US Patent 9933339 Miniature serial sectioning microtome for block-face imaging

The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of microtome devices and methods of their use. In some embodiments, a microtome can be mounted on the built-in stage of a scanning electron microscope and used to perform serial block-face scanning electron microscopy. In some cases, a microtome installed in a scanning electron microscope can cut the sample at a location off the electron beam axis of the scanning electron microscope. In some cases, a microtome can include a capacitive sensor which can measure the location of a blade of the microtome, and the microtome can be computer-controlled by program implemented in MATLAB.