The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 21, 2008
Filed:
Dec. 10, 2004
Raymond T. Gilchrist, Tucson, AZ (US);
Leonard J. Ness, Tucson, AZ (US);
Raymond T. Gilchrist, Tucson, AZ (US);
Leonard J. Ness, Tucson, AZ (US);
Boeckeler Instruments Inc., Tucson, AZ (US);
Abstract
A specimen slicing mechanism such as a microtome or an ultramicrotome in which a specimen is held by a specimen arm and is moved through a knife. The specimen arm is made of two segments which are secured to each other via a lockable hinge assembly. The lockable hinge assembly uses a hinge between the two segments as well as a locking mechanism. When locked, the two segments are in a fixed relationship which causes the specimen to be forced through the knife by the action of the motor. When the locking mechanism is unlocked, the segment of the specimen arm holding the specimen is able to rotate ('float') around the hinge; thus allowing the specimen to be sliced by the knife as gravity pulls the segment downward.