Ultramicrotome

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File:Microtome-ultras.jpg
A ribbon of ultrathin sections prepared by room temperature ultramicrotomy, floating on water in the boat of a diamond knife used to cut the sections. The knife blade is the edge at the upper end of the trough of water.

An ultramicrotome is a device which cuts specimens into very thin (30 to 50 nanometer) slices. The specimen is first embedded in a block of rigid material such as wax or epoxy. A glass or diamond knife is then used to cut the specimen. Typically the knife is mounted in a water trough which allows the sample to float in order to be collected for later microscopy.