Microtome and method of reversibly altering a microtome

Abstract

A microtome comprises a histological cassette support member that is adapted and configured to allow the microtome to be used in connection with relatively thin histological cassettes. A method of reversibly altering a microtome for use with different size histological specimen cassettes includes providing a microtome comprising a first histological tissue cassette clamp, providing a second histological tissue cassette clamp, securing the second histological tissue cassette clamp to the microtome via the first histological tissue cassette clamp, and securing a histological tissue cassette to the microtome via the second histological tissue cassette clamp when the second histological tissue cassette clamp is secured to the microtome via the first histological tissue cassette clamp.

1 . A first histological tissue cassette clamp comprising:
 a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion being movable relative to the second portion in a manner such that the first clamp is adapted and configured to securely hold a first histological tissue cassette; and   a fitting, wherein the fitting being sized and shaped in a manner such that the fitting can be held by a second histological tissue cassette clamp that is adapted and configured to securely hold a second histological tissue cassette that differs in size from the first histological tissue cassette.   
     
     
         2 . The first clamp in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a spring that biases the first portion toward a first position relative to the second portion. 
     
     
         3 . The first clamp in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the fitting is parallelepiped in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The first clamp in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the fitting is rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         5 . The first clamp in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first histological tissue cassette is smaller than the second histological tissue cassette. 
     
     
         6 . A method comprising:
 providing a microtome comprising a first histological tissue cassette clamp;   providing a second histological tissue cassette clamp;   securing the second histological tissue cassette clamp to the microtome via the first histological tissue cassette clamp; and   securing a histological tissue cassette to the microtome via the second histological tissue cassette clamp when the second histological tissue cassette clamp is secured to the microtome via the first histological tissue cassette clamp.   
     
     
         7 . The method in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the step of providing the second histological tissue cassette clamp occurs in a manner such that the second histological tissue cassette clamp comprises a first portion and a second portion that are movable relative to each other, the first portion being spring biased toward a first position relative to the second portion. 
     
     
         8 . The method in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the step of providing the second histological tissue cassette clamp occurs in a manner such that the second histological tissue cassette clamp comprises a parallelepiped fitting and wherein the step of securing the second histological tissue cassette clamp to the microtome via the first histological tissue cassette clamp comprises utilizing the first histological tissue cassette to clamp the fitting of the second histological tissue cassette clamp.