A system having a macroscopic imager, a microscopic imager, and a stage for moving a substrate supporting ex-vivo tissue with respect to each of the imagers to enable the macroscopic imager to capture macroscopic images, and the microscopic imager to capture optically formed sectional microscopic images on or within the tissue, when presented to the tissue, via the optically transparent material of the substrate. A computer system controls movement of the stage, and receives the macroscopic and microscopic images. A display is provided for displaying the macroscopic and microscopic images when received by the computer system. The tissue is verified as being in an orientation at least substantially flush against the upper surface of the substrate by being in focus in displayed macroscopic images prior to imaging by the microscopic imager, and if needed, any portion of the tissue unfocused is manually positioned until desired tissue orientation is achieved.

A retainer is placed on a retainer holding portion formed on a sample chip worktable. With an operation of a button, a take-out support mechanism operates. That is, an upthrust pin moves upward. With this process, an orientation of a sample chip stored in the retainer is changed from a horizontal orientation to an inclined orientation. A plurality of openings through which the upthrust pin passes are formed in the retainer.

A retainer is placed on a retainer holding portion formed on a sample chip worktable. With an operation of a button, a take-out support mechanism operates. That is, an upthrust pin moves upward. With this process, an orientation of a sample chip stored in the retainer is changed from a horizontal orientation to an inclined orientation. A plurality of openings through which the upthrust pin passes are formed in the retainer.

There is provided a glass substrate for observing minute substance, made of porous glass and capable of separating and capturing a minute substance with a 10 to 500 nm average particle diameter contained in a solution or a suspension, comprising a porous glass substrate having a plurality of pores, wherein the plurality of pores has an average pore diameter ranging from 30 to 110% of the average particle diameter of the minute substance, each of the plurality of pores has a surface pore diameter on an uppermost surface of the glass substrate, a standard deviation of the surface pore diameter is 60% or less of the average particle diameter of the minute substance, and a pore with a pore diameter ranging from 60 to 140% of a pore diameter at peak top in a pore diameter distribution of the plurality of pores occupies 90% or more of total pore volume.

Disclosed in one aspect is a method for performing a complete blood count (CBC) on a sample of whole blood by metering a predetermined amount of the whole blood and mixing it with a predetermined amount of diluent and stain and transferring a portion thereof to an imaging chamber of fixed dimensions and utilizing an automated microscope with digital camera and cell counting and recognition software to count every white blood cell and red blood corpuscle and platelet in the sample diluent/stain mixture to determine the number of red cells, white cells, and platelets per unit volume, and analyzing the white cells with cell recognition software to classify them.

The present disclosure concerns a sample-maintaining system for a microscope, the sample-maintaining system comprising a ring-shaped outer member comprising a bottom-facing surface and having an inner peripheral surface at least partially delimiting an inner member-receiving through opening; and a ring-shaped inner member defining a sample-receiving through opening and comprising a bottom-contacting surface; the inner member being removably arranged in the inner member-receiving through opening of the outer member; wherein when the bottom-contacting surface of the inner member is supported onto a container bottom wall, the bottom-facing surface of the outer member is spaced apart therefrom. It also concerns a well plate assembly comprising the same, a corresponding microscope assembly and a corresponding method for holding down a microscope sample.

The present disclosure concerns a sample-maintaining system for a microscope, the sample-maintaining system comprising a ring-shaped outer member comprising a bottom-facing surface and having an inner peripheral surface at least partially delimiting an inner member-receiving through opening; and a ring-shaped inner member defining a sample-receiving through opening and comprising a bottom-contacting surface; the inner member being removably arranged in the inner member-receiving through opening of the outer member; wherein when the bottom-contacting surface of the inner member is supported onto a container bottom wall, the bottom-facing surface of the outer member is spaced apart therefrom. It also concerns a well plate assembly comprising the same, a corresponding microscope assembly and a corresponding method for holding down a microscope sample.

A specimen chamber for transmitted light microscopy includes a chamber body having a specimen space that is sealed off in a transmitted light direction on opposite sides by transparent first and second observation windows, respectively, a seal being interposed in each case. First and second clamping elements are configured to fix the two observation windows to the specimen space. The clamping elements comprise observation openings into the specimen chamber. The first observation window comprises a first plane-parallel shoulder that protrudes into the first observation opening of the first clamping-element so as to fit exactly. The second observation window comprises a second plane-parallel shoulder that protrudes into the second observation opening of the second clamping element so as to fit exactly. The two seals are resistant to high pressure. The observation windows and the seals each consist of a plastomer.

A specimen chamber for transmitted light microscopy includes a chamber body having a specimen space that is sealed off in a transmitted light direction on opposite sides by transparent first and second observation windows, respectively, a seal being interposed in each case. First and second clamping elements are configured to fix the two observation windows to the specimen space. The clamping elements comprise observation openings into the specimen chamber. The first observation window comprises a first plane-parallel shoulder that protrudes into the first observation opening of the first clamping-element so as to fit exactly. The second observation window comprises a second plane-parallel shoulder that protrudes into the second observation opening of the second clamping element so as to fit exactly. The two seals are resistant to high pressure. The observation windows and the seals each consist of a plastomer.

Devices and methods for providing and dispensing opposables onto slides are provided in which magazines loaded with opposables include retention arms to reduce movement of the opposables during shipment and processing and to reduce or eliminate contamination.