| 1. Select the appropriate size recipient block.
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| NOTE: It is recommended that the start position be identified on the recipient block. Select your start position and orient the recipient block by trimming a piece or notching the selected corner. (See Figure 1.)
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| Figure 1 |
| 2. Select desired tip size.
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| 3. Hold the puncher upside-down and screw the desired tip on clockwise.
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| 4. Turn the plunger knob on the puncher clockwise until appropriate depth is reached (appropriate depth depends on tissue thickness in donor block). (See Figure 2.)
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| Figure 2 |
| NOTE: A 1mm punch guide is provided for the creation of the 1mm recipient block.
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| 5. Insert puncher straight down into donor block, applying even pressure. Proceed until completely through tissue. Avoid contact with the bottom of the cassette. (See Figure 3.)
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| NOTE: When creating a 1mm TMA, insert the recipient block into the punch guide. Turn the punch guide with the plastic facing up. Insert the tip through the plastic and into the recipient block.
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| NOTE: The proper procedure for inserting the tip of the puncher into either the donor or recipient block is in a straight up and down fashion while applying slight pressure. Failure to do so may result in damage to the tip.
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| Figure 3 |
| 6. Pull puncher straight out of donor block.
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| 7. Insert the tip of the puncher into an open core and push down on the puncher releasing the extracted tissue into a hole in the orientated recipient block. (See Figure 4.)
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| 8. Use a map to record the tissue sample in that hole.
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| Figure 4 |
| 9. Repeat steps 5 through 8 until recipient block is full.
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| 10. Gently push or tap in all tissue cores to ensure evenness for microtomy.
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