Microtome with surface orientation sensor to sense orientation of surface of sample

摘要

A sample sectioning device includes a cutting mechanism, a sample holder, a drive system, and a surface orientation sensor. The sample holder is operable to hold a sample. The cutting mechanism is operable to cut sections from the sample. The drive system is coupled with the sample holder. The drive system is operable to drive movement between the sample held by the sample holder and the cutting mechanism. The surface orientation sensor is operable to sense an orientation of a surface of the sample held by the sample holder.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
positioning a sample that is held by a sample sectioning device relative to a surface orientation sensor; sensing an orientation of a surface of the sample held by the sample sectioning device with the surface orientation sensor by rotating the surface orientation sensor in two dimensions; adjusting the orientation of the surface of the sample held by the sample sectioning device so that the surface of the sample is substantially parallel with a cutting plane associated with a cutting mechanism of the sample sectioning device; and producing a section of the sample with the sample sectioning device after adjusting the orientation of the surface of the sample.