Microtomes are pretty simple devices. They're basically glorified deli slicers, after all, but instead of slicing roast beef to make some dude a sandwich, you're slicing (or sectioning, if you want to be technical) a chunk of that dude's kidney. More or less.
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Nevertheless, there are things to consider before you hit buy. Here's a few of those factors.
Before you start shopping around, make sure you know these two key things:
While a rotary microtome with a standard blade configuration is sufficient for many types of samples, you may need a more advanced model depending on your application. For instance, if you're going to be sectioning fatty tissue, you'll need a vibrating microtome. Similarly, you should pick up a saw microtome instead of a rotary microtome if you're going to be sectioning bone.
Additionally, the type of microscopy you'll be using to examine the sections will be another important factor in finding a microtome. Different types of microscopy require different section thicknesses in order to illuminate and view the sample properly.
Let's take transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for example. TEM requires that sections must be thinner than 150nm — which is considerably slimmer than the 30µm that standard rotary microtomes produce! As such, you'll need to purchase an ultramicrotome — the only type capable of producing intact
Finally, your sample may need to be sectioned in a cryogenic environment. If so, you'll need a cryostat microtome — basically, a rotary microtome mounted inside a controlled cryogenic chamber. We always have several cryostats available here at New Life Scientific; feel free to browse our inventory.
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Knowing how much you'll use your new microtome on a daily basis can help you determine two things: an appropriate budget, and the essential features.
Generally, the more you use and depend on any piece of equipment, the more you should be willing to spend on it. So if your lab has demanding throughput and you'll be running that microtome constantly, don't be afraid to drop serious cash on a premium model. It will be worth it several times over in the long run.
Additionally, with a bigger budget comes better features. And let's be honest: the last thing anyone wants to do is spend all day spinning a handwheel, manually sectioning sample after sample. If your lab is particularly dependent on microtomy, it may be worth the investment to purchase a fully automatic microtome, like the Tissue-Tek AutoSection . The comfortable experience of a fully automated microtome will benefit your lab techs, and the speedy, high-quality sectioning will benefit your patients.
While most of the people reading this article have no need to worry about the reliability of their lab's electrical power, infrastructure is an important thing to consider for those working out of remote clinics, such as those in underdeveloped countries or deep in rural areas.
If your facility can't guarantee 100% electrical power uptime, you should err on the side of caution and opt for a non-powered, fully manual microtome so you can continue sectioning even during power outages. It may also be prudent to equip your microtome with a permanent blade instead of a disposable blade as fresh blades may not be readily available, which brings us to our next point of consideration.
Almost as important as the microtome itself, the blade is an essential factor to consider. There are two primary types of blades: permanent and disposable.
Permanent blades are designed to be used long-term and sharpened regularly. As mentioned, this is ideal for labs that may not have easy access to new blades. However, permanent blades don't cut quite as cleanly as their disposable counterparts, so the majority of labs have shifted to solely using disposable blades. Users also save time with disposable blades as they never have to sharpen them.
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It is important to consider two key factors when preparing your research laboratory to perform microtomy. The first key consideration is determining what sample sources your research requires is critical to choosing the right microtome for your applications. The second key consideration is defining and using the proper microtome configurations to ensure downstream sample adequacy.
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Choosing the microtome that lets you get the best possible section from every block and broadens your research with a wide selection of blade and specimen holders enables you to discover breakthroughs in research for biomedical to industrial applications.
Knowing what type of application your research requires is a first step to understanding what type of microtome will be the best fit for your laboratory.
First, define the purpose of the experiments and the type of specimen to be cut in your research plan. What goal or problem do you wish to solve by cutting a material?
Second, determine the density and thickness of the materials to be sectioned; will they be soft, like those of tissue in paraffin, hard, like bone or teeth in resin, or plastic materials used in manufacturing?
Third, having clear parameters on the purpose of the experiment, specimen, and type of material you plan to cut will help determine the correct knives, blades, and angle to use; options include Fixed or disposable metal, glass, and diamond blades.
Each element of choosing the type of microtome needed in your laboratory has its merits.
A manual microtome uses a specimen feed and cutting stroke (or rotary motion of the wheel) that is managed by hand. It also has a lower throughput, but this is not always detrimental. The ability to manually cut and evaluate each section offers microtomists the opportunity to concentrate on each block and section with greater control over the cutting process. The ability to assess in real time provides potential time savings through consistency. Still, this option requires a more significant amount of vigilance on behalf of the user to maintain quality standards.
A semi-automated microtome uses a specimen feed that is motorized, but the rotary motion of the handwheel is still done manually and offers a medium throughput. The semi-automated method works well for thick and hard sections, using a consistent force when cutting through a block. Automating the specimen feed provides the precision of a motorized specimen feeding that yields consistent, reproducible sections.
A fully automated microtome has both specimen feed and rotary motion of the handwheel automated, contributing to the ability to produce high-throughput sectioning. The mechanization of the instrument allows for automated setting and correction of feed movement and knife cutting. In addition, automation also provides consistency from user to user, so it can speed up time and provide reproducibility of sectioning. Many fully automatic microtomes allow for cutting a more comprehensive range of thicknesses, providing researchers flexibility when choosing sectioning materials such as paraffin or resin-based fillers.
Leica Biosystems is your trusted workflow partner, helping you obtain the best research data on various microtomy applications. Below are two helpful tools, a microtome buyer's guide, and a configuration guide. These guides are intended to help you select and configure the right microtomes for your application types, including human and non-human specimens embedded in paraffin, undecalcified bone, and automotive and plastic parts.
Let us guide you in selecting the right features based on your research applications.
The Leica Biosystems Research Microtome Comparison Guide provides help in selecting the right features based on your research applications. Together with the original validated accessories, our reliable and precise microtomes are designed to provide high-quality sections and enhanced efficiency while maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.
This easy-to-use microtome can help guide to help you through the decision-making process. Leica Biosystems rotary microtomes offer microtomists the precision, control, and comfort they need to get the best from every block. Our rotary microtomes provide the consistency required to deliver high-quality sectioning and maintain optimized workflows.
Our Microtome Configuration Guide will help you choose the right microtome for the job.
Does your laboratory's research require the sectioning of non-human biological specimens embedded in paraffin, undecalcified bone, automotive or plastic parts?
Our reliable and precise microtomes, in combination with the original validated accessories, are designed to provide high-quality sections and enhanced efficiency while maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.
Choose the rotary microtome that lets you get the best possible section from every block and broaden your research with a wide selection of blade and specimen holders, enabling you to discover new breakthroughs in research for biomedical to industrial applications.
Leica Biosystems can help your custom configure your microtome requirements based on your research needs in a few easy steps. Answer a few questions, then follow the schematic to help choose the correct application:
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