Patent ID: 7044038

Claim:
A microtome comprising a knife holding device for a cutting element ( 16 ) and a specimen holding device ( 12 ), wherein the specimen holding device ( 12 ) has a first drive device ( 18 ) for performing a cutting movement, and the specimen holding device ( 12 ) or the knife holding device has a second drive device ( 38 ) for performing a feed movement, wherein an electronic control means ( 26 ) is associated with the second drive device ( 38 ), wherein control of the second drive device ( 38 ) is effected by means of an operating element ( 44 ) which has two control modes, namely a rotary mode for controlling the second drive device ( 3 B) for the advance direction and the advance speed of the specimen holding device ( 12 ) or the knife holding device, and a pressing mode for controlling the second drive device ( 3 B) for a stepwise advance movement of the specimen holding device ( 12 ) or the knife holding device, or stepwise continuous advancement movement of the specimen holding device ( 12 ) or the knife holding device.