Patent ID: 8067245

Claim:
An apparatus for analyzing stained blood cells on a microscope slide which comprises: (a) a computer comprising; i. a processor; ii. random access memory; iii. a monitor in communication with the computer; and iv. an input device in communication with the computer; (b) a base having a flat surface lying in the X-Y plane; (c) a gripper to acquire and transport the microscope slides and which serves as a microscope stage; the gripper being constrained to move in the X-Y plane (d) a motor to move the gripper in the X direction; (e) a motor to move the gripper in the Y direction; (f) a microscope tower fixed with respect to the base (g) two microscopes with optical axes lying parallel to the Z direction, wherein the microscopes have upper parts attached to the microscope tower and lower parts comprising objectives of different powers and aligned to the optical axes, the lower parts being constrained to move in the z direction along their optical axes, (h) wherein a first of the two upper parts is aligned with a first of the objectives along a first of the optical axes, (i) wherein a second of the two upper parts is aligned with a second of the objectives along a second of the optical axes, (i) wherein the motors allow the gripper to move a cell located on the slide under either the first or second aligned microscope objectives; (k) at least one focusing actuator for moving the two microscope objectives in the Z direction; and (l) a light source to illuminate the microscope slides.