[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1195″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]There are ten things to consider when selecting the right microtome for a histology lab.
Section Thickness
What section thickness is required for your tissue type? What incremental section thickness options are provided? Does it match your requirement?
Section Numbers
What number of sections do you plan to obtain on a day to day basis? For low throughput requirement a manual microtome would work whereas if large number of sections are required, one will need a fully automatic microtome that has a motorised sectioning.
Precise Section Control
If one needs to have sections with precise thickness and would prefer more ease of use, then semi-automatic microtomes should be preferred over manual models. These models use stepper motor to control feed advance compared to mechanical gears used in manual models. Moreover, if you need to move specimen quickly, bringing it closer or moving further from the blade, the same can be achieved by pressing a button on a semi-automatic microtome, whereas it requires the turning of the coarse feed wheel in manual models.
Adjustable Blade Angle
Make sure that the blade clearance angle can be adjusted. This is necessary to make the bevel face of the blade parallel to the cutting motion so as to obtain uniform section thickness.
Adjustable specimen orientation
Oftentimes one may need to re-cut sections from the same block for which it is important to precisely set and mark orientation.
Retraction
In order to avoid damage to the specimen during the return stroke, it is necessary to move back the specimen during the return stroke so that it does not touch the blade.
Vertical Stroke
The vertical travel distance of the specimen holder is called the vertical stroke. A single stroke should be large enough to cover the height of the paraffin block. The standard acceptable value of the vertical stroke is 60-70mm which is long enough to cover normal paraffin blocks.
Horizontal Feed
The horizontal feed is the horizontal travel distance of the specimen holder. It should be long enough to cover the normal thickness of the paraffin block and is normally between 24 to 30 mm.
Safety Features
Manual Microtome should have some of the basic safety features like finger protection guard for disposable blades and hand-wheel lock. In addition to these a Semi-Automatic model should have feed end limit alarms. Moreover an emergency stop is must for a Fully Automatic Microtome.
Waste disposable
A flexible barrier to prevent section waste from entering inside the microtome should be present along with a removable section waste tray to collect and dispose the remaining debris from sectioning.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row h2=”Get in Touch!” use_custom_fonts_h2=”true” h2_font_container=”font_size:25px” h2_use_theme_fonts=”yes” h2_google_fonts=”font_family:Abril%20Fatface%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” h2_css_animation=”” h4=”” use_custom_fonts_h4=”” h4_font_container=”” h4_use_theme_fonts=”” h4_google_fonts=”font_family:Abril%20Fatface%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” h4_css_animation=”” txt_align=”left” shape=”square” style=”flat” color=”green” el_width=”” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Contact us” btn_style=”flat” btn_gradient_color_1=”turquoise” btn_gradient_color_2=”blue” btn_gradient_custom_color_1=”#dd3333″ btn_gradient_custom_color_2=”#eeee22″ btn_gradient_text_color=”#ffffff” btn_custom_background=”#ededed” btn_custom_text=”#666″ btn_outline_custom_color=”#666″ btn_outline_custom_hover_background=”#666″ btn_outline_custom_hover_text=”#fff” btn_shape=”square” btn_color=”black” btn_size=”sm” btn_align=”inline” btn_button_block=”” btn_add_icon=”” btn_i_align=”left” btn_i_type=”fontawesome” btn_i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-adjust” btn_i_icon_openiconic=”vc-oi vc-oi-dial” btn_i_icon_typicons=”typcn typcn-adjust-brightness” btn_i_icon_entypo=”entypo-icon entypo-icon-note” btn_i_icon_linecons=”vc_li vc_li-heart” btn_i_icon_monosocial=”vc-mono vc-mono-fivehundredpx” btn_i_icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-cake” btn_i_icon_pixelicons=”vc_pixel_icon vc_pixel_icon-alert” btn_css_animation=”” btn_custom_onclick=”” add_icon=”” i_on_border=”” i_type=”fontawesome” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-adjust” i_icon_openiconic=”vc-oi vc-oi-dial” i_icon_typicons=”typcn typcn-adjust-brightness” i_icon_entypo=”entypo-icon entypo-icon-note” i_icon_linecons=”vc_li vc_li-heart” i_icon_monosocial=”vc-mono vc-mono-fivehundredpx” i_icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-cake” i_color=”blue” i_background_style=”” i_background_color=”grey” i_size=”md” i_css_animation=”” h2_link=”” h2_el_id=”” h2_el_class=”” h4_link=”” h4_el_id=”” h4_el_class=”” custom_background=”” custom_text=”” btn_link=”” btn_el_id=”” btn_el_class=”” btn_custom_onclick_code=”” i_custom_color=”” i_custom_background_color=”” i_link=”” i_el_id=”” i_el_class=””][vc_column][vc_cta h2=”Get in Touch!” h2_font_container=”font_size:25px” h2_use_theme_fonts=”yes” shape=”square” style=”flat” color=”green” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Contact us” btn_style=”flat” btn_shape=”square” btn_color=”black” btn_size=”sm” use_custom_fonts_h2=”true”]We hope that the above information will help you in selecting the right microtome for your histology lab. For more information about Microtomes write to us at contact@medimeas.com or fill in the contact form in the link below.[/vc_cta][/vc_column][/vc_row]