ConnectomX - Assessing the Cutting Capabilities of katana microtome in Materials Samples

ConnectomX designs and manufactures the product 'katana microtome,' which is a miniaturised ultramicrotome device used for a technique called 'Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy (SBF-SEM)'. With this technique, installed inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM), the ultramicrotome uses a diamond knife to remove ultra-thin layers (tens of nanometres) from the top surface of a biological sample.

The SEM then images the newly exposed surface after each cut. By repeating the cutting/imaging sequences hundreds or thousands of times, a series of high-resolution images can be produced, allowing for the creation of high-resolution 3D biological structures. Visualising 3D structures of cells and tissues are vital for understanding their functions and advancing disease treatments.

Despite being a tool for life scientists, recent interest from material scientists and industrial researchers has spotlighted the potential of the katana microtome in materials research. However, the adaptability of SBF-SEM for materials study remains uncertain, with a limited amount of literature in this area. The hardness of these materials samples can be significantly higher than the resin-based biological samples, and this raises the questions of the efficacy of diamond knife cutting these samples and its longevity.

Currently, 3D volume imaging of material samples predominantly relies on the more costly and limited focused ion beam techniques.

The ability to measure the hardness limit of samples which can be cut by the katana microtome and the durability of the diamond knife in cutting these material samples could significantly broaden the horizon of katana microtome's applications, offering a fresh perspective on material analysis and expanding our business scope.