Patent ID: 7975586

Claim:
A microtome comprising: a microtome blade, the microtome blade having a blade edge; and a cassette clamp, the cassette clamp having first, second, and third members, the first member having a generally planar surface and a pair of threaded openings, the second member having first and second surface portions and a pair of openings, the second member being removably engaged with and rigidly fixed to the first member in a manner such that the first surface portion of the second member is spaced at most a first distance from the planar surface of the first member and the pair of openings of the second member are aligned with the pair of openings of the first member, the second surface portion of the second member being spaced at least a second distance from the planar surface of the first member, the second distance being greater than the first distance, the third member comprising a clamping surface that opposes the second surface portion of the second member and that is movably connected to the first and second members in a manner such that the clamping surface is able to move toward and alternatively away from the second surface portion of the second member, the second and third members being adapted and configured in a manner such that a histological tissue cassette can be held between the clamping surface of the third member and the second surface portion of the second member having opposing vertically oriented side surfaces and a downward facing surface with the histological tissue cassette engaging the first surface portion of the second member in a manner rigidly securing the histological tissue cassette to the cassette clamp while also spacing the histological tissue cassette the first distance from the planar surface of the first member, the first, second, and third members being movable together relative to the microtome blade in a manner such that the second member can be positioned between the first member and the blade edge of the microtome blade, wherein the second member further comprises opposing surface portions, and wherein the second and third members are adapted and configured in a manner such that a histological tissue cassette can be held between the clamping surface of the third member and the second surface portion of the second member with the histological tissue cassette being positioned between the opposing surface portions of the second member and with the histological tissue cassette engaging the first surface portion of the second member in a manner rigidly securing the histological tissue cassette to the cassette clamp while also spacing the histological tissue cassette the first distance from the planar surface of the first member.