sample sectioning device and method

专利摘要:
MICROTOM WITH SURFACE ORIENTATION SENSOR TO DETECT THE SAMPLE SURFACE ORIENTATION. The present invention relates to a sample sectioning device that includes a cutting mechanism, a sample holder, a drive system and a surface orientation sensor. The sample holder is operable to hold the sample. The cutting mechanism is operable to cut sections of the sample. The drive system is coupled with the sample holder. The drive system operable to drive the movement between the sample held by the sample holder and the cutting mechanism. The surface orientation sensor is operable to detect an orientation of a sample surface attached by the sample holder.
公开号:BR102012006505B1
申请号:R102012006505-3
申请日:2012-03-22
公开日:2020-12-08
发明作者:Hwai-Jyh Michael Yang；Xuan S. Bui
申请人:Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc；
IPC主号:

专利说明:

BACKGROUND FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to microtomes or other tissue sample sectioning devices to produce sections of samples, specifically, some embodiments refer to microtomes or other tissue sample sectioning devices that have orientation sensors surface to detect sample surface orientations. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0002] Histology is a science or discipline associated with tissue processing for examination or analysis. The examination or analysis can be cell morphology, chemical composition, tissue structure or composition, or other tissue characteristics.
[0003] In histology, a tissue sample can be prepared for sectioning by a microtome or other sample sectioning device. Commonly, the fabric can be dried or dehydrated by removing most or virtually all of the water from the fabric, for example, by exposing the fabric to one or more dehydrating agents. After drying the fabric, a cleaning of the dehydrating agents can optionally be performed, and then an embedding agent (for example, a wax with added plasticizers) can be introduced or infiltrated into the dry fabric. The removal of water and the infiltration of the embedding agent can help in the sectioning of the tissue in thin sections with the microtome.
[0004] An inlay can then be performed on the fabric. During inlay, fabric that has been dried and infiltrated with the embedding agent can be embedded in a block or other mass of wax, various polymers, or other inlay medium. Representatively, the wax-infiltrated, dry tissue can be placed into a mold and / or cassette, a molten wax can be applied to the tissue until the mold has been filled with the wax, and then the wax can be cooled and hardened . Embedding the tissue in the wax block can help provide additional support when cutting or sectioning the tissue with a microtome.
[0005] The microtome can be used to cut thin slices or sections of the tissue sample. Several different types of microtomes are known in the art. Representative types include, for example, trolley, rotary, vibrating, saw, and laser microtomes. Microtomes can be manual or automated. Automated microtomes can include motorized systems or a drive system to trigger or automate a cutting movement between the sample from which the sections are to be cut and a cutting mechanism to cut the sections. It should be appreciated that microtomes can also be used for purposes other than just histology, and that microtomes can be used on samples other than just embedded tissue. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The invention can be better understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings which are used to illustrate the modalities of the invention. In the drawings:
[0007] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of an embodiment of a microtome or other sample sectioning device.
[0008] Figure 2 illustrates a modality of a sensor assembly for a microtome or other isolating device.
[0009] Figure 3A illustrates a modality of a sensor assembly in a recessed position.
[00010] Figure 3B illustrates an embodiment of a sensor assembly in an elevated position.
[00011] Figure 4A illustrates a perspective sectional view of a modality of a sensor assembly that has a first axis of a detection plate.
[00012] Figure 4B illustrates a sectional view of an embodiment of the sensor assembly of Figure 4A along the cut line B-B '.
[00013] Figure 4C illustrates a perspective view in section of a modality of a sensor assembly that has a detection frame with a second axis of rotation around a second axial support member.
[00014] Figure 4D illustrates a sectional view of an embodiment of the sensor assembly of Figure 4C along the cut line D-D '.
[00015] Figure 5 illustrates a modality of a control system to control a microtome operation that includes a steering wheel and control device.
[00016] Figure 6 an illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a microtome feeding system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00017] In the following description, numerous specific details, such as specific microtomes, specific cutting drive systems, specific sensors, specific detection mechanisms, specific measurement and / or adjustment of surface orientation, and the like, are presented. However, it should be understood that the modalities of the invention can be practiced without these specific details. In other cases, well-known mechanical components, circuits, structures and technique have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this description.
[00018] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of an embodiment of a microtome or other sample sectioning device. Microtome 100 may include a base member 101 that has a feed drive system or cut drive system 102, a mounting member 103 and a handwheel 104 attached thereto. The feed drive system 102 can be supported above the base member 101 by a support member 115. The feed drive system 102 can include a vertical drive member 105, a horizontal drive member 106 and a sample clamp 107 operable to hold sample 108. Sample 108 may include a piece of fabric that must be sectioned, for example, a piece of fabric embedded in paraffin.
[00019] The cut drive system or feed drive system is operable to trigger the movement of the sample held by the sample holder. A motor 109 of the feed drive system 102 may be mechanically coupled to the vertical drive member 105 and operable to drive the vertical movement of the vertical drive member 105 in a direction of the vertical double arrow 126. The motor 110 of the drive system feed 102 may be mechanically coupled to the horizontal drive member 106 to drive the horizontal movement of the horizontal drive member 106 in a direction of the horizontal double arrow 125. It should be noted that terms such as "horizontal", "vertical", "top "," bottom "," top "," bottom ", and the like, are used herein to facilitate the description of the illustrated device. It is possible for other devices to replace horizontal movements with vertical movements, etc.
[00020] The mounting member 103 may include a mounting base 111 which provides a mounting surface for the cutting member or mechanism 112. The cutting member or mechanism 112 may be, for example, a blade or knife of several types of materials mounted on mounting member 103, or other types of cutting mechanisms suitable for microtomes. A receiving member of section 113 may be positioned along one side of the cutting member 112. The receiving member of section 113 is sized to receive a section cut from the sample 108 by the cutting member or blade 112. In this respect, the receiving member of section 113 may have an inclined surface extending from a cutting edge of blade 112 to the surface of mounting member 103. As the cutting member or blade 112 slices through sample 108, the cut section of sample 108 is separated from sample 108 and extends along the receiving member of section 113.
[00021] As shown, in some embodiments, microtome 100 may include a surface orientation sensor assembly 114. Surface orientation sensor assembly 114 is operable to detect or measure an orientation or angle of a sample surface 108. The orientation or angle of the sample surface 108 can be detected or determined in several different ways. In some embodiments, which are described in further detail below, the sample surface 108 may contact the sensor assembly 114, and one or more movable portions of the sensor assembly 114 may conform to an orientation of the sample surface 108. The movement One or more moving portions of the sensor assembly can allow microtome 100 to autonomously detect or determine the orientation of the sample surface 108. Optical and other detection mechanisms are also suitable.
[00022] The detected orientation can be used to adjust or align the surface of the sample 108 so that it is parallel, substantially parallel, or at least more parallel with the cutting member or mechanism 112 and / or cutting plane 124 associated with the cutting member or mechanism 112. It is advantageous that the sample surface 108 is sufficiently aligned parallel with the cutting member 112 and / or the cutting plane 124 so that the sample sections cut by microtome 100 are sufficiently uniformly cut. In some embodiments, microtome 100 may optionally be able to autonomously adjust or align the orientation of the sample surface 108 parallel, sufficiently parallel, or at least more parallel, with the cutting member 112 and / or the cutting plane 124. The microtome 100 may have a logic for detecting and / or autonomously adjusting a sample surface orientation with respect to a cutting plane and / or cutting mechanism based on the detected orientation. Advantageously, this can help to improve alignment accuracy and / or release an operator from performing adjustment manually. Alternatively, the adjustment can be carried out manually, if desired. One embodiment of a sectioning method can include microtome 100 autonomously detecting an orientation of a sample surface 108 using sensor assembly 114, an operator manually or microtome 100 autonomously adjusting the orientation of sample surface 108, and microtome 100 making a sample section 108 after such an adjustment.
[00023] In the illustrated embodiment, the sensor assembly 114 is movably coupled to the mounting base 111 in a position between the power drive system 102 and the mounting member 103, although this is not required. The mounting base 111 provides a support surface for the sensor assembly 114 and is dimensioned and coupled to accommodate the slide of the sensor assembly 114 vertically in a direction of the vertical double arrow 126B. During operation, the sensor assembly 114 is operable to slide along the base 111 in an upward vertical direction in the direction of the feed drive system 102, and the vertical drive member 105 is operable to make the drive system supply 102 move in a downward vertical direction towards sensor assembly 114. Since sample 108 is sufficiently vertically aligned with sensor assembly 114, horizontal drive member 106 is operable to cause the drive system feed 102 move in a horizontal direction towards the sensor assembly 114 in the direction of the horizontal arrow 125 so that a sample surface 108 is properly positioned in relation to the sensor assembly 114 to allow a surface orientation measurement. Once the orientation of the sample surface 108 is determined, and realigned if appropriate, sensor assembly 114 is operable to recede in a vertical downward direction as seen (for example, to a recessed position away from movement between the sample held by the sample holder and the cutting mechanism).
[00024] Referring again to figure 1, the operation of the feed drive system 102 can be controlled using the handwheel 104 and / or the control device 116. The handwheel 104 can include a handle or other pulse generating device 117 for lock handwheel 104. Handwheel 104 rotation can be operable to cause vertical drive member 105 to move in a vertical direction shown by double arrow 126 to facilitate slicing of sample 108. In some embodiments, handwheel 104 may be an uncoupling handwheel, which is not mechanically coupled to the feed drive system 102. Conversely, the uncoupled handwheel 104 may be electrically connected to an encoder (not shown) and a control circuit 118 via a control line 119. Rotating flywheel 104 uncoupled may cause the encoder to provide an electrical signal to control circuit 118. Control circuit 118 is connected to motor 10 9 through the control line 120 and is operable to control the movement of the vertical actuating member 105 according to the electrical signal from the encoder. Control circuit 118 is also connected to motor 110 via control line 121 and is connected to sensor assembly 114 via control line 122.
[00025] In addition to encoder signals, signals from control device 116 can be transmitted to control circuit 118 to control or facilitate the operation of sensor assembly 114, flywheel 104, motor 109 and / or motor 110. In some embodiments, the control device 116 may be, for example, a keyboard, capacitive sensor touch, or other user or data input device. In some embodiments, the signals are transmitted between the control device 116 and the control circuit 118 through the control line 123. In other embodiments, the control device 116 is a wireless control device that is operable to transmit wirelessly the signals for control circuit 118 and control line 123 are omitted.
[00026] Figure 2 illustrates a modality of a surface orientation sensor assembly. In the figures, when considered appropriate, the reference numbers or terminal portions of reference numbers have been repeated between the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics. For example, the surface orientation sensor assembly 214 in figure 2 may optionally have similar characteristics to the sensor assembly 114 in figure 1. The surface orientation sensor assembly 214 is used to facilitate the autonomous alignment of a surface of a sample with a cutting mechanism and / or cutting plane. It is advantageous that the sample surface is sufficiently aligned parallel to the cutting mechanism (for example, a blade) so that the sections are cut evenly. To align the sample, the surface orientation sensor assembly 214 and the sensor assembly 214 detect an orientation of the sample surface. In some cases, the sample surface will not be aligned parallel or sufficiently parallel with the cutting plane. The sensor assembly 214 detects the angle of the sample surface with respect to the cutting plane. Using the detected information, the sample can be adjusted to an adjusted position where the sample surface is parallel, or at least more parallel, with the cutting plane.
[00027] The illustrated embodiment of the sensor assembly 214 includes a detection plate 230 and a detection frame 231. The detection frame 231 is positioned around the detection plate 230. The detection plate 230 can be flat and / or have a flat surface (for example, be a flat plate). A thickness of the detection plate can be on the order of several millimeters (for example, 0.5 mm to 5 mm) depending on the material. The dimensions through the detection plate can be in the order of approximately 20-60 mm. The detection plate and the detection frame can be constructed of various materials, such as, for example, aluminum, stainless steel, other metals, rigid plastics, and combinations optionally coated with protective coatings. In the illustration, the detection plate 230 and the detection frame 231 are substantially square with respect to a dimension of length and width with the detection plate having truncated corners and the detection frame having frame corner portions accordingly, but in alternative embodiments, they may be more or less square, or they may be rectangular, circular, oval, octagonal, hexagonal, or otherwise. In a specific exemplary embodiment, the detection plate is square with dimensions of approximately 39.5 mm x 39.5 mm, is constructed of aluminum having a protective coating (for example, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating), and the frame detection range is approximately 90 mm x 75 mm x 25 mm thick and made of metal (eg aluminum) and / or plastic. Alternatively, the detection plate and the detection frame can have other dimensions and be made of other materials (for example, stainless steel, other metals, or various types of plastic). The detection plate 230 is a first detection member that is rotatable around a first axial support member 232, and the detection frame 231 is a second detection member that is rotatable around a second axial support member 233 The first axial support member 232 diagonally bisects the detection plate 230. The second axial support member 233 diagonally bisects the detection frame 231. The first axial support member 232 is substantially perpendicular to the second axial support member 233 (by 80-100 degrees). Consequently, the detection plate 230 is rotatable along an axis orthogonal or perpendicular to the axis of rotation for the detection frame 231. The detection plate 230 and the detection frame 231 are also movable in a horizontal direction when the sample is pressed against the detection plate 230. Movement in the horizontal direction can provide information about the horizontal position (that is, in and out of the page as seen) of the sample surface. In this regard, both an angular orientation of the sample surface and a horizontal position of the sample surface with respect to the cutting plane can be detected by the sensor assembly 214.
[00028] The sensor assembly 214 further includes a detection plate sensor 234 and a detection plate signal output member 235. The detection plate sensor 234 is attached to the detection assembly frame 238 while the detection plate signal output 235 is attached to detection plate 230. As shown, in one aspect, detection plate signal output member 235 may be attached to detection plate 230 at or near a corner or other furthest portion of the detection plate 230 rotation axis. The detection plate sensor 234 is sufficiently aligned with the detection plate signal output member 235 to receive a signal from the detection plate signal output member 235 The received signal is indicative of an amount of rotation or displacement of the detection plate 230. As an example, an angle of rotation (a) of the detection plate 230 along the first axial support member 232, typically in the order of varying degrees ( for example, 0 to 10 °) can be detected by the detection plate sensor 234 based on the degree of movement of the detection plate signal output member 235 and the corresponding strength of the signal received from the plate signal output member of detection 235. In some embodiments, the signal output member of detection plate 235 may include a magnet. In this embodiment, the detection plate sensor 234 is operable to detect a magnetic field of the magnet 235 (for example, through a magnetoresistive detection mechanism) to detect a position of the detection plate 230. Alternatively, instead of using magnetism , other detection mechanisms can be used, such as, for example, mechanical sensors (for example, a voltage gauge), electrical sensors (for example, using capacitance), optical sensors, or other sensors can optionally be used.
[00029] The sensor assembly 214 also includes the sensor frame sensor 236 and the sensor frame signal output member 237. The sensor frame sensor 236 is attached to the sensor assembly frame 238 while the member detection frame signal output 237 is attached to detection frame 231. As shown, in one aspect, detection frame signal output member 237 may be attached to detection frame 231 at or near a corner or another portion further away from the rotation axis of the detection frame 231. The detection frame sensor 236 is sufficiently aligned with the detection frame signal output member 237 so that it can receive a signal from the signal output member detection frame 237. In one example, the frame plate signal output member 237 can include a magnet and the detection frame sensor 236 can detect a magnetic field or a signal from the frame signal output member. detection 237 to det ect a rotation angle (β) of the detection frame 231, which is typically in the order of several degrees (for example, 0 to 10 °). Alternatively, instead of using magnetism, other detection mechanisms can be used. As previously discussed, the second axial support member 233 of the detection frame 231 is substantially orthogonal to the first axial support member 232 of the detection plate 230. Consequently, the angle of the sample surface with respect to the cutting plane with respect to the second axial support member 233 can additionally be detected by the detection frame sensor 236.
[00030] The angle of rotation (a) of the detection plate 230 around the first axial support member 232, and the angle of rotation (β) of the detection frame 231 around the second axial support member 233, as detected by the detection plate sensor 234 and the detection frame sensor 236, respectively, in turn reflects a first orientation of the surface of the sample contact sensor assembly 214. When the detection plate sensor 234 and the frame sensor sensors 236 detect that the sample surface is not parallel or sufficiently parallel to the cutting plane, a signal can be provided from sensor assembly 214 for a control component of microtome 100 (for example, control circuit 118 and / or control device 116). The signal can represent the degree or the extent that the cutting surface is displaced from the cutting plane as determined by the rotation of the detection plate 230 and the detection frame 231. The control component can autonomously or under the direction of the user. the feed drive system to change the orientation of the sample surface and an initial orientation to a changed orientation in which the sample cutting surface is more parallel to the cutting plane.
[00031] In one embodiment, a calibration can be used to characterize a condition where the detection plate 230 and the detection frame 231 are aligned in parallel with the cutting mechanism and / or the cutting plane. For example, the detection plate 230 and the detection frame 231 can be moved, for example, manually or by being forced by a mechanical calibration piece, so that they are aligned in parallel with the cutting mechanism and / or the plane of cut. The outputs of the sensor plate sensor 234 and that of the sensor frame sensor 236 can be determined as calibration data in this condition. For example, when the detection plate signal output member 235 and the detection frame signal output member 237 use a magnetoresistive detection mechanism, the calibration data may include magnetoresistive values or indications of experienced magnetic field strengths. by the respective detection plate sensors 234 and that of the detection frame sensor 236. These calibration data can be stored in a machine-readable medium (for example, a memory), or otherwise preserved by the microtome.
[00032] The calibration data can be accessed and used subsequently when adjusting the orientation of a sample surface. For example, the microtome can autonomously adjust a sample clamp to adjust the orientation of the sample surface over a generally short period of time, while contact with the detection plate and the detection frame is maintained. Throughout this process, multiple real-time sensor measurements can be made for each of the sensor plate sensor 234 and that of the sensor frame sensor 236. For example, in the case of a magnetoresistive detection mechanism, multiple measurements Magnetic resistors can be made in series after each adjustment of the sample holder. These real-time measurements can be compared with stored or preserved calibration data which correspond to the condition where the detection plate 230 and the detection frame 231 are aligned in parallel with the cutting mechanism and / or cutting plane. As the orientation of the sample surface is adjusted to be more parallel with the cutting mechanism and / or the cutting plane, the real-time measurements can become closer in value to the calibration values. An additional adjustment can be carried out until the current sensor output values (for example, the magnetoresistive values) match or sufficiently match the calibration sensor values. When the current sensor output values match or sufficiently match the calibrated values, then it can be inferred that the sample surface is parallel or sufficiently parallel with the cutting mechanism and / or the cutting plane.
[00033] The detection plate 230 and the detection frame 231 are also movable in a horizontal direction (i.e., in and out of the page as seen in this illustration). In this respect, a first tension member 239 and a second tension member 240 can be positioned along ends of the second axial support member 233 to tension the second axial support member 233 in one direction of the sample. In some embodiments, the first tension member 239 and the second tension member 240 can be springs. Pressing the sample surface against the detection plate 230 causes the detection frame 231 and the second axial support member 233 to recede in the horizontal direction away from the sample. Optical or other sensors, which will be discussed in more detail in conjunction with the modality of figure 4C, can be positioned at or near each end of the second axial support member 233, and can be operable to detect the movement of the second member of axial support 233. For example, when the second axial support member 233 interrupts a beam of light between a pair of optical sensors, further movement of the sample block can be terminated. In this regard, a horizontal position of the frontmost surface of the sample with respect to the cutting plane can be detected by the sensor assembly 214. In addition to the measured position of the frontmost surface of the sample (for example, based on the measured horizontal displacement of the second member axial support 233), the location of the cutting mechanism or cutting plane is also precisely known. Together, these pieces of information can be used to help the microtome make the initial sections of precise and known thickness.
[00034] As previously mentioned, in some embodiments, the sensor assembly frame 238 may be slidably or movably attached to the mounting member 241, although this is not required, and in other embodiments, a sensor assembly 214 may have a position fixed below a limb or cutting mechanism. The mounting member 241 can be fixedly attached to a mounting base (for example, the mounting base 111 of figure 1) used to support the detection set 214. The detection set frame 238 can slide in a vertical direction to the along the mounting member 241. In this regard, the mounting member 241 may include guide rails 242, 243, and the detection assembly frame 238 may include guide rails 244, 245. The sliding member 246 is slidably coupled to the rails guide 242, 244, between mounting member 241 and detection assembly frame 238 to allow detection assembly frame 238 to slide relative to mounting member 241. Slide member 246 includes a first guide member 248 and a second guide member 249 which extend from opposite sides of the slide member 246 to couple the slide member 246 to the first guide rail 242 and the second guide rail 244, respectively. Similarly, sliding member 247 is slidably coupled to guide rails 243, 245, between detection assembly frame 238 and mounting member 241. Sliding member 247 includes a first guide member 250 and a second guide member 251 that extend from opposite sides of the sliding member 247 to couple the sliding member 247 to the first guide rail 245 and the second guide rail 243, respectively. In some embodiments, one of the guide members 248, 249 may be fixedly attached to the corresponding guide rail and the other may be slidably attached to the corresponding guide rail. Similarly, one of the guide members 250, 251 can be fixedly attached to the corresponding guide rail and the other can be slidably attached to the corresponding guide rail. As at least one guide member on each side of the detection assembly frame 238 can be slidably coupled with the mounting member 241, the detection assembly frame 238 is able to slide relative to the mounting member 241. During operation , the detection assembly frame 238 can slide along the guide rails 242, 243 until it is raised to a position where it can be contacted by the sample attached to the sample holder. After the sample contact, the detection set frame 238 is moved back to the east position below the cutting member of the mounting base (see mounting base 111 in figure 1).
[00035] Figure 3A and figure 3B illustrate modalities of the sensor assembly 314 in a recessed position and an elevated position, respectively. Figure 3A illustrates a modality of sensor assembly 314 in the recessed position where the detection plate (not shown in this view) and the detection frame (not shown in this view) are recessed below the mounting base 311. As shown in figure 3A the mounting member 303 is positioned below the mounting base 311. During a slicing operation, the sensor assembly 314 can be drawn back into the mounting member 303 so that it does not interfere with the slicing. Sample 308 is shown attached to sample holder 307. Sample holder 307 is attached to vertical drive member 305.
[00036] To detect angled orientation of a sample surface 308, the sensor assembly 314 can be raised vertically so that the detection plate 330 is aligned with the sample 308 as illustrated in the embodiment of figure 3B. As shown in figure 3B, track member 344 of detection assembly 314 slides along slide member 346 to allow detection plate 350 to be elevated above mounting member 303 so that it is positioned in front of the base assembly 311. Although not shown, a rail member positioned on an opposite side of the sensing assembly 314 can also slide along a corresponding sliding member. Sample 308 is aligned with detection plate 330 and advanced horizontally in one direction of detection plate 330. Angled orientation of the front surface of sample 308 can be detected by pressing the front surface of sample 308 against detection plate 330 The detected angular orientation can be used to facilitate realignment of the angular orientation of the frontmost surface of the sample 308 so that it is parallel, sufficiently parallel, or at least more parallel, to a cutting member and / or cutting plane. If desired, multiple such detection measurements can be made at different times or repeatedly through the entire realignment process, or alternatively a single measurement and a single adjustment based on that single measurement can be made. Then, the sensor assembly 314 can be lowered below the mounting base 311 as shown in figure 3A to prepare the microtome for a sectioning operation.
[00037] Referring again to figure 1, and note that in this illustrated embodiment, the sensor assembly 114 is positioned horizontally between the support member 115 and the cutting member 112 and / or the cutting plane 124. The assembly sensor 114 is operable to move vertically up and down as seen. One aspect associated with the positioning sensor assembly 114 horizontally between the support member 115 and the cutting member 112 is that the sample 108 may need to travel a greater horizontal distance in the direction of the horizontal arrow 128 to reach the cutting member 112 and / or the cutting plane 124 due in part to the extra horizontal distance to accommodate a width dimension of sensor assembly 114, for example, the dimension "w" shown in figure 1, which can be in the order of 3 cm. Crossing the longest horizontal distance can take additional time, which, depending on the implementation, may be unwanted. For example, movement in the horizontal direction is usually relatively slower than in the vertical direction. This may be a result of a desire to provide finer movement accuracy in the horizontal direction in order to provide precise horizontal positions to obtain precise control over the sectioning thickness.
[00038] Alternative modalities are contemplated where the sensor assembly 114 is not horizontally disposed between the sample 108 and / or the support member 115 and the cutting mechanism 112. For example, in some modalities, the sensor assembly 114 may be in a fixed position approximately vertically below the cutting member or cutting mechanism 112 and / or cutting plane 124. A potential advantage of positioning the sensor assembly 114 vertically below the cutting member 112 is that sample 108 may not need to cross the distance additional (for example, on the order of 3 cm) in the horizontal direction of arrow 25 to reach the cutting member 112 and / or cutting plane 124. This can help reduce the amount of time for the sample to move horizontally to the cutting member. cut 112. In some embodiments, the vertical movement of the vertical drive member 105 may be relatively faster than the horizontal movement of the horizontal drive member 106. The vertical drive 105 can move down an additional distance (for example, on the order of 64 cm) in the direction of vertical arrow 126 to reach sensor assembly 114. In some cases, it may take less time for vertical drive member 105 travel the extra distance in the vertical direction to reach the sensor assembly 114 below the cutting mechanism 112 than it would take for the horizontal drive member 116 to travel the extra distance in the horizontal direction due to the width of the sensor assembly 114. This can help speed up time to detect surface orientations and adjust surface orientations.
[00039] As previously discussed, an initial position of the frontmost surface of the sample can be detected by pressing the sample against the detection plate. Based on the degree of rotation of the detection plate and the detection frame around their respective axes, an orientation and angular position of the sample surface can be determined. The various axes and the rotation of the detection plate and the detection frame around their axes are illustrated in the modalities of figures 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D.
[00040] Figure 4A illustrates a cut-away perspective view of an embodiment of a sensor assembly 414 that has a first axis of a detection plate. Figure 4B shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the sensor assembly 414 of figure 4A along line B-B '. In this respect, the sensor assembly 414 includes a detection plate 430 and a detection frame 431 attached to the detection assembly frame 438. A first axial support member 432 is positioned diagonally across the detection plate 430 to provide a first axis of rotation for the detection plate 430 at a rotation angle (α). A second axial support member 433 (shown in figure 4D) is positioned diagonally across the detection frame 431 to provide a second axis of rotation for the detection frame 431. The second axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to the first axis of rotation ( for example, 80-100 degrees).
[00041] During operation, the leading or cutting surface of sample block 408 (for example, a tissue sample embedded in a paraffin block or cassette) is pressed against detection plate 430. In some cases, the The surface of the sample block 408 is not parallel to a cutting member and / or cutting plane. Pressing the surface of the sample block 408 against the detection plate 430 causes the detection plate 430 to rotate along a first axial support member 432 as shown in figure 4B so that the detection plate 430 conforms to an orientation angle of the surface of the sample block 408. The degree of rotation of the detection plate along the first axial support member 432 is detected by the detection plate sensor 430 attached to the detection set frame 438. This information is then used in part to determine the angular orientation of the 408 sample block surface.
[00042] In addition to rotating the detection plate 430, the inclined surface of the sample block 408 can cause the detection frame 431 to rotate along the second axial support member 432 shown in figures 4C and 4D. Figure 4C illustrates a perspective sectional view of a modality of a sensor assembly 414 that has the detection frame 431 with a second axis of rotation around the second axial support member 433. The detection frame 431 can rotate at the around the second axis of rotation at an angle (β). Figure 4D shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the sensor assembly 414 of figure 4C along line D-D '. As previously discussed, the second axial support member 433 is positioned diagonally across the detection frame 431 and substantially perpendicular to the first axial support member 432 (e.g., 80-100 degrees). As such, when the surface of the sample block 408 is inclined with respect to the second axial support member 433, the detection frame 431 will rotate around the second axial support member 433 as illustrated in the embodiment of figure 4D. The degree of rotation can be detected by the detection frame sensor 436 attached to the detection set frame 438. This information can be combined with information regarding the degree of rotation of the detection plate 430 to determine the angular orientation of the front most surface or cutting the sample block 408.
[00043] The first tensioning member 439 and the second tensioning member 440 to allow movement of the detection frame 431 in a horizontal direction (for example, the direction of the horizontal double arrow 125 in figure 1) are further illustrated in figure 4C . The first tension member 439 and the second tension member 440 can be positioned along opposite ends of the second axial support member 433 to tension the second axial support member 433 in a horizontal direction in the direction of the sample block 408. In in some embodiments, the first tension member 439 and the second tension member 440 can be springs, pneumatic cylinders, or the like. Pressing the sample block 408 against the detection plate 430 forces the second axial support member 433 against the first tensioning member 439 and the second tensioning member 440 to allow retraction of the detection plate 430 and the detection frame 431 in a horizontal direction (for example, the direction of the horizontal double arrow 125 in figure 1) away from sample block 408. In some embodiments, the degree of movement in this direction can optionally be detected using an optional sensor, for example, a sensor optical, a mechanical sensor, a magnetic field sensor, or the like, positioned at each end of the second axial support member 433. Optical sensors can detect a degree of movement of the second axial support member 433 in the horizontal direction away from the sample 408. The horizontal displacement information can be used in addition to the information on the amount of rotation of the detection plate 430 and the frame detection 431 to determine not only an angular orientation of the front surface of the sample block 408 but also a horizontal position of the front surface of the sample block 408. Advantageously, knowing the horizontal position of the front surface of the sample block 408 can help achieve a cut of a desired thickness.
[00044] To further illustrate certain concepts, consider # a specific non-limiting modality by which both an angular orientation of a more forward surface of sample block 408 and a horizontal position of the more forward surface of sample block 408 can be determined. In this exemplary embodiment, the detection plate 430 and the detection frame 431 can each detect an angle of the surface of the sample block 408 (with respect to the cutting plane) of up to approximately five degrees (for example), along their respective axes. Specifically, the detection plate 430 can rotate around a first axial support member 432 up to approximately five degrees (5 °) from an initial position parallel to the cutting plane. Similarly, the detection frame 431 can rotate around the second axial support member 433 up to approximately five degrees (5 °) from an initial position parallel to the cutting plane. Pressing the surface of the sample block 408 against the detection plate 430 can cause the detection plate 430 and / or the detection frame 431 to rotate to a degree equivalent to the degree by which the surface of the sample block 408 is offset the cutting plane. The detection plate 430 and the detection frame 431 can detect a combined angle of up to approximately seven degrees (7 °), in this specific embodiment, to determine a total angular orientation that the surface of the sample block 408 is offset from the cutting plane .
[00045] Once the angular orientation is determined, the microtome can autonomously determine an adjustment, and autonomously adjust the angular orientation of the surface of the sample block 408 by the determined adjustment, so that it is parallel, substantially parallel, or more parallel in relation to the cutting member and / or cutting plane. For example, if it is determined that the surface of the sample block 408 is offset in the cutting plane by a total angle of approximately four degrees (4 °), then the surface of the sample block 408 can be rotated approximately four degrees (4 °) ) in the opposite direction so that the surface of the sample block 408 is approximately parallel to the cutting plane. If desired, multiple detection measurements can be made while the angle is gradually decreased in small adjustments. It should be understood that other modalities may use either greater or lesser degrees of rotation than the specific degrees of rotation described for this exemplary mode. In addition, the horizontal position of the frontmost surface of the sample block 408 can be detected using a sensor to detect the horizontal movement of the detection frame 431 when the sample block 408 is pressed against the detection plate 430. Knowing the horizontal position from the leading edge of sample block 408 may allow the microtome to make the initial cuts to a desired thickness.
[00046] The sensor assemblies 214, 314, and 414 shown in figures 2, figure 3A-3B, and figures 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D, respectively, represent exemplary modalities of suitable surface orientation sensors. However, other surface orientation sensors are also contemplated. Some of these alternative surface orientation sensors are contact-based sensors or sensor assemblies similar to the sensor assemblies 214, 314, and 414 described above. However, they can make use of different contact-based detection mechanisms to detect the orientation of the sample surface. For example, in an alternative embodiment, instead of using a detection frame, a detection plate can be mounted on a single joint (for example, a ball joint), which allows the detection plate to rotate in two dimensions to conform to an orientation of the sample cut surface. Still other surface orientation sensors contemplated are non-contact based sensors that do not need to contact the sample surface to determine an orientation of the sample surface. For example, in one embodiment, an optical detection system can optically detect the orientation of the sample surface, for example, by directing or scanning one or more laser beams across the surface. Other proposals may be based on acoustics, interferometry, etc.
[00047] Sample holders capable of realigning an orientation of a sample surface so that it is parallel or more parallel with a cutting member and / or a cutting plane are known in the art. In some embodiments, the feed drive system may have a multi-axis workpiece mandrel or a motorized mandrel that is capable of adjusting an orientation of the sample's cutting surface in two dimensions with respect to a cutting member and / or cutting plane. Examples of suitable multi-axis workpiece mandrels are described in US Patent 7,168,694, entitled "MULTIPLE AXIS WORK PIECE", by Xuan S. Bui at al., Filed on January 22, 2004, and assigned to the assignor of the present invention. In one embodiment, the multi-axis chuck may have an assembly set that holds a workpiece, such as a sample, in a substantially fixed orientation with respect to the chuck. The chuck can be driven by a motor and can be rotated around at least two axes which can be perpendicular. The mandrel can be rotated manually by an operator using a controller that is in communication with one or more motors, or the microtome can autonomously rotate the mandrel. One or more sensors can be used to detect a position of the mandrel. According to a modality, each axis can have three sensors that detect an average nominal position and end positions of the mandrel. A user or microtome can control the movement of the mandrel by signaling the motor to rotate the mandrel to the desired position. The sensors can be used to determine whether the desired position has been reached. In one embodiment, the mandrel may include a first and a second portion that is rotatable around at least two orthogonal axes. The first portion can rotate about a first axis and independently of the second portion. Rotating the second portion around a second axis can cause the first portion to rotate around the second axis as well. This can allow the mandrel to be rotatable in multiple dimensions.
[00048] In some embodiments, a locking mechanism can optionally be provided. After rotating the multi-axis mandrel, a locking mechanism can be coupled to lock the multi-axis mandrel in the desired position. This locking mechanism can be, for example, a permanent magnet solenoid, a geared motor or a rotating handle that causes the first, second, and third portions to friction or otherwise known. In one embodiment, the motor can be used to tighten the spindle at times when the spindle is not being adjusted. When the microtome determines to adjust the position of the sample by adjusting the mandrel, or when a user decides to manually adjust the position of the tissue sample by adjusting the mandrel, the motor can be signaled to loosen the mandrel to allow the mandrel to be adjusted. At other times, when the chuck position is not being adjusted, the motor can be signaled to keep the chuck in a tight or locked configuration so that the chuck position and / or the position of a sample held by the chuck does not change involuntarily .
[00049] In some embodiments, the sectioning cycle may include: (1) moving the sample block 408 in a horizontal direction forward in the direction of the cutting plane by a predetermined distance relative to the desired slice thickness; (2) moving the sample block 408 in a vertical direction (for example, downwards) towards the cutting member to obtain a slice; (3) moving the sample block 408 in a horizontal direction backwards or opposite away from the cutting plane and / or cutting member by a predetermined distance; and (4) moving the sample block 408 in an opposite vertical direction (for example, upward) away from the cutting member. Pulling back or moving sample block 408 in a horizontal direction backwards away from the cutting member helps prevent sample block 408 from contacting the cutting member during (4) when moving sample block 408 in the opposite vertical direction (for example, up) away from the cutting member. Representatively, the distance that the sample block 408 is indented may correspond to a thickness of the sliced sample. Alternatively, it is contemplated that in some modalities, the step backwards can be omitted. The slicing cycle can be repeated until a desired number of slices is obtained.
[00050] In some embodiments, a microtome may be able to use different movement speeds of a feed and / or sample drive system (for example, sample block 410 in figure 4A or block 108 in figure 1) to different portions of the sectioning cycle. For example, in some embodiments, a relatively faster movement speed of the feed drive system and / or a sample can be used during one or more non-sectioning portions of a sectioning cycle (for example, where cutting or sectioning of a sample is not performed), while a relatively slower movement speed of the feed drive system and / or a sample can be used during a sectioning portion of the sectioning cycle (for example, where cutting or sectioning of the sample is performed). The use of a relatively slower movement speed of the feed and / or sample drive system during sample cutting or sectioning tends to provide higher quality sections and / or more consistent sections, while performing one or more other portions of not sectioning the sectioning cycle more quickly can help to optimize the total speed of the sectioning cycle and / or may allow more sections to be produced in a given amount of time. As such, the movement speed of a feed and / or sample drive system can vary throughout the sectioning cycle. For example, a user can control or program a sectioning cycle such that the movement of the sample block 410 or sample 108 in a vertical direction (for example, down) in the direction of the cutting member to obtain a slice (for example , operation (2) in the paragraph above) is performed more slowly than one or more other portions of the sectioning cycle (for example, operations (1), (3), (4), or a combination thereof, in the paragraph above).
[00051] In some embodiments, a microtome may include logic to allow a configurable, or programmable, sectioning portion of a sectioning cycle to be specified over which a movement speed relatively more lens to the feed drive system and / or a sample must be used. For example, in some embodiments, the microtome may include logic to allow a configurable, or programmable sectioning length to be configured or programmed. As an example, the length can be selected from a plurality of predetermined lengths that correspond to different types of cassettes having different dimensions. The different types of cassettes have different sectioning lengths on which sectioning is performed. As an example, 70mm Paraform® brand Biopsy Cassettes 13mm x 13mm, and 7020 Paraform® brand Biopsy Cassettes 26mm x 19mm, which are commercially available from Sakura Finetek USA, Inc., of Torrance, California, have different sectioning lengths. In an exemplary embodiment, the microtome can be operable to allow an operator to specify or indicate a sectioning length. The specification or indication of the sectioning length can be done in different ways, such as, for example, specifying a length, selecting a length from a plurality of predetermined lengths, specifying a type of cassette, selecting a type of cassette from a plurality of different types of cassettes, etc. For example, when a user is ready to produce sections of a specific cassette type, the user can make a selection of the specific cassette type using a control device (for example, control device 116 in figure 1), the microtome it can now be pre-programmed with a predetermined sectioning length that corresponds to that specific type of cassette. During sectioning, the microtome can use a relatively slower movement speed of the feed and / or sample drive system over the specified sectioning length and can use relatively faster movement speeds over one or more or substantially all other portions of the sectioning cycle. For example, immediately or just before and immediately or just after cutting the sample over the specified sectioning length, relatively faster speeds can be used.
[00052] In some embodiments, a microtome may include logic to initially autonomously remove a given or predetermined portion of a sample (for example, sample 108 in figure 1 or sample block 408 in figure 4A). For example, the portion may include a given or predetermined thickness of paraffin, inlay material, cassette material, or other non-woven material overlapping or hiding the actual woven material from which a section is desired to be taken (e.g., arranged between a cutting surface of the tissue material and the outermost front surface of the sample which would contact a detection plate). As an example, a sample can include a piece of fabric placed on the bottom of a cassette and the cassette and fabric sample embedded in a block of inlay material. In the case of multiple cassettes manufactured by Sakura Finetek USA, Inc., of Torrance, California, the cassettes may include a Paraform® brand cassette material that has sectioning characteristics similar to those of paraffin and sectioning may be performed using the paraffin material. Paraform® brand cassette from the bottom of the cassette.
[00053] In some embodiments, a microtome may include logic to initially autonomously remove a given or predetermined portion of a sample, for example, a portion of paraffin, inlay material, cassette material, or other non-overlapping tissue material or hiding the actual tissue material desired to be sectioned. For example, the microtome can autonomously remove a bottom of a cassette in order to expose or provide access to the actual tissue material in the sample. Representatively, in the case of certain cassettes depending on the thickness of the material that makes up the bottom of the cassette and the thickness of the sections. The microtome can autonomously make a plurality (for example, of approximately two to approximately twenty, often of approximately five to approximately fifteen) of sections to remove a predetermined thickness from the bottom of the cassette. The thickness of the bottom of the cassette that can be known by the microtome or predetermined. For example, a user can specify the thickness directly, or select a cassette type from several different types that each have a pre-programmed or otherwise known cassette bottom thickness. In some cases, the operator can control the microtome to perform the automated process, for example, with a user input device (for example, a trim button) on top of a control device or otherwise select a trim operation. Advantageously, allowing the microtome to autonomously remove the sample portion (for example, the bottom of the cassette) can relieve the operator of having to do so and / or may tend to accelerate the removal of the sample portion (for example, the bottom of the sample). cassette). Then, once the actual sample tissue is exposed, a sectioning cycle to obtain slices or sections of the tissue can be initiated (for example, the operator can press a section button or otherwise have the microtome make a section of the now exposed cutting surface of the tissue sample.
[00054] As previously discussed, the slicing operation can proceed automatically or manually through user interaction with the system. Figure 5 illustrates a modality of a control system for controlling a microtome operation that includes a steering wheel and a control device. The control system 560 can include a handwheel 504 and a control device 516. Handwheel 504 can include a handle or other pulse generating device 517 to lock handwheel 504. In some embodiments, handwheel 504 is coupled to engine 510 using a non-mechanical coupling or a non-mechanical mechanism (for example, an electrical coupling). Typically, microtomes include a flywheel that is mechanically attached to the engine. Such a mechanical coupling, however, adds resistance to the steering wheel when the user tries to turn it. Repeated turning of such a wheel can be demanding on the user and can sometimes result in medical illnesses such as carpal tunnel syndrome. The non-mechanical coupling or mechanism described here can offer the advantage of reduced handwheel strength resulting in a handwheel that is easier to rotate.
[00055] In some embodiments, the coupling or non-mechanical mechanism includes a first encoder 561. The first encoder 561 can be a rotary encoder coupled to the axis 562 of the handwheel 504. The rotation of the handwheel 504 and in turn of the shaft 562 provides the first encoder 561 with an angled position of the handwheel 504. The first encoder 561 then converts the angular position to an electrical representation (for example, an analog or digital code or value). This analog or digital code is transmitted to the control circuit 518 through the control line 519 where it is processed and used to direct the movement of motor 510 and in turn of the power drive 502. In some modalities, motor 510 that has the power drive 502 coupled to it can be connected to the control circuit 518 by a second encoder 564. In this respect, the axis 563 of the motor 506 can be connected to the second encoder 564 so that the second encoder 564 can detect a position of the 510 motor during the cutting operation. The encoder 564 then converts this position information to an electrical representation (for example, an analog or digital code or value) and transmits the electrical representation to control circuit 518 through control line 520. In some embodiments, the control circuit Control 518 can control the engine based at least in part on the electrical representation of the steering wheel's angular position. For example, as the positions of both handwheel 504 and motor 510 are known, control circuit 518 can ensure that the position of handwheel 504 corresponds to, and is in alignment with, the position of motor 510 during the cutting operation. For example, rotation of the handwheel 504 may not cause the motor 510 to move until a signal comparison of the respective first and second encoders indicates that a handwheel 504 position is aligned with a position of the motor drive shaft 510. This can tend to increase the safety of operation of the microtome, especially when transferring from an automated sectioning mode to a manual sectioning mode.
[00056] The control device 516 can also be operable to initiate an automated cutting operation. The control device 516 can be any type of input device suitable for initiating a cutting operation. Representatively, the control device 516 can include, for example, a keyboard, a numeric keypad, a capacitive sensor touch keyboard, or other user input device. In some embodiments, signals are transmitted between control device 516 and control circuit 518 through control line 523. In other embodiments, control device 516 can be a wireless control device that is operable to transmit data. wireless control signals to a control circuit 518 and optionally receive wireless signals from the control circuit 518. Control line 523 can be omitted. The wireless control device 516 may have a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, and / or a wireless transceiver, a stack of wireless protocols, and other conventional components found in wireless devices. In one aspect, the wireless control device 516 may be a Bluetooth capable device, although this is not required.
[00057] The control device 516 can include keys or simulated keys that can be used to control the actions of the microtome. Representatively, the keys may display graphic symbols or text that correspond to the various operations of the microtome, such as arrows that correspond to a vertical or horizontal movement of the microtome and / or other words, symbols, images, or the like, that correspond to, for example , slicing, stopping, starting, trimming a cassette bottom, sectioning, locking, or other microtome operations. The user selects the operation to be performed using the control device 516 and presses the appropriate key (s) to initiate the desired operation. The control signal is transmitted from the control device 516 to the control circuit 518. The control circuit 518 then provides a signal for, for example, the motor 510 to initiate a cutting operation. The cutting operation can then continue automatically or substantially autonomously without additional user intervention until the user either presses a stop key or a pre-programmed cutting operation is completed.
[00058] Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of a modality of a microtome feeding drive system. In one embodiment, the feed drive system 602 can be used for the feed drive system 102 described with reference to figure 1. Alternatively, the feed drive system 102 can use a feed drive system entirely different than the feed drive system 602. The feed drive system 602 includes a vertical drive member 605, a horizontal drive member 606 and a sample clamp 607. The mounting member 603 for holding a cutting member can also be positioned in front of the sample holder 607. In one embodiment, the mounting member 603 can be substantially similar to the mounting member 103 described with reference to figure 1.
[00059] During operation, the vertical movement of the feed drive system 602 is achieved by moving a slide (not shown) of the vertical drive member 605 vertically along a track. The movement of the slide is caused by the rotating pin (not shown) attached to a rotating plate (not shown) which is rotated by the drive belt 671 and a motor (not shown). To reduce the load on the motor, the weight of the feed drive system 602 can be balanced. For example, in one embodiment, the weight can be counterbalanced using a 672 spring assembly instead of a counterweight. Counterweights tend to be heavy and tend to increase the weight and cost of the microtome. Alternatively, a counterweight can be used if desired. Spring assembly 672 may include pulleys 673-1, 673-2, 673-3. Pulley 673-1 can be attached to pin 670. A cable 674 can be attached to one end of pulley 673-1, extend around pulleys 673-2 and 6733 and be attached to the opposite ends of springs 675. In this respect, as the feed drive system 602 is moved vertically, the springs 675 exert a counterbalancing force on the cable 674, which in turn pulls on the pin 670 and counteracts the weight of the feed drive system 602. The spring 672 can help reduce the weight of the system by eliminating the counterweight and can help reduce the inertia load on the engine. Although the spring assembly 672 is described in one embodiment, it is further contemplated that in other embodiments, a heavy semicircle mass attached to pin 670 can be used to counterbalance the feed drive system 602. Although the heavy semicircle mass is also effective in counterbalancing the feed drive system 602, this tends to increase the inertia load for the motor.
[00060] In some embodiments, a microtome may optionally include a latch that is operable to lock a feed drive system (for example, feed drive system 104 in figure 1 or feed drive system 602 in figure 6 ) in an upright position. As an example, the lock may include a spring-tensioned disc brake. The spring tensioned disc brake may include a disc brake, a pin or other locking member, and one or more springs or other mechanical tensioning elements for tensioning the pin or other locking member for a locking coupling with the brake disc when a deliberate unlock signal is not applied. Other types of lock known in the art are also suitable, such as, for example, a pin or other locking member tensioned into a hole. The lock can keep the feed drive system in a fixed vertical position, locked when the lock is not deliberately disabled. At appropriate times, when movement of the power drive system is desired, an unlock signal (for example, an electrical signal) can be deliberately applied to the latch to open the latch (for example, compress the spring, which can unlock the disc brake). Advantageously, such a lock can help prevent or at least reduce the likelihood that an operator will be injured due to a moving or falling feed drive system, for example, in the event of a power failure or otherwise. Without such a lock, the operator could be injured by the blade or other cutting member if the feed drive system were to fall or move unexpectedly.
[00061] It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to "a modality", "the modality", or "one or more modalities", for example, means that a specific characteristic can be included in the practice of the invention. Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description several characteristics are sometimes grouped together in a single modality, figure, or description for the purpose of simplifying the description and helping to understand various inventive aspects. This method of description, however, should not be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. On the contrary, as the following claims reflect, the inventive aspects can be found in less than all the characteristics of a single described modality. Thus, the claims that follow the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim being independent as a separate modality.
[00062] In the above specification, the invention has been described with reference to its specific modalities. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes can be made to it without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as presented in the appended claims. The specification and drawings, therefore, should be considered in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.
[00063] In the above specification, for the purpose of explanation, numerous specific details have been presented in order to provide a complete understanding of the modalities of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to someone skilled in the art, that one or more other modalities can be practiced without some of these specific details. The described modalities are not provided to limit the invention, but to illustrate it. The scope of the invention should not be determined by the specific examples provided above, but only by the claims below. In other cases, well-known circuits, devices, and operations have been shown in the form of a block diagram or without details in order to avoid obscuring the understanding of the description.
[00064] It will be appreciated, by someone skilled in the art, that modifications can be made in the modalities described here, such as, for example, in the sizes, shapes, configurations, couplings, shapes, functions, materials, and mode of operation, and assembly and use of the components of the modalities. All relationships equivalent to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are covered within the modalities of the invention. Also, where deemed appropriate, reference numbers or end portions of reference numbers have been repeated between the figures to indicate the corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.
[00065] Various operations and methods have been described. Some of the methods have been described in a basic form, but operations can optionally be added to and / or removed from the methods. Furthermore, although a specific order of operations according to the exemplary modalities has been described, it must be understood that this specific order is exemplary. Alternative modalities can optionally perform operations in a different order, combine certain operations, overlap certain operations, etc. Many modifications and adaptations can be made to the methods and are contemplated.
[00066] One or more embodiments include a manufacturing article (for example, a computer program product) that includes a machine-accessible and / or machine-readable medium. The medium may include a mechanism that provides (for example, stores) information in a form that is accessible and / or readable by the machine. The machine-accessible and / or machine-readable medium may provide, or have stored in it, a sequence of instructions and / or data structures that if executed by a machine causes or results in the machine running, and / or causes the machine performs, one or more or a portion of the operations or methods described herein. In one embodiment, the machine-readable medium may include a non-transient, machine-readable, tangible storage medium. For example, the tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium may include a floppy disk, an optical storage medium, an optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a read-only memory ( ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable and programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable and programmable ROM (EEPROM), a random access memory (RAM), a static RAM (SRAM), a dynamic RAM (DRAM) ), an Instant Memory, a phase change memory, or a combination thereof. The tangible medium can comprise one or more solid or tangible physical materials, such as, for example, a semiconductor material, a phase change material, a magnetic material, etc.
[00067] It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to "a modality", "the modality", or "one or more modalities", for example, means that a specific characteristic can be included in the practice of the invention. Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description several characteristics are sometimes grouped together in a single modality, figure, or description for the purpose of simplifying the description and helping to understand various inventive aspects. This method of description, however, should not be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. On the contrary, as the following claims reflect, the inventive aspects can be found in less than all the characteristics of a single described modality. Thus, the claims that follow the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim being independent as a separate modality.

权利要求:
Claims (27)
[0001]
1. A sample sectioning device, comprising: a cutting mechanism (112) that is operable to cut sections of a sample (108); a sample holder (107) that is operable to hold the sample (108); a drive system (102) coupled with the sample holder (107), the drive system (102) operable to drive the movement between the sample (108) attached by the sample holder (107) and the cutting mechanism (112 ); and characterized by the fact that it still comprises: a surface orientation sensor (114) that is operable to detect an angular orientation of a sample surface (108) attached by the sample holder (107) based on the rotation of the orientation sensor the surface.
[0002]
2. Sample sectioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface orientation sensor (114) is capable of rotating about a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.
[0003]
3. Sample sectioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface orientation sensor (114) comprises a first member (230) that is capable of rotating around a first axis (232) and a second member (231) which is capable of rotating about a second axis (233), and wherein the first axis (232) is substantially perpendicular to the second axis (233).
[0004]
Sample isolation device according to claim 3, characterized in that the first member (230) comprises a plate and the second member (231) comprises a frame coupled with the plate.
[0005]
5. Sample sectioning device according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that it further comprises: a first detection mechanism (234) configured to detect the rotation of the first member (230) around the first axis (232) ; and a second detection mechanism (236) configured to detect the rotation of the second member (231) about the second axis (233).
[0006]
6. Sample sectioning device according to claim 3, characterized in that the first member (230) and the second member (231) are movably coupled with the surface orientation sensor (114) and capable of moving in a direction away from the sample when the sample exerts a force on one or more of the first and second members (230, 231).
[0007]
7. Sample sectioning device according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises a detection mechanism configured to detect a quantity of movement of the first and second members (230, 231) in the direction away from the sample.
[0008]
8. Sample sectioning device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it further comprises: a motorized mandrel coupled with the sample holder (107), the motorized mandrel capable of adjusting the orientation of the sample surface; and logic to cause the sample disconnecting device to autonomously adjust the orientation of the sample surface based on the detected orientation.
[0009]
9. Sample sectioning device according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the logic comprises a logic to make the sample sectioning device autonomously adjust the orientation of the sample surface in relation to a plane of cutting associated with the cutting mechanism (112) a plurality of times while the adjusted orientations of the sample surface are detected by the surface orientation sensor (114) in order to make the orientation of the sample surface more parallel with the cutting plane .
[0010]
10. Sample sectioning device according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises a motorized mandrel motor (510) which is operable to lock a motorized mandrel position to maintain an orientation of the sample surface held by the sample holder (107) in a fixed orientation.
[0011]
Sample isolation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface orientation sensor (114) is fixedly coupled with the sample isolation device in one position, and in which the position is substantially vertically aligned with the cutting mechanism (112).
[0012]
12. Sample sectioning device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the surface orientation sensor (114) is movably coupled with the sample sectioning device, the operable surface orientation sensor (114) to move between a first position where the surface orientation sensor (114) is positioned to detect the orientation of the sample surface attached by the sample holder (107) and a second position further away from the movement between the sample attached by the sample holder sample (107) and the cutting mechanism (112).
[0013]
13. Sample sectioning device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it further comprises: a handwheel (504); a first encoder (561) coupled with the handwheel (504) by a first axis (562), the first encoder (561) operable to generate an electrical representation of an angular position of the handwheel (504); a motor (510) of the drive system; a second encoder (564) coupled with the motor (504) of the drive system by a second axis (563), the second encoder operable to generate an electrical representation of an angular position of the motor of the drive system; and a control circuit (518) electrically coupled with the first and second encoders and operable to receive the electrical representations of the angular positions of the flywheel (504) and the motor, the control circuit operable to control the motor based on at least part in the electrical representation of the steering wheel's angular position (504).
[0014]
14. Sample disconnection device according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that the control circuit (518) is operable to control the motor not to move until a comparison of the electrical representations of the angular positions of the handwheel (504 ) and the engine indicates that a handwheel position (504) is aligned with a position of the engine.
[0015]
15. Sample sectioning device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it further comprises a logic to allow a configurable sectioning length to be specified, in which the sample sectioning device is for moving the sample to a relatively slower movement speed during the specified sectioning length and at a relatively faster movement speed for at least one just before and just after movement during the specified sectioning length.
[0016]
16. Sample sectioning device according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that the logic comprises a logic to allow an operator to select the sectioning length among a plurality of predetermined sectioning lengths each corresponding to a different type of cassette used to hold the sample.
[0017]
17. Sample sectioning device according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that the logic comprises a logic to allow an operator to specify the sectioning length by selecting one from a plurality of different types of cassette.
[0018]
18. Sample sectioning device, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it further comprises a logic to make the sample sectioning device autonomously remove a given sample thickness that hides a tissue within the sample, the given thickness associated with a thickness of a bottom of a cassette containing the fabric.
[0019]
19. Sample sectioning device according to claim 18, characterized in that it further comprises a control device (516) which is operable to send control signals to the sample sectioning device, wherein the sample sectioning device The control has a user input device to allow a user to invoke logic to cause the sample sectioning device to autonomously remove the given sample thickness.
[0020]
20. Sample sectioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a wireless control device that is operable to send wireless control signals to the sample sectioning device.
[0021]
21. Method characterized by the fact that it comprises the steps of: positioning a sample (108) that is attached by the sample sectioning device as defined by claim 1, in relation to the surface orientation sensor (114); detecting an orientation of a sample surface (108) attached by the sample sectioning device with the surface orientation sensor (114) based on the rotation of the surface orientation sensor; adjust the angular orientation of the sample surface (108) attached by the sample sectioning device so that the sample surface is more parallel to a cutting plane (124) associated with a cutting mechanism (112) of the measuring device sample sectioning; and producing a sample section (108) with the sample sectioning device after adjusting the orientation of the sample surface (108).
[0022]
22. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that detecting the orientation of the sample surface (108) with the surface orientation sensor (114) comprises rotating the surface orientation sensor (114) over a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.
[0023]
23. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that detecting the orientation of the sample surface (108) comprises rotating a first member (230) of the surface orientation sensor (114) around a first axis ( 232) and rotate a second member (231) of the surface orientation sensor (114) about a second axis (233), the first axis (232) substantially perpendicular to the second axis (233).
[0024]
24. Method according to claim 21, characterized by the fact that it further comprises: moving a portion of the surface orientation sensor (114) away from the sample (108) as the sample exerts a force on the orientation sensor portion surface (114); and detecting an amount by which a portion of the surface orientation sensor (114) moves away from the sample.
[0025]
25. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that adjusting comprises the sample sectioning device to autonomously adjust the orientation of the sample surface.
[0026]
26. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that it further comprises specifying a configurable sectioning length, and in which producing the sample section comprises moving the sample at a relatively slower movement speed when cutting the section of the sample. sample over the specified sectioning length and move the sample at a relatively faster movement speed by at least one of just before or immediately after movement over the specified sectioning length.
[0027]
27. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that it further comprises the sample sectioning device autonomously producing a plurality of sections for removing a bottom of a cassette containing a tissue to expose the tissue.

类似技术:

---

公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题

---

BR102012006505B1|2020-12-08|sample sectioning device and method

---

US11187625B2|2021-11-30|Reciprocating microtome drive system

---

JP2004533347A5|2005-10-27|

---

US20180292300A1|2018-10-11|Rock strength evaluation device

同族专利:

---

公开号 | 公开日

---

CN102692338A|2012-09-26|

---

AU2012200721A1|2012-10-11|

---

AU2012200721C9|2015-05-14|

---

DK2503315T3|2017-10-30|

---

JP5960457B2|2016-08-02|

---

AU2012200721B2|2014-11-13|

---

EP2503315B1|2017-07-19|

---

JP2016186497A|2016-10-27|

---

US20150013512A1|2015-01-15|

---

BR102012006505A2|2014-06-03|

---

JP2012202993A|2012-10-22|

---

ES2802542T3|2021-01-20|

---

US9347857B2|2016-05-24|

---

US20120240737A1|2012-09-27|

---

EP3239687B1|2020-05-06|

---

ES2642668T3|2017-11-17|

---

CA2766756C|2015-09-29|

---

JP6362641B2|2018-07-25|

---

US8869666B2|2014-10-28|

---

EP2503315A2|2012-09-26|

---

CA2766756A1|2012-09-24|

---

DK3239687T3|2020-07-20|

---

EP2503315A3|2013-01-02|

---

CN102692338B|2016-12-28|

---

EP3239687A1|2017-11-01|

---

AU2012200721C1|2015-04-30|

引用文献:

---

公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题

---

---

US2155523A|1935-04-26|1939-04-25|Bausch & Lomb|Microtome|

---

US3273879A|1963-09-13|1966-09-20|Olaf J Floren|Compound sine plate|

---

US3962937A|1974-07-18|1976-06-15|Miller Leo C|Error adjustment method and structure for lathes and the like|

---

US3926085A|1974-12-02|1975-12-16|American Optical Corp|Specimen feed for a microtome|

---

US4150593A|1978-04-21|1979-04-24|Butler James K|Retractable specimen holder for a rotary microtome|

---

DE3218492C2|1982-05-15|1985-06-20|Breitfeld & Schliekert, 6368 Bad Vilbel|Machine for the production of copy templates for the edge grinding of spectacle lenses|

---

DE3404098C1|1984-02-07|1990-02-15|Parke, Davis & Co., Morris Plains, N.J.|Microtome with an object retraction device|

---

DE3830725A1|1988-09-09|1990-03-22|Leitz Wild Gmbh|AUTOMATIC LOCKING OF THE DRIVE DEVICE OF A MICROTOMA|

---

SE500941C2|1989-08-16|1994-10-03|Algy Persson|Method and apparatus for cutting a preparation|

---

USD328129S|1989-08-29|1992-07-21|Leica Instruments Gmbh|Knife holder for a microtome|

---

USD326860S|1989-08-29|1992-06-09|Leica Instruments Gmbh|Microtome tool holder|

---

USD326921S|1989-10-18|1992-06-09|Leica Instruments Gmbh|Rotation microtome|

---

DE8914782U1|1989-12-15|1990-02-08|Cambridge Instruments Gmbh, 6907 Nussloch, De|

---

WO1991015746A1|1990-03-19|1991-10-17|Hellmuth Sitte|Microtome|

---

AT399226B|1990-04-11|1995-04-25|Sitte Hellmuth|AUTOMATIC CUTTING DEVICE FOR MICROTOMES, IN PARTICULAR ULTRAMICROTOMAS|

---

DE4028806C2|1990-09-11|1998-08-27|Leica Ag|Microtome, especially ultramicrotome with a cooling chamber|

---

DE4033335A1|1990-10-19|1992-04-23|Leica Instr Gmbh|MICROTOM|

---

US5156019A|1990-11-19|1992-10-20|Mccormick James B|Frozen tissue sectioning apparatus and method|

---

USD358895S|1990-11-23|1995-05-30|Leica Instruments Gmbh|Microtome|

---

US5255585A|1991-09-19|1993-10-26|Instrumedics, Inc.|Vacuum system for cryostats|

---

US5535654A|1991-11-28|1996-07-16|Microm Laborgerate Gmbh|Microtome|

---

JPH05256745A|1992-03-16|1993-10-05|Feather Safety Razor Co Ltd|Microtome|

---

ES2119166T3|1993-02-03|1998-10-01|Histaggen Inc|AUTOMATIC HISTOCYTOCHEMICAL ENCAPSULATION SYSTEM AND APPARATUS INTENDED FOR THE TREATMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCES.|

---

US5965454A|1993-02-03|1999-10-12|Histaggen Incorporated|Automated histo-cytochemistry apparatus and encapsulation system for processing biological materials|

---

FR2705917B1|1993-06-02|1995-09-08|Tabone Herve|Aspiration microtome, especially for histological and similar work.|

---

US5461953A|1994-03-25|1995-10-31|Mccormick; James B.|Multi-dimension microtome sectioning device|

---

RU2085892C1|1994-08-15|1997-07-27|Илья Борисович Извозчиков|Microtome|

---

USD383548S|1994-09-23|1997-09-09|Leica Instruments Gmbh|Rotational microtome|

---

DE9415681U1|1994-09-28|1994-11-17|Leica Instr Gmbh|Clamping device for clamping sample holders for a microtome|

---

DE4435072C1|1994-09-30|1995-10-19|Leica Instr Gmbh|Clamping device for a blade-shaped cutting knife of a microtome|

---

DE4434937C1|1994-09-30|1995-11-02|Leica Instr Gmbh|Cryostat microtome with a covering device|

---

DE19506837C1|1995-02-28|1996-07-04|Leica Instr Gmbh|Knife holder for holding wedge-shaped microtome knives|

---

DE19531524C1|1995-08-26|1996-07-04|Leica Instr Gmbh|Rotational microtome with crank drive|

---

US5671648A|1996-01-16|1997-09-30|Dern; Klaus|Rotary microtome with horizontal sweep|

---

DE19604001C2|1996-02-05|1998-07-16|Leica Instr Gmbh|Device for orienting a cooled object head in a cryostat microtome|

---

US5817032A|1996-05-14|1998-10-06|Biopath Automation Llc.|Means and method for harvesting and handling tissue samples for biopsy analysis|

---

US5678465A|1996-06-10|1997-10-21|Krumdieck; Carlos|Tissue slice thickness measuring apparatus and method|

---

WO1998004898A1|1996-07-29|1998-02-05|Leica Instruments Gmbh|Disc-microtome|

---

DE19635538C1|1996-09-02|1998-01-22|Leica Instr Gmbh|Knife holder for holding wedge-shaped microtome knives or wedge-shaped blade holders|

---

US5839091A|1996-10-07|1998-11-17|Lab Vision Corporation|Method and apparatus for automatic tissue staining|

---

DE19645107C2|1996-11-01|1999-06-24|Leica Ag|Microtome with an oscillating knife|

---

DE19647662C1|1996-11-19|1998-03-12|Leica Instr Gmbh|Operating drive for automatic histological sample handling device|

---

DE19647663C1|1996-11-19|1998-03-12|Leica Instr Gmbh|Automatic histological sample handling device|

---

JPH10197418A|1997-01-10|1998-07-31|Chuo Seiki Kk|Microtome|

---

DE19803966B4|1997-03-07|2006-05-11|Microm International Gmbh|Suction device for cutting waste in a cryostat microtome and cryostat microtome|

---

US6644162B1|1998-02-18|2003-11-11|Shandon Scientific Limited|Microtome|

---

DE19816375C1|1998-04-11|1999-07-08|Leica Microsystems|Microtome cassette clamp|

---

AT406309B|1998-09-01|2000-04-25|Leica Mikrosysteme Ag|DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURES IN A REFRIGERATOR CHAMBER FOR A MICROTOME|

---

DE19911005A1|1999-03-12|2000-09-28|Leica Microsystems|Disc microtome control method|

---

DE19911173C2|1999-03-12|2002-01-31|Leica Microsystems|Microtome with a motorized feed drive|

---

DE19911163C1|1999-03-12|2000-07-20|Leica Microsystems|Microtome; has control circuit to control drive motor of drive for operating knife or object motion, according to rotation signals of hand wheel, so that cutting is prevented in case of fault|

---

US6387653B1|1999-04-09|2002-05-14|Culterra, Llc|Apparatus and method for automatically producing tissue slides|

---

US7374907B1|2000-04-07|2008-05-20|John Voneiff|System and method for automatically processing tissue samples|

---

DE19918442B4|1999-04-23|2005-04-14|Leica Microsystems Nussloch Gmbh|Staining automat for staining objects for microscopic examination|

---

DE10006084B4|2000-02-11|2009-01-02|Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh|Stainer with a heating station|

---

DE10048724B4|2000-09-29|2008-12-04|Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh|Device for stretching cryostat sections|

---

DE10106033A1|2001-02-09|2002-08-29|Hess Consult Gmbh|microtome|

---

DE10115065A1|2001-03-27|2002-10-02|Leica Microsystems|Method and device for printing on cassettes or slides for histological preparations|

---

DE10115066B4|2001-03-27|2012-10-04|Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh|Device for drying solvent-based ink|

---

DE20111599U1|2001-07-11|2001-09-13|Leica Microsystems|Dispenser for thin knives, especially for thin replacement microtome knives|

---

CA2462332C|2001-10-01|2014-12-09|Vision Biosystems Limited|Histological tissue specimen treatment|

---

JP3576136B2|2001-11-30|2004-10-13|堂阪イーエム株式会社|Test piece cutting device|

---

DE10210408B4|2002-03-09|2010-07-08|Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh|Microtome with feed device|

---

US6637737B1|2002-07-31|2003-10-28|Unova Ip Corp.|Workpiece micro-positioning apparatus|

---

DE10242712B4|2002-09-13|2004-10-21|Leica Mikrosysteme Gmbh|Microtome with a control device|

---

DE10258555B4|2002-12-14|2005-04-28|Leica Mikrosysteme Gmbh Wien|Method and system for setting and cutting a specimen in a cutting device|

---

DE10300091A1|2003-01-04|2004-07-29|Lubatschowski, Holger, Dr.|microtome|

---

DE102004004355B3|2003-04-15|2005-01-20|Leica Microsystems Nussloch Gmbh|rotary microtome|

---

DE10324696B4|2003-05-28|2013-09-12|Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh|Orientable sample holder with a zero point display for a microtome|

---

DE10346995B4|2003-10-07|2012-04-19|Leica Mikrosysteme Gmbh|Microtome with knife holder|

---

DE10346996B3|2003-10-07|2005-05-25|Leica Mikrosysteme Gmbh|Microtome with cooling chamber|

---

DE20318093U1|2003-11-22|2004-02-12|Leica Microsystems Nussloch Gmbh|Cryostat with an integrated staining station|

---

DE20318094U1|2003-11-22|2004-02-12|Leica Microsystems Nussloch Gmbh|Cryostat with a hot plate|

---

CN1268423C|2003-12-09|2006-08-09|中国石化集团南京化学工业有限公司|Preparation of dehydrogenation catalyst|

---

DE102004001475B4|2004-01-08|2006-02-02|Leica Mikrosysteme Gmbh|Method for trimming samples|

---

US7168694B2|2004-01-22|2007-01-30|Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.|Multi-axis workpiece chuck|

---

DE202004006265U1|2004-04-21|2004-06-17|Leica Microsystems Nussloch Gmbh|Microtem for the production of thin sections|

---

EP1598140A1|2004-05-19|2005-11-23|Synova S.A.|Laser machining|

---

US7854707B2|2005-08-05|2010-12-21|Devicor Medical Products, Inc.|Tissue sample revolver drum biopsy device|

---

US7831075B2|2005-10-20|2010-11-09|Case Western Reserve University|Imaging system|

---

DE202005019765U1|2005-12-17|2006-02-16|Leica Microsystems Nussloch Gmbh|Microtome with a cooling device|

---

JP4636552B2|2006-01-25|2011-02-23|セイコーインスツル株式会社|Automatic slicer|

---

JP4840765B2|2006-02-09|2011-12-21|セイコーインスツル株式会社|Thin section manufacturing apparatus and thin section manufacturing method|

---

JP4548357B2|2006-02-13|2010-09-22|セイコーインスツル株式会社|Automatic thin section specimen preparation device and automatic thin section specimen preparation method|

---

DE102006031136B3|2006-07-03|2007-07-26|Leica Microsystems Nussloch Gmbh|Crank drive for shaft of microtome, has two shafts with respective transmission units, and third transmission unit is selectively brought in contact with former two transmission units|

---

DE102006034879B3|2006-07-25|2007-07-12|Leica Microsystems Nussloch Gmbh|Sliding microtome for cutting object, has levers with guiding sections and guiding surfaces, where sections work together with surfaces such that movement of one lever in two different directions moves another lever in target direction|

---

DE102006041208B4|2006-09-02|2014-08-07|Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh|Measuring device for a vibrating microtome and vibrating microtome with a measuring device|

---

EP2711681A1|2006-09-21|2014-03-26|Kurashiki Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha|Apparatus and method for preparing sliced specimen|

---

US20080113440A1|2006-10-06|2008-05-15|Leica Biosystems Melbourne Pty Ltd|Method and Apparatus for Tissue Sample Processing|

---

DE102006054617B4|2006-11-17|2017-06-01|Leica Mikrosysteme Gmbh|Device for processing a sample|

---

JP4849405B2|2006-11-28|2012-01-11|セイコーインスツル株式会社|Automatic slicing device and automatic slicing method|

---

DE202007007160U1|2007-05-19|2007-08-02|Leica Microsystems Nussloch Gmbh|Device for producing thin sections|

---

DE102007023457B4|2007-05-19|2009-05-20|Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh|Method for automatically approaching a preparation to be cut thinly to the knife of a microtome|

---

DE102007026844B4|2007-06-06|2011-02-17|Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh|Device for braking the shaft of a microtome|

---

US7938379B2|2007-07-11|2011-05-10|General Electric Company|Three axis adjustable mounting system|

---

JP2009083022A|2007-09-28|2009-04-23|Sugino Mach Ltd|Jet-stream processing device and origin correction method in jet-stream processing device|

---

DE102008016165B4|2008-03-28|2010-10-14|Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh|Microtome with variable cutting stroke using a linear motor as drive|

---

US8001876B1|2008-05-14|2011-08-23|SAIC-Frederick, Inc.|Block alignment for microtomes|

---

DE102008031137A1|2008-07-01|2010-01-14|Microm International Gmbh|Stroke setting for rotary microtome|

---

JP5299996B2|2008-09-08|2013-09-25|セイコーインスツル株式会社|Automatic slicer|

---

DE102008047415B4|2008-09-16|2010-12-02|Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh|Microtome for making cuts of an object|

---

US20100076473A1|2008-09-25|2010-03-25|Ossama Tawfik|Tissue Slicer|

---

DE102009006386B4|2009-01-16|2011-04-14|HLT Handel, Logistik und Technologie GmbH|Miktrotom|

---

JP2010185818A|2009-02-13|2010-08-26|Seiko Instruments Inc|System for making thin slice|

---

AT507572B1|2009-07-31|2010-06-15|Leica Mikrosysteme Gmbh|PROCESS FOR SEGMENT CONTROL OF A KNIFE CUTTING|

---

DE102010046498B3|2010-09-24|2011-12-15|Hans Heid|Rotary microtome for cutting thin sample in laboratory, has adjustable weight comprising guide connected with drive shaft, and control element controlling operation of adjustable units by balancing center of gravity of drive axle|

---

US8869666B2|2011-03-24|2014-10-28|Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.|Microtome with surface orientation sensor to sense orientation of surface of sample|

---

DE102012106845B4|2012-07-27|2014-08-07|Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh|Microtome with auto-rocking mode|

---

US9873158B2|2013-03-13|2018-01-23|Robert Bosch Tool Corporation|Adjustment and control features for a power tool|DE102010046498B3|2010-09-24|2011-12-15|Hans Heid|Rotary microtome for cutting thin sample in laboratory, has adjustable weight comprising guide connected with drive shaft, and control element controlling operation of adjustable units by balancing center of gravity of drive axle|

---

US8869666B2|2011-03-24|2014-10-28|Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.|Microtome with surface orientation sensor to sense orientation of surface of sample|

---

US9032854B2|2011-12-21|2015-05-19|Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.|Reciprocating microtome drive system|

---

DE102013203564B3|2013-03-01|2013-12-05|Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh|Sample holder for microtome for cutting cassette with paraffin-embedded tissue, has operating mechanism initially and secondly de-actuating respective fixing devices, so that clamping component is opened, when de-actuated|

---

CA2845830C|2013-03-15|2020-10-27|Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh|Tissue cassette with retractable member|

---

GB2514774B|2013-06-03|2016-02-24|Primetals Technologies Ltd|A shear|

---

DE102013110776B4|2013-09-30|2015-05-13|Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh|Method and microtome for producing thin sections with a sectional profile recording mode|

---

US10054518B2|2013-11-05|2018-08-21|Howard Hughes Medical Institute|Sectioning volume samples|

---

EP3090244B1|2013-12-30|2020-10-07|Hemmings, Kurt|Tool and method for aligning a tissue plane for microtomy|

---

DE102014005445B3|2014-04-11|2015-01-29|Hans Heid|Microtome and method of operating a microtome|

---

US10571368B2|2015-06-30|2020-02-25|Clarapath, Inc.|Automated system and method for advancing tape to transport cut tissue sections|

---

US10724929B2|2016-05-13|2020-07-28|Clarapath, Inc.|Automated tissue sectioning and storage system|

---

AT518719A1|2016-05-19|2017-12-15|Luttenberger Herbert|microtome|

---

CN106078848B|2016-06-30|2018-03-30|中国人民解放军国防科学技术大学|A kind of cutting off machine for preparing sample bone|

---

US10012567B2|2016-11-14|2018-07-03|Sakura Finetek U.S.A., Inc.|Microtome chuck with light source|

---

DE102017128491A1|2017-11-30|2019-06-06|Leica Biosystems Nussloch Gmbh|Microtome and method for positioning a microtome object head|

---

KR102119782B1|2018-05-10|2020-06-05|삼성의료재단|Tissue microtome|

---

RU188389U1|2018-11-15|2019-04-09|федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Омский государственный медицинский университет" Министерства здравоохранения Российской Федерации |Adhesive substrate for orienting biopsy material of the gastric mucosa|

---

US11059582B2|2019-02-11|2021-07-13|Cnh Industrial Canada, Ltd.|Systems for acquiring field condition data|

---

US11001380B2|2019-02-11|2021-05-11|Cnh Industrial Canada, Ltd.|Methods for acquiring field condition data|

法律状态:
2014-06-03| B03A| Publication of an application: publication of a patent application or of a certificate of addition of invention|

---

2018-12-18| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according art. 34 industrial property law|

---

2019-08-06| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: suspension of the patent application procedure|

---

2020-02-18| B06A| Notification to applicant to reply to the report for non-patentability or inadequacy of the application according art. 36 industrial patent law|

---

2020-08-18| B09A| Decision: intention to grant|

---

2020-12-08| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 22/03/2012, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |

优先权:

---

申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题

---

US13/071,185|2011-03-24|

---

US13/071,185|US8869666B2|2011-03-24|2011-03-24|Microtome with surface orientation sensor to sense orientation of surface of sample|

---