Leica CM1950 - The cryostats for high quality sectioning, user safety, and efficient workflow
The Leica CM1950 is a highly adaptable platform that can be tailor-made for each laboratory. By starting with the standard instrument and choosing from a range of options, every laboratory can have THE clinical cryostat for their individual needs.
Staff near the cryostat is protected by the certified UVC disinfection, that efficiently reduces pathogen contamination, including SARS-CoV-2.
Innovation and human-oriented features provide a cryostat with a new level of performance.
Technical Specifications
General
Width (with handwheel): | 835 mm |
Depth (cabinet only): | 850 mm |
Height (total): | 1215 mm |
Working height (armrest): | 1025 mm |
Weight (w/ motor and suct.): | 193 kg |
Operating temperature range: | 18°C to 35°C |
Maximum specimen size: | 50 x 80 mm |
Electric coarse feed: | Slow: 300 μm/s, in 20 μm steps Fast: 900 μm/s |
Features
UVC disinfection
UVC disinfection minimizes risk of contamination by infectious material.
AgProtect
AgProtect, an antimicrobial, nanosilver coating on all outside surfaces also minimizes contamination risk.

Optional section waste
Optional section waste removal system provides a safer environment using a concealed primary filter system for solid waste and a bacterial (HEPA) filter for air.
Optional vacuum
Optional vacuum assisted sectioning makes sectioning easier.


Disposable blade holder
New disposable blade holder with dovetail mounting plate and knife holder base provides larger clamping surface and working distance and supports reproducible section quality.
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Documents
Documents
Acceptance and Specifications
95.8801 Techn DataSheet Leica CM1950 en | (PDF) |
95.8802 Techn DataSheet Leica CM1950 de | (PDF) |
Application Notes
Application Art of embedding frozen tissue EN | (PDF) |
Application Paper Cryoembedding EN | (PDF) |
Brochures
Certificates
CM UVC Certificate Bacteria | (PDF) |
CM UVC Leica ADDENDUM 200407 | (PDF) |
EU Declaration Leica CM1950 A en | (PDF) |
Material Safety Data Sheets
Publications
Face Down Cryoembedding | (PDF) |
pathoplogypartners dr.peters | (PDF) |
User Manuals/IFUs
Resources
Resources
Find all the videos of Leica CM1950 on this page. Visit our YouTube channel for more videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Leica CM1950
What is the CryoZone™?
- The CryoZone™ system ensures that uniformly cold air flows continuously over critical areas of the cryochamber.
- Cold air flows directly from the evaporator onto the blade/ knife holder ensuring that the set temperature is maintained.
- The CryoZone™ system maintains a uniform temperature of the knife/blade holder and anti-roll guide, which improves section quality (stretching and less curling).
Is it possible to retrofit a second compressor or motor drive?
- No, it is not possible to retrofit a second compressor or motor drive.
- The desired instrument configuration must be specified when ordered.
Is there a way to tell how many hours a UVC bulb has been used?
- There is no visible indication of how many hours the UVC bulb has been used.
- When the bulb needs to be replaced/exchanged the two LEDs on the UVC activation button will blink/flash.
How long is the recommended lifetime of the UVC bulb?
- The expected lifetime of a UVC bulb is approximately 12,000 hours.
- The two LEDs on the UVC activation button will blink/flash after 9,000 hours of bulb use. This built in safety margin ensures that the stated maximum germicidal efficiency of the bulb is always achieved.
- Users are reminded that in addition to service life, the number of times the lamp is turned on and off has a significant effect on expected lifetime of the bulb.
- Each on/off cycle is equivalent to an aging process of 1–2 operating hours.
How often must the HEPA filter be exchanged?
- The HEPA filter must be exchanged every 3 months.
- There is no visible indicator on the instrument alerting the user to exchange the filter.
What are the advantages of the Leica CM1950?
- The CryoZone™ system ensures that a zone of uniformly cold air flows continuously over critical areas of the cryochamber. The cold air flows directly from the evaporator onto the blade/knife holder and anti-roll guide, maintaining the selected temperature and improving section quality (stretching and less curling).
- The dual purpose, optional vacuum system facilitates the work process by stretching the sections as they are being cut. This enhances safety by reducing debris as it is generated and saves valuable time by facilitating sectioning and waste removal.
- High section quality
a. Precise microtome with stepper motor specimen feed.
b. Innovative flat-plate specimen clamping system.
c. Ultra-efficient refrigeration system.
d. Options: sectioning motor and section stretching by vacuum assisted sectioning aid. - Safe operation
a. Certified UVC disinfection.
b. AgProtect™ antibacterial nano-silver coating.
c. Encapsulated microtome.
d. Option: vacuum waste removal system.. - Effective Workflow
a. UVC disinfection possible at any time without warming the instrument.
b. Clearly structured workspace with various shelves.
c. Clearly labeled, self-explanatory controls.
d. Constant display of operating parameters.
How long does it take to cool down a CM1950?
- To ensure the optimum cutting environment it is recommended to cool the CM1950 at least 5 hours from ambient to -25 °C or 8 hours from ambient to -35 °C prior to use.
- It is important that all accessories are pre-cooled before use (blade or knife holder, cutting tools, brushes etc.).
Why does the compressor for the object cooling not start simultaneously with the compressor for the cabinet cooling when switching on the Leica CM1950?
- After turning on the cryostat, the compressor for the cabinet cooling will cool the cabinet down to -5 °C before the second compressor, for object cooling, can be activated.
- Activation of object cooling is delayed to ensure that the object head does not cool faster, due to its smaller mass, compared to the rest of the cryostat. This prevents humidity in the chamber from causing frost build up on the object head, which could result in problems clamping the specimen disc.
Why is the operating time of the Peltier element limited to 10 minutes only?
- A Peltier element (electrical cooling) always has two sides – a cold and a warm side.
- The cold side is used to quickly freeze the specimens.
- The heat produced on the warm side has to be dissipated.
- The longer the Peltier element is activated, the more heat is produced and the warmer the cold side gets.
- To avoid “weakening” the freezing rate by a warming Peltier element, it is automatically switched off after 10 minutes of use.
Can the UVC disinfection system be used to inactivate RNase in the cryostat cabinet?
- UVC does not inactivate RNase, a protein.
- RNA, a nucleic acid, strongly absorbs UVC and is rapidly degraded (this is the reason why the germicidal activity of UVC is so effective against RNA viruses).
- The only way to inactivate RNase is to use RNaseZAP™ or comparable cleaning solutions.
- RNaseZAP™ has been extensively tested and is recommended for use with the CM1950 Cryostat.
Configurations
Configurations
Choose your option below, and then use the Contact Us link above to submit a quote request for your selection
Configuration (1491950C1US)
- Leica CM1950 - Configuration USA - 120 V/60 Hz with cryochamber cooling, deactivable specimen retraction, certified UVC disinfection, AgProtect nanosilver coating, vacuum system, disposable blade holder CE
- Freestanding cryostat with encapsulated, splash-proof microtome.
- Spacious, stainless-steel cryochamber, with antiglare illumination.
- Easy to clean and disinfect.
Configuration (1491950C2US)
- Leica CM1950 - Configuration USA - 120 V/60 Hz with cryochamber and specimen cooling, deactivable specimen retraction, certified UVC disinfection, Ag Protect nanosilver coating, vacuum system, disposable blade holder CE
- Freestanding cryostat with encapsulated, splash-proof microtome.
- Easy to clean and disinfect.
- Heated, removable sliding window.
Configuration (1491950C3US)
- Leica CM1950 - Configuration USA - 120 V/60 Hz with cryochamber and specimen cooling, deactivable specimen retraction, certified UVC disinfection, AgProtect nanosilver coating, vacuum system and motor for motorized sectioning, with blade holder CE
- Freestanding cryostat with encapsulated, splash-proof microtome.
- Spacious, stainless-steel cryochamber, with antiglare illumination.
Configuration (1491950C4US)
- Leica CM1950 - Configuration USA - 120 V/60 Hz with cryochamber and specimen cooling, specimen retraction (20 µm or off), certified UVC disinfection, AgProtect nanosilver coating disposable blade holder CE
- Freestanding cryostat with encapsulated, splash-proof microtome.
- Spacious, stainless-steel cryochamber, with antiglare illumination.
Configuration (1491950C5US)
- Leica CM1950 - Configuration USA - 120 V/60 Hz with cryochamber and specimen cooling, specimen retraction (20 µm or off), certified UVC disinfection, AgProtect nanosilver coating motor for motorized sectioning, disposable blade holder CE
- Freestanding cryostat with encapsulated, splash-proof microtome.
- Spacious, stainless-steel cryochamber, with antiglare illumination.