Patent ID: 7111535

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 associated with the first drive device ( 18 ) is a first operating element ( 28 ) which is connected together with an electronic control means ( 26 ) of the first drive device ( 18 ), wherein control of the first drive device ( 18 ) is effected by way of the electronic control means ( 26 ) by means of the first operating element ( 28 ), wherein the first operating element ( 28 ) has two control modes, namely a standard mode in which a cutting movement of the specimen holding device ( 12 ) corresponding to the rotary movement of the operating element ( 28 ) is controlled by corresponding rotation of the operating element ( 28 ), and a second mode in which by pressing the operating element ( 28 ) the first drive device ( 18 ) performs a permanent cutting movement at a respectively constant speed and amplitude of the specimen holding device ( 12 ) and thus a corresponding continuous cutting function, and the first operating element ( 28 ), in its push button function, controls starting and stopping and, in its rotary switch function, the speed of the linearly oscillating cutting movement of the specimen holding device ( 12 ) by way of the first drive device ( 18 ).