Freezing microtome and method for producing microscopable thin sections of tissue samples

摘要

A freezing microtome for the production of microscopable thin sections of tissue samples comprises a cooling device for freezing the tissue samples, a cutting device 26 for cutting the frozen tissue samples and a working chamber 20. The cooling device includes a tank 24 for receiving a liquid coolant into which the tissue samples can be inserted for freezing and a rinsing device (e.g. tank 56) for rinsing the frozen tissue samples with a cooled liquid, preferably before cutting. The cutting device and at least part of the cooling device (including the tank 24 and rinsing device) are arranged in the chamber. Preferably the liquid coolant has a temperature between -60 and 0°C and a specific heat capacity between 1.6 and 3.5 kJ/kg.K. The cooling device preferably incorporates a compression refrigerating machine for cooling the liquid coolant, including evaporator 40 inside tank 24 and evaporator 42 outside the tank 24 but inside chamber 20, compressor 34, collector dryer 36 and condenser 38. A method for producing microscopable thin sections of tissue samples in a freezing microtome is also outlined whereby the tissue samples are preferably wrapped into a protective cover and attached to a mounting device before processing (freezing; rinsing; cutting) in the microtome.