US 12,360,017 B2
Microtome system and corresponding method
Matthias Katzengruber, Vienna (AT); Robert Ranner, Vienna (AT); and Paul Wurzinger, Vienna (AT)
Assigned to LEICA MIKROSYSTEME GMBH, Vienna (AT)
Filed by LEICA MIKROSYSTEME GMBH, Vienna (AT)
Filed on Apr. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/299,759.
Claims priority of application No. 22169921 (EP), filed on Apr. 26, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0341298 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 1/06 (2006.01); G01N 1/28 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 1/06 (2013.01) [G01N 1/286 (2013.01); G01N 2001/061 (2013.01); G01N 2001/065 (2013.01); G01N 2001/068 (2013.01); G01N 2001/2873 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A microtome system for cutting sections from a specimen, the microtome system comprising:
a knife comprising a knife edge configured to cut a section from the specimen,
a knife holder holding the knife,
a specimen holder configured to hold the specimen,
an illumination,
a first actor,
a detector, and
a controller;
wherein the knife holder and the specimen holder are configured to be moveable relative to one another in a cutting direction,
wherein the knife holder or the specimen holder is mounted rotatably about a first axis,
wherein the first actor is configured to cause a rotation of the knife holder or the specimen holder about the first axis,
wherein the illumination is configured to illuminate a gap between a front face of the specimen when held by the specimen holder and the knife edge, in order to generate a light gap,
wherein the detector is configured to detect at least one geometric feature of the light gap, and
wherein the controller is configured to:
a) automatically align the knife edge with the front face of the specimen by controlling the first actor depending on the detected at least one geometric feature of the light gap, and/or
b) provide indications to a user, depending on the detected at least one geometric feature of the light gap, on how to manually control the first actor in order to align the knife edge with the front face of the specimen.