Microtome knife clamp with knife cooling means

Claim 1

A MICROTOME COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A MASSIVE STAND INCLUDING A FREEZING STAGE HOLDER; (B) A KNIFE; (C) MEANS FOR EFFECTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE KNIFE AND THE HOLDER; (D) A KNIFE CLAMP HAVING A PAIR OF JAWS FOR GRIPPING THE KNIFE, AND A MECHANISM OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE JAWS TO OPEN AND CLSE THEM TO RELEASE AND TO HOLD THE KNIFE, RESPECTIVELY; (E) A HEAT SINK IN THE JAWS, THE KNIFE EXTENDING INTO THE HEAT SINK WHEN HELD Y THE JAWS; (F) A THERMOELECTRIC COOLING UNIT IN THE HEAT SINK, SAID COOLING UNIT HAVING HEATING AND COOLING JUNCTIONS UTILIZING THE PELTIER EFFECT; (G) HEAT-CONDUCTIVE PADS ADJACENT THE COOLING JUNCTIONS AND HAVING SURFACES IN CONFORMING CONTACT WITH THE KNIFE; (H) HEAT TRANSMITTING ELEMENTS ADJACENT THE HEATING JUNCTIONS AND IN CONTACT WITH THE HEAT SINK; AND (I) ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH THE JAWS TO THE HEATING AND COOLING JUNCTIONS.