An optical system of an optical analysis device is easily evaluated with high accuracy. There is provided a method of evaluating an optical analysis device including an optical system A capable of forming a confocal volume C at a focal position by condensing excitation light B, the method including the steps of: placing, at the focal position of the optical system A, a phantom sample in which two or more types of solid members having different fluorescent substance concentrations are arranged adjacent to each other; irradiating the phantom sample 1 with excitation light through the optical system A while relatively moving the confocal volume C formed by the optical system A and the phantom sample in an arrangement direction of the solid members; detecting fluorescent light generated in the solid members placed in the confocal volume C; and evaluating the optical system A based on the detected fluorescent light.

A socket includes a first base member that includes a module mount unit allowing a module including an imaging device and an object to be placed thereon and an electric connector that electrically connects the imaging device to an external apparatus, a second base member having an opening, and an engagement unit that causes the first base member to be engaged with the second base member under a condition that the module placed on the module mount unit is sandwiched by the first and second base members. When the first base member is engaged with the second base member by the engagement unit under a condition that the module placed on the module mount unit is sandwiched by the first base member and the second base member, the electric connector is electrically connected to the imaging device, and the object receives illumination light from a light source through the opening.

A socket includes a first base member that includes a module mount unit allowing a module including an imaging device and an object to be placed thereon and an electric connector that electrically connects the imaging device to an external apparatus, a second base member having an opening, and an engagement unit that causes the first base member to be engaged with the second base member under a condition that the module placed on the module mount unit is sandwiched by the first and second base members. When the first base member is engaged with the second base member by the engagement unit under a condition that the module placed on the module mount unit is sandwiched by the first base member and the second base member, the electric connector is electrically connected to the imaging device, and the object receives illumination light from a light source through the opening.

The present invention includes an apparatus and method that facilitates the manual sorting of slides into slide folders. The apparatus includes a horizontal display surface and a controller configured to receive slides and folders into which the slides are to be placed (or sorted). The controller operates components of the apparatus to selectively illuminate the display surface to guide a user in placing folders at multiple folder locations and in sorting the slides into the folders. In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus is configured to allow multiple folders to be stacked at a folder location during the slide sorting process. In these aspects, the apparatus is configured to determine number of folders stacked at each folder location.

An apparatus and method are provided for imaging and analyzing images of tissue samples. The apparatus includes an imager, a lighting system, and a processor. The imager is configured to capture images within a selectable field of view. A tissue sample container is positionable within the field of view. The imager is configured to capture images of a plurality of tissue sample containers. The lighting system is configured to illuminate the field of view. The processor is configured to receive a first plurality of captured images of tissue sample containers. The processor is configured to analyze the first plurality of captured images and to determine whether there is tissue missing from any ones of the first plurality of captured images.

An apparatus and method are provided for imaging and analyzing images of tissue samples. The apparatus includes an imager, a lighting system, and a processor. The imager is configured to capture images within a selectable field of view. A tissue sample container is positionable within the field of view. The imager is configured to capture images of a plurality of tissue sample containers. The lighting system is configured to illuminate the field of view. The processor is configured to receive a first plurality of captured images of tissue sample containers. The processor is configured to analyze the first plurality of captured images and to determine whether there is tissue missing from any ones of the first plurality of captured images.

In some instances, an apparatus can include a light sensitive imaging sensor having a surface to receive a fluid sample, a body to be moved relative to the light sensitive imaging sensor and having a surface to touch a portion of the fluid sample, and a carrier to move the body toward the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor to cause the surface of the body to touch the portion of the fluid sample, so that as the surface of the body touches the portion of the fluid, the surface of the body (i) is parallel to the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor, and (ii) settles on top of the fluid sample independently of motion of the carrier.

Test kits for assessing male fertility include a sample holder defining an object plane, a lens, and a two dimensional light sensor defining an image plane arranged along a common linear axis. The distance between the object plane and the image plane may be no more than 50 mm, and may be no more than 30 mm. A lens aperture may have an area of 1-10 mm.sup.2. The test kit may have a housing with a maximum linear dimension of no more than 100 mm. Processing circuitry may be provided that is configured to produce a sperm count and/or sperm motility measurements by processing image data from the two-dimensional light sensor.

Test kits for assessing male fertility include a sample holder defining an object plane, a lens, and a two dimensional light sensor defining an image plane arranged along a common linear axis. The distance between the object plane and the image plane may be no more than 50 mm, and may be no more than 30 mm. A lens aperture may have an area of 1-10 mm.sup.2. The test kit may have a housing with a maximum linear dimension of no more than 100 mm. Processing circuitry may be provided that is configured to produce a sperm count and/or sperm motility measurements by processing image data from the two-dimensional light sensor.

A light sheet microscope includes a sample chamber in which a cover slip or slide is arrangeable, which has a surface that defines a partially reflective interface and which has a further surface that defines a further partially reflective interface. The two interfaces are arranged at different distances from an objective. The light sheet microscope further includes an optical system having the objective facing toward the cover slip or slide, an illumination apparatus, which is designed to generate a light sheet, a sensor, and a processor. The two interfaces are formed in that two optical media are applicable in the sample chamber. The light sheet microscope forms a measuring device for acquiring a measured variable. The sensor is designed to acquire the intensities and/or the incidence locations of the two reflection light beams.