Microtomes and Accessories
Microtomes and Accessories
Instrumentation and equipment used for creating very thin slices of processed tissue for subsequent staining and microscopic examination. Products include automatic and manual microtomes, and a wide variety of microtome blades.
Microtomes are used to section hard or processed and embedded tissue for staining and microscopic examination to aid in research and disease diagnoses.
Microtomes can thinly slice plant and animal tissue or other materials. More commonly used in healthcare, microtomes are also found in scientific, academic, and industrial labs.
Most microtomes cut with knives and blades and require chemical treatment of samples, but newer microtome models cut specimens with femtosecond lasers instead and require no sample preparation.
What Are the Different Types of Microtomes?
Microtomes are grouped by the cutting motion of the blade. Most older microtomes are manually operated, but modern electronic microtomes are automatic and programmable.
- Rotary microtomes: this common microtome design holds the knife in a fixed position with the sample holder on an automatic or hand-operated flywheel. Slices are typically 1 to 60μm. For harder materials like samples embedded in synthetic resins, a rotary microtome can produce “semi-thin” sections (as low as 0.5μm).
- Sliding microtomes: sliding microtomes are used for biological, botanical, and materials science applications. Harder materials like wood, bone, and leather require these microtomes, which have heavier blades and do not cut as thinly as regular microtomes.
- Automated microtomes: semi- or fully automated microtomes are motor-driven rotary or sliding designs that help minimize user fatigue. Control panels display options including cutting speed, section count, section thickness, and advance distance. Some have multiple cutting modes. Microtome accessories and replacement parts are available to suit your application.
Epredia™ Ultra Disposable Microtome Blades
Epredia™ ultra microtome blades offer high consistency, impressive durability, dependability, and precise performance.
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Invitrogen™ CytoVista™ 2 mm Sagittal Mouse Brain Slicer
This -mm sagittal mouse brain slicer allows you to easily cut a mouse brain into smaller pieces for easier imaging with objectives that have a limited working distance.
Epredia™ MX35 Premier™ Disposable Low-profile Microtome Blades
Section hard tissues and high-quality thin sections with high-performance with Epredia™ MX35 Premier™ disposable low-profile microtome blades.
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Epredia™ HP35 Disposable Microtome Blades
Epredia™ HP35 microtome blades are coated for reliable and thin sectioning.
Epredia™ Cool-Cut with universal cassette clamp
Maintain a cool, consistent temperature for paraffin blocks during the sectioning process with the Epredia™ Cool-Cut accessory.
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Retsch™ Stainless Steel Knife
Retsch™ Stainless Steel Knife is designed for use with Knife Mill GRINDOMIX GM 300.
Epredia™ Richard-Allan Scientific™ Reusable Steel Knives, 16 cm, C Profile Steel
Enhance operation of Epredia™ CryoStar™ NX50 and NX70 Cryostats with Epredia™ CryoStar™ NX50 and NX70 Accessories.
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Epredia™ Richard-Allan Scientific™ Reusable Steel Knives, 22cm, C Profile Steel
Use Epredia™ Richard-Allan Scientific™ Reusable Steel Knives with microtomes or cryostats when the technical application dictates that requirement.
Epredia™ Disposable Blade Carriers
Utilize low- and high-profile blades with the quick clamp system of Epredia™ Disposable Blade Carriers.
Epredia™ HM 430, HM 450 and 440 E Sliding Microtome Accessories
Maintain Epredia™ HM 430 and HM 450 sliding microtomes with Epredia™ HM 430, HM 450 and 440 E sliding microtomes accessories.
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Epredia™ Fixed Specimen Head Adapter, Standard specimen clamp
The non-orienting version Epredia™ Fixed Specimen Head Adapter meets the needs of most laboratories.
Epredia™ Specimen V-distance piece
Get the most out of your Epredia™ microtome with this Epredia™ Specimen Clamp and Accessories.
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Epredia™ Shandon™ Finesse™ ME/E Series Disposable Blade Holders, Low profile
Eliminate the need to switch to a different knife holder for larger specimens by using the Epredia™ Shandon™ Finesse™ ME/E Series Disposable Blade Holders.