Abstract: A device for controlling the temperatures in a cooling chamber for a microtome, in particular an ultramicrotome, comprises at least two different temperature control circuits for controlling the temperatures of the specimen and of the cutter. The control circuit for the temperature of the specimen (8) and the control circuit for the temperature of the cutter (9), as well as, if appropriate, the control circuit for the temperature of the chamber gas, have a common setting element (17), such that the control circuit can be programmed to an identical temperature as the set value.

Abstract: Device for dehydrating and/or embedding preferably frozen samples, comprising a Dewar vessel (1) filled with liquid nitrogen (2) and a metallic element (4), anchored to the floor (3), of material of good thermal conductivity, which exhibits at its upper end in the region of attachment of the Dewar neck a cover (5) with a metallic cooling surface (6, 7) which corresponds with the complementarily designed lower contact surfaces of the thermostatically heated (9, 10) substitution (PLT) containers (8) or respectively of the lower part of a freeze-drying chamber in a manner which ensures a good heat transfer between the corresponding surfaces.

Abstract: A chamber system for cryosorption freeze-drying of biological specimens in a Dewar vessel, comprises a chamber having a cylindrical metal wall and fitted within the Dewar vessel, a lower outer edge of which chamber is connected in a vacuum-tight manner to a lower edge of a metallic rotational component, the metallic rotational component having a bottom contact surface, which bottom contact surface corresponds with a complementary top contact surface on top of a cylindrical body around which liquid nitrogen flows and cools the metallic rotational component, the rotational component having a chamber to receive a drying agent for conducting cryosorption, for example a molecular screen, as well as a connection to the drying chamber.The upper edge of the metal wall or a ring connected thereto in a vacuum-tight manner is situated outside the Dewar vessel and is therefore approximately at ambient temperature and has a vacuum connection for the connection of commercially available vacuum components.