A microtome comprises a support assembly; an actuator, mounted to the support assembly; a pair of oscillating flexure assemblies, held by the support assembly and each of which being located on one side of the actuator and oscillated by the actuator; and a blade assembly, mounted to each of the oscillating flexure assemblies so as to move in a direction same as the oscillating flexure assemblies.

A microtome comprises a support assembly; an actuator, mounted to the support assembly; a pair of oscillating flexure assemblies, held by the support assembly and each of which being located on one side of the actuator and oscillated by the actuator; and a blade assembly, mounted to each of the oscillating flexure assemblies so as to move in a direction same as the oscillating flexure assemblies.

A microtome includes a blade; and a knife holder. The blade has a cutting edge configured to section a specimen block. The knife holder includes a base, a pressure plate and a frame. The pressure plate is connected to the base, and the pressure plate is adjustable relative to the base to clamp the blade between base and the pressure plate. The frame includes at least one limb and a bridge extending from the at least one limb parallel to the cutting edge. The bridge is proximate the cutting edge, the bridge and the blade cooperatively define a first gap therebetween, and the bridge and the pressure plate cooperatively define a second gap therebetween.

A knife holder is provided. The knife holder includes: a base; a pressure plate pivotally arranged to the base and configured to releasably clamp a blade in a sectioning position together with the base; and a blade changing apparatus embedded in the base and configured to output an unused blade out of the base to change a used blade.

A microtome system for cutting sections from a specimen includes a knife including a knife edge configured to cut a section from the specimen, a knife holder, a specimen holder, an illumination, a first actor, a detector, and a controller. The knife holder and specimen holder are configured to be relatively moveable in a cutting direction. The first actor is configured to cause a rotation of the knife holder or specimen holder about an axis. The illumination is configured to illuminate a gap between a front face of the specimen and the knife edge to generate a light gap. The detector is configured to detect a geometric feature of the light gap. The controller is configured to automatically align, or provide indications to manually align, the knife edge with the front face, by controlling the first actor depending on the detected geometric feature.

A histology radius blade grossing knife is provided. The histology radius blade grossing knife has a blade mounting system adapted to operatively retain a histology radius trimming blade. The blade mounting system provides a retaining spine for engaging an upper edge of the trimming blade, wherein a rear portion of the retaining spine is securely sandwiched by retaining plates of the blade mounting system. Furthermore, the trimming blade provides notches and/or recesses for facilitating such operative association. Each histology radius trimming blade embodies a radiused or otherwise uniquely shaped heel for cutting and dissecting tissue

A sample scraping method and a sample scraping device capable of efficiently scraping and collecting a biological tissue section without waste while suppressing contamination is provided. In a sample scraping method for scraping and collecting a biological tissue section held on a slide, the FFPE section held on the slide is heated, and the heated FFPE section is scraped by a blade such that the FFPE section that has been scraped off and remains on the blade is collected in a container.

A histology radius blade grossing knife is provided. The histology radius blade grossing knife has a blade mounting system adapted to operatively retain a histology radius trimming blade. The blade mounting system provides a retaining spine for engaging an upper edge of the trimming blade, wherein a rear portion of the retaining spine is securely sandwiched by retaining plates of the blade mounting system. Furthermore, the trimming blade provides notches and/or recesses for facilitating such operative association. Each histology radius trimming blade embodies a radiused or otherwise uniquely shaped heel for cutting and dissecting tissue

A microtome blade guard including a first arm operable to be coupled to a first side of a cutting mechanism of a microtome; a second arm operable to be coupled to a second side of a cutting mechanism; a lateral support member disposed between the first arm and the second arm; and a staff coupled to the lateral support member and operable to extend therefrom to engage a blade positioned in the blade slot. A microtome including a blade guard and a method including placing a blade in a blade slot of a blade block of a microtome; engaging the blade with a staff coupled to a blade guard that is coupled to the blade block; and moving the blade with the staff.

A sample sectioning device including a cutting mechanism that is operable to cut sections from a sample, a sample holder operable to move relative to the cutting mechanism, the sample holder having a first side and a second side, the first side faces the cutting mechanism and is dimensioned to receive a sample, a light source coupled to the sample holder, wherein the light source is operable to emit a light from the first side of the sample holder and through a sample positioned on the first side, and a generator operable to generate an electrical energy for providing power to the light source.