Micromanipulator for a cryomicrotome

Abstract

A microtome system has a cryomicrotome with a sectioning device in which is provided a preparation holder and a knife edge that are guided past one another inside a working space during a sectioning operation, in order to produce thin sections of a preparation retained in the preparation holder. A micromanipulator is operable outside the working space. With the micromanipulator, a tool for retention of a specimen support is positioned proximate the knife edge during a sectioning operation in order to receive the sections that are produced, preferably for substantially stationary retention of the specimen support.

1 . A microtome system comprising:
 a cryomicrotome having a working space and a sectioning device comprising a preparation holder and a knife edge that are guidable past one another inside the working space during a sectioning operation in which the preparation holder retains a preparation to thereby produce thin sections of the preparation;   a micromanipulator; and   a tool for retaining a specimen support,   wherein the tool is positionable by the micromanipulator to position the specimen support proximate the knife edge during the sectioning operation, and   wherein a portion of the micromanipulator that controls position of the tool is located outside the working space.   
   
   
       2 . The microtome system according to  claim 1 , wherein the micromanipulator is configured to retain the specimen support substantially stationary during the sectioning operation. 
   
   
       3 . The microtome system according to  claim 1 , comprising a cooling chamber that surrounds the working space so that an opening from an area outside the cooling chamber to the working space permits access of the tool to the working space, and wherein the portion of the micromanipulator that controls position of the tool is located outside the cooling chamber. 
   
   
       4 . The microtome system according to  claim 3 , wherein the micromanipulator is mounted on the cooling chamber. 
   
   
       5 . The microtome system according to  claim 1 , wherein the micromanipulator is fixedly joined to the cryomicrotome. 
   
   
       6 . The microtome system according to  claim 1 , wherein the micromanipulator comprises a three-axis positioning device. 
   
   
       7 . The microtome system according to  claim 1 , wherein the micromanipulator comprises a receptacle, and the tool comprises a forceps received by the receptacle. 
   
   
       8 . The microtome system according to  claim 7 , wherein the forceps is elongated and has a tip that is bent with respect to a longitudinal dimension of the forceps. 
   
   
       9 . The microtome system according to  claim 8 , wherein the forceps tip is bent at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the longitudinal dimension. 
   
   
       10 . The microtome according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool is elongated and is retained in the micromanipulator so that the tool is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the tool. 
   
   
       11 . The microtome system as in  claim 8 , wherein the tool is retained in the micromanipulator so that the forceps is rotatable about an axis along the longitudinal dimension. 
   
   
       12 . The microtome system according to  claim 1 , comprising a transfer container that comprises at least one receiving opening for a specimen support is replaceably insertable in the working space, and wherein the portion of the micromanipulator that controls position of the tool controls the tool through a range of motion sufficient to move the specimen support retained by the tool to the receiving opening of a transfer container inserted in the working space. 
   
   
       13 . The microtome system according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more axes of motion of the micromanipulator are motorized.