Sectioning Blade for Use with Vibrating Microtomes - Sapphire Knife/Blade

Produce Thinner Sections

The sapphire microtomy knife, specially designed for the Vibratome^®, makes it possible to cut thin Vibratome sections with microscopic resolution similar to that obtained with thick plastic sections (1 micron). It is made of synthetic single crystal sapphire and allows serial sectioning with a Vibratome^® 1000 of a thickness in the 6–10 micron range. A good technique can reveal subcellular structures never seen before in Vibratome^® sections and the greatest surface smoothness. This makes the vibrating microtome a suitable alternative to the cryostat for making thin sections of fresh or lightly fixed tissue for fluorescent labeling, autoradiography, immunohistochemistry, etc.

Durable Knife

Although sapphire is not as hard as diamond or tungsten carbide, it is hundreds of times harder than steel razor blades. This makes it highly durable and makes for sharper edges resulting in better section quality, particularly in electrophysiology applications. A cleaner cut ensures that cells remain intact and active, making it easier to explore the live and responsive inside of the cells. With proper care, they can be used for making thousands of sections.

Specifications

Material: synthetic single crystal sapphire

Edge length: 1.5" (40 mm)

Blade height: 0.5" (12 mm)

Blade thickness: 0.035" (0.9 mm)