Microtome

• US 7,111,535 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2002
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• 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:
  US10/470,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20040149106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,692 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 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 the first operating element (28), wherein the first operating element (28) 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, and the first operating element (28), in its push button function, controls starting and stopping and, in 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).

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

4. A microtome as set forth in claim 3, wherein 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 claim 4, wherein, when 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 claim 1, wherein the first drive device is a DC motor.