US3552247A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for direct mounting of microtome tissue specimens
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-07-24
•
Granted: 1971-01-05
•
Expires: 1989-07-24
Abstract
Abstract Microtome cut tissue sections are mounted directly onto a film base by a method and apparatus which eliminates the usual interim manual lifting of the cut sections from the blade and the usual water bath and manual floating steps. A microtome trough filled with a liquid receives the cut tissue sections directly from the microtome knife. The sections are floated across the trough and into contact with a film which is passed through the trough. The film with the sections adhered thereto are then fed into a reel.
Inventors
- 👤 John E P Pickett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:41
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/28; G01N1/36; G01N2001/362; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/0448; Y10T83/0453; Y10T83/202; Y10T83/2066; Y10T83/2092; Y10T83/2192
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
305 words
In a histology and like tissue sectioning and mounting system, in combination: a. microtome means providing a vertically reciprocating clamp and a fixed blade for reciprocating a clamped specimen past the blade to slice substantially thin sections on the order of 4-10 microns thickness and to deposit said sections on the front face of said blade in a substantially continuous sequence and in a manner of slicing to cause each section to move down said front face; b. receptacle means including a liquid filled receptacle disposed adjacent to and beneath the edge of said blade and adapted to receive and float on the surface of the liquid therein successive said sections, said liquid surface being of sufficient size to allow successive groups of said sections to be wet on one side and to collect on said liquid surface in a substantially flat ribbon form; c. a thin flexible smooth surfaced strip film compatible in character with said liquid and sections such that when said sections are wet by said liquid, mounted on said film and then drained, said sections tend to flatten and adhere thereon; d. film mounting means including supply and takeup reels, tracking means effective to track said film at a selected speed in said receptacle so as to bring an upper surface portion thereof into a mounting position adjacent to said blade and adjacent to the surface of said liquid thereby allowing said sections to move directly from the face of the blade, to the liquid surface and then into engagement with said film without requiring any intervening lifting thereof; and e. drive means for said film whereby to maintain said speed so as to provide substantially continuous and steady withdrawal of said film past said mounting position for merging of said sections with said film upper surface at said mounting position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
305 words
In a histology and like tissue sectioning and mounting system, in combination: a. microtome means providing a vertically reciprocating clamp and a fixed blade for reciprocating a clamped specimen past the blade to slice substantially thin sections on the order of 4-10 microns thickness and to deposit said sections on the front face of said blade in a substantially continuous sequence and in a manner of slicing to cause each section to move down said front face; b. receptacle means including a liquid filled receptacle disposed adjacent to and beneath the edge of said blade and adapted to receive and float on the surface of the liquid therein successive said sections, said liquid surface being of sufficient size to allow successive groups of said sections to be wet on one side and to collect on said liquid surface in a substantially flat ribbon form; c. a thin flexible smooth surfaced strip film compatible in character with said liquid and sections such that when said sections are wet by said liquid, mounted on said film and then drained, said sections tend to flatten and adhere thereon; d. film mounting means including supply and takeup reels, tracking means effective to track said film at a selected speed in said receptacle so as to bring an upper surface portion thereof into a mounting position adjacent to said blade and adjacent to the surface of said liquid thereby allowing said sections to move directly from the face of the blade, to the liquid surface and then into engagement with said film without requiring any intervening lifting thereof; and e. drive means for said film whereby to maintain said speed so as to provide substantially continuous and steady withdrawal of said film past said mounting position for merging of said sections with said film upper surface at said mounting position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
continuously moving a thin, flexible, smooth surfaced mounting film at a predetermined speed and near said blade, and with one surface of said film being positioned to receive the leading end of said ribbon;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
continuously moving a thin, flexible, smooth surfaced mounting film at a predetermined speed and near said blade, and with one surface of said film being positioned to receive the leading end of said ribbon;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means and speed are variable and adapted to maintain substantially continuous and steady withdrawal of said film past said mounting position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
floating said ribbon as it is formed on the surface of a liquid contained within a receptacle mounted on the microtome and while maintaining a minor portion of said film aligned with said ribbon and below said liquid surface and the remainder of said film outside said receptacle;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
floating said ribbon as it is formed on the surface of a liquid contained within a receptacle mounted on the microtome and while maintaining a minor portion of said film aligned with said ribbon and below said liquid surface and the remainder of said film outside said receptacle;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
as each section is formed directing such section without any intermediate lifting thereof directly from the blade onto a liquid surface positioned adjacent to and beneath the edge of the blade;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
as each section is formed directing such section without any intermediate lifting thereof directly from the blade onto a liquid surface positioned adjacent to and beneath the edge of the blade;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
moving the sections successively on said liquid surface to a mounting position;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
moving the sections successively on said liquid surface to a mounting position;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
bringing the leading end of said ribbon comprised of sections against that portion of said film where it leaves said liquid;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
bringing the leading end of said ribbon comprised of sections against that portion of said film where it leaves said liquid;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
In a system as claimed in claim 1 including means to heat said water and cool said blade and specimen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
as said ribbon is formed, attaching the leading end thereof to said film in a flat merging relation and while maintaining said speed sufficiently low to avoid breaking said ribbon and while the remainder of said ribbon remains substantially flat on said blade gradually withdrawing said ribbon directly from said blade onto said film while using the pull of said film and the continuity of said ribbon to effect said withdrawal to thereby merge the whole of said ribbon with said film.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
as said ribbon is formed, attaching the leading end thereof to said film in a flat merging relation and while maintaining said speed sufficiently low to avoid breaking said ribbon and while the remainder of said ribbon remains substantially flat on said blade gradually withdrawing said ribbon directly from said blade onto said film while using the pull of said film and the continuity of said ribbon to effect said withdrawal to thereby merge the whole of said ribbon with said film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
In a system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid constitutes water, said specimen constitutes an embedded histologic specimen and said manner of slicing causes said sections to slightly overlap and form a ribbon thereof and to cause leading sections to be pushed downwardly on said blade.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
withdrawing said film with said leading section leading end engaged therewith along a predetermined path of travel to a point remote from said receptacle so as to cause the trailing portion of said section to adhere to said film and to be moved to said point;
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
withdrawing said film with said leading section leading end engaged therewith along a predetermined path of travel to a point remote from said receptacle so as to cause the trailing portion of said section to adhere to said film and to be moved to said point;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
tracking through said liquid and past said mounting position a strip of film; and
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
tracking through said liquid and past said mounting position a strip of film; and
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
at the mounting position withdrawing said film from said liquid and simultaneously smoothly merging each successive section with said film.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
at the mounting position withdrawing said film from said liquid and simultaneously smoothly merging each successive section with said film.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
guiding and supporting said film carrying said mounted sections in a manner leaving said sections comprising said ribbon free of contact with any other surface; and
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
guiding and supporting said film carrying said mounted sections in a manner leaving said sections comprising said ribbon free of contact with any other surface; and
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said film speed is such that said film is tracked past said mounting position at a speed substantially synchronized with the cutting speed of said microtome such that said sections are fed onto said film and maintained in a ribbonlike form.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
In a system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said film speed is such that said film is tracked past said mounting position at a speed substantially faster than the cutting speed of said microtome such that said sections are mounted onto said film in a spaced relation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
8 words
reeling said film into a coiled spaced relation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
8 words
reeling said film into a coiled spaced relation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
49 words
In a system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receptacle comprises a multiple receptacle having one portion with means adapting said film tracking means to receiving a relatively narrow width film and another portion wIth means adapting said film tracking means to receiving a relatively wide width film.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of film mounting microtome sliced embedded histology and like tissue sections cut from a specimen comprising the steps:
Claim 32
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of film mounting microtome sliced embedded histology and like tissue sections cut from a specimen comprising the steps:
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 8 including the step of wetting the ribbon at a point between the microtome blade and the point at which the ribbon merges with said film to effect smooth adhering of the ribbon to said film.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said wetting step comprises drawing said ribbon through a liquid bath located adjacent said blade.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
19 words
The method of mounting thin histology and like specimen sections on a thin mounting film comprising the steps of:
Claim 36
Independent Claim
19 words
The method of mounting thin histology and like specimen sections on a thin mounting film comprising the steps of:
Claim 37
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of film mounting microtome sliced embedded histology and like tissue sections cut from a specimen comprising the steps:
Claim 38
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of film mounting microtome sliced embedded histology and like tissue sections cut from a specimen comprising the steps:
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3091144A
Cited
US3103844A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-04 | 1974-07-06 | 1975-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-04 | 1978-07-06 | 1979-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-04 | 1982-07-06 | 1983-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |