control operation [e.g., self-regulating means]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6492 Plural passes of diminishing work piece through tool station
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6499 Work rectilinearly reciprocated through tool station
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8765 Magnet- or solenoid-actuated tool

Abstract

A microtome comprising a knife holding device for a cutting element (16) and comprising a specimen holding device (12) for a specimen which is to be cut thin is described. Associated with the specimen holding device (12) for performing a cutting movement is a first drive device (18) and associated with the specimen holding device (12) or the knife holding device is a second drive device (38) for performing a feed movement. A sender (20) is associated with the first drive device (18). The sender (20) is connected with an electronic control means (28). Control of the first drive device (18) is effected by means of a first operating element (28). Control of the second drive device (38) is effected by means of a second operating element (44). To achieve an excellent degree of operating comfort for the microtome the first operating element (28) has two control modes, namely a standard mode and a second mode. In the standard mode the cutting movement of the specimen holding device is controlled by rotation of the first operating element (28). In the second mode a continuous cutting function is activated by pressing the first operating element (28). Corresponding to the first operating element (28) the second operating element (44) has two control modes, namely a rotary mode and a pressing mode.

Claims

1. A microtome comprising a knife holding device for a cutting element (16) and a specimen holding device (12), wherein the specimen holding device (12) has a first drive device (18) for performing a cutting movement and the specimen holding device (12) or the knife holding device has a second drive device (38) for performing a feed movement,

characterised in that associated with the first drive device (18) is a first operating element (28) which is connected together with an electronic control means (26) of the first drive device (18), wherein control of the first drive device (18) is effected by way of the electronic control means (26) by means of a first operating element (28) which has two control modes, namely a standard mode in which a cutting movement of the specimen holding device (12) corresponding to the rotary movement of the operating element (28) is controlled by corresponding rotation of the operating element (28), and a second mode in which by pressing the operating element (28) the first drive device (18) performs a permanent cutting movement at a respectively constant speed and amplitude of the specimen holding device (12) and thus a corresponding continuous cutting function.

2. A microtome as set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the speed of the cutting movement of the specimen holding device (12) corresponds to the rotary speed of the first operating element (28) in its standard mode.

3. A microtome as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the specimen holding device (12) is provided for performing a linearly oscillating cutting movement.

4. A microtome as set forth in claim 3 characterised in that the amplitude of the oscillating cutting movement of the specimen holding device (12) corresponds to the amplitude of the rotary movement of the first operating element (28) in its standard mode.

5. A microtome as set forth in one of claims 1 through 4 characterised in that in its second mode the first operating element (28) is suitable for activation of a motor brake (34) of the first drive device (18).

6. A microtome as set forth in one of claims 1 through 5 characterised in that the first drive device is a DC motor.

7. A microtome as set forth in the classifying portion of claim 1 characterised in that control of the first drive device (18) is effected by way of the electronic control means (26) by means of a first operating element (28) which has a push button function and a rotary switch function, wherein the first operating element (28) with its push button function controls starting and stopping and with its rotary switch function the speed of the linearly oscillating cutting movement of the specimen holding device (12) by way of the first drive device (18).

8. A microtome as set forth in the classifying portion of claim 1 characterised in that an electronic control means (26) is associated with the second drive device (38), wherein control of the second drive device (38) is effected by means of a second operating element (44) which has two control modes, namely a rotary mode and a pressing mode.

9. A microtome as set forth in claim 1, claim 7 and claim 8 characterised in that the electronic control means (26) of the first drive device (18) and the electronic control means (26) of the second drive device (38) are formed by a common electronic control means (26).

10. A microtome as set forth in one of claims 1 through 9 characterised in that the/each electronic control means (26) has a CPU (24) which is connected together with the first and/or second drive device (18, 38) and the associated operating element (28, 44).

11. A microtome as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterised in that the second drive device (38) is provided for stepwise and/or continuous movement of the specimen holding device (12) or the knife holding device.

12. A microtome as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterised in that the second drive device (38) is a stepping motor.