Patent ID: 8446667

Claim:
A method of using a microscope, said microscope comprising two point light sources, a transparent specimen holder having a specimen therein, a digital imaging device, a computing device and a display, said method comprising: sequentially illuminating said two point light sources through said transparent specimen holder and across said specimen and onto said digital imaging device to create a first image shadow associated with a first of said two point light sources and a second image shadow associated with a second of said two point light sources; receiving sequential optical images of said specimen on said digital imaging device associated with said first image shadow and said second image shadow; outputting a disparity signal containing a horizontal position (x), a vertical position (y) and a depth position (Z) of said specimen in said transparent specimen holder relative to said digital imaging device; and determining, by said computing device, a location of said specimen relative to said microscope based on said disparity signal, where said transparent specimen holder intersects a unidirectional path of light from each point light source of said two point light sources to said digital imaging device and allows said specimen to move freely throughout said transparent specimen holder.