Laboratory Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for:

Isomet Instructions
This SOP requires a Designated Trainer!
Description
This document gives instructions for using a Buehler Isomet to cut plastic blocks of tissue.

Potential Hazards
Isomet blades are meant to cut very hard objects so the chances of cutting your skin on a blade is very low.
However, the blade can spin at a high rate of speed. Keep hands away from moving parts. Secure anything
hanging off your person (long hair, necklaces, etc.) prior to using the machine.

Engineering and Work Practice Controls

None needed.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Proper personal protective equipment must be used when working in the lab. Wear gloves, lab coat, and
safety glasses or chemical splash goggles as a minimum protection, unless otherwise indicated. Please
follow the ORL policy for headphone use with this equipment. All long hair, necklaces, anything dangling
should be removed or secured to your person prior to using this equipment.

Transportation and Storage

You must obtain permission from your supervisor or PI before moving an Isomet! Please do so using a cart to
minimize any damage to the equipment.
When not in use, store blades in their original case (or something close to it). This will prevent damage,
including warping.

Set-up

Weights
Arm
Arm Screw

Automatic off switch Micrometer

Water can collect around this area

Rod Large
so use foil strips on both sides of
the blade as a water slide.

Medium
Reservoir Tray
Push-in to lock tray

Small

Isomet Instructions 1 Release date: 9-11-19

(Set-up, contd.)
1. Blade Set-up:
Screw with parallel flattened sides

Slide setup onto rod

Washer grooves facing blade

2. Hand-tighten blade set-up.

3. Fill reservoir tray with deionized water (lubricant is only used in special cases).

4. Lift tray along its shaft so that the bottom of the saw is resting in the water (water level should
ALWAYS cover blade roughness, ~1mm).

5. Lock tray (see photograph above).

DRESSING
Weight Rod
6. Place dressing stick in a sample holder:

Sample holder
or ‘chuck’ Attach to arm using the
screw with a completely
rounded head

Keep pressure evenly distributed between both screws.

a. Set speed at 3-4. Note: All speed controls are approximate. Control is factory adjusted to
deliver ~300 RPM at the maximum (10) control setting, lower speed control response is
within the 3 to 10 control settings.
b. Place 1 medium weight onto weight rod.
c. Positioning dressing stick: setup the location on the dressing stick by bringing dressing
stick down near the blade. The blade should just cut off a thin section of the dressing
stick (about 200µm), not a huge chunk.
d. Plug in Isomet and turn switch on (located behind the Isomet). If Isomet does not turn
on, check to see that the plug-in cable is fully connected to Isomet.
e. Run blade at 30 - 60 rpm before slowly bringing down the dressing stick.
f. Dress new blades 5-7 times before using to expose the abrasive cutting grain. Dress
blades 1-2 times for subsequent dressings as needed, usually when the cutting time
decreases 20-25% below the initial cutting time. Overdressing shortens the life of the
blade!

7. Alternatively, a dressing stick can be placed in the holder designed specifically to fit onto the body
of the Isomet instead of the arm.
a. Align the holder + dressing stick on the front of the Isomet so that a small section of the
dressing stick will be cut off by the blade.

Isomet Instructions 2 Release date: 9-11-19 cw

 b. Tighten the two screws underneath the holder to lock it in place.
c. Turn on blade.
d. Turn the screw at the front of the dressing stick clockwise in order to advance the
dressing stick and gently cut off a thin section.
e. Turn the screw counter-clockwise to return the stick to its’ original position and repeat, if
needed, by moving the dressing stick over a little to cut another thin section.
f. Your blade has now been sharpened. This process can be repeated when needed either
by itself or while sectioning a specimen at the same time.

SECTIONING (REMEMBER TO DRESS THE BLADE BEFORE SECTIONING A NEW SAMPLE)

NOTE: Never feed anything manually into the blade!

8. Set-up sample (same set-up as #6 above: replace dressing stick with plastic block).

9. Speed: 7-8 (once the initial groove has been cut on the block, speed can be increased to 9).
a. Weight: 1 small and 1 medium weight (rule of thumb is low weight / high speed).
b. NOTE: This is very important. If you cut with too much weight it is likely that you could
chip the blade, crack your sample and/or wear out the gears in the motor.

10. Position your sample block to desired starting point (1 turn of the micrometer = ~500μm)
a. Blades are typically 150-300µm thick (blade thickness can be measured or found on the
blade box) and blade wobble is variable depending on size of washers and type of blade
used (but about another 50µm). This is the amount of sample lost.

11. Run blade and then slowly bring sample down. If water is splashing everywhere, lower the speed.
DO NOT press down on the arm. Be patient!
DO NOT add more weight. Be Patient!
DO NOT let the chuck rest on the rotating flanges.

12. Once the section is cut, lift the arm and press Stop to turn off the Isomet. You can set-up the
Isomet to automatically stop when the section is done by trying out different positions of the arm
screw that will allow the arm to hit the automatic off switch WITHOUT smashing down on it.

13. Collect sample and, for serial 200µm sections, cut loose ends/thickened end with scissors so that
sample can be placed completely flat onto a slide.

14. After every cut, label the sample with a permanent marker so you know the orientation and
section number.

15. Advance the micrometer an appropriate number of microns for the next cut (taking into account
blade thickness and wobble).

CLEAN UP
16. Turn off switch from behind Isomet and unplug from wall.
17. Discard water into ‘poly (methyl methacrylate) slurry’ waste container.
18. Disassemble set-up and chucks and wash all components with soapy tap water, rinse with tap
water (carefully rinse blades individually) then rinse all components with deionized water.

Isomet Instructions 3 Release date: 9-11-19 cw

 a. Wash the blade first, by itself, and lay flat on paper towels. Cover with another paper
towel and gently blot excess water. Place the blade on a fresh, dry paper towel and
allow to air dry thoroughly. Do not let anything touch the blade or it might rust.
b. Wash all other components and get mostly dry with paper towels (tap the water out of
screw holes). Place damp parts on a fresh, dry paper towel.
c. Let everything thoroughly air dry and place components into their respective boxes (i.e.
components of Isomet 1 goes into box 1, etc.) and blades into their holders (if available).

19. Please be sure to wipe the Isomet clean with damp paper towels (like the ones you just used to
dry parts). Also wipe the cord and the surrounding lab bench. Use more damp paper towels to
remove any leftover white plastic dust and droplets, especially around the trough area.

Report all emergencies, suspicious activity, injuries, spills, and fires to UMPD by calling 911 or texting
377911. Register with the University of Michigan Emergency Alert System via Wolverine Access.

Training of personnel
All personnel are required to complete the Comprehensive Laboratory Safety session (BLS042w or
equivalent) via MyLINC. Furthermore, all personnel shall read and fully adhere to this SOP when handling the
chemical.

Certification
I have read and understand the above SOP. I agree to contact my Supervisor or Lab Manager if I plan to
modify this procedure.

Name Signature Trainer’s signature Date

Isomet Instructions 4 Release date: 9-11-19 cw

 Name Signature Trainer’s signature Date

Principal Investigator / Safety Officer__________________________ Date ______

(signature)

Printed name: Carol Whitinger

Designated Trainers: Please see the trainer in your lab or the Histologist.

Isomet Instructions 5 Release date: 9-11-19 cw