Leica VT1200 S Vibrating Blade Microtome

Leica Updated: 2009-02-07 RSS
Leica VT1200 S Vibrating Blade Microtome

The Leica VT1200 S is a fully automated vibrating blade microtome for sectioning fixed or unfixed specimens from Neuropathology, Neurophysiology (Patch-clamping) Botany (roots and plants) and Industry (foams).

This robust instrument features a new blade holder design that minimizes vertical deflection of the cutting tool to achieve sections of the highest quality that retain viable cells on the section surface/s.

The vertical deflection can be measured by using the optional measurement device Vibrocheck and minimized by using an adjustment screw on the blade holder below 1µm.

This fully automated instrument is recommended for multi user laboratories where users who prefer semi- automated vibrating blade microtomes, and users who prefer fully automated instruments can work together. The mode of operation can be individually selected and up to 8 individual parameter settings can be stored.

The instruments were designed in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Peter Jonas and his group, Physiology Department Freiburg Germany.

Key Features

* Vertical deflection of cutting tool can be measured with an optional measurement device "Vibrocheck" and minimized below 1µm.
* Blade holder that can be rotated through 90° to permit safe insertion of a whole, unbroken razor blade.
* Optimized blade holder designed for minimum buffer spillage.
* Instrument can be used in both semi- or fully-automated sectioning modes depending on the user's requirements.
* Automatic specimen feeding and retraction
* Memory for 8 individual parameter settings
* Motorized lateral blade holder with vibration (amplitude) adjustable between 0 - 3 mm in 0.05 mm steps.
* Fixed frequency (85 Hz +/- 5 Hz).
* Motorized blade holder sectioning speed adjustable between 0.01 to 1.5 mm/sec.
* Selection of buffer trays – metal, plastics (autoclavable) and double walled

The fully automated Leica VT1200 S vibrating blade microtome is designed to meet highest sectioning demands for cutting fresh and fixed tissue in Neuroscience, Botany or Industry.

Fresh nervous tissues, brain, spinal cord etc., are soft, fragile and extremely susceptible to mechanical damage.

Instrument stability and the minimization of vertical deflection during sectioning reduces negative mechanical effects on these tissues to a minimum, resulting in sections of the highest quality retaining viable cells on the section surface/s.

The vertical deflection can be measured by using the optional measurement device "Vibrocheck". The adjustment screw on the blade holder allows adjustment of the vertical deflection to below 1µm. Both, vertical deflection (in µm) and turn direction of the adjustment screw are displayed on the separate foil protected control panel.

The newly designed blade holder can be rotated through 90° to permit safe and accurate insertion of a whole double edged razor, sapphire or injector blade. The clearance angle is adjustable between 15°, 18° and 21°. The blade holder is optimized to reduce buffer spillage during sectioning.

The removable ice bath and buffer tray allow working under physiological conditions and away from the instrument (e.g. under a microscope). Tissues are mounted directly onto a specimen holder, using cyanoacrylate adhesive, and mounted into a buffer tray which is filled with physiological buffer and kept cold by either crushed ice or - by using a double walled buffer tray - an external circulation cooling device. The specimen holder can be rotated through 360° and is kept firmly attached in the buffer tray by magnets.

The maximum vertical specimen feed is 20 mm and the horizontal stroke 45 mm. The motorized blade holder travel speed is adjustable between 0.01 and 1.5 mm /s, allowing soft tissues to be sectioned very slowly. The return travel speed is accelerated to 2.5 mm/s. The amplitude of the blade is adjustable between 0 and 3 mm in 0.05 mm steps. The frequency is fixed to 85Hz +/- 5Hz.

The fully automated instrument is recommended for multi user laboratories where users who prefer semi-automated vibrating blade microtomes, and users who prefer fully automated instruments can work together.

The semiautomated mode is designed for the users who wish to manually select the desired section thickness prior to each section.

The fully automated mode is recommended for users who prefer automatic feeding, specimen retraction and use of a cutting window to minimize sectioning time.

Up to 8 individual parameters such as mode of operation (semiautomated or fully automated), speed, amplitude, section thickness, specimen retraction, light intensity, travel speed in manual mode (between 1 – 5 mm/s) and blade vibration on or off during the manual forward movement can be stored in the memory.

A section thickness totalizer can be re-set to zero at any position to facilitate target preparations in certain depths of the tissue.

The separate foil protected control panel can be placed on either side of the instrument depending on the personal preference of the user. Palm rests on the ice bath or double walled buffer tray allow working in a relaxed, ergonomic position. The built in LED illumination with adjustable light intensity in 5 steps and optional magnifier (2 x) or microscope facilitate the section preparation.