COMPRESSTOME® VIBRATING MICROTOME VF-500-0Z
COMPRESSTOME® VF-500-0Z
SKU: VF-500-0Z
Covered by a 5-year warranty (included!)
The Compresstome® VF-500-0Z vibrating microtome is our recommended tissue slicer for electrophysiology. It produces superior brain slices with a higher number of viable neurons for patch-clamp electrophysiology.
- Preserves surface neurons to significantly improve patch clamping results for electrophysiology
- Slices over 5x faster than other market vibrating microtomes
- Patented compression technology and agarose embedding process eliminates chattermarks and maintain high live cell counts
- Fully automated slicing!
- Auto Zero-Z® technology reduces Z-axis deflection to <1 μm
- Light footprint for increased portability
KEY FEATURES OF THE COMPRESSTOME® VF-500-0Z
The VF-500-0Z is designed by our engineers with a more durable vibrating head unit. Check out its key features:
PROBLEMS WITH OTHER VIBRATOMES
There are many different types of tissue slicers on the market, but they don’t operate the way that the Compresstome® does. Other market vibratomes will have a flat stage where you glue your tissue sample, with a cutting blade that approaches horizontally. However, the blade can easily push your tissue sample and squish, tilt, and compress it—all of these effects may damage cells and tissue architecture.
BENEFITS OF SLIGHT COMPRESSION FOR TISSUE SLICING
When using the Compresstome®, you will embed your tissue in agarose inside a specimen tube. The open end of the specimen tube has a slightly tapered edge. As tissue and agarose cross the edge of the tube, it gets slightly compressed. This compression helps stabilize the tissue during sectioning, and allows the Compresstome® to section at speeds up to 5x faster than other market vibrating microtomes. Overall, the Compresstome® provides a significant improvement on the health and longevity of live slices, and virtually eliminates chattermarks in fixed tissue slices.
Don’t worry–The agarose embedding does not decrease cell viability. Rather, it enhances cell survival because of tissue stability. The agarose solution is quickly cooled down with a chilling block during sample preparation. With the Compresstome®, your tissue can be sectioned faster because of the agarose-induced stability. As a result, cells are never without oxygenation for a long time, and the added stability of the compression significantly reduces any blade damage.
DOWNLOAD AUTO ZERO-Z® EXPLANATIONS
WHAT IS AUTO ZERO-Z® TECHNOLOGY? HOW DOES IT BENEFIT TISSUE SLICING?
Compresstome® slicer models marked with “-0Z” mean that the model has our patented Auto Zero-Z® technology. These vibrating heads are precisely aligned to eliminate vibrations in the Z-axis. Auto Zero-Z® technology helps reduce damage to surface cells on live tissue samples, and further reduce chattermarks on thin sections for improved imaging results.
Produce healthier slices for patch-clamp, field recordings, and calcium imaging for brain, heart, and kidney tissue slices.
Get higher quality live tissue slices for studies of lung, liver, kidney, gut, spleen, and reproductive tissues. Excellent for enzyme or toxicology research.
Use the Compresstome® vibratome for organotypic brain slice cultures and tumor slice cultures.
| Technical Specifications for Compresstome® VF-500-0Z | |
|---|---|
| Advance Speed | 0-4 mm/s, adjustable |
| Return Speed | 8 mm/s, fixed |
| Vibration Frequency | 0-70 Hz, adjustable |
| Vibration Amplitude | 1.5 mm, fixed |
| Z-Axis Vibration | ~0 µm |
| Compatible Cutting Blades | Double-edge stainless steel blades Ceramic blades Tungsten carbide blades |
| Cutting Angle | 15 degrees, fixed |
| Thickness Adjustment | Automatic, digital |
| Micrometer Resolution | 1 µm |
| Maximum Tissue Diameter | 15.5 mm 20 mm |
| Maximum Tissue Length | 23 mm |
| Slice Thickness Range | 2 µm to 1000 µm (Quality tested to cut below 10 µm) |
| Cutting Modes | Single or continuous, selectable |
| Buffer Tray Size | 110 x 60 x 30 mm |
| Power Source | DC 12V |
| Power Consumption | 4W |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 330 x 250 x 200 mm |
| Weight | 7 kg |
ABOUT THE COMPRESSTOME® VF-500-0Z
COMPARING COMPRESSTOME® MODELS
REFERENCES & APPLICATIONS
WARRANTY & SERVICE PLANS
WARRANTY
At Precisionary Instruments, we stand firmly behind the quality of our Compresstome® vibrating microtomes. Starting July 1, 2022, we will be offering a 5–year warranty for all new Compresstome® units purchased on that date and after. The 5–year warranty is included with each Compresstome® tissue slicer purchase (no additional fees)! Our warranty includes repairs, parts, labor, and shipping. This new 5–year warranty program applies only to these Compresstome® models: VF-210-0Z, VF-310-0Z, VF-500-0Z, and VF-510-0Z.
After the end of the warranty period, we also offer an Annual Service Agreement or plan to take care of your microtome for years to come!
ANNUAL SERVICE PLANS
Precisionary Instruments offers an annual service agreement that can be purchased. The purchase must take place within the five years following Compresstome® delivery. Each subsequent annual service plan agreement purchase must be completed within the prior year’s service coverage. An annual service plan agreement cannot be purchased if there is a gap in annual service coverage.
The annual service plan agreement is detailed as follows:
| Product Line | Warranty | What is included |
|---|---|---|
Compresstome® vibrating microtomes:
| 5-Year Warranty | Includes parts, accessories, shipping fees, and labor. |
| Annual Service BASIC Plan |
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| Annual Service PREMIUM Plan |
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