| E-Mail Address: | stevemachinuk@yahoo.co.uk |
Here in the UK we send tissue blocks to other centres for a second opinion.
Since most microtomes are not similarly aligned the blocks need to be trimmed again before cutting.
This trimming reduces the amount of tissue available for diagnosis.
I suggest the following method for aligning mictotome cassette holders to reduce this problem.
The principle behind this method is that if a block is perfectly aligned then the surface of the block will be in the plane of cutting no matter which way round the cassette is in the holder.
The advantages of this method are:
Any block will do for alignment; it doesn’t need to be a "master".
Blocks can be exchanged between microtomes set up this way.
Blocks can be trimmed in on one machine and cut on another.
After servicing, a microtome can be realigned reliably.
The Machin method
1. Use any block, e.g. a blank one.
2. Trim it in until the full face is cut.
3. Turn the cassette around 180 degrees.
4. Trim in slightly.
5. Look which part of the surface trims in first; this part is too near the knife.
6. Adjust the holder slightly so that this part trims in less.
7. Repeat from step 2 until turning has no effect on alignment.
Last Updated on 3/24/02 by Steve Machin FIBMS England.