Patent ID: 8781203

Claim:
An apparatus for determining at least one hemoglobin related parameter of a whole blood sample, comprising: an analysis chamber, adapted to quiescently hold the whole blood sample, the chamber defined by an interior surface of a first panel, and an interior surface of a second panel, and the chamber has a height extending between the interior surfaces of the panels, wherein the chamber is configured to increase the oxygenation state of the sample to a substantially oxygenated state within a predetermined amount of time after entry into the chamber; an imaging unit that includes an illuminator and an image dissector, which unit is operable to image sample disposed within the chamber, and produce image signals representative of such imaged sample; and a programmable analyzer adapted to determine, using the image signals, at least one hemoglobin related parameter of the sample, using the image signals and a molar extinction coefficient for oxygenated hemoglobin.