Patent ID: 8347769

Claim:
A brake controlling device and microtome, the microtome ( 1 ) having a housing, an actuating element ( 2 ), a movement mechanism ( 8 ) and a brake capable of rotationally fixing the movement mechanism to the housing or a component fixed on the housing, wherein the movement mechanism ( 8 ) moves an object to be cut relative to a knife blade, wherein the actuating element ( 2 ) can be manually actuated by an operator and as a result thereof, with the aid of the movement mechanism ( 8 ) the relative motion between the object and the knife blade can be performed, and wherein with the aid of the brake the relative motion can be locked relative to the housing and the object, characterized by at least one sensor unit ( 5 , 13 ) which is provided on the actuating element ( 2 ) or the housing and with which contact by the operator can be determined, the brake being controlled according to the determined contact by the at least one sensor unit ( 5 , 13 ); wherein the movement mechanism is not driven by an electric motor.