In this study, the durability of microtome blades, used for sectioning paraffin blocks, was evaluated with the goal of improving the quality of sections in pathology tests. First, for the durability test of microtome blades, a sectioning test device that realizes stable sectioning operations was developed. This device comprised precise stages supported by cross-roller guides, achieving sufficient rigidness. This device allowed automated repetitive sectioning and simultaneously measured the principal and thrust cutting forces. Samples embedding porcine kidney and rib tissues were used for the durability test. Two types of blades with different blade edge angles were used. Additionally, the rake face and cross-section of blades, as well as H&E-stained sections, were observed. In the durability test with porcine kidney tissue, good quality sections were obtained even after 100 times of sectioning with both microtome blades, showing sufficient durability. However, in sectioning porcine rib tissue, the microtome blade with a large blade edge angle produced good-quality sections in the initial phase of the durability test; however, defects such as overlapping of folds were observed after 100 times of sectioning. Meanwhile, the microtome blade with a small blade edge angle experienced blade damage from the early phase of the durability test, resulting in the production of unsuitable preparations for pathology tests. These results indicated that the microtome blade with a small blade edge angle lacked durability against hard tissues such as porcine ribs.

1. [1] S. J. Nass, M. B. Cohen, R. Nayar, M. M. Zutter, E. P. Balogh, R. L. Schilsky, H. Hricak, and K. S. J. Elenitoba-Johnson, “Improving Cancer Diagnosis and Care: Patient Access to High-Quality Oncologic Pathology,” The Oncologist, Vol.24, No.10, pp. 1287-1290, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.2019-0261
2. [2] K. Katanoda, M. Hori, E. Saito, A. Shibata, Y. Ito, T. Minami, S. Ikeda, T. Suzuki, and T. Matsuda, “Updated Trends in Cancer in Japan: Incidence in 1985–2015 and Mortality in 1958–2018 – A Sign of Decrease in Cancer Incidence,” J. of Epidemiology, Vol.31, No.7, pp. 426-450, 2021. https://doi.org/10.2188/jea.JE20200416
3. [3] K. Fujimoto, “Fully Automated Continuous Sectioning Instrument Corresponding to Increasing Number of Cancer Patients Tissue-Tek® SmartSection,” J. of the Robotics Society of Japan, Vol.33, No.5, pp. 344-347, 2015 (in Japanese). https://doi.org/10.7210/jrsj.33.344
4. [4] W. K. Funkhouser, “Pathology: The Clinical Description of Human Disease,” Molecular Pathology, pp. 197-207, 2009.
5. [5] T. S. Gurina and L. Simms, “Histrogy, Staining (Updated 2023 May 1),” StatPearls [Internet], StatPearls Publishing, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557663/ [Accessed September 26, 2023]
6. [6] P. K. Jali, M. Donoghue, and M. Gadiwan, “A rapid manual processing technique for resource-limited small laboratories,” J. of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 306-314, 2015. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-029X.174616
7. [7] Leica Biosystems. https://www.leicabiosystems.com/en-jp/knowledge-pathway/an-introduction-to-specimen-processing/ [Accessed September 26, 2023]
8. [8] M. Kokubo, T. Higuchi, K.-I. Kudoh, Y. Fukuda, A. Ohtomo, and H. Ishida, “Development of the Automatic Thin Sectioning System for Light Microscopy,” Japanese J. of Medical Electronics and Biological Engineering, Vol.38, No.2, pp. 118-126, 2000 (in Japanese).
9. [9] M. Kokubo, T. Higuchi, K. Kudoh, Y. Fukuda, A. Ohtomo, H. Nanto, and H. Ishida, “Development of the Automatic Thin Sectioning Microtome System for Light Microscopy – The Machine to Mount Sections on the Object Glass Automatically by Using Static Electricity –,” J. of the Japan Society of Precision Engineering, Vol.68, No.12, pp. 1605-1610, 2002 (in Japanese). https://doi.org/10.2493/jjspe.68.1605
10. [10] M. Kokubo, T. Higuchi, H. Ishida, and A. Ohtomo, “Development of Automatic Thin Sectioning Microtome System for Light Microscopy (2nd Report) – The Machine for Automatically Mounting Sections on the Object Glass by Using Static Electricity and Pulling Angle Control System –,” J. of the Japan Society of Precision Engineering, Vol.69, No.10, pp. 1406-1411, 2003 (in Japanese). https://doi.org/10.2493/jjspe.69.1406
11. [11] C. Fukumitsu, H. Abe, E. Sadashima, Y. Takase, Y. Shinoda, A. Kawahara, Y. Naito, and J. Akiba, “Evaluation of a fully automated tissue-sectioning machine for surgical pathology specimens: Automation in pathology laboratory,” The Japanese J. of Medical Technology, Vol.70, No.3, pp. 475-481, 2021 (in Japanese). https://doi.org/10.14932/jamt.20-123
12. [12] M. Yoshida, K. Kuraoka, A. Kan, N. Yasumura, J. Sakane, T. Nishimura, D. Taniyama, J. Zaitsu, A. Saitou, H. Nakano, T. Onoe, and K. Taniyama, “Improved Procedures for an Auto Slide Preparation System,” Japanese Society of National Medical Services, Vol.71, No.6, pp. 256-263, 2017 (in Japanese).
13. [13] M. L. Onozato, S. Hammond, M. Merren, and Y. Yagi, “Evaluation of a completely automated tissue-sectioning machine for paraffin blocks,” J. of Clinical Pathology, Vol.66, No.2, pp. 151-154, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1136/jclinpath-2011-200205
14. [14] T. Nishizawa, K. Tanaka, S. Tatsumi, H. Koseki, K. Matsuo, Y. Fukui, and C. Ohbayashi, “Overcoming artifacts in pathological specimens (First report): Study of the mechanism and elimination of chattering,” Japanese J. of Medical Technology, Vol.64, No.3, pp. 281-287, 2015 (in Japanese). https://doi.org/10.14932/jamt.14-45
15. [15] T. Nishizawa, K. Tanaka, S. Tatsumi, H. Koseki, K. Matsuo, Y. Fukui, and C. Ohbayashi, “Overcoming artifacts in pathological specimens (Second report): Study of the onset mechanism and method of eliminating bamboo blinds,” Japanese J. of Medical Technology, Vol.64, No.3, pp. 288-294, 2015 (in Japanese). https://doi.org/10.14932/jamt.14-46
16. [16] K. Takekoshi and M. Goto, “Studies on Micro-Structure of a Knife-Edge and Degradation of Cutting Performance,” Trans. of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, Series C, Vol.70, No.695, pp. 2155-2162, 2007 (in Japanese). https://doi.org/10.1299/kikaic.70.2155
17. [17] T. H. C. Childs, K. Maekawa, T. Obikawa, and Y. Yamane, “Metal Machining: Theory and Applications,” Butterworth-Heinemann, 2000.
18. [18] S. Kitamura, Y. Maruyama, M. Nakanishi, Y. Nakagawa, H. Nanjo, Y. Akagami, R. Nakamura, T. Kuzumi, and M. Yoshino, “Pathological sectioning process for precise control of section thickness,” Proc. of JSPE Fall Meeting 2021, pp. 283-284, 2021 (in Japanese).
19. [19] H. Satoh, S. Kitamura, Y. Nakagawa, H. Nanjo, Y. Akagami, R. Nakamura, T. Kuzumi, and M. Yoshino, “Study of cutting force and section thickness for pathological diagnosis,” Proc. of JSPE Spring Meeting 2022, pp. 503-504, 2022 (in Japanese).
20. [20] S. Matsuoka, “Relationship Between 0.2% Proof Stress and Vickers Hardness of Work-Hardened Low Carbon Austenitic Stainless Steel, 316SS,” Trans. of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, Series A, Vol.70, No.698, pp. 1535-1541, 2004 (in Japanese). https://doi.org/10.1299/kikaia.70.1535