Microtome

• US 7,044,038 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HESS Consult GmbH
• Original Assignee: HESS Consult GmbH
• Inventors: Hess, Hans-Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/255,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20060037454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 207 Days
• Field of Search: 83/57, 83/58, 83/68, 83/72, 83/769, 832/76, 837/03, 839/155, 318/103, 318/571
• US Class Current: 83/57
• 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 includes a knife holding device for a cutting element (16) and a specimen holding device (12). Associated with the specimen holding device (12) for 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 a feed movement. A sender (20) is associated with the first drive device (18) and is connected with an electronic control means (26). A first operating element (28) controlling the first drive device (18) has a standard mode, in which the cutting movement of the specimen holding device is controlled by rotation of the first operating element (28), and a second mode, in which a continuous cutting function is activated by pressing the first operating element (28). A second operating element (44) controlling the second drive device (38) also has corresponding rotary and pressing modes.

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, wherein 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 an operating element (44) which has two control modes, namely a rotary mode for controlling the second drive device (3B) for the advance direction and the advance speed of the specimen holding device (12) or the knife holding device, and a pressing mode for controlling the second drive device (3B) for a stepwise advance movement of the specimen holding device (12) or the knife holding device, or stepwise continuous advancement movement of the specimen holding device (12) or the knife holding device.

2. A microtome as set forth in claim 1, wherein 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).

3. A microtome as set forth in one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the electronic control means (26) has a CPU (24) which is connected together with one of the first and second drive device (18, 38) and the associated operating element (28, 44).

4. A microtome as set forth in claim 3, wherein the second drive device (38) is a stepping motor.