14
Sectioning procedures
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After the specimen orientation and the blade angle have been set, trimming can be carried
out using the trimming function.
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Place the anti-roll plate against the blade.
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Turn the hand wheel in a clockwise direction to carry out sectioning.
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The tissue sections move into the space between the blade and the anti-roll plate.
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Use the handle to move the anti-roll plate assembly away from the specimen.
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The section should remain on the clamping plate.
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Arrange specimen section gently with a brush.
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Transfer the specimen onto a glass microscope slide with help of adhesion forces.
Tips for Successful Sectioning
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Check the condition of the blade edge: move the blade horizontally to the left or right side to
obtain a sharp cutting edge.
•
Check the angle of anti-roll plate and correct it if necessary.
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Ensure that the edge of the anti-roll plate glass is clean and free of debris.
•
Carefully remove frost from the front and the rear part of the blade, the anti-roll plate, and the
clamping plate (i.e., with ethanol).
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Tighten all clamping screws and clamping levers on the blade holder and specimen head.
•
Select the appropriate knife carrier and specimen temperature according to the specimen type
o
See recommended Temperature Ranges for Sectioning of Different Types of Fresh
Specimen on the next page.
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Allow time for the temperatures within the chamber to stabilize.
•
Select the appropriate freezing compound. Avoid excessive use of freezing compound.
o
Note:
If the specimen was frozen with liquid nitrogen or similar freezing techniques, the
specimen must be allowed to adjust to the cutting temperature.
•
During defrosting, remove the specimens from the cryochamber, as the temperature inside
the chamber will increase. Do not leave or store specimens inside the cryostat over a long
period of time. due to a power failure or other unexpected malfunctions of the instrument, the
specimen might be damaged.
•
Adjustment of proper blade angle. Select a blade angle of 8-12°. The preset clearance angle
is 10°.
•
Select an appropriate cutting speed: The harder the material, the slower the cutting speed.
•
Be very careful when bringing the blade and specimen together.
