Abe Z Gordon

US Patent:

55333427, Jul 9, 1996

Filed:

Feb 8, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/386814

Inventors:

Abe Gordon - Teaneck NJ

International Classification:

F25B 1900
F25C 502
G01N 106
B26D 708

US Classification:

62 511

Abstract:

The present invention provides a system and method for freezing and cutting a tissue specimen for medical diagnostic purposes which comprises a specimen block holder for holding the tissue specimen; an embedding medium; a freezing plane for providing direct metal contact freezing of the specimen; a knife blade comprising a cutting edge which is substantially parallel to and may be displaced a preset distance from the freezing plane; a block holder for holding the specimen; and driving means for transporting the block holder towards the freezing plane for creating a flat frozen surface of the specimen having a thickness t and also for transporting the frozen specimen past the knife edge to provide a section having a desired thickness. The planar relationship and known distance between the freezing plane and the cutting edge together will be used as the basis for calculating frozen thickness t of the specimen. This allows for precise and automated movement of the block holder for trimming.