Leica EM FC7, EM UC7 User Manual

Leica EM UC7
Leica EM FC7

High Quality Ultramicrotome for Precise Room Temperature
and Cryo Sectioning

Highest Quality Sectioning

High quality sectioning of specimens for light, electron, and
atomic force microscopy examination has never been easier and
more precise. Leica Microsystems introduces its latest specimen
preparation technology: the Leica EM UC7 ultramicrotome and the
Leica EM FC7 cryo chamber attachment.

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Leica EM UC7

The Leica EM UC7 prepares excellent quality semi- and ultra-thin sections, as well as
the perfectly smooth surfaces required for LM, TEM, SEM, and AFM examination. The
precision mechanics, ergonomic design, and intuitive layout of the touchscreen
control unit make the Leica EM UC7 ideal for the highest quality specimen prepa­ration.

• Eucentric movement of the stereomicroscope observation system with patented

designated positions for specimen approach, for glass and diamond knives.

• In addition to the standard LED illumination for top light and backlight and

transmitted light, the LED spot illumination offers a focused light beam to enhance
observation, e.g., for cleaning the knife edge and during cryo-sectioning.

• The user can walk away from the instrument during trimming; the combination of

the fully motorized knife stage and patented AutoTrim function completes and then
stops the trim automatically.

• The ergonomic design provides comfortable, fatigue-free operation for left and

right handed users.

• Excellent observation of the section at low water levels and during cryo sectioning,

without compromising the user’s ergonomic posture.

• The stereomicroscope offers higher magnifi cation than ever before.

• Easy-to-learn, fast operation via touchscreen control and displayed hints.

• Data transfer for reporting user, specimen, knife and storage

parameters provides an electronic, paper-free log fi le.

• The operator recognition system makes it easy for multiple users to use

the same instrument. Up to 100 different user/specimen/knife profi les
can be set.

Leica Design by Werner Hölbl

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Ergonomic Design

Comfortable to use

Leica Microsystems designed the Leica EM UC7/FC7 with specifi c
features that make it a user-friendly, ergonomic instrument provid­ing comfort and minimizing strain for each user. Easy, fast adjust­ments adapt the instrument to accommodate multiple users.

Fatigue-free operation is an integral benefi t of the Leica EM UC7/
FC7 design. The Leica M80 stereomicroscope with ErgoWedge
accessory adapts the height and angle of the optical head to ad­just perfectly to an individual’s body height and position. Arm rests
are attached to the instrument table. These features, in conjunc­tion with the ergonomically arranged control elements, enhance
user comfort, even after hours of instrument use.

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Optimal Positioning of the Optical Head

The Eucentric Movement of the Leica EM UC7 viewing system
allows examination of sections, even with a lowered water level
e.g. for Lowycryls and dry sections.

For accurate approach of the knife towards the specimen with the
backlight, the viewing angle must be set according to the type of
knife in use.

The patented defi ned position marks of the eucentric movement
provide maximum approach accuracy either for glass or diamond
knife approach.

Section observation with lowered water level without eucentrically
moveable stereomicroscope.

Section observation with lowered water level with eucentrically
moveable stereomicroscope.

Diamond knife approach as seen through the Leica M80 stereo­microscope with backlight illumination.

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Advanced Features

Motorized knife stage

Motorized North-South movement of the knife stage is a unique
feature of Leica ultramicrotomes. The additional implementation of
motorized East-West movement of the Leica EM UC6 was a logical
step forward. Additionally, the E-W quick adjustment buttons on the
Leica UC7 controller allow effi cient traversing of the knife.

Motorization of the stage has also allowed many useful features
to develop hand in hand with it, for example the patented Autotrim
mode, E-W measuring function and the automatic approach of the
selected knife segment (patent applied).

Brightness-controlled LED illumination

LED light sources provide outstanding illumination for top light,
backlight, and transmitted illumination. All illumination modes are
independently brightness-controlled for the best visual clarity. The
additional spot illumination enhances the optical performance of
the Leica EM UC7 and provides superior visibility while cleaning the
knife edge or trimming the block face, for example.

Knife edge with particles visible under spot light illumination.

Site-specifi c trimming with spot illumination.

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Easily activated anti-static function

The Leica EM CRION ionizer dissipates electrostatic charging
that can occur at a specimen’s surface, minimizing static effects
associated with climatic changes and the sectioning of certain
materials. This adjustable antistatic electrode is a useful ac­cessory for sectioning at room temperature. Adjusting the ioni­zer output is an integral function of the Leica EM UC7 controller;
no additional controller is required on the instrument table. The
simple press of a footswitch synchronizes and activates the
simultaneous operation of the specimen arm motor and the Leica
EM CRION ionizer.

Effi cient cable control

When using a camera system, cables can obstruct the stereo­microscope carrier’s movement. To eliminate this persistent
problem, Leica Microsystems provides an integrated cable canal
that safely and conveniently guides the cables to the rear of the
instrument.

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Easy-to-use Touchscreen Control

7” basic touchscreen control unit

All functions of the Leica EM UC7, the Leica EM FC7 cryo chamber
and the Leica EM CRION are controlled via touchscreen. A choice of
two touchscreen control units are available to operate the ultrami­crotome cryo chamber and ionizer.

Indentations in the control panel casing enable the user to locate rou­tinely-used controls that are adjusted while observing the specimen.
While viewing the specimen, the user can set the cutting window and
step advance and perform many other functions.

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Advanced Control

The innovative advanced touchscreen control unit of the UC7
enables fast and safe alignment of knife and specimen with help
fi les and prompts to hand for beginners. Programmable knife and
cutting sequences offer signifi cant advantages for automated
trimming (AutoTrim).

The outstanding performance of the touchscreen is refl ected in its
ability to control all necessary components for sectioning. These
include the built-in antistatic Leica EM CRION device control, the
Leica EM UC7 cryo chamber control, storage of up to one hundred
different user, specimen, and knife parameters and a USB con­nection to upload these parameters for reporting. Additionally,
every user can save their settings on a USB stick inserted into
the Leica EM UC7, enabling the controller to recognize the user as
soon the USB stick is connected.

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Counter window to toggle between section counter and feed
totalizer, countdown, E-W measuring, and AutoTrim mode.

Leica EM FC7 control fi eld appears as soon as the chamber
is connected.

As soon as the Leica EM CRION ionizer is connected and
switched on this window appears to adjust the intensity of
the ionizer.

To optimize diamond knife usage, up to 100 different knives can
be stored. Each knife is divided into a number of segments. The
selected segment is approached automatically with the
motorized knife stage (patent applied).

As soon as the upload button is pressed the grid box window
appears and a grid position in the box can be selected, which

is automatically reported in the log fi le.

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Leica EM FC7

Within minutes the Leica EM UC7 can be equipped with the Leica EM FC7 low tem­perature sectioning system, which incorporates many features and offers a wide
range of user benefi ts such as:

• The Leica EM FC7 and Leica EM CRION ionizer controls are both integrated with

the Leica EM UC7 control unit to provide easier operation and more workspace.

• Using the advanced touchscreen control, three different cryo-modes are available:

– Standard
– High gas fl ow - increased GN2 gas fl ow reduces ice contamination
below –140°C
– Wet sectioning – to set a temperature difference of up to 130°C between knife
(– 40°C) and specimen (–170°C), which is useful for, e.g., DMSO applications.

• Leica EM CRION ionizer with electrostatic charge and discharge functions con-

trolled by footswitches greatly improves the method of cryosection collection.

• The attachable micromanipulator (patent applied) provides precise positioning

of the grid to make section collection easier than ever before.

• Multiple lighting angles using the patented LED chamber illumination provide

excellent visibility for section manipulation and pick up.

• Contact-free, through-the-wall specimen arm makes the instrument highly stable

for chatter-free cryosectioning.

• The optional Cryosphere can surround the Leica EM UC7/FC7 to provide an envi-

ronment with a relative humidity of less than 10%. It allows sections to be cut
without contamination by ice crystals, which can be a problem at higher humidity.

• Heated chamber walls prevent icing over a prolonged working time and enhan-

ce user comfort. The GN2 gap between chamber and arm rest ensures a warm
surface for the user to rest on.

Protocol Report of Leica EM UC7 Data Log Book. Data transfer for reporting user, specimen, knife, and storage parameters provides an
electronic, paper-free log fi le.

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Advanced Cryo-section Collection

Leica EM CRION ionizer and micromanipulator

Especially for frozen hydrated sectioning or the Tokuyasu method,
the Leica EM CRION with electrostatic discharge and charge
mode used with the micromanipulator provides outstanding cryo
sectioning performance.

The micromanipulator easily attaches to the Leica EM FC7 cryo
chamber, which allows the grid to be exactly positioned close to
the knife edge using the micrometer gauges. Once these positions
are defi ned, fast retraction of the grid can be performed manually
prior to sectioning to prevent possible infl uence of the grid on the
ionizer. The Leica EM CRION is used in discharge mode in order to
reduce electrostatic charging while sectioning.

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When the section ribbon needs to be placed on the grid, return
to the pre-set grid position can be quickly performed. The ribbon
is then attached to the grid using the charge mode of the Leica
EM CRION, which is operated by a footswitch. Thus, the specimen
adheres to the grid without the need for a section press.

As a grid box can be placed near the knife, the micromanipulator
can be used to easily place the grid into its storage position.

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Preparing Specimens for Ultramicrotomy

All specimens need to be prepared prior to sectioning. The size
and shape of the specimen have a profound effect on sectioning
characteristics. Trimming soft specimens can be performed with
the Leica EM TRIM2 or EM RAPID using a milling tool. Alternatively,
with the versatile Leica EM TXP, even hard and brittle material can

be trimmed using grinding and polishing abrasives. The perfectly
shaped block face with sharp edges has a considerable infl uence
on the section quality of hard and brittle materials.

50 nm sections on the grid

Cross section of a tooth with inlay (fi lling) prepared with the
Leica EM TXP (area of interest marked blue).

Block face after sectioning

Courtesy of J. Leprince, centre de recherche CRIBIO, Ecole de Médecine Dentaire,Université catholique de Louvain.

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Knife Making with the Leica EM KMR3 –
Easier than Ever Before

Your benefi ts:

• Automatic reset of the breaking and scoring mechanism.

• Easily accessible scoring pressure adjustment.

• Maximum ergonomics.

• Fast learning curve – everyone can produce excellent glass
knives immediately.

New scoring mechanism

A push action produces an absolutely even score necessary for
the high quality break. Two scoring lengths can be selected, the
longer is used to score the glass strip to break it into squares, the
shorter score is used before breaking the fi nal knives.

After the break, the scoring and the breaking mechanism resets

automatically to the start position – ready for the next score.

The balanced break concept

The secret of producing a straight, controlled break in a strip of
scientifi c-quality glass is to apply equal weight and pressure to
each side of the score. In addition, the support elements, touching
the glass from below, must have a minimum surface in order to
avoid uncontrolled stress which is applied to the glass prior to the
break. The new design of the Leica EM KMR3 allows simultane­ous movement of the two breaking pins to apply exactly the same
force to both sides of the glass strip. In addition, high precision
steel hemispheres ensure a minimum glass surface contact for an
unsurpassed knife edge quality.

All the new features of the Leica EM KMR3 help make the pro­duction of glass knives easier and more reproducible for electron,
as well as light microscopy applications. From students, routine
users through to the demands of the experienced cryo-ultrami­crotomist, the new Leica EM KMR3 is the unsurpassed instrument
of choice for producing high-end glass knives.

The results are perfect glass knives either from 6.4 mm, 8 mm or
10 mm glass strips.

Knife making with the Leica EM KMR3 was never as easy as it is
now.

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“With the user, for the user”
Leica Microsystems

Leica Microsystems operates globally in four divi sions,
where we rank with the market leaders.

Life Science Division

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The Leica Microsystems Life Science Division supports the
imaging needs of the scientifi c community with advanced
innovation and technical expertise for the visualization,
measurement, and analysis of microstructures. Our strong
focus on understanding scientifi c applications puts Leica
Microsystems’ customers at the leading edge of science.

Industry Division

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The Leica Microsystems Industry Division’s focus is to
support customers’ pursuit of the highest quality end result.
Leica Microsystems provide the best and most innovative
imaging systems to see, measure, and analyze the micro­structures in routine and research industrial applications,
materials science, quality control, forensic science inves­tigation, and educational applications.

Biosystems Division

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The Leica Microsystems Biosystems Division brings his­topathology labs and researchers the highest-quality,
most comprehensive product range. From patient to pa­thologist, the range includes the ideal product for each
histology step and high-productivity workfl ow solutions
for the entire lab. With complete histology systems fea­turing innovative automation and Novocastra™ reagents,
Leica Microsystems creates better patient care through
rapid turnaround, diagnostic confi dence, and close cus­tomer collaboration.

Surgical Division

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The Leica Microsystems Surgical Division’s focus is to
partner with and support surgeons and their care of pa­tients with the highest-quality, most innovative surgi cal
microscope technology today and into the future.

The statement by Ernst Leitz in 1907, “with the user, for the user,” describes the fruitful collaboration
with end users and driving force of innovation at Leica Microsystems. We have developed fi ve
brand values to live up to this tradition: Pioneering, High-end Quality, Team Spirit, Dedication to
Science, and Continuous Improvement. For us, living up to these values means: Living up to Life.

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Leica EM UC7/FC7 - 8/09 - Order No. 16216002

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