The world's first laser microtome exhibited at Analytica
show in Munich in a launch that heralds the use of superior laser
technology in the preparation and dissection of laboratory
materials.
Traditional techniques such as blades suffer from the problems that normally occur when physical contact is required to prepare samples. Contamination and damage to cell structure can seriously undermine the laboratory experiments carried out.
Rowiak's LMT F14 is a multi-purpose sectioning instrument, equipped with a femtosecond laser technology. It enables non-contact cutting inside biological tissues and various materials without causing thermal damage.
A cost- and time-saving benefit of the laser microtome is the ability to slice almost every tissue in its native state. Thus extensive and time-consuming sample preparation techniques are not required.
Further advantages are a significant reduction of artefacts and contamination free specimens resulting from the non-contact cutting method.
Depending on the material being processed, slice thicknesses of 5 to 100 µm are feasible.
The laser microtome is suited for applications in life science as well as in microtechnology. In particular it is an optimal solution for sectioning living tissue or tissue which is sensitive to chemical fixation.
The LMT F14 works by employing a femtosecond laser that emits radiation in the near-infrared range.
The sheer intensity of the laser coupled with a shockwave causes the disruption of the material resulting in a phenomenon known as an optical breakdown or photodisruption.
The optical breakdown is not necessarily limited to the surface of the specimen as the effect is based on nonlinear absorption.
Cutting can be achieved even inside the tissue or other material by focussing the laser beam into deeper regions. In conjunction with a fast scanning unit an effective and non-contact sectioning method is available.
In contrast to conventional, mechanically working microtomes the LMT F14 does not require a time-consuming tissue preparation such as freeze, dehydration, embedding in resin or paraffin or related to hard tissue decalcification.
In the first microtome, that has the ability to slice every tissue in native state.
Thus, the processing of a sample is possible within a short time. Further advantages are the significant reduction of artefacts and contamination-free specimens as a positive consequence of the non-contact cutting method.
For further details of the LMT F14 and other Rowiak products, visit the >company's website.
