Microtomes and Accessories
Microtomes and Accessories
Instrumentation and equipment used for creating very thin slices of processed tissue for subsequent staining and microscopic examination. Products include automatic and manual microtomes, and a wide variety of microtome blades.
Microtomes are used to section hard or processed and embedded tissue for staining and microscopic examination to aid in research and disease diagnoses.
Microtomes can thinly slice plant and animal tissue or other materials. More commonly used in healthcare, microtomes are also found in scientific, academic, and industrial labs.
Most microtomes cut with knives and blades and require chemical treatment of samples, but newer microtome models cut specimens with femtosecond lasers instead and require no sample preparation.
What Are the Different Types of Microtomes?
Microtomes are grouped by the cutting motion of the blade. Most older microtomes are manually operated, but modern electronic microtomes are automatic and programmable.
- Rotary microtomes: this common microtome design holds the knife in a fixed position with the sample holder on an automatic or hand-operated flywheel. Slices are typically 1 to 60μm. For harder materials like samples embedded in synthetic resins, a rotary microtome can produce “semi-thin” sections (as low as 0.5μm).
- Sliding microtomes: sliding microtomes are used for biological, botanical, and materials science applications. Harder materials like wood, bone, and leather require these microtomes, which have heavier blades and do not cut as thinly as regular microtomes.
- Automated microtomes: semi- or fully automated microtomes are motor-driven rotary or sliding designs that help minimize user fatigue. Control panels display options including cutting speed, section count, section thickness, and advance distance. Some have multiple cutting modes. Microtome accessories and replacement parts are available to suit your application.
Epredia™ Edge-Rite™ Disposable Microtome Blades
Experience consistent quality from blade to blade and sample to sample with Epredia™ Edge-Rite™ disposable microtome blades.
Epredia™ Ultra Disposable Microtome Blades
Epredia™ ultra microtome blades offer high consistency, impressive durability, dependability, and precise performance.
Fisherbrand™ Tissue Path™ High-Profile Microtome Blades, Thickness: 0.3mm (0.012 in.)
Heat-treated, high carbon blades
C.L. Sturkey Silver Disposable Microtome Blades
Durable and long-lasting, ideal for general paraffin and cryostat use
Epredia™ HP35 Disposable Microtome Blades
Epredia™ HP35 microtome blades are coated for reliable and thin sectioning.
Epredia™ HM 325 Rotary Microtome
Cut high-quality paraffin sections without a power supply with the robust Epredia™ HM 325 Rotary Microtome.
Epredia™ HM 340E Electronic Rotary Microtome
Designed for precision and stability which yields quality ribbons even for difficult to cut paraffin sections, the Epredia™ HM 340E Electronic Microtome is an ergonomically designed, electronic rotary microtome with stepping-motor advance technology for precision and stability to provide superior sectioning results.
Epredia™ HM 355S Automatic Microtome Package
Section even the largest specimens with unmatched quality by using the Epredia™ HM 355S Automatic Microtome.
Epredia™ HM 430 Sliding Microtome
Ensure fast, comfortable, and never-tiring operation with the automatic or manual fine sectioning abilities of the Epredia™ HM 430 Sliding Microtome.
Epredia™ MX35 Premier™ Disposable Low-profile Microtome Blades
Section hard tissues and high-quality thin sections with high-performance with Epredia™ MX35 Premier™ disposable low-profile microtome blades.
Epredia™ MB35 Premier Disposable Microtome Blade
Use the Epredia™ MB35 premier disposable microtome blade for routine sectioning applications.
Epredia™ Shandon™ Premium High-profile Disposable Blades
Choose either PTFE-coated or non-coated Epredia™ Shandon™ premium heavy-duty high-profile disposable blades.
Epredia™ MB22 Premier Disposable Low-profile Microtome Blade
Choose the Epredia™ MB22 premier disposable low-profile microtome blade for applications where extremely thin, high-quality sections are required.