Dissection tool and methods of use

Abstract

The present disclosure provides cutting tools which include a handle coupled to a rotatable shaft having shallow grooves that extend substantially entirely across the surface of the rotatable shaft. The grooves define sharp cutting edges. In particular examples, the cutting edges are continuous, such as being defined by helical threads. The present disclosure also provides methods of dissecting a substrate of cultured cells. The substrate of cultured cells is separated into separated portions with a cutting tool. The cutting tool includes a rotatable shaft having a cutting blade which extends around the shaft. The cutting blade is rolled through the substrate to cut the substrate into portions. The portions are separated from one another to dissect the substrate.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A cutting device for dissecting a substrate of cultured cells comprising:
 (A) a handle, and   (B) a rotatable shaft coupled to the handle for rotation about a rolling axis wherein shallow grooves in the surface of the rotatable shaft define sharp cutting edges that extend substantially entirely across the surface of the rotatable shaft,   wherein the shallow grooves comprise a continuous groove in a surface of the rotatable shaft with the sharp cutting edges extending upward on both sides of the continuous groove into sharp crests that define a continuous cutting surface that extends substantially entirely across the surface of the rotatable shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The cutting device of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous groove comprises a shallow, concavely curved surface that has a generally constant thread height across a width of the rotatable shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The cutting device of  claim 1 , wherein the grooves form a continuous helical groove which extends helically around the perimeter of the rotatable shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The cutting device of  claim 1 , wherein the axial length of the rotatable shaft is at least about 2 cm. 
     
     
         5 . The cutting device of  claim 1 , wherein the axial length of the rotatable shaft is between about 5 mm and 5 cm. 
     
     
         6 . The cutting device of  claim 1 , wherein respective sides of adjacent grooves of the rotatable shaft define the cutting edges. 
     
     
         7 . The cutting device of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting edges define the widest portion of the rotatable shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The cutting device of  claim 1 , wherein the grooves of the rotatable shaft are threads having a thread pitch between about 150 μm and 1000 μm. 
     
     
         9 . The cutting device of  claim 1 , wherein the grooves of the rotatable shaft are threads having a thread pitch between about 150 μm and 300 μm. 
     
     
         10 . The cutting device of  claim 1 , wherein the grooves of the rotatable shaft are threads having a thread pitch between about 500 μm and 1000 μm. 
     
     
         11 . The cutting device of  claim 1 , wherein the grooves of the rotatable shaft are threads having a lead angle of 15 degrees or smaller. 
     
     
         12 . The cutting device of  claim 1 , wherein the grooves of the rotatable shaft are threads having crests with a width of less than about 2 μm. 
     
     
         13 . The cutting device of  claim 1 , wherein the grooves of the rotatable shaft are threads having a thread height of at least about 0.2 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The cutting device of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the rotatable shaft is at least about 2 mm. 
     
     
         15 . A kit comprising the cutting device of  claim 1 , the rotatable shaft of the cutting device being a first rotatable shaft, further comprising a second rotatable shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein the first rotatable shaft comprises a first type of groove and the second rotatable shaft comprises a second type of groove, the first type of groove being different than the second type of groove.