Patent ID: 7287388

Claim:
A cryostat for containing a microtome in a temperature-controlled environment, the cryostat comprising: a housing enclosing a cryostat chamber; a refrigeration device communicating with the cryostat chamber for cooling the cryostat chamber; a control system electrically connected to the refrigeration device; a power supply electrically connected to the control system; and a staining station integrated into the housing outside the cryostat chamber, wherein the staining station includes a plurality of staining containers, the staining station further includes a motor-driven transport apparatus for transporting specimen slides from one staining container to another staining container, the staining station is electrically connected to the control system, the motor-driven transport apparatus has a drive motor electrically connected to the power supply, and the staining station is integrated into the housing of the cryostat at lectern height or at substantially lectern height.