Patent ID: 6651538
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: G01N,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A microtome for cutting a thin slice from a specimen, comprising:a stage for fixedly placing the specimen thereon; a base arranged slidably relative to the stage; a movable body arranged to oscillate in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the base slides; a cutting blade for cutting the specimen placed on the stage, the cutting blade being attached to the movable body at a forward part with respect to the sliding direction; a plurality of resilient couplers coupling the movable body to the base so as to allow for the oscillation; a first magnet made of an electromagnet and mounted on one of the base and the movable body; a control circuit for supplying an alternating signal to the first magnet; and a second magnet mounted on the other of the base and the movable body in opposed relation to the first magnet, the second magnet reacting to attraction and repulsion that is alternately resulting from an alternating field generated by the first magnet, so that the movable body is displaced against resilience of the resilient couplers in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction, whereby the cutting blade oscillates, wherein by sliding the base forward relative to the stage, the cutting blade cuts into the specimen with oscillation so that the thin slice is cut from the specimen.