Characterisation of Mechanical Behaviour of an Oscillating Diamond Knife and Cut Surface Quality for Serial Block-face Scanning Electron Microscopy

ConnectomX设计和制造了一种用于连续块面扫描电子显微镜(SBF-SEM)的微型超微切片机“katana microtome”。安装在扫描电子显微镜(SEM)内的超微切割机使用钻石刀从生物样本中切割超薄的层。然后，扫描电子显微镜对新暴露的表面进行成像，从而创建高分辨率的3D生物结构，这对于了解细胞功能和推进疾病治疗至关重要。钻石刀在切割过程中并排摆动。这一特点减少了切削力，有助于切割机在几十纳米处实现一致的干净切割。然而，振动刀的确切机械行为，包括平面内振荡和潜在的离面组件，仍然不确定。对每次切割后钻石刀运动和样品表面拓扑的全面表征将帮助我们确认产品规格和性能，确保为3D数据集获取最佳图像。这些信息对于优化钻石刀架设计以实现更薄的切割至关重要。了解和解决这一问题将提供比其他SBF-SEM解决方案更具竞争力的优势，提升我们的声誉，并扩大我们的产品能力。

ConnectomX designs and manufactures the 'katana microtome,' a miniaturised ultramicrotome device used for Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy (SBF-SEM). Installed inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM), the ultramicrotome uses a diamond knife to cut ultra-thin layers from biological samples. The SEM then images the newly exposed surface, allowing for the creation of high-resolution 3D biological structures, vital for understanding cellular functions and advancing disease treatments.The diamond knife oscillates side-by-side during cutting. This feature reduces cutting force and helps to microtome to achieve a consistent clean cuts at tens of nanometres. However, the exact mechanical behaviour of the oscillating knife, including in-plane oscillation and potential out-of-plane components remains uncertain.A comprehensive characterisation of the diamond knife movement and sample surface topology after each cut will help us confirm product specifications and performance, ensuring optimal image acquisition for 3D datasets. This information is crucial for optimising the diamond knife holder design to achieve even thinner cuts. Understanding and addressing this issue will provide a competitive edge over alternative SBF-SEM solutions, bolster our reputation, and expand our product's capabilities.