Microtome Procedure
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The document provides instructions for preparing tissue samples for microscopic study using a microtome. It details winding back the feeding mechanism, clamping and orienting the cassette, inserting and securing a blade in the holder at a safe distance from the cassette, advancing the blade toward the cassette until a small interval is reached, trimming away excess wax while turning the wheel after unlocking it, and reducing the section thickness for cutting and removing sections from wax onto a floatation bath.
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Microtome Procedure
- 2. 1. Wind back the coarse feeding mechanism and lock the hand wheel 2. Clamp cassette in position, orientating the tissue as desired 3. Ensuring that the knife holder is a safe distance from the cassette, carefully place a blade into the holder and tighten securely
- 3. 4. Loosen back lever of knife holder and advance towards the cassette until there is a 0.2-0.5mm interval between blade edge and cassette surface 5. Tighten back the lever of knife holder 6. Unlock wheel and trim away surplus wax from tissue surface by advancing the coarse feed mechanism before commencing each turn of the wheel
- 4. 7. Trim all tissue carefully until the desired surface is exposed 8. Reduce section thickness to 3-5 microns using adjustment knob 9. Cut tissue sections and place them on tissue floatation bath to remove wax