Cryostatmicrotom

Abstract

Cryostat microtome, including: a main body; a cryostat arranged on and above the main body, wherein a receiving chamber is formed in the cryostat; a cutting device, located at least partially in the receiving chamber; a cooling system connected to and configured with the main body to provide a source of cold for the cryostat microtome, the cooling system includes a compressor and the compressor is a variable speed compressor.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of microtomes and in particular a cryostat microtome. BACKGROUND

[0002] Cryosectioning is a technique in which biological tissues are rapidly hardened under low-temperature conditions and cut into thin sections. It has become widely used in fields such as pathological diagnosis, scientific research, and the preservation of biological specimens. The basic principle of cryosectioning is to rapidly freeze the tissue sample to a suitable hardness using a cooling device, thereby fixing its internal structure. A cutting device is then used to section the tissue into thin sections of uniform thickness for subsequent staining, microscopic observation, or other analytical processing. The entire process places extremely high demands on temperature control, cutting accuracy, and instrument stability. The performance of the cryostat microtome directly affects the quality of the sections and the reliability of the diagnostic results.

[0003] Devices are currently available on the market for the rapid preparation of tissue samples from frozen organs. In such devices, the specimen is quickly frozen and sectioned. After sectioning, the specimen is fixed with a fixative solution, stained, and then examined under a microscope. Normal sections exhibit tissue regions of similar color and uniform thickness without discontinuities. However, current sectioning methods are prone to uneven thickness and occasional fractures in the sections, and uneven staining and thickness may only be detected during microscopic examination, thus impacting efficiency. In microtomes, vibration of the entire machine is one of the main factors leading to uneven section thickness. The cooling system is the primary source of this vibration.Existing cooling systems tend to generate significant vibrations during operation, which are likely to cause vibrations of the microtome and blade, resulting in uneven section thickness. SUMMARY

[0004] A main objective of the present disclosure is to provide a cryostat microtome which can avoid uneven section thickness caused by vibration and improve section flatness.

[0005] To achieve the above objective, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a cryostat microtome comprising: a main body; a cryostat arranged on and above the main body, wherein a receiving chamber is formed in the cryostat; a cutting device, located at least partially in the receiving chamber; a cooling system connected to and configured with the main body to provide a source of cold for the cryostat microtome, the cooling system includes a compressor, and the compressor is a variable speed compressor. In some embodiments, the cooling system comprises two cooling devices, each of which includes a variable-speed compressor; and / or The cryostat microtome comprises a bottom area and an upper area, which are distributed opposite each other in a vertical direction, the compressor is located in the bottom area and the cutting device is located in the upper area. In some embodiments, the cryostat microtome further comprises a freezing section which is arranged and configured in the receiving chamber to freeze a target sample. In some embodiments, the cutting device comprises a sample head, a feed mechanism and a cutting arrangement, wherein one side of the sample head facing the cutting arrangement is configured to connect a target sample and the feed mechanism is connected to one side of the sample head facing away from the cutting arrangement to move the sample head towards or away from the cutting arrangement. In some embodiments, the cutting device further comprises an angle adjustment arrangement, wherein the sample head is connected to the feed mechanism via the angle adjustment arrangement and the angle adjustment arrangement is configured to set an orientation of the sample head. In some embodiments, the feed mechanism comprises a drive component and a feed body, wherein the drive component is connected to the feed body, the probe head is connected to the feed body, and the drive component is configured to move the feed mechanism to cause the probe head to move toward or away from the cutting arrangement. In some embodiments, the drive component includes a rotary handwheel arranged on an outside of the main body; and / or the receiving chamber has an upwardly directed opening, a depth direction of the receiving chamber runs parallel to an axis of the opening, a freezing section and the cutting device are arranged in the receiving chamber, and the freezing section is located on a left side of the cutting device along the depth direction of the receiving chamber. In some embodiments, the cryostat microtome further comprises a sealing arrangement that is positioned and configured between the feed body and the cryostat to seal off outside air. In some embodiments, the cutting device comprises a blade holder, a cutting blade and a functional accessory, wherein the cutting blade is mounted on the blade holder, the functional accessory is detachably arranged on a left side of the blade holder along a depth direction of the receiving chamber, and the functional accessory comprises an anti-roll plate and / or a wrist rest. In some embodiments, the cryostat microtome further comprises a freezing section, wherein the cutting device includes a sample head, the cryostat includes an evaporator, and the compressor is configured with variable speed to provide at least the cold source for the freezing section, the sample head, and the evaporator.

[0006] According to the above embodiments, the present disclosure has the following advantageous effects.

[0007] The cryostat microtome of the present disclosure comprises a main body, a cryostat, a cutting device, and a cooling system. The cryostat is arranged on and above the main body. A receiving chamber is formed within the cryostat. The cutting device is at least partially located within the receiving chamber. The cooling system is connected to the main body and is configured to provide a source of cold for the cryostat microtome. The cooling system includes a compressor, and the compressor is a variable-speed compressor.

[0008] In the present disclosure, the introduction of the variable-speed compressor into the cooling system fundamentally alters the fixed-frequency start-stop mode of the cold source delivery of conventional cryostat microtomes. The variable-speed compressor adjusts its operating frequency to avoid resonance with the vibration frequencies of the feed body and blade holder, thereby reducing vibration of the entire cryostat microtome and improving sectioning uniformity. Additionally, the variable-speed compressor can continuously adjust its speed according to the real-time heat load to dynamically adapt cooling capacity to actual demand, thus avoiding large instantaneous temperature differences that can lead to frost formation in the imaging chamber and impair the user experience.

[0009] Additional aspects and benefits of this disclosure are partly specified in the description and partly evident from the description or understood through the application of this disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] To clarify the technical aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure or the prior art, the accompanying drawings necessary for describing the embodiments or the prior art are briefly presented below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description show only some embodiments of the present disclosure, and those skilled in the art with average knowledge can derive further drawings from the structures shown in these drawings without any creative effort. Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective schematic structural view of a cryostat microtome according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from a first angle; Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective schematic structural view of a cryostat microtome according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from a second angle; Fig. Figure 3 is a perspective schematic structural view of a cryostat microtome according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from a third angle; Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic structural cross-sectional view of the cryostat microtome in Fig. 3 along line AA; Fig. Figure 5 is a perspective schematic structural view of a sample head according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from a fourth angle; Fig. Figure 6 is a schematic structural cross-sectional view of the sample head in Fig. 5; Fig. Figure 7 is a perspective schematic structural view of a probe head according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from a fifth angle; Fig. Figure 8 is a schematic structural cross-sectional view of the sample head in Fig. 7 along line BB; Fig. Figure 9 is a perspective schematic structural view of a sealing arrangement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. Figure 10 is a schematic structural cross-sectional view of the sealing arrangement in Fig. 9 along line CC; and Fig. Figure 11 is a perspective schematic structural view of a blade holder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. List of reference symbols:

[0011] Cryostat 10; a. Housing 11; b. Blade holder 12; cutting blade 121; clamping section of the blade 122; Pressure plate 1221; Blade support 1222; Locking / releasing lever 1223; Rotating base plate of the blade holder 123; Locking / releasing lever 1231; Rotating base plate of the blade 1232; Base plate of the bracket 124; eccentric shaft for fixing / releasing 1241; anti-roll plate 125; handwheel 126; c. Sample head 13; clamping component 131; fixed clamping section 1311; movable clamping section 1312; cooling plate 1313; Peltier element 1314; clamping base plate 1315; rotating component 132; press-fit cap 1321; locking eccentric shaft 1322; Joint ball 1323; Cold source chamber 1324; Tilting block 1325; Push rod 1326; Rotary knob 1327; Rotary knob base plate 1328; Indicator rod 1329; Directional base plate 13210; Connecting plate 13211; d. Evaporator 14; e. Freezing section 15; Cutting device 20; a. Feed body 21; b. Sealing arrangement 22; thermal insulation sleeve 221; corrugated sealing element 222; Connection section 223; Cooling system 30; a. Variable speed compressor 31; b. Copper pipe 32; c. Liquefier 33.

[0012] The objectives, functional features and advantages of the present disclosure are further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Technical diagrams in the embodiments of this disclosure are clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of this disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, and not all, embodiments of this disclosure. Based on the embodiments of this disclosure, all other embodiments that can be obtained by a person skilled in the art with average knowledge without creative effort fall within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0014] It should be noted that when directional terms such as "up", "down", "left", "right", "front", "back", and the like appear in the embodiments of the present disclosure, such directional terms serve only to interpret the relative positional relationships, states of motion, etc., between different components under a specific attitude. If the specific attitude changes, the directional terms should change accordingly.

[0015] Furthermore, where terms such as "first", "second", and the like appear in the embodiments of this disclosure, such terms serve only for descriptive purposes and must not be interpreted as indicating or implying their relative importance, nor as an implicit indication of the number of technical features disclosed. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature.

[0016] Furthermore, wherever "and / or" appears in the text, it signifies three coexisting schemes. Taking "A and / or B" as an example, it includes three alternative schemes: A alone, B alone, or both A and B. Moreover, the technical schemes can be combined between the different embodiments, but such a combination should be feasible for a person skilled in the art with average knowledge. If the combination of technical schemes is mutually contradictory or not feasible, such a combination should be considered non-existent and not fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present disclosure.

[0017] A cryostat microtome according to embodiments of the present disclosure is described below with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 11 described. With reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 4. The cryostat microtome of the present disclosure comprises a main body, a cryostat 10, a cutting device 20, and a cooling system 30. The cryostat 10 is arranged on the main body and is located above the main body. A receiving chamber is formed in the cryostat 10. The cutting device 20 is arranged at least partially in the receiving chamber. The cooling system 30 is connected to the main body and configured to provide a cooling source for the cryostat microtome. The cooling system 30 includes a compressor, and the compressor is a variable-speed compressor 31.

[0018] With reference to Fig. In this disclosure, the introduction of the variable-speed compressor 31 into the cooling system 30 fundamentally modifies the fixed-frequency start-stop mode of the cold source output of conventional cryostat microtomes. The variable-speed compressor 31 can continuously adjust its speed according to the real-time heat load to dynamically adapt the cooling capacity and match the actual demand, thereby avoiding temperature overshoot and lag caused by frequent starting and stopping, and making the temperature curve of the receiving chamber smoother and more stable. Additionally, the frequency converter operation reduces the high power consumption and mechanical shock during start-up and stop-down, and the compressor operates efficiently at a low speed for extended periods, thus reducing both the noise and vibration of the entire cryostat microtome.This improves the operating experience of the personnel, reduces structural fatigue and the probability of failure of the cryostat microtome, and extends the service life of the core components. Furthermore, the variable-speed compressor 31 can adjust its operating frequency to avoid the natural resonance frequencies of key components such as the main body, the cryostat 10, and the cutting device 20, thereby effectively suppressing resonance.Such a frequency avoidance strategy prevents the compressor from generating periodic coupled vibrations with surrounding structures during operation and weakens the transmission and amplification effects of the cryostat microtome's vibration, thus keeping the cutting platform more stable, improving the continuity and surface flatness of tissue sections, reducing structural loosening and fatigue damage from vibration, and providing a reliable guarantee for the long-term stable operation of the cryostat microtome.

[0019] In some embodiments, the main body can be a steel frame, an iron base plate, a composite steel sheet box structure with a vibration-damping pad, etc. The main body primarily serves to provide sufficient rigidity to support the cryostat 10, the cutting device 20, and the cooling system 30. Furthermore, mounting surfaces, cable channels, and heat dissipation channels are provided on the main body to achieve low-resistance coupling of the variable-speed compressor 31, the evaporator 14, and the condenser 33, thereby suppressing vibration transmission and facilitating future maintenance and upgrades. This meets the diverse requirements of different laboratories regarding spatial arrangement, load-bearing capacity, and noise levels.

[0020] In some embodiments, the cryostat 10 can be a box-like cooling chamber or a horizontal freezing structure with an insulated glass viewing window. A base of the cryostat 10 can be bolted to a crossbeam of the main body via a flange or mounting foot, so that the cryostat 10 as a whole hovers above the main body. Additionally, side plates and a cover of the cryostat 10 enclose a semi-enclosed space with an opening only on one front side, thus defining the receiving chamber for placing the freezing section 15 and the cutting device 20. A foam layer or a vacuum layer is used to block heat exchange between the inside and outside of the cryostat 10 to ensure that cooling energy is concentrated inside the chamber.

[0021] In some embodiments, the cutting device 20 can be a motor-driven blade holder 12 or a rack and pinion lifting mechanism controlled by a handwheel 126. The cutting device 20 is secured in the receiving chamber of the cryostat 10 by a cantilever or bridge structure, so that the cutting assembly and the sample head 13 maintain relative movement in a cold environment to implement continuous cutting.

[0022] With reference to Fig. In some embodiments, the cryostat microtome comprises a bottom section and an upper section, distributed oppositely in a vertical direction. The compressor is located in the bottom section, and the cutting device 20 is located in the upper section. By arranging the compressor in the bottom section of the cryostat microtome and the cutting device 20 in the upper section, cold and heat sources can be naturally located in different layers in the direction of gravity. The waste heat generated by the compressor can be confined to the lower section, preventing rising warm air from directly affecting the low-temperature area above. This reduces the thermal insulation load on the cryostat 10 and results in a more uniform and stable temperature within the receiving chamber. Additionally, lowering the center of gravity to the bottom reduces the tipping moment of the entire cryostat microtome.Slight vibrations during operation must pass through the main body structure before reaching a cutting position at the top. This extended transmission path and gradual energy attenuation dampen the vibration experienced by the cutting device 20 and reduce the relative displacement between the blade edge and the sample, resulting in naturally smoother cutting patterns. The arrangement of the hot and cold sources in separate areas also facilitates operation and maintenance. In particular, the cold area at the top contains only cutting-related components, providing ample space and clear visibility, and allowing operators to quickly change samples or blades. Heat-generating components such as the compressor and condenser 33 are centrally located in the hot area at the bottom, and an independent cooling air duct is formed, isolating dust, grease, and noise from the lower section.Therefore, operating personnel do not need to enter the low-temperature chamber for cleaning or maintenance, thus preventing disturbance of the internal cold environment. This arrangement improves cutting precision and surface quality, extends the service life of the cooling system 30, and creates a quieter, cleaner, and safer working environment.

[0023] With reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. In some embodiments, the cryostat microtome further comprises a freezing section 15, which is arranged in the receiving chamber. The freezing section 15 is configured to provide a freezing platform for a sample to be sectioned. A copper tube 32 is arranged below the freezing section 15, and the freezing section 15 is connected to the cooling system 30 via the copper tube 32, allowing the samples to be sectioned to be cooled more quickly and uniformly on the freezing section 15. In particular, the operating personnel can embed a tissue preparation to be sectioned. The arrangement of the additional independent freezing section 15 in the receiving chamber provides a fast and uniform embedding and pre-cooling platform for the sample before sectioning.The freezing compartment 15 and the cutting device 20 are located in the same enclosed cooling chamber, with a short sample transfer path. This maximizes insulation from external heat and moisture, allowing the frozen state to be maintained continuously and reducing the risk of tissue shrinkage, cracking, and antigen loss due to repeated warming. The flat surface of the freezing compartment 15 enables operators to stably adjust the sample orientation and perform rapid trimming to achieve a more consistent section thickness and a more complete surface area in subsequent sections. This provides continuous and accurate histological information for pathological diagnosis and scientific imaging.

[0024] With reference to Fig. 4 to Fig. In some embodiments, the cutting device 20 comprises a sample head 13, a feed mechanism, and a cutting arrangement, wherein one side of the sample head 13 facing the cutting arrangement is configured to connect a target sample, and the feed mechanism is connected to one side of the sample head 13 facing away from the cutting arrangement to move the sample head 13 toward or away from the cutting arrangement. By sequentially arranging the sample head 13, the feed mechanism, and the cutting arrangement along the coaxial direction, the feed mechanism can directly push the sample head 13 to perform a linear feed toward the cutting arrangement, thereby allowing the target sample attached to the sample head 13 to approach the blade stepwise in a stable and controllable manner.If the cutting resistance changes due to variations in tissue density, the feed mechanism can transmit a reverse torque in real time to hold the sample head 13 in a constant position. This prevents slight retraction or vibration of the sample during cutting, thus improving the uniformity of the section thickness and achieving a smoother surface texture. In such an arrangement, a drive source is located on the rear side of the sample head 13 and is therefore naturally insulated from the low-temperature region. This allows the heat generated during operation of the feed mechanism to be quickly dissipated through the structure of the main body, reducing heat transfer to the sample side and preventing localized heating that could lead to tissue softening or ice crystal melting.The overall structure is compact and the power transmission path is short, which reduces vibration accumulation and improves long-term reliability and ease of maintenance, thus creating a solid basis for the continuous production of high-quality frozen sections.

[0025] With reference to Fig. 4 to Fig. In some embodiments, the cutting device 20 further comprises an angle adjustment assembly. The sample head 13 is connected to the feed mechanism via the angle adjustment assembly, and the angle adjustment assembly is configured to adjust the orientation of the sample head 13. The introduction of the angle adjustment assembly provides a rotatable, flexible connection between the sample head 13 and the feed mechanism, enabling operators to change the sample orientation relative to the cutting edge in real time in the low-temperature environment without disassembling any parts. If the tissue surface is uneven or a specific cross-section is required, operators can easily fine-tune the angle so that the cutting edge maintains an optimal contact trajectory with the target region, thereby preventing local over- or undercutting and ensuring that each section fully exposes the required structural layers.This adjustment function also reduces the number of required trimming operations because the sample position can be adjusted in real time during cutting, allowing the target plane to be approximated with the first cut. This reduces tissue waste and shortens the cooling chamber opening time, thereby minimizing the risk of temperature fluctuations. The angle adjustment mechanism is equipped with a locking structure. Once the angle is fixed, the locking structure resists the cutting reaction force to prevent sample deflection during continuous feed, thus ensuring consistency in section thickness and texture.

[0026] With reference to Fig. 4 to Fig. In some embodiments, the feed mechanism comprises a drive component and a feed body 21. The drive component is connected to the feed body 21, the probe head 13 is connected to the feed body 21, and the drive component is configured to move the feed mechanism to cause the probe head 13 to move toward or away from the cutting arrangement. With the feed mechanism divided into the drive component and the feed body 21, the power source and the actuator end form a modular combination. The drive component only needs to output a linear displacement, and the feed body 21 transmits the motion directly to the probe head 13, thus eliminating redundant connecting levers or gears between the drive component and the feed body 21, resulting in a faster response time.If sudden changes in tissue hardness lead to fluctuations in cutting resistance, the feed body 21 can immediately transmit the reaction force to the drive component, and the operator can adjust the feed rate at any time via the handwheel 126 or a control button to prevent the sample from being compressed and deformed or the sections from breaking, thus ensuring a stable feed rate and uniform thickness. In such a structure, the easily wearable drive component is located on the outside of the low-temperature chamber, which allows for replacement or lubrication during maintenance without opening the cooling chamber, thereby avoiding disturbance of the internal low-temperature environment.Since the feed body 21 of the feed mechanism has no heat-generating motor, it remains close to the chamber temperature even after prolonged operation, and no additional heat is transferred to the sample side, thus preventing local softening or ice crystal melting. The modular design minimizes the thrust transmission path, vibrations are absorbed within the feed mechanism, and a filtered and stable feed is provided to the sample head 13, resulting in a smoother cut surface. Furthermore, the drive component and the feed body 21 can be designed differently based on load characteristics and low-temperature requirements, thereby extending service life and providing reserved interfaces for future upgrades to automatic feed or integration of a measurement module.

[0027] With reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. In some embodiments, the drive component comprises a rotary handwheel 126 located on the outside of the main body. This placement allows the operator to adjust the feed rate and force in real time by touch, without having to access the low-temperature chamber. The rotation of the handwheel 126 is directly converted into a linear displacement of the feed mechanism. This not only maintains the flexibility of manual control of the cutting thickness but also avoids the thermal interference that would otherwise occur if the operator reached into the cold region.Furthermore, because the rotary handwheel 126 is located on the outside of the main body, the handwheel 126 is thermally insulated from the cooling chamber to prevent the bearing lubricant from solidifying at low temperature and to ensure smooth, unimpeded rotation of the handwheel 126.

[0028] In some embodiments, the receiving chamber has an upwardly directed opening, a depth direction of the receiving chamber runs parallel to an axis of the opening, a freezing section 15 and the cutting device 20 are arranged in the receiving chamber, and the freezing section 15 is located on a left side of the cutting device 20 along the depth direction of the receiving chamber.

[0029] It is understood that the depth direction of the receiving chamber is oriented from the operator to the cryostat microtome. The receiving chamber is designed as a deep chamber with an upward-facing opening, its depth direction running parallel to an axis of the opening, thus forming a longitudinally extending working space. The freezing section 15 is located on the left side of the cutting device 20 along the depth direction. This creates an arrangement with cold storage on the left and cutting on the right. The longitudinal axis arrangement in the depth direction allows the operator to easily observe the relative positions of the sample and blade from above, thus enabling continuous trimming and final sectioning.The rotary handwheel 126 works in conjunction with the left and right areas of the longitudinal deep chamber, thereby highly coordinating manual control force, field of vision and workflow, thus improving ease of operation and cutting efficiency.

[0030] With reference to Fig. In some embodiments, the cryostat microtome 10 further comprises a sealing assembly 22, which is arranged and configured between the feed body 21 and the cryostat 10 to seal off outside air. The sealing assembly 22 forms a flexible barrier between the feed body 21 and the cryostat 10 to effectively block outside air and prevent hot and humid air from entering the receiving chamber during the feed stroke. This suppresses frost formation on the inner wall and icing on the surface of the evaporator 14, thereby concentrating the cooling energy to maintain a stable low temperature for the sample and the blade edge.

[0031] In some embodiments, the sealing arrangement 22 can be a corrugated bellows box mounted on an outer circumference of the feed mechanism, an elastic plug inserted into a through-hole, or a surface seal including a follower pressure plate and a lip seal ring. By utilizing its own flexibility and restoring force, the sealing arrangement 22 remains in close contact with the wall surface during the reciprocating movement of the feed mechanism, forming a dynamic barrier that prevents the ingress of hot and humid outside air and dissipates the energy of micro-vibrations into molecular frictional heat, thereby maintaining a dry, clean, and quiet stable environment in the low-temperature chamber.

[0032] With reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. In some embodiments, the cutting device 20 comprises a blade holder 12, a cutting blade 121, and a functional accessory. The cutting blade 121 is mounted on the blade holder 12. The functional accessory is removable and located on the left side of the blade holder 12 along a depth direction of the receiving chamber. The functional accessory includes an anti-roll plate 125 and / or a wrist rest. A quick-change interface is provided on the left side of the blade holder 12, allowing the anti-roll plate 125 and the wrist rest to be freely added or removed depending on the cutting requirements. The anti-roll plate 125 forms a micro-airflow barrier near the cutting edge to prevent the thin cut from rolling upwards.This allows the sectioned tissue pieces to flatten naturally and move smoothly into the sectioning position, preventing diagnostic information loss due to overlapping folds. The wrist rest provides operators with a support point for their wrist, keeping it free. During prolonged sectioning or continuous sectioning, operators do not need to repeatedly lift their forearm from the edge of the cooling chamber, reducing muscle fatigue and hand tremors and facilitating the maintenance of consistent feed force. The functional accessory is secured by a sliding clip or magnetic attraction, allowing for quick, tool-free assembly or disassembly. The functional accessory can be removed directly for cleaning and disinfection to prevent any residual paraffin or cryomounting medium from affecting the precision of subsequent clamping operations.

[0033] Therefore, the blade holder 12 incorporates anti-roll, wrist-protection, and quick-maintenance features, reducing the need for additional holders and making the arrangement of the confined cooling chamber more organized and spacious. In some embodiments, the modular design of the accessory also allows for future enhancements, such as the integration of illumination, magnifying lenses, or a micro-suction device, without altering the original structure of the blade holder 12. This removable, functional accessory concept allows the cryostat microtome to maintain the stability of the core cutting unit while providing improved sectioning quality and ease of use, and facilitating future maintenance, thus providing a more efficient and user-friendly experience for pathological diagnosis and specimen preparation for research purposes.

[0034] With reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. In some embodiments, the cryostat microtome further comprises a freezing section 15, wherein the cutting device 20 includes a sample head 13, the cryostat 10 includes an evaporator 14, and the variable-speed compressor 31 is configured to provide at least the cooling source for the freezing section 15, the feed mechanism, and the evaporator 14. In particular, in some embodiments, the cooling system 30 comprises two cooling devices, each of which includes a variable-speed compressor 31. The variable-speed compressor 31 of one cooling device integrates the freezing section 15 and the evaporator 14 into the same cooling circuit by means of a uniform distribution of the cooling sources, thereby achieving dynamic planning of the cooling capacity as needed.The variable-speed compressor 31 of the other cooling device provides a cooling source for the sample head 13 and performs real-time adjustments according to the required temperature of the sample to be sectioned on the sample head 13. In particular, if the type of sample to be sectioned is known, the operator selects the tissue type of the sample during the sectioning process, and the two cooling devices automatically adjust the corresponding temperatures according to the tissue type of the sample to ensure that the preservation, freezing, and sectioning temperatures are appropriate for the sample type.

[0035] The cryostat microtome of the present disclosure will be described systematically below with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. The cryostat microtome described in Section 11 comprises core components such as a main body, a cryostat 10, a cutting device 20, a cooling system 30, and a variable-speed compressor 31. The main body has an integrally welded steel frame structure that possesses sufficient rigidity and stability to support the cryostat 10 on its upper surface and internal functional components. The cryostat 10 is positioned above the main body, has a double-layered structure of bent and welded stainless steel sheets, and is insulated with integrally foamed insulating material to form a thermal barrier. A receiving chamber is formed within the cryostat 10 to accommodate the cutting device 20, a freezing section 15, an evaporator 14, and other components. The receiving chamber has an upwardly directed opening. A depth direction of the receiving chamber is parallel to an axis of the opening.Along the depth direction, a freezing section 15 is arranged on a left side of the receiving chamber and the cutting device 20 is arranged on a right side of the receiving chamber, forming an arrangement with freezing on the left and cutting on the right, which allows the sample to be transferred directly to the cutting region after pre-cooling, thereby reducing the loss of cooling energy and the operating time.

[0036] The cutting device 20 comprises a sample head 13, a feed mechanism, a cutting assembly, a blade holder 12, a cutting blade 121, a functional accessory, etc. The sample head 13 is connected to the feed mechanism via an angle adjustment arrangement. The feed mechanism comprises a drive component and a feed body 21. The drive component can be a rotary handwheel 126 located on the outside of the main body to facilitate operator control of the cutting feed from outside the cooling chamber, thereby preventing heat from entering the cooling chamber. A sealing assembly 22 is arranged between the feed body 21 and the cryostat 10.The sealing assembly 22 can be a corrugated bellows box or an elastic plug structure and is configured to seal off outside air and prevent hot and humid air from entering the cooling chamber and causing frost formation or affecting the cutting quality. The cutting blade 121 is mounted on the blade holder 12. A left side of the blade holder 12 is removable and fitted with functional accessories, such as an anti-roll plate 125 and a wrist rest. The anti-roll plate 125 is configured to prevent a cut from curling. The wrist rest provides support for the operator to improve operator comfort and cutting stability.

[0037] The cooling system 30 is connected to the main body and comprises a variable-speed compressor 31, a condenser 33, an evaporator 14, and a connecting line. The variable-speed compressor 31 is configured to provide a cooling source to at least the freezing section 15, the feed mechanism, and the evaporator 14. The variable-speed compressor 31 can adjust its operating frequency according to load changes to avoid resonance with the main body structure, thereby reducing the vibration and noise level of the entire cryostat microtome, improving cutting accuracy, and extending the service life of the cryostat microtome. The freezing section 15 is located in the receiving chamber and is configured to rapidly freeze a target sample to ensure that the sample reaches a suitable hardness before cutting.The evaporator 14 is located in the cryostat 10 and configured to maintain a low-temperature environment in the cooling chamber. The use of the variable-speed compressor 31 for central control of the distribution of cooling energy to the freezing section 15, the feed mechanism, and the evaporator 14 ensures efficient use of the cooling source and stable temperature control.

[0038] Furthermore, the structural design of the cryostat microtome fully considers ease of use and maintenance efficiency. The placement of the rotary handwheel 126 on the outside of the main body allows the operator to advance the section without having to extend their arm into the cooling chamber, thus reducing the loss of cooling energy. The upward-facing opening of the receiving chamber facilitates observation and operation, its logical arrangement in terms of depth is optimized, and the freezing section 15 and sectioning device 20 are positioned in separate areas, improving fluid flow. The removable design of the functional accessories simplifies cleaning and replacement and meets the high-frequency usage requirements of laboratories. The overall structure is compact and highly modular, facilitating future functional expansions, maintenance, and upgrades.The cryostat microtome has advantages such as low vibration, low noise level, stable temperature and high cutting quality, etc., making it suitable for applications requiring high-precision cryocutting, such as pathological diagnosis and scientific research experiments.

[0039] For a specific configuration of the cryostat microtome of the present disclosure, reference is made to Fig. 1 to Fig. 11 referred.

[0040] With reference to Fig. The cryostat 10 comprises a housing 11 and an evaporator 14. The housing 11 is configured to prepare a tissue specimen. The evaporator 14 is configured to cool the housing 11. Furthermore, the cryostat 10 also includes a sealing door that can be opened and closed. In particular, the sealing door can be transparent and opened or closed by pulling.

[0041] With reference to Fig. 4 to Fig. The cutting device 20 comprises a feed body 21, a sample head 13, and a cutting device. The feed body 21 is configured to provide an energy source for the sample head 13 (i.e., it serves as a feed / retraction mechanism to cause a tissue sample clamped to the sample head 13 to come into contact with or be released from the cutting blade 121 on the blade holder 12). The sample head 13 is configured to clamp the tissue sample. The cutting device is configured to cut the sample clamped by the sample head 13.

[0042] With reference to Fig. 5 to Fig. In section 8, the sample head 13 is arranged in the housing 11 of the cryostat 10 and comprises a clamping component 131 and a rotating component 132. The clamping component 131 is configured to clamp the sample so that its surface faces the cutting blade 121. The clamping component 131 includes a cooling plate 1313, which is configured to maintain the sample at a temperature suitable for sectioning. The rotating component 132 is located on the rear side of the clamping component 131 and is configured to adjust the angle of the clamping component 131 in various directions to make the surface of the sample parallel to the cutting blade 121, thus adapting it to tissue samples of different sizes and shapes to be sectioned.

[0043] With reference to Fig. 5 to Fig. Figure 8 of the clamping component 131 comprises a fixed clamping section 1311, a movable clamping section 1312, a cooling plate 1313, a Peltier element 1314, and a clamping base plate 1315. A force is applied to a handle at one end of the movable clamping section 1312 to clamp the sample against the fixed clamping section 1311, preventing the sample from shaking during cutting. The cooling plate 1313 is positioned on the fixed clamping section 1311 to transfer cooling energy to the sample. The Peltier element 1314 is attached to the rear of the cooling plate 1313 to provide a cooling source. The clamping base plate 1315 is connected to the rotating component 132 to dissipate heat from the Peltier element, thus maintaining a stable sample temperature during cutting. Furthermore, the appropriate cutting temperature can be flexibly adjusted according to different sample types.

[0044] With reference to Fig. 5 to Fig. Figure 8 of the rotary component 132 comprises a press-fit cap 1321, a locking eccentric shaft 1322, a ball joint 1323, a cold source chamber 1324, a tilting block 1325, a push rod 1326, a rotary knob 1327, a rotary knob base plate 1328, an indicator rod 1329, a direction base plate 13210, and a connecting plate 13211. The press-fit cap 1321 is arranged on a spherical surface of the ball joint 1323. The locking eccentric shaft 1322 is arranged on the press-fit cap 1321 to lock the ball joint 1323. The ball joint 1323 is movably arranged on a spherical surface of the cold source chamber 1324. The cold source chamber 1324 is arranged on the directional base plate 13210, has a hollow chamber-like structure therein and is connected to the copper tube 32 to provide cold energy.One end of the tilting block 1325 is located in the ball joint 1323, and the other end of the tilting block 1325 presses against a surface of the directional base plate 13210. The push rod 1326 is located in a push groove on the tilting block 1325. The rotary knob 1327 is mounted on the push rod 1326 via a threaded connection. The rotary knob 1327 is configured to actuate the push rod 1326 by rotation, pressing the tilting block 1325 against the ball joint 1323, thereby adjusting the clamping component 131 in various directions. The rotary knob base plate 1328 is located on one circumference of the rotary knob 1327 to provide a rotational reaction force. The indicator rod 1329 is located on the push rod 1326 to indicate the current angle of the clamping component 131.The directional base plate 13210 is arranged on the rear side of the tilting block 1325 to provide support for the movement of the tilting block 1325. The connecting plate 13211 is arranged on the rear side of the directional base plate 13210 and connected to the feed body 21.

[0045] With reference to Fig. 4 The feed body 21 is arranged on a rear side of the sample head 13 and serves as a feed / retraction mechanism to cause the clamping component 131 of the sample head 13 to come into contact with or detach from the cutting blade 121.

[0046] With reference to Fig. The cutting device comprises a cutting blade 121 and a blade holder 12, and the cutting blade 121 is mounted on the blade holder 12. Specifically, the blade holder 12 is provided with a cutting blade 121, a clamping section of the blade 122, a rotating base plate of the blade holder 123, and a base plate of the holder 124. The cutting blade 121 is arranged on the clamping section of the blade 122 between a pressure plate 1221 and a blade support 1222 in a left-right direction. The clamping section of the blade 122 is provided with a locking / releasing lever 1223 configured to lock or release the cutting blade 121. Additionally, one end of the clamping section of the blade 122 is provided with a blade ejector configured to eject the blade from one side to facilitate replacement of the cutting blade 121.The clamping section of the blade 122 is located on the rotating base plate of the blade holder 123. The blade support 1222 has a V-shaped structure on its underside and is located on the rotating base plate of the blade holder 123 to enable the left-right movement of the cutting blade 121. The rotating base plate of the blade holder 123 has a circular T-slot structure on its underside, is located on the base plate of the holder 124, and is configured to rotate in an up-down direction to adjust the angle of the cutting blade 121 so that the cutting blade 121 is flush with the cutting surface of the specimen on the clamping component 131, thereby reducing the thickness to be trimmed. A locking / releasing lever 1231, configured to lock or release the clamping section of the blade 122, is located on one side of the rotating base plate of the blade holder 123.An angle scale is provided on one side of the rotating base plate of the blade 1232 of the rotating base plate of the blade holder 123 to facilitate the adjustment of the angle of the cutting blade 121 and to indicate the current working angle. The base plate of the holder 124 is located on an inner wall of the housing 11 of the cryostat 10 and opposite the sample head 13. An eccentric shaft for locking / unlocking 1241, configured to lock or unlock the rotating base plate of the blade holder 123, is located on one side of the base plate of the holder 124.

[0047] With reference to Fig. 9 and Fig. The cutting device 20 further comprises a sealing arrangement 22, which is arranged and configured between the feed body 21 and the cryostat 10 to seal off outside air in order to maintain a low-temperature environment in the housing 11. In particular, the sealing arrangement 22 comprises a thermal insulation sleeve 221, a corrugated sealing element 222, and a connecting section 223. The thermal insulation sleeve 221 is arranged on an extended tubular section of the feed body 21. One end of the corrugated sealing element 222 is arranged on the thermal insulation sleeve 221, and the other end of the corrugated sealing element 222 is arranged in a built-in circular groove of the connecting section 223. The connecting section 223 is arranged on a rear side of the housing 11 of the cryostat 10.

[0048] With reference to Fig. 4. Freezing section 15 is configured to provide a freezing platform for the sample to be sectioned. A copper tube 32 is arranged below the freezing platform, and the freezing platform is connected to the cooling system 30 via the copper tube 32, so that the samples to be sectioned can be cooled more quickly and evenly on the freezing platform. In particular, the operator can embed a tissue preparation to be sectioned.

[0049] With reference to Fig. The cooling system 30 comprises a variable-speed compressor 31 and a condenser 33. The variable-speed compressor 31 is located below the feed body 21 and provides a cooling source for the evaporator 14 in the cryostat 10. The variable-speed compressor 31 includes a copper pipe 32 configured to direct the cooling source provided by the variable-speed compressor 31 to the evaporator 14, the cooling plate 1313, and the freezing section 15. The cooling source supply to the evaporator 14 serves to cool the housing 11 of the cryostat 10. The cooling source supply to the cooling plate 1313 serves to provide cooling energy to the tissue preparation on the clamping component 131. The cooling source supply to the freezing section 15 serves to cool the sample to be sectioned on the freezing platform more quickly and evenly.The condenser 33 is configured to convert a high-temperature, high-pressure cold source generated by the variable-speed compressor 31 into a low-temperature, high-pressure cold source.

[0050] With reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 The cutting device 20 further comprises a drive component. The drive component is connected to the feed body 21 and configured to move the feed body 21. In one embodiment, the drive component is a rotary handwheel 126, which is connected to the feed mechanism and arranged on an outer surface of the housing 11 of the cryostat 10.

[0051] In the cryostat microtome, when the operator faces the cryostat 10 from an operating position, the freezing section 15 is located on the left side of the cutting device 20 and the rotary handwheel 126 is located on the right side of the cutting device 20. Such a configuration allows the operator to operate more comfortably and offers a better spatial arrangement.

[0052] With reference to Fig. 1 to Fig.3. The blade holder 12 is further provided with interchangeable functional accessories, and the specific functional accessories can be an anti-roll plate 125 and a wrist rest, which can be detachably arranged on a left side of the blade holder 12. In a specific embodiment, a threaded hole (or a groove or pin structure) is provided on a left side of the blade rest 1222, and the anti-roll plate 125 and the wrist rest are fastened to the blade rest 1222 by screws.

[0053] Based on the above, the variable-speed compressor 31 of this disclosure can adjust its operating frequency to avoid resonance with the vibration frequencies of the feed body 21 and the blade holder 12, thereby reducing the vibration of the entire cryostat microtome and improving the cutting quality. The variable-speed compressor 31 exhibits low transient vibration, with gentle vibration during start-up and stop-down, thus reducing its influence on the cutting process. The cryostat microtome of this disclosure has a practical spatial arrangement and is easy to operate.

[0054] The above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure. Any equivalent structural modification based on the content of the description and drawings of the present disclosure, or the direct or indirect application of the present disclosure to other related technical fields, without departing from the inventive concept of the present disclosure, is all included within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

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