Instrument for cutting animal tissues into small pieces (< 3 mm3) with preservation of viable cells

Abstract

This instrument is designed to cut animal tissue into minute pieces (about 3 mm3) with the minimum of crushing of cells. Cutting is by a continuous scissor-like shearing action and the instrument is self-sharpening. A steel disk with a spiral groove cut in one face is rotated horizontally below a vertical rectangular steel plate. Cutting takes place when tissue in a specially shaped container is pressed by a sliding weight into the groove of the spiral and upon rotation is carried against the sharp toothed edge of the stationary rectangular vertical steel plate. The cut pieces in the spiral groove are removed by a gear wheel in continuous mesh, and fall into a catch tray. The size of the pieces cut is governed by three factors; (i) the width and depth of the spiral groove, (ii) the weight pressure and (iii) the spacing of the buttress-shaped teeth along the cutting plate edge.