US3667330A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microtome assembly
Assignee: Devco Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-16
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Granted: 1972-06-06
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Expires: 1990-12-16
Abstract
Abstract In a microtome which has a housing on a support a carriage adapted for forward feed and retraction movements in a horizontal plane and mounting a vertically adjustable head which supports a forwardly extending block holder adapted to mount a tissue specimen containing block adapted for vertical slicing movements with respect to a stationary knife and with each vertical slicing movement accompanied by incremental horizontal feed movement of the block towards the knife for successive slicing thereof; the improvement for said microtome which includes a block holder on the forward end of the head preformed to snugly receive the tissue block to be sliced and with a magnet for holding the tissue block within the block holder, a power operated reciprocal block support carrier and cassette for the storage of blocks to be sliced and for delivering said blocks one at a time to the block support for increment positioning with respect to the block holder and with power means for effecting automatic feed movements of the block support, an improved knife assembly with flexible blade whose ends are mounted upon feed and take-up reels for intermittent advancement, a motor for advancing the take-up reel, the power operated conveyor belt for transporting away specimen slices in a continuous manner together with a chute for delivery of partly sliced blocks to a storage chamber positioned below the block holder when retracted adapted to receive blocks when released from the block holder and including an electrical circuit connected with a series of motors and limit switches to provide for an automatic cycling operation in a continuous manner.
Inventors
- 👤 Sidney D Koberaick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/04; G01N1/06; G01N2001/065; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S83/00; Y10S83/955; Y10T; Y10T279/00; Y10T279/23; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/202; Y10T83/2066; Y10T83/2092; Y10T83/2192; Y10T83/2209; Y10T83/2216; Y10T83/222; Y10T83/283; Y10T83/293; Y10T83/525; Y10T83/531; Y10T83/536; Y10T83/647; Y10T83/654; Y10T83/6545; Y10T83/6571; Y10T83/687; Y10T83/748; Y10T83/889; Y10T83/929; Y10T83/937; Y10T83/9457; Y10T83/9488; Y10T83/949
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
In a microtome having a support, an apertured housing thereon having longitudinal ways, a reciprocal carriage on said ways, spring biased outwardly toward inoperative position, a vertically adjustable head guidably mounted on the carriage and mounting a forwardly extending block holder which movably projects from said housing, power means to feed the carriage inwardly into operative position locating said head for reciprocal vertical movements with respect to a knife assembly upon said support, said head mounting a block of chilled paraffin enclosed tissue progressively movable across said knife assembly with means to effect continuous vertical movements of said head; the improvement which comprises: the formed block holder on the forward end of said head including a pair of angularly related upright backing walls; a metallic block cover joined to said block extending along one upright edge thereof and including a pair of similarly angularly related walls adapted for registry with said block holder walls; and magnetic means on said block holder for retaining said block thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
In a microtome having a support, an apertured housing thereon having longitudinal ways, a reciprocal carriage on said ways, spring biased outwardly toward inoperative position, a vertically adjustable head guidably mounted on the carriage and mounting a forwardly extending block holder which movably projects from said housing, power means to feed the carriage inwardly into operative position locating said head for reciprocal vertical movements with respect to a knife assembly upon said support, said head mounting a block of chilled paraffin enclosed tissue progressively movable across said knife assembly with means to effect continuous vertical movements of said head; the improvement which comprises: the formed block holder on the forward end of said head including a pair of angularly related upright backing walls; a metallic block cover joined to said block extending along one upright edge thereof and including a pair of similarly angularly related walls adapted for registry with said block holder walls; and magnetic means on said block holder for retaining said block thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
102 words
In the microtome of claim 1, a horizontally disposed elongated guide housing of channel form mounted upon said housing and extending transversely of said head and laterally aligned with said block holder walls when said head is retracted; a reciprocal block carrier within said guide housing adapted when retracted to receive a single tissue block and when advanced to position said block within said block holder; and an upright tubular cassEtte upon and overlying said guide housing adapted to store a stack of tissue blocks and to feed them one at a time into said guide housing and upon said block carrier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
In the microtome of claim 2, power means adapted to effect reciprocal movements of said block carrier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
In the microtome of claim 3, said power means including a solenoid having a reciprocal core connected to said block carrier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
86 words
In the microtome of claim 2, said power means for feeding said carriage including a feed screw; a motor having a drive connected to said screw for rotation in one direction to effect outward feeding of said carriage and the opposite direction to permit retraction thereof; and an electrical circuit connected to a power source and including a normally closed limit switch LS3 mounted on said guide housing in the path of return movement of said block carrier to automatically actuate said carriage feed motor (M2).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
In the microtome of claim 2, a limit switch (LS2) on said block holder in the path of forward movement of said block carrier engageable thereby on positioning of the block within said block holder energize said magnetic means and successively reverse said power means to retract said block carrier to engage limit switch (LS3).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
In the microtome of claim 6, power means (M3) for effecting continuous reciprocal vertical movement of said vertically adjustable head; and a limit switch (LS4) adjacent said knife in the path of forward feed movement of said block holder and engageable thereby to deactivate said carriage feed power means; (M2) and to energize the power means (M3) causing said block to reciprocate in a vertical plane in operative engagement with said knife.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
In the microtome of claim 7, said microtome including an increment advance feed mechanism controlled by vertical movement of said head connected to said carriage control feed screw to effect incremental advance feed movements of said carriage and head to permit continued slicing of said block for a predetermined number of slices; after which power means (M2) is automatically reversed to retract said head to inoperative position and to deactivate power means (M3).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
In the microtome of claim 8, a switch (MS1) on said housing actuated when said head and carriage is retracted to inoperative position; said switch when actuated adapted to deactivate said magnetic means; (33) a downwardly inclined chute arranged below said support, a block storage compartment at the lower end of the chute; the upper open end of the chute being positioned directly below the block holder when fully retracted; a partly sliced block in said block holder on deactivation on said magnetic means adapted to fall by gravity into and through said chute.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
In the microtome of claim 1, said knife assembly including a upright knife guide block mounted on said support spaced from said housing and extending transversely of the block holder axis; and an elongated upright knife blade mounted upon said support bearing against and extending above said guide block on the side thereof adjacent said block holder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
In the microtome of claim 10, said blade being flexible with its respective ends coiled around spaced feed and take-up reels journalled upon vertical axes on said support and arranged outwardly of the ends of said guide block respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
In the microtome of claim 11, the mounting of said spools including support blocks respectively positioned adjustably upon said support ways.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
In the microtome of claim 11, power feed means on said support connected with said take-up reel to intermittently advance said blade.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
In the microtome of claim 13, a pair of spaced arcuate tiltable blocks; a spool journalled on each block respectively; a guide support for each block adjustably positioned in said base ways, whereby spools may be angularly adjusted for determining the plane of the cutting blade.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
In the microtoMe of claim 10, an elongated power operated conveyor belt mounted on said support extending from said knife guide in longitudinal registry with said block holder for transporting the slices from said tissue block.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
In the microtome of claim 15, an air supply conduit adapted for connection to a source of compressed air; and a jet outlet on said conduit positioned above and adjacent said knife to assist loading of block slices onto said conveyor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
In the microtome of claim 1, a block storage receiver positioned below said support; and a block chute inclined downwardly and outwardly, at its lower end connected to said receiver and with its upper open end being spaced below the forward end of said head adapted to receive by gravity a tissue block from said block holder upon deactivation of said magnetic means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
In the microtome of claim 1, a temperature controlled housing on said support and enclosing said block holder and knife assembly, and an adjustable cooling means in said latter housing preset for maintaining a predetermined reduced temperature to facilitate slicing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-06 | 1975-12-06 | 1976-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-06 | 1979-12-06 | 1980-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-06 | 1983-12-06 | 1984-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |