A blade clamping device for a microtome is provided. The blade clamping device includes: a base part; a pressure plate rotatably connected to the base part via a rotation shaft; a clamping pin received in the base part, and configured to extend out of the base part and push the pressure plate to rotate, so as to clamp a blade between the base part and the pressure plate; and a drive unit received in the base part, connected to the clamping pin and configured to drive the clamping pin to extend out of the base part.

A microtomy system includes a tissue chuck configured to accept a tissue block and a microtome blade configured to remove one or more tissue sections from the tissue block, the microtome blade being axially offset from the tissue chuck along a horizontal axis, where the microtome blade and the tissue chuck are axially displaceable relative to one another along the horizontal axis. The system also includes a control system configured to receive information indicative of a relative axial location of the microtome blade to the tissue chuck along the horizontal axis, and to use a control loop to control the relative axial location of the microtome blade to the tissue chuck such that the one or more tissue sections have a desired thickness.

The present disclosure provides a moving and clamping device (200) for a blade holder (100) of a microtome. The blade holder (100) includes a blade receptacle (120) configured to receive and clamp a blade. The moving and clamping device (200) includes a rotary member (210) and a clamping member (220). The rotary member (210) is configured to drive the blade receptacle (120) to move in a direction perpendicular to a rotating axis of the rotary member (210), and the clamping member (220) is configured to be movable in the rotating axis of the rotary member (210), so as to operatively clamp or release the blade receptacle (120). The rotary member (210) is rotatably fitted over the clamping member (220). The present disclosure further provides a blade holder (100).

A protective housing for a microtome blade (4) includes a frame that holds the microtome blade (4) and a clip (2) that can be pivoted relative to the frame. In a first position, the clip (2) covers a cutting edge of the microtome blade (4) received in the frame. A microtome blade holder (6) is configured to receive an arrangement (100) composed of the protective housing and the microtome blade (4).

The present disclosure relates to a blade holder (100), a blade moving system (1000) and a microtome (2000). The blade holder (100) includes a base (110) defining a blade groove (112) and a slide groove (114), the blade groove (112) being configured to accommodating a blade (900); a slide rail (120) slidably accommodated in the slide groove (114); and an engagement assembly (130) mounted to the slide rail (120) and configured to engage the blade (900) such that the blade (900) is slidable along the blade groove (112) with sliding of the slide rail (120) in the slide groove (114). By using the blade holder (100) according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the blade (900) can be moved to the left or right along the blade groove (112) by sliding the slide rail (120) in the slide groove (114), thereby facilitating fully use of the blade (900).

The present disclosure provides a blade load mechanism for a blade holder of a microtome. The blade holder has a base defining a blade receptacle configured to receive a blade, the blade load mechanism includes a blade supply container configured to contain a blade therein, the blade supply container defining a removal opening through which the blade is able to be removed from the blade supply container, and a blade access slot through an outer wall of the blade supply container in a length direction of the blade; and a blade pusher configured to engage with the blade through the blade access slot and slide along the blade access slot to push the blade out of the blade supply container through the removal opening, and deliver the blade into the blade receptacle. The present disclosure further provides a blade unload mechanism and a blade changing system.

An automated tape transfer apparatus including a tape feed mechanism feeding a continuous length of an adhesive tape through the automated tape transfer apparatus and a tape applicator applying the adhesive tape to a cutting face of a sample block, wherein a section of the sample block is adhered to the adhesive tape after cutting of the section from the sample block. A slide station transfers the cut section from the adhesive tape to a slide.

An automated tape transfer apparatus including a tape feed mechanism feeding a continuous length of an adhesive tape through the automated tape transfer apparatus and a tape applicator applying the adhesive tape to a cutting face of a sample block, wherein a section of the sample block is adhered to the adhesive tape after cutting of the section from the sample block. A slide station transfers the cut section from the adhesive tape to a slide.

Provided here are systems and methods for microtomy, including a microtome and a transfer tape system. The microtome can be used for sectioning a tissue section from a tissue block. The transfer tape system can include a transfer tape configured to adhere to a front face of the tissue block and collect one or more tissue sections sectioned by the microtome and to transfer the one or more tissue sections to one or more slides; and at least one tension device for controlling tension and an angle of the transfer tape relative the tissue block or the one or more slides. The at least one tension device can be configured to maintain the transfer tape at a predetermined tension or maintain the transfer tape at a predetermined angle relative to the tissue block or the one or more slides.

A microtome has a sectioning apparatus that comprises a microtome blade, for sectioning histological samples into thin prepared sections. The microtome is characterized in that an optical reading apparatus is present which reads an optically readable image pattern on the microtome blade, generates analog or digital image signals corresponding to the read image pattern and conveys the image signals to a control apparatus of the microtome.