Patent ID: 8570370

Claim:
An automated cell counter comprising optical components, a sample mount for receiving a sample slide, and a housing retaining said optical components and sample mount, said optical components comprising a light source, a digital imaging sensor, and lenses positioned to direct light from said light source to said digital imaging sensor through said sample mount, said optical components arranged in a linear optical path and arranged such that when a sample slide containing a cell suspension is mounted in said sample mount, an image of said cell suspension is projected onto said digital imaging sensor, said digital imaging sensor comprising at least about 4,000,000 pixels and imaging a field of view at said sample mount of at least 3 mm 2 , each pixel being 2×2 mm or less in area, wherein the automated cell counter comprises an aspect for correcting curvature of a focus field, and wherein said optical path is vertically oriented and said housing is mounted to a support base that is at least as wide as said housing, said housing and support base each occupying lateral areas of not more than 300 cm 2 , said optical path having a total height of not more than 20 cm, said housing is 30 cm or less in height and said sample mount is at least 6 cm above said surface.