The use of the ionizer (Static Line II). The ionizer is an anti-static device.

It emits positive and negative ions and neutralizes the electrostatic charge in the cryochamber. The ionizer is mainly used with diamond knives, but can be helpful with glass knives if sections stick to the surface off the glass knife. Try to prevent sticking of the very first sections to the cutting-edge of the diamond knife by: 1. Start sectioning with the ionizer at position 9. 2. Reduce the voltage after a few sections. 3. If sections lift up from the knife surface: reduce the voltage. 4. If sections stick at the cutting edge: increase the voltage. 5. Switch ionizer to position 1 or 2 or even off during 6. transfer of the sections with a hair. 7. Switch the ionizer always off during pick-up of the sections. Helpful hints: 1. The ionizer will lose its power if it the tip becomes covered with ice. If this occurs, just clean the tip with a fine brush. 2. Heavy ice-crystal grow on the ionizer causes very irregular cutting. Turn it off and take the ionizer outof the cryochamber, let it thaw and dry the ionizer. 3. The ionizer switched to the highest position ( position 10) can influence the cutting window and on/off switch. Do not use the ionizer at a setting above 9. 4. Check always if the tip of the ionizer is in line with the knife-edge. 5. To avoid breaking, do not bend the frozen cable. 6. Switch off the unit prior to doing any manipulation in the chamber (specimen change, knife change, etc). 7. When the ionizer is on, the tip of the ionizer should not come in contact with the metallic parts of the chamber. 8. Never heat the chamber with the ionizer inside. 9. Electrostatic charging in the chamber is dependent on different factors such as chamber temperature, humidity, specimen, PFA-fixation or GA-fixation of the specimen, cutting speed , shoes and clothes, LN2 flow in the cryochamber, etc. It may be necessary to vary the ion emittance as the sectioning conditions change. 10. Switch off the unit before taking the ionizer from the cryochamber. How to check the electrode of the ionizer with the multicheck: According to Helmut Gnaegi: Test the electrode with the Multicheck tester as follows: Place the electrode in the cryochamber and test at low temperature(-110 or -120C). Approach the electrode tip with the black nose of the Multicheck, while pressing the button. At first the diode at the Multicheck is red, when coming closer it turns to green. For perfect function the green should be lit at approximately 20 mm. Old electrodes often turn green at approximately 5 mm. An old electrode has only a very small effect on section gliding. The metal tips of the electrodes erode per time used. It is advisable to buy a new one after may be two years.