AN AUTOMATIC MICROSCOPE SYSTEM FOR DIFFERENTIAL LEUKOCYTE COUNTING

Abstract

Described are the operation and special purpose hardware of a practical system for an automatic differential leukocyte count. The system is based on an extended memory configuration minicomputer. Major features of the system are: a high speed, three-axis, servo-controlled microscope stage; a cell location sensor; a special slowed scan, two spectral band television camera for direct computer input; and a focus signal generated from the camera, with the loop closed through the computer. The camera and monochrome monitor scan a 256 x 256 element frame 15 times/sec. The original or modified images may be displayed from the computer memory. The performance goal is the processing of one cell/sec, with the identification of 17 or more cell types.