Diagnostic apparatus

An automated microscope apparatus, comprising:

• (a) an outer housing
• (b) a microscope assembly in said housing, said microscope assembly comprising:
• a support frame;
• a subframe;
• a plurality of vibration isolators connecting said support frame to said subframe;
• an XYZ stage connected to said subframe;
• and
• an optical stage connected to said subframe, and
• (c) a passively cooled microprocessor assembly in said housing.

An automated method to aid detecting a disorder in a subject, comprising:

• securing a sample cartridge to the stage of an automated microscope;
• said sample cartridge comprising at least one chamber, said at least one chamber containing a biological sample collected from a subject;
• autofocusing said microscope on said at least one chamber;
• imaging selected cells in said sample, said selected cells including at least neutrophils;
• generating a count of at least neutrophils in said sample as an aid to detecting a disorder in said subject;
• and
• optionally repeating at least said imaging step for at least one additional chamber on said cartridge.

An automated system for detecting a disorder in a subject, comprising:

• an XYZ stage configured to secure a sample cartridge;
• said sample cartridge comprising at least one chamber, said at least one chamber containing a biological sample collected from a subject;
• an imaging system operatively associated with said XYZ stage and configured to image selected cells in said sample, said selected cells including at least neutrophils;
• an autofocusing system operatively associated with said imaging system and said XYZ stage and configured to focus said imaging system on said at least one chamber;
• means for generating a count of at least neutrophils in said sample as an aid to detecting a disorder in said subject;
• and
• a controller configured to optionally repeat at least said imaging for at least one additional chamber on said cartridge.

A method for detecting a disorder in a subject with an automated microscope apparatus, the method comprising:

• providing an automated microscope apparatus comprising:
• an outer housing having an external wall;
• a heat sink mounted on said housing external wall;
• a microscope assembly in said outer housing, the microscope assembly comprising a stage;
• and
• a microprocessor in said outer housing, with said microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with said microscope assembly;
• securing a sample cartridge to the stage of the automated microscope;
• said sample cartridge comprising at least one chamber, said at least one chamber containing a biological sample collected from a subject;
• autofocusing said microscope on said at least one chamber;
• imaging selected cells in said sample, said selected cells including at least neutrophils;
• generating a count of at least neutrophils in said sample as an aid to detecting a disorder in said subject;
• and
• optionally repeating at least said imaging step for at least one additional chamber on said cartridge.