[Histonet] tissue slicer

Discussion:

Katy Whalley

2004-04-17 12:34:56 UTC

Hi,

We are looking for a device which can be used to cut tissue quickly into
slices of an even thickness. We're not sure yet exactly how thick these
will be but something in the range 30-300 microns is likely. My supervisor
has in mind something in which several blades are attached to a holder
that keeps them the correct distance apart, so that all the slices are cut
at once. Has anyone ever used/ seen this kind of thing, or anything else
which would do the job?

thanks,
Katy, UCL

Alan Bright

2004-04-19 11:04:00 UTC

Permalink

Dear Katy,

Our Cryostat Model OTF5000 will section at the range of thicknesses you
specify, but only one section after another, I have not seen a device
that can section the whole specimen at the desired thickness in one cut,
also I cannot see how it would be possible to section by this method
accurately.

Please let me have your contact details to enable me to explain how I
can assist you.

Best Regards

Alan Bright

Bright Instrument Co.Ltd.
St Margaret's Way
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire
PE29 6EU
England

Tel No:+44 (0)1480 454528
Fax No:+44 (0)1480 456031
Email: ***@brightinstruments.com
Web Site: www.brightinstruments.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Katy Whalley [mailto:***@ich.ucl.ac.uk]
Sent: 17 April 2004 13:35
To: ***@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] tissue slicer

Hi,

We are looking for a device which can be used to cut tissue quickly into
slices of an even thickness. We're not sure yet exactly how thick these
will be but something in the range 30-300 microns is likely. My
supervisor has in mind something in which several blades are attached to
a holder that keeps them the correct distance apart, so that all the
slices are cut at once. Has anyone ever used/ seen this kind of thing,
or anything else which would do the job?

thanks,
Katy, UCL

Kathleen Roberts

2004-04-19 13:57:19 UTC

Permalink

Hmmm, sounds like a really tiny egg slicer. :o)

The only thing that I could think of-and it doesn't match your required
thickness-was this:
http://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/products/preparation/slice.aspx#69010

This will help you make accurate freehand sections of 1mm thick, but
again you can't make all the slices at once.

Good luck-
Kathleen Roberts
Principal Lab Technician
Neurotoxicology Labs
Rutgers University

Post by Katy Whalley
Hi,
We are looking for a device which can be used to cut tissue quickly into
slices of an even thickness. We're not sure yet exactly how thick these
will be but something in the range 30-300 microns is likely. My supervisor
has in mind something in which several blades are attached to a holder
that keeps them the correct distance apart, so that all the slices are cut
at once. Has anyone ever used/ seen this kind of thing, or anything else
which would do the job?
thanks,
Katy, UCL
_______________________________________________
Histonet mailing list
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet

Geoff McAuliffe

2004-04-19 18:08:26 UTC

Permalink

Hi Katy:

You could buy a Vibratome, a device with a vibrating blade that will
cut fixed or unfixed tissue at a thickness you select. I think there are
several models and vendors.
Or, you could make an inexpensive device for little more than pocket
change. Buy some high-quality double-edge razor blades and some material
to use for spacing the blades. For 1 mm or more use square aluminum rod,
for 0.5 mm or less use "shim stock". A well-stocked hardware store or
maching shop will have these items. Use "super-glue" to glue up a
"blade-spacer-blade-spacer-blade ..." tool with as many blades as your
project demands. One 'application' of the tool to the sample will give
you uniform and reproducable slices. Be sure to cut off or mask the
edge of the blade not in use so you won't cut yourself.

Geoff

--
--
**********************************************
Geoff McAuliffe, Ph.D.
Neuroscience and Cell Biology
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854
voice: (732)-235-4583; fax: -4029
***@umdnj.edu
**********************************************

Marshall Terry Dr, Consultant Histopathologist

2004-04-19 15:18:33 UTC

Permalink

Always wondered what a vibratome was.
I've got a wifatome.

Dr Terry L Marshall, B.A.(Law), M.B.,Ch.B.,F.R.C.Path
Consultant Pathologist
Rotherham General Hospital
South Yorkshire
England
***@rothgen.nhs.uk

-----Original Message-----
From: Geoff McAuliffe [mailto:***@umdnj.edu]
Sent: 19 April 2004 19:08
To: ***@ich.ucl.ac.uk
Cc: ***@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] tissue slicer

Hi Katy:

You could buy a Vibratome, a device with a vibrating blade that will
cut fixed or unfixed tissue at a thickness you select. I think there are
several models and vendors.
Or, you could make an inexpensive device for little more than pocket
change. Buy some high-quality double-edge razor blades and some material
to use for spacing the blades. For 1 mm or more use square aluminum rod,
for 0.5 mm or less use "shim stock". A well-stocked hardware store or
maching shop will have these items. Use "super-glue" to glue up a
"blade-spacer-blade-spacer-blade ..." tool with as many blades as your
project demands. One 'application' of the tool to the sample will give
you uniform and reproducable slices. Be sure to cut off or mask the
edge of the blade not in use so you won't cut yourself.

Geoff

Philip Oshel

2004-04-19 17:09:49 UTC

Permalink

Bad vibes, man.

But, Geoff, your device would work, but as you note, not for less
than 1000 micron slices, definitely not 30 - 300 micron, and there'd
be more tissue damage from compression. A vibratome is pretty much
the only choice, there is no "all slices at once" instrument that
I've seen.

Phil

Post by Marshall Terry Dr, Consultant Histopathologist
Always wondered what a vibratome was.
I've got a wifatome.
Dr Terry L Marshall, B.A.(Law), M.B.,Ch.B.,F.R.C.Path
Consultant Pathologist
Rotherham General Hospital
South Yorkshire
England
-----Original Message-----
Sent: 19 April 2004 19:08
Subject: Re: [Histonet] tissue slicer
You could buy a Vibratome, a device with a vibrating blade that will
cut fixed or unfixed tissue at a thickness you select. I think there are
several models and vendors.
Or, you could make an inexpensive device for little more than pocket
change. Buy some high-quality double-edge razor blades and some material
to use for spacing the blades. For 1 mm or more use square aluminum rod,
for 0.5 mm or less use "shim stock". A well-stocked hardware store or
maching shop will have these items. Use "super-glue" to glue up a
"blade-spacer-blade-spacer-blade ..." tool with as many blades as your
project demands. One 'application' of the tool to the sample will give
you uniform and reproducable slices. Be sure to cut off or mask the
edge of the blade not in use so you won't cut yourself.
Geoff

Katy Whalley

2004-04-20 08:29:17 UTC

Permalink

Hi,

Thanks to everyone for your advice and suggestions. It seems I might have
to re-think the thickness of the slices required - in retrospect, I was
probably aiming too low anyway. Basically, the reason we want to cut them
quickly is in order to culture the slices later, so I'm not sure a
vibratome or cryostat would be appropriate as I think the tissue would
have to be embedded/ frozen first. Overall the 'egg-slicer' or matrix type
of device seem like they may be the best option, but I may try to make my
own, as described by Geoff, to cut costs a bit.

Katy

Bad vibes, man.

Post by Philip Oshel
But, Geoff, your device would work, but as you note, not for less
than 1000 micron slices, definitely not 30 - 300 micron, and there'd
be more tissue damage from compression. A vibratome is pretty much
the only choice, there is no "all slices at once" instrument that
I've seen.
Phil

--
Philip Oshel
Supervisor, BBPIC microscopy facility
Department of Animal Sciences
University of Wisconsin
1675 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706 - 1284
voice: (608) 263-4162
fax: (608) 262-5157 (dept. fax)
_______________________________________________
Histonet mailing list
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet

Geoff McAuliffe

2004-04-20 17:04:54 UTC

Permalink

Almost forgot ...........

There is a device called a "Stadie-Riggs tissue slicer" that will slice
fresh tissue fairly thin, a few hundred microns. Thomas Scientific sells
them, I don't know if anyone else does. A few hundred dollars in US
currency, I think.

Geoff

Post by Katy Whalley
Hi,
Thanks to everyone for your advice and suggestions. It seems I might have
to re-think the thickness of the slices required - in retrospect, I was
probably aiming too low anyway. Basically, the reason we want to cut them
quickly is in order to culture the slices later, so I'm not sure a
vibratome or cryostat would be appropriate as I think the tissue would
have to be embedded/ frozen first. Overall the 'egg-slicer' or matrix type
of device seem like they may be the best option, but I may try to make my
own, as described by Geoff, to cut costs a bit.
Katy
Bad vibes, man.

_______________________________________________
Histonet mailing list
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet

Steven E. Slap

2004-04-20 14:33:30 UTC

Permalink

Hi HistoNetters

Another option would be the McIlwain tissue
chopper (yes, I'm showing my age), still
available at
http://www.campden-inst.com/chopper.html. It is
limited in tissue thicknesses to thicker slices
than a Vibratome®, but is still much better than
my lovely Lisatome can do.

Steven

Post by Philip Oshel
Bad vibes, man.
But, Geoff, your device would work, but as you
note, not for less than 1000 micron slices,
definitely not 30 - 300 micron, and there'd be
more tissue damage from compression. A vibratome
is pretty much the only choice, there is no "all
slices at once" instrument that I've seen.
Phil

Bartlett, Jeanine

2004-04-19 15:27:32 UTC

Permalink

That is so bad! :)

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-***@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-***@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Marshall
Terry Dr,Consultant Histopathologist
Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 11:19 AM
To: Geoff McAuliffe; ***@ich.ucl.ac.uk
Cc: ***@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] tissue slicer

Always wondered what a vibratome was.
I've got a wifatome.

Dr Terry L Marshall, B.A.(Law), M.B.,Ch.B.,F.R.C.Path Consultant
Pathologist Rotherham General Hospital South Yorkshire England
***@rothgen.nhs.uk

-----Original Message-----
From: Geoff McAuliffe [mailto:***@umdnj.edu]
Sent: 19 April 2004 19:08
To: ***@ich.ucl.ac.uk
Cc: ***@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] tissue slicer

Hi Katy:

You could buy a Vibratome, a device with a vibrating blade that will

cut fixed or unfixed tissue at a thickness you select. I think there are

several models and vendors.
Or, you could make an inexpensive device for little more than pocket

change. Buy some high-quality double-edge razor blades and some material

to use for spacing the blades. For 1 mm or more use square aluminum rod,

for 0.5 mm or less use "shim stock". A well-stocked hardware store or
maching shop will have these items. Use "super-glue" to glue up a
"blade-spacer-blade-spacer-blade ..." tool with as many blades as your
project demands. One 'application' of the tool to the sample will give
you uniform and reproducable slices. Be sure to cut off or mask the
edge of the blade not in use so you won't cut yourself.

Geoff

Post by Katy Whalley
Hi,
We are looking for a device which can be used to cut tissue quickly
into slices of an even thickness. We're not sure yet exactly how thick
these will be but something in the range 30-300 microns is likely. My
supervisor has in mind something in which several blades are attached
to a holder that keeps them the correct distance apart, so that all the
slices are cut at once. Has anyone ever used/ seen this kind of thing,
or anything else which would do the job?
thanks,
Katy, UCL
_______________________________________________
Histonet mailing list
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet

Mike King

2004-04-20 13:38:08 UTC

Permalink

re: Katy Whalley wrote:
...We are looking for a device which can be used to cut tissue quickly
into slices of an even thickness. We're not sure yet exactly how thick
these will be but something in the range 30-300 microns is likely.

Katy, see http://www.sd-instruments.com/MX-TS.HTM for a slicer that is
advertised as being able to cut sections as thin as 200 um from fresh
(live) tissue chunks. it isn't cheap, but it might do what you need.

Charles Scouten

2004-04-24 15:30:52 UTC

Permalink

I have been away at Experimental Biology. Is it too late to get in on this one?

I want to correct a missimpresion. The Vibratome(TM) requires no embedding, is routinely used with living tissue to create sections for brain slice recording. Most brain slice people regard the Vibratome as necessary for gentlest handling of the tissue. Simple block the tissue with a razor blade, then use instant cyanoacrylate glue to hold the tissue in place on the pedestal. Cut any thickness you want down to as low as 30 microns.

The egg slicer will crush the tissue, unless it is quite firm like a boiled egg, for the same reason you can walk on a bed of nails if there are lots of them, the weight is distributed to avoid penetration.

Cordially,
Charles W. Scouten, Ph.D.
myNeuroLab.com
5918 Evergreen Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63134
Ph: 314 522 0300
FAX 314 522 0377
***@myneurolab.com
http://www.myneurolab.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Alan Bright [mailto:***@brightinstruments.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2004 10:33 AM
To: Doug Martin; Charles Scouten; Jim G. Unnerstall
Subject: FW: [Histonet] tissue slicer

And this
Best regards

Alan Bright

Bright Instrument Co. Ltd
England

-----Original Message-----
From: Geoff McAuliffe [mailto:***@umdnj.edu]
Sent: 20 April 2004 18:05
To: ***@ich.ucl.ac.uk
Cc: ***@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] tissue slicer

Almost forgot ...........

There is a device called a "Stadie-Riggs tissue slicer" that will slice
fresh tissue fairly thin, a few hundred microns. Thomas Scientific sells

them, I don't know if anyone else does. A few hundred dollars in US
currency, I think.

Geoff

Post by Katy Whalley
Hi,
Thanks to everyone for your advice and suggestions. It seems I might
have to re-think the thickness of the slices required - in retrospect,
I was probably aiming too low anyway. Basically, the reason we want to
cut them quickly is in order to culture the slices later, so I'm not
sure a vibratome or cryostat would be appropriate as I think the tissue
would have to be embedded/ frozen first. Overall the 'egg-slicer' or
matrix type of device seem like they may be the best option, but I may
try to make my own, as described by Geoff, to cut costs a bit.
Katy
Bad vibes, man.

But, Geoff, your device would work, but as you note, not for less than
1000 micron slices, definitely not 30 - 300 micron, and there'd be
more tissue damage from compression. A vibratome is pretty much the
only choice, there is no "all slices at once" instrument that I've
seen.
Phil

Post by Marshall Terry Dr, Consultant Histopathologist
Always wondered what a vibratome was.
I've got a wifatome.
Dr Terry L Marshall, B.A.(Law), M.B.,Ch.B.,F.R.C.Path Consultant
Pathologist Rotherham General Hospital
South Yorkshire
England
-----Original Message-----
Sent: 19 April 2004 19:08
Subject: Re: [Histonet] tissue slicer
You could buy a Vibratome, a device with a vibrating blade that
will cut fixed or unfixed tissue at a thickness you select. I think
there are several models and vendors.
Or, you could make an inexpensive device for little more than
pocket change. Buy some high-quality double-edge razor blades and
some material to use for spacing the blades. For 1 mm or more use
square aluminum rod, for 0.5 mm or less use "shim stock". A
well-stocked hardware store or maching shop will have these items.
Use "super-glue" to glue up a "blade-spacer-blade-spacer-blade ..."
tool with as many blades as your project demands. One 'application'
of the tool to the sample will give you uniform and reproducable
slices. Be sure to cut off or mask the edge of the blade not in use
so you won't cut yourself.
Geoff

Post by Katy Whalley
Hi,
We are looking for a device which can be used to cut tissue quickly
into slices of an even thickness. We're not sure yet exactly how
thick these will be but something in the range 30-300 microns is
likely. My supervisor has in mind something in which several blades
are attached to a holder that keeps them the correct distance apart,
so that all the slices are cut
at once. Has anyone ever used/ seen this kind of thing, or anything

else

Post by Katy Whalley

Post by Marshall Terry Dr, Consultant Histopathologist

Post by Katy Whalley
which would do the job?
thanks,
Katy, UCL

_______________________________________________
Histonet mailing list
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet