PFM Medical Slide 4004 M User manual

Operating Manual
pfm Slide 4004 M
Sliding Microtome
Please read this operating manual
carefully before using the instrument

that you are familiar with the
method of operation as well as the
instrument’s controls to ensure that
it is used correctly.
www.pfmmedical.com
Quality and Experience

2pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
Note
Serial number:
Please enter the serial number of your instrument here.It can be found on the nameplate.
Dear Customer,


instrument’s controls to ensure that it is used correctly.
All the information in this operating manual applies to the pfm Slide 4004 M.
Note

3pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
Part 1 – Safety instructions 4
1.1 Key to symbols 4
1.2 Intended purpose 6
  
1.4 Microtome safety devices 6
1.5 Operating the instrument 7
1.6 General precautions 7
Part 2 – Introduction 8
2.1 View of the pfm Slide 4004 M 8
2.2 Technical data for the pfm Slide 4004 M 9
2.3 Scope of delivery 9
Part 3 – Operating instructions 10
  
3.2 Assembling the accessories 11
  
3.4 Sectioning movement 14
  
3.6 Coarse adjustment of the object 15
3.7 Fine manual adjustment of the object 15
3.8 Fine automatic adjustment of the object 15
3.9 Object mounting 16
3.10 Universal cassette clamp 16
3.11 Standard object clamp 16
3.12 Object orientation 17
3.13 Exchanging the object mounting 17
3.14 Knife holder 17
3.15 Microtome blade holder 18
3.16 Adapter orientable 18
3.17 Section waste tray 18
Part 4 – Working with the microtome 19
4.1 Preparing, embedding and sectioning the object 19
4.2 Preparing the microtome 19
4.3 Information about how to avoid problems 19
4.4 Operation of the pfm Slide 4004 M 19
4.5 Trouble-shooting 20
Part 5 – Maintenance, cleaning, care and disposal 21
5.1 Maintenance 21
5.2 Cleaning and care 21
5.3 Returning the microtome for repair or maintenance 21
5.4 Decontamination 22
5.5 Warranty 22
5.6 Declaration of Conformity 22
5.7 Disposal after decommissioning 22
Part 6 – Accessories 23
Contents

4pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
Part 1 – Safety instructions

certain that you are familiar with the instrument‘s controls and method of operation.Always
observe the following precautions during operation of the instrument.Failure to do so is contrary
to the recognised technical regulations and the intended use of the instrument.
If the above rule is violated,pfm medical ag shall assume no liability.
Safety instructions
1.1 Key to symbols
Caution! This symbol indicates a possible danger to life and health. Failing to observe these
instructions can result in severe health impacts, including life-threatening injuries.
Indicates useful information
Indicates a dangerous situation
NOTE
WARNING
Manufacturer
Date of manufacture
In vitro diagnostic (IVD) medical device
IVD
Catalogue number
REF
Consult operating manual
PLEASE NOTE The up-to-date electronic operating manual can be found on our website:
http://www.pfmmedical.com/downloads

5pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
Safety instructions
Serial number

Biohazard warning
SN
The instrument must not be disposed of in normal domestic waste.It
must be collected separately.
Permissible temperature range at the place of use
+10°C - +40°C
Permissible temperature range for storage and transportation
-10 °C - +50°C
Permissible humidity range for storage and transportation, and at the place of use
10% - 80% (non-condensing)
10°C
40°C
-10 °C
50°C
10%
80%
Keep dry
Fragile, handle with care

6pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
Safety instructions
1.2 Intended purpose
The pfm Slide 4004 M is a modern, manual slide
microtome designed for preparation of thin sections of
human and animal tissue samples of varying hardness, as
far as they are suitable for manual cutting.The device can
be used for all applications in industry, research and
medicine as a diagnostic aid related to an in vitro
examination within the histopathological process. It
may only be operated by appropriately trained personnel.
The sections obtained with the product should assist the
pathologist in the evaluation of the physiological or
pathological condition of the tissue samples.
1.3 User group/user profile
The pfm Slide 4004 M must only be operated by

instrument's method of operation.

manual must be read so that the user is familiar with the
method of operation and the controls.This is essential to
ensure proper handling.
NOTE
The operating manual should be accessible to everyone.

1.4 Microtome safety devices
Finger guard on the knife holder

object, or changing the object, always cover the blade edge

Knife slide lock


danger of injury during the setting up procedure.
1
1
Finger guard
1

1
WARNING
Caution! Protective devices must not be removed from the instrument or modified. The proper functioning of


7pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
Safety instructions

the blade edge is very sharp and may cause severe injury.


to prevent injuries.The blade edge should be covered with

Select the correct blade holder for the microtome blade



position.The blade edge should always be pointing down.
The microtome blade should always be completely covered
by the pressure plate of the blade holder and not be
protruding.








the blade edge is very sharp and may cause severe injury.
When sectioning, always wear the necessary personal



holder from the instrument.For the blade holder,ensure

beforehand.



removed beforehand.
Observe all warnings.
Warnings on the instrument must not be removed or
obscured.
Only use suitable accessories recommended/supplied by
pfmmedical.
If unusual noises develop,please contact your responsible
pfm service technician or contact pfm medical ag directly.
The instrument may only be opened and repaired by
service technicians trained and authorised by pfmmedical.

the vicinity of the instrument.They could cause corrosion
and damage the device and accessories.
To prevent slip hazards, laboratory shoes should be worn

microtome and surrounding area.
1.5 Operating the instrument

Risk of infection

safety measures must be implemented.The specimens used
may potentially be infectious.The general laboratory rules
regarding protection against infections must therefore be
observed.
Risk of radioactivity

protection regulations must be followed. Protective clothing
must be worn in accordance with the rules and regulations
that apply in your laboratory for handling radioactively
contaminated materials.For the disposal of radioactive waste,
the applicable regulations will apply in each instance.
Risk of chemical substances
Some of the alloys used in the components of this instrument
contain small amounts of lead for improved machining.The

used as intended,the lead in the alloys is not released and

precaution,we recommend that you wear gloves when
changing the accessory parts.

the EU Regulation 1907/2006 (REACH) at:
http://www.pfmmedical.com/downloads
1.6 General precautions

8pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
Part 2 – Introduction
Clearance angle
adjustment
Clamping screws
Knife holder
Finger guard
Universal cassette clamp
1
11
2
12
3
13
4
6
7
5
8
9
10
Protection tray
Adjusting screws for X/Y
object orientation with

Clamping lever
Section waste tray

adjustment
Handwheel for rough
adjustment
Setting lever
Housing
2
3
4
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
5
1
2.1 View of the pfm Slide 4004 M
Introduction

9pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
Fine feed: manually or automatically
Coarse feed: manually via coarse feed wheel
Section thickness:
Setting range:

Object orientation: x- and y-axes universal 12° z-axis up
to 220° (with the exception of large object clamps)
Vertical range: 40 mm
Horizontal range: 160 mm
Maximum sample size:
Universal cassette clamp,standard embedding cassettes
Standard object clamp large,sample size 45 x 60 mm
Universal cassette clamp large, super mega embedding
cassettes
Dimensions (W/D/H): 340 x 420 x 300 mm
Weight:
2.2 Technical data for the pfm Slide 4004 M
Introduction
2.3 Scope of delivery
pfm Slide 4004 M
REF: 400410
Scope of delivery
Base instrument
1 Protective cover

Without object clamp
Without section waste tray
NOTE
The up-to-date electronic operating manual can be found
on our website: http://www.pfmmedical.com/downloads

10 pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
Operating instructions
Part 3 – Operating instructions

complete and undamaged.





and transported to the installation location by at least two
people for safety reasons.

during transportation,the equipment should only be handled
at the base plate. Do not carry or lift the instrument by the

Please read the operating manual carefully before using



set-up area.
The instrument should be placed on a stable,vibration-


surface.
If other instrument in the vicinity of the microtome
generates vibrations,these can interfere with the sectioning
process.
Room temperature at the installation location of the
instrument between + 10°C and + 40°C.
Relative humidity at the installation location of the
instrument max.80% (non-condensing).
Ambient temperature during the transportation and
storage of the instrument: between -10° and +50°C.
Relative humidity during the transportation and storage
of the instrument: max.80% (non-condensing).

responsibility for any use of special instrument and/or materials for operating the instrument.
NOTE

correctly if it needs to be sent for servicing.
3.1 Transportation, unpacking and setting up the instrument

11pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
Operating instructions
3.2 Assembling the accessories
Object orientation clamping lever
Object orientation adjustment screws
Orientable adapter
1
2
3
3
1
2
Adapter orientable
Assembling the object clamps with/without adapter
Universal cassette clamp,
orientable
Universal cassette clamp,non-
orientable (without adapter)
Release and remove the object orientation clamping lever.

Insert the object clamp with the adapter, paying attention to the position of the hole so that the clamping lever can

Clamp the object clamp using the clamping lever.

NOTE
Some object clamps are optionally also available as a non-orientable version. For use on the instrument, the object


12 pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
Operating instructions
Knife holder
2
Button (clearance angle adjustment)
Clamping screws
Finger guard
1
3
1
2
3
2
Pressure plate clamping lever
Finger guard
1
2
1
Fitting a FEATHER® microtome blade holder in the knife holder

Loosen the two clamping screws.

Clamp the microtome blade holder using the two clamping screws.

Assembling the knife holder
2
Knife holder
Knife holder clamping lever
1
2
1
Release and completely remove the clamping lever.


Clamp the clamping lever.


13pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
Operating instructions
Inserting the microtome blade into the FEATHER® microtome blade holder

Loosen the pressure plate screws.
Remove the microtome blade from the dispenser and carefully slide it under the pressure plate from the side.

Now tighten the pressure plate screws again.

Feather® microtome blade S35
1 2
Pressure plate
Screw
1
2
Section waste tray
The section waste tray is only attached to the pfm Slide
4004 M and can be removed at any time.
Inserting the microtome blade into the pfm Blade Holder

Release the clamping eccentric for the pressure plate.
Remove the microtome blade from the dispenser and carefully slide it under the pressure plate from the side.

Clamp the pressure plate using the clamping lever.


14 pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
3.3 Knife slide lock
3.4 Sectioning movement
Operating instructions



microtome blade holder and/or object in order to reduce
the danger of injury.
WARNING

outside the front, middle and rear end positions,

lightly positioned.

1
1
Handle
1
1
160 mm
The sectioning movement of the microtome is created by

3.5 Setting the section thickness
Scale wheel
1
1



value is displayed on the scale.





15pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
3.6 Coarse adjustment of the object
3.7 Fine manual adjustment of the object
Operating instructions
Handwheel
1
1
The coarse adjustment of the object is made via the
handwheel on the left of the microtome. In order to achieve

the blade, the object clamp can be moved with this
handwheel by about 40 mm vertically (up and down).
Setting lever
1
1

To do this,the setting lever is pressed to the stop.The slide
must be moved behind the specimen before operating the
setting lever. The slide is moved to the front over the
specimen after the adjustment has been made.The sectioning


3.8 Fine automatic adjustment of the object
Activation bolt
1
1

made after the activation bolt latch. In total there are three
positions of the activation bolt:



earlier
The red activation bolt in the handle of the slide is pressed
inwards in order to achieve one of the positions. Move
the slide to the rear stop after doing this.The adjustment

adjustment is made inoperable as soon as the activation


16 pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
3.9 Object mounting
3.11 Standard object clamp
Operating instructions
Object mounting
1

In connection with the adapter orientable, the object can

clamps can be directly adapted via the adapter support in
order to use a rigid connection without moving the object.
WARNING


area.
1
3.10 Universal cassette clamp

used for cassette mounting.The lever must be pressed
upwards in order to insert or withdraw the cassette.
WARNING

the object clamps must be free of any residual
paraffin. Otherwise proper clamping cannot be
guaranteed.

are square or rectangular in shape.The object is inserted by

clamping screw over the movable jaw.
WARNING

the object clamps must be free of any residual
paraffin. Otherwise proper clamping cannot be
guaranteed.

17pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
Operating instructions
3.12 Object orientation
X/Y adjustment screws
Clamping lever
1

the top) in order to move the object to the required position.
Movement in the X and Y axes is possible via the coaxial
arrangement of the adjustment screws.The clamping lever
is set to the clamp position as soon as the required position

Zero-point setting
The two adjustment screws must be turned as far as the red

1
2
2
3.13 Exchanging the object mounting
To change the object mounting device,release the clamping
lever and remove it from the guide bore. Both adjusting

the entire object mounting device and clamp together
with the adapter can be removed upwards.The new object

the correct positioning of the guide bore in the adapter to
allow reinsertion of the clamping lever.After each change,

it is not properly clamped,vibrations etc. can occur while
sectioning.
2
Button (clearance angle adjustment)
Clamping screws
Finger guard
1
3
1
2
3



the side. Finally, both clamping screws are equally tightened


possible after both clamping screws have been loosened to
the left and to the right.Clearance angle adjustment can

the clamping lever must be loosened (red point).The set



holder surface.The clearance angle must always be matched
to the corresponding cutting requirements.We recommend
a setting of 10° (refer to index on the scale).
WARNING


The clearance angle can only be adjusted when
the clamping lever is loosened.
3.14 Knife holder

18 pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
3.15 Microtome blade holder
3.16 Adapter orientable
3.17 Section waste tray
Operating instructions


slightly unscrewed.After doing this, the microtome blade

clamping screws. More information on the microtome
blades and microtome blade holders is available directly
from pfm medical ag.
WARNING
Caution! The microtome blade must be exact-
ly positioned on the lay edge of the microtome
blade holder otherwise vibrations will occur
when cutting.
FEATHER® Microtome blade holder type 240D
The adapter orientable enables easy alignment of the object
to the sectioning level over the object orientation.
WARNING


area.
Adapter orientable
1
1
The section waste tray is only attached to the pfm Slide
4004 M and can be removed at any time in order to dispose


19pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
Part 4 – Working with the microtome
4.1 Preparing, embedding and sectioning the object
The objects must be properly prepared and embedded in
suitable media before sectioning. Different forms and
rectangular samples as well as the embedding cassette are
used for embedding.
Coarse advance between object and blade edge can be


handwheel, the first contact is made between object and
Depending on the embedding form, the object is mounted
in the standard object clamp or the universal cassette
clamp and then trimmed.
blade edge.When the required layer depth is reached,
further processing is made via the manual or automatic
adjustment.
4.2 Preparing the microtome
4.3 Information about how to avoid problems
Sample preparation

embedding medium should be selected, and drainage and

Sample temperature


become soft and it will no longer be possible to section the
sample.
Clamping screws

holder.
Clearance angle

sample.
Sectioning speed
The harder the material, the slower the sectioning speed.
Selection of the knife and FEATHER® microtome blade
Information can be obtained directly from pfm medical ag.
[email protected]
T [phone]
F [phone]

pfm Slide 4004 M is made by manual forwards and




pressing up to the stop using the setting lever. The manual
adjustment via the setting lever can only be used when the

The automatic adjustment is activated by latching the

microtome.The slide must be always driven to the stop in
order to guarantee an exact automatic adjustment.As soon



slide
The coarse feed of the object is made via the handwheel.By
doing this, a renewed and necessary advance is carried out,

the object.
In order to mount the specimen, there are a selection of
different object clamping systems available depending
on the shape and size.An orientable adapter enables easy
alignment of the object to the sectioning level over the

clamping and calibration of the microtome blade holder or

can be completely removed after removal of the clamping
lever.
4.4 Operation of the pfm Slide 4004 M
Working with the microtomeWorking with the microtomeWorking with the microtome

20 pfm Slide 4004 M Rev.2022-03-28
4.5 Trouble-shooting
Fault Possible cause Remedy
Thick/thin sections Knife angle 
Blade holder jam 
Object holder jam 
Micrometer mechanism Disassemble, adjust
Cross roller guide 
Slide does not run smoothly Cross roller guide 
 
Vibrations while sectioning Cross roller guide 
Blade holder 
Knife holder 
Inaccurate adjustment Cross roller guide 
Vertical cross roller guide 
 
No adjustment Spring pressure Adjust spring pressure
No automatic adjustment Spring pressure Adjust spring pressure
No manual adjustment Micrometer mechanism Disassemble, adjust
Spring pressure Adjust spring pressure
Band noise Band Exchange
Dirt Clean
Coarse feed does not run
smoothly Vertical cross roller guide 
Friction Clean
Micrometer spindle 
No clearance angle adjustment Knife holder 
Working with the microtome