Re: Query: Methods of cutting small bones

From: Pittsburgh Pete (metalengr_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 07/01/04 

Date: 1 Jul 2004 02:16:14 -0700

wlit0613@postoffice.uri.edu (William) wrote in message news:<ce5edd7a.0406301326.1a64c6d5@posting.google.com>...
> I am a graduate student currently trying to investigate early bone
> mineralization in mice. I have run into a problem where I need to cut
> bones into two pieces (longitudinally) for seperate embedding into two
> different compounds.
>
> I also need to preserve as much of the central diaphysis intact as
> possible. So far I have been unable to find any cutting technique
> likely to destroy less than a .5mm length of the bone (including heat
> deformation and denaturation of the collagen matrix). In the interest
> of leaving no avenue untried, I've decided to ask total strangers for
> ideas.
>
> Currently my best option appears to be jeweler's saws. However, I
> would prefer to avoid large or hand-powered tools due to the need to
> make the cut precisely in the center of the bone, which range from
> 4-12mm long and about 1 mm thick.
>
> I have already tried scalpels (bone cracks), disposable microtome
> blades (same, plus deformed blade), diamond wafer saws (too thick),
> and freeze-cracking (bone shatters).
>
> William Little

William:

You might also look at thin circular saw blades in a cutoff saw like a
Buehler Isomet. There are steel "metal slitting cutters" as thin as
0.006" thickness.
Look at www.mcmaster.com.

General rule in research - check the wholesale hardware catalog as
well as the scientific instrument suppliers.

Pittsburgh Pete