DiATOME ultra sonic oscillating diamond knife.

The Diatome ultra sonic is an oscillating diamond knife for room temperature ultramicrotomy. It was developed in collaboration with Dr Daniel Studer, Lab. of Anatomy, University of Berne.

A piezo actuator produces an oscillation of the knife at a desired frequency and amplitude, parallel with the cutting edge. A depression in the foot of the knife allows the oscillation parallel to the cutting edge. The depression is rigid in the north/south direction and guarantees stability in the cutting direction.

The new knife produces ultrathin sections almost free of compression. The sections become thinner at the same thickness setting: since the volume of the section remains the same, the increased length leads to a decrease in thickness.

Diatome have tested the oscillating knife with the following:

• Biological samples in Epon, Araldite, EM Bed, etc.
• Biological samples in acrylic resins (Lowicryls, LR White).
• Rigid polymers such as PS, PMMA, ABS, HIPS, modified PP, etc.

ABS, stained with OsO4, sectioned at room temperature with the ultra sonic knife, section thickness 50nm. Note the almost perfect spherical shape of the large rubber particles and the preservation of the inclusions inside. Also the smaller dense rubber particles are well preserved. B.Vastenhout, Dow Benelux N.V. Terneuzen, The Netherlands.

Specifications