Patent ID: 9719889
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: B26D,G01N,Y10T

Claim:
1. A process of using a microtomic system to prepare at least one section for microscope examination, wherein the system comprises (i) a blade holder for holding a blade with a cutting edge, (ii) a specimen holder for holding a sample block, (iii) a receiver holder for holding a section receiver, and (iv) a voltage generator; wherein the cutting edge can cut into the sample block to produce said at least one section one end of which remains attached to the cutting edge; wherein the voltage generator can generate a voltage and apply the voltage between the cutting edge and the section receiver; and wherein another end of said at least one section can anchor to the section receiver through electrostatic force caused by the voltage; the process comprising: (1) setting the blade holder, the specimen holder and the receiver holder in a stand-by state in which the blade holder and the specimen holder are operatively positioned for the cutting edge to cut into the sample block making a new section, and the receiver holder is operatively positioned for moving the section receiver to a receiving position to receive the new section; (2) varying the spatial relationship between the cutting edge and the sample block so that a section is cut off from the sample block, wherein the last cut-off portion of the section is attached to the cutting edge, and constitutes the proximal end of the section relative to the cutting edge; (3) applying a voltage generated by the voltage generator between the section receiver and the cutting edge so that the section is prolonged from the cutting edge toward the section receiver in fully extended form through electrostatic force; (4) varying the spatial relationship between the section receiver and the cutting edge before and/or during the application of the voltage so that the section receiver is moved to the receiving position where the distal end of the prolonged section anchors to a predetermined location on the section receiver; (5) removing or deceasing the voltage while the distal end of the prolonged section remains anchored to the predetermined location; (6) varying the spatial relationship between the section receiver and the cutting edge while the distal end of the section remains anchored to the predetermined location and the proximal end of the section remains attached to the cutting edge, until the entire section in fully extended form spread over the section receiver; and (7) varying the spatial relationship between the section receiver and the cutting edge, to detach the proximal end of the section from the cutting edge while the entire section in fully extended form remains spreading over the section receiver.