Patent ID: 7718124

Claim:
An apparatus structured for observation under magnification of elements present in a fluid, the apparatus comprising: a transparent slide consisting of a single substrate and having an upper surface; a transparent cover having a lower surface which overlies the upper surface of the slide; a region in the slide defining a recessed center well which is recessed below the upper surface of the slide; a region in the slide defining an overflow channel which is recessed below the upper surface of the slide and spaced from the recessed center well; a viewing platform in a region of the upper surface of the slide extending between the recessed center well and the overflow channel, wherein the cover further comprises an unobscured viewing region situated over the viewing platform, a viewing cavity region between the viewing platform and the lower surface of the cover, said viewing cavity region in fluid communication with the recessed center well and the overflow channel, wherein said viewing cavity region serves as a capillary flow channel; a fluid inlet opening extending through the cover for passage of fluid therethrough into the recessed center well; wherein fluid within the well can be drawn through the viewing cavity region and into the overflow channel, and elements present in the fluid within the viewing cavity region can be observed.