Leica Biosystems CM1510-S - Manual (Page 31)

31 Leica CM1510 S – Cryostat
6.5.3 Manual defrosting of the quick-freeze shelf
The quick-freeze shelf may become hot during defrosting!
Therefore, do not touch it!
If heavy frost builds up on the quick-freeze shelf, especially after spray dis-
infection (see chapter 5.2, Fig. 14), a manual defrost cycle (which can be
terminated at any time) should be started.
When the quick-freeze shelf is being defrosted (independently of the cryo-
chamber temperature selected) frost will build up on specimen head, knife
holder and microtome. During defrosting, the chamber temperature will in-
crease by approx. 8-10K. Due to the frost formation and change in tempera-
ture, specimen sectioning during the defrost cycle is not possible. After the
quick-freeze shelf defrosting cycle has been activated (1. defrosting, 2. wip-
ing dry, 3. recooling) a waiting period of approx. 45 min. must be observed
before sectioning can be resumed. If the chamber temperature exceeds -
5 °C, the defrosting cycle is interrupted.
6.6 Finishing work
6.6.1 Finishing the daily work
• Lock the handwheel.
• Take the knife/blade out of the knife holder and put it back into the
knife box.
• Remove frozen section waste with a cold brush.
• Empty the section waste tray.
• Clean the storage shelves and brush shelf.
Only common detergents and alcohol-based disinfectants
should be used for cleaning and disinfection.
All components removed from the cold environment will collect
condensation. Therefore they must be dried thoroughly before
placing them back into the cryochamber.
• Remove all specimens from the cryostat.
• Close the sliding window.
• Switch off the cryochamber illumination.
• Do not switch the instrument off with the automatic circuit breaker as
there would be no cooling.
6. Daily work with the instrument