Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering >

2022 , Vol. 35 >Issue 3: 42 - 42

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s10033-022-00722-3

Special Issue on Processing of Biological Tissue

Ultrasonically Assisted Cutting of Histological Sections for Reducing the Environmental and Financial Impact of Microtomy

  • Dong Wang ,
  • Daniel De Becker ,
  • Anish Roy
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  • 1. Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK;
    2. Department of Engineering, College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QF, UK

Received date: 2021-09-11

  Revised date: 2022-03-14

  Online published: 2022-10-24

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Abstract

Modern-day microtomy requires high precision equipment to thinly section biological tissues. The sectioned tissue must be of good quality not showing cutting tracks or so-called artefacts. The quality of these sections is dependent on the blade wear, which is related to the hardness of the tissue sample, cutting angle and cutting speed. A test rig has been designed and manufactured to allow these parameters to be controlled. This has allowed for the blade wear to be analysed and quantified, and this has been completed for both ultrasonically assisted and conventional cutting. The obtained results showed a 25.2% decrease in average blade roughness after 38 cuts when using the ultrasonically assisted cutting regime. The data also showed no adverse effect on the quality of the slides produced when using this cutting methodology. Finally, the cutting force measured for both cutting regimes showed that ultrasonically assisted cutting required less force compared to conventional cutting. With the reduction of surface roughness and force, it is possible to state that ultrasonically assisted cutting reduces the wear of the blade, thereby increasing the life of the blades. An increase of just 10% in blade life would yield a cost saving of approximately 25% thereby reducing the environmental and financial impact of microtomy.

Key words： Microtome; Ultrasonically assisted cutting; Blade wear

Cite this article

Dong Wang , Daniel De Becker , Anish Roy . Ultrasonically Assisted Cutting of Histological Sections for Reducing the Environmental and Financial Impact of Microtomy[J]. Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2022 , 35(3) : 42 -42 . DOI: 10.1186/s10033-022-00722-3

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