2022 PM -- THERMO Cryotome FE Cryostat with Blade Holder -- Tested to -25 C

Web Information Similar to a standard microtome, a cryostat functions to obtain thin (1-10 mm in thickness) sections from a piece of tissue, but while a standard microtome carries the operation at room temperature, the cryostat enables the operator to section the tissue at low temperature (–20 to –30 C). In a cryostat, the blade and the sample are located inside an upright stationary freezer/chamber while the wheel for rotating the sample holder is externally located. Tissues for cryostat sectioning do not need be fixed in formalin for hours or days, as is the case for routine histology. Instead, tissues are immediately cryofixed after sampling. For cryofixation, the tissue pieces are placed in a viscous, gel-like medium (OCT) and are plunged in isopentane cooled with dry ice or liquid nitrogen. For sectioning, the frozen OCT tissue blocks are placed on a metal plate which brings their temperature to –20 to –30 C. Once that temperature is reached, the specimen is mounted on the microto