DE2440813A1 - DEVICE FOR COLLECTING PARTS SEPARATED FROM A SAMPLE IN A MICROTOME - Google Patents

Description

Patent Attorneys Liedl, Dr. Pontani, Nöth. Zeitler ^2U0813 Münahen 22, Steinsdorfstrasse 21-22, phone 089/29 84 62

A 6902.

LKB-PRODUKTER AB, S-161 25 Brommal, SWEDEN

Device for collecting parts separated from a sample

in a microtome

The invention relates to a device in a microtome in which a sample is divided into thin sections by means of a knife, the knife being accommodated in a knife holder for collecting the separated parts obtained thereby.

N / Li

509815/0845

2U0813

When dividing a sample by cutting in a microtome, particularly a biological sample, a Knife used, which consists of a glass prism. The knife is usually housed in a knife holder, which from consists of two right-angled parts arranged on each side of the glass prism. Normally, the various dividing cuts are made one after the other, with the severed parts in near the knife edge must be caught in a suitable manner, if for further processing, for example for an investigation in an electron microscope, storage is necessary. The separations can be done in a microtome at room temperature usually carried out so that the parallel parts of the knife socket in connection with a suitably arranged strip tape form a container filled with liquid on which the successively obtained separated parts float. By suitable means similar to an eyelash can be cut off! Transfer parts to a so-called grid when the separation process is complete. This is a round copper mesh and is used for examination in an electron microscope. For certain cutting work at At low temperatures, for example in cytochemical work, it is undesirable to have a chemical action on the part of a liquid to risk.

However, for many types of separation work in a microtome it is desired to work at low temperatures; d. H. at temperatures of 170 - 180 ° C. In these cases it is impractical to use a container filled with liquid on which the separated parts float. Ih these cases you can Place the separated parts on the inclined surface of the prismatic glass knife. They can then, with suitable means, for example an eyelash, can be picked up and placed on a grid. When working at these low temperatures

509815/0845

Both the knife and the sample are thermal in one housed insulated container, the interior of this container is cooled for example by means of liquid nitrogen. When handling of the severed parts, it is therefore necessary that this container be opened, whereby the temperature inside the container is rapid increases.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a collecting device for to show parts separated from a sample in a microtome, which enables quick handling of the separated obtained parts.

This task is achieved with a device of the type mentioned at the beginning solved by a grid holder which rests on the knife or a knife holder and can be moved essentially perpendicular to the knife edge is, wherein the part of the grid holder, which is steerable against the knife edge, has a horizontal recess and through a grid for a Subsequent examination of the obtained separated sample parts in an electron microscope, which can be fastened in the recess of the grid holder and is displaceable by means of the grid holder and can be brought into contact with the knife in the vicinity of the knife edge.

The present invention thus relates to a device with which the separated parts of a sample can be collected directly on the grid, this grid being used for later investigations of the separated Sample parts in an electron microscope is suitable. In the invention, the grid can be in a position along the knife edge be brought in such a position where the best separation effect is achieved. Furthermore, the grid can be brought into such a position along the knife edge where the most interesting Parts of the sample are cut off with the aid of the knife edge. In the device according to the invention, the trapped by the grid

6902 609815/0845

Parts are removed quickly so that during this step the smallest possible temperature rise is to be recorded.

In the accompanying figures is a preferred embodiment of the invention, and the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to these figures. Show it:

1 shows a perspective view of a knife and a knife holder or a knife holder in a microtome;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention seen from below and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the same according to the invention Device seen from above.

In the figure 1, a knife 1 is shown, which consists of a triangular Glass prism. This knife has a knife edge or knife edge 2. With 3 and 4 are two right-angled side parts indicates which parts of the knife holder are. In an opening 5, which is formed by the right-angled side parts, you can insert a wall so that the knife holder forms a container, which can be filled with a liquid.

In FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown with a grid holder. This device contains a middle plate 6, on the upper part of which an upper plate 7 is slidably arranged. A block 8 is provided under the center plate. An opening θ is arranged between the plates 6 and 7, into which a grid 10 can be inserted.

509815/0845 6902

OWQINAL "SSPECTED

In Fig. 3, two drilled holes are designated by 11, which the handling of the grid holder and the grid by means of a Zangenbzw. Pair of tweezers. The sliding shift of the Upper plate 7 is guided by pins 12 which protrude into openings 13.

The operation of the illustrated embodiment of the invention is the following:

Instead of a knife holder that forms a container, as is known is, the grid holder is arranged on the upper edge en of the right-angled side parts 3 and 4, the middle plate 6 of the grid holder sits on these upper edges of the side panels. The purpose of the block 8 is that you can get a guide in the right-angled Receives side parts 3 and 4 for the grid holder. The grid holder will then shifted towards the knife edge 2. This shift is essentially perpendicular to the knife edge or in one Angle that is determined by the shape of the measuring holder. The grille 10 can easily be pushed into the opening θ. The block 8 can of course also be replaced by two guide blocks. Ih preferably have the two right-angled side parts 3 and 4 the same height, the opening 9 running horizontally. The grid holder with the grid 10 is moved towards the knife, so that the grid 10 is brought into contact with the knife in the immediate vicinity of the knife edge 2. The opening 9 should therefore have such a length that the grid can also be moved sideways so that the point of the knife edge is controlled which is sharpest or the point controlled by the grid where the most interesting part of the sample will be severed from the knife edge. . '

6902 50981 5/08 45

After a suitable number of severed specimens have been collected on the grid, the grid holder can be used easily grasp in the drilled holes 11 by means of a pair of pliers or tweezers. Also suitable clamping means for quick Handling of a pair of forceps or a pair of forceps can preferably be used in the invention. When the grid holder is is in its collecting position near the knife edge, the top plate 7 is in its rearward position, like that in FIGS Figures is shown. When the grid holder and the grid are lifted, the grid can easily be removed from the grid holder by in a simple manner the top plate 7 is displaced towards the grid so that the grid is repelled from the grid holder.

The opening 9 can also be designed in a simpler manner. Here the upper plate 7 can be omitted and the opening 9 can be designed as a slot in the plate 6. A part of the plate 6 can then be curved be for the horizontal insertion of the grille 10. The upper edges of the right-angled side parts 3 and 4 run normally horizontally, but they can also be inclined at a slight angle. Furthermore, the opening 9 can be designed so that the grid 10 is inserted into an opening which lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the plate β. The grid can also be opposite the Plate 6 have an angle.

When cutting with a knife without a knife holder, the grid holder can be provided with a suitable device, which ensures that the grid holder can be moved in the direction of the knife.

With the help of the invention it is possible to cut a number of Divide the sample on the grid 10 while collecting the sample

6209 509815/0845

and the knife in an insulated room at low temperatures can be accommodated. From this space, the grid can be removed quickly and easily with the help of the grid holder, without the temperature in the isolated room is influenced too much.

6902 50981570845

Claims (1)

Claim Device in a microtome, in which a sample by means of a The knife is divided into thin sample parts, the knife being arranged in a measuring holder for collecting the separated Sample parts, characterized by a grid holder which rests on the knife (1) or the knife holder (3, 4), and essentially is displaceable perpendicular to the knife edge (2), the part of the grid holder that can be steered against the knife edge being horizontal Has recess (9), and by a grid (10) for a later examination of the obtained separated sample parts in an electron microscope, wherein the grid can be fastened in the recess (9) and displaced by means of the grid holder and with can be brought into contact with the knife in the vicinity of the knife edge. S0S815 / 09A5