Apparatus for measurement of cell concentration in a biological sample employing a magnetic slide loading apparatus

A slide loading apparatus for receiving a slide holding a fluid specimen within a defined region of uniform depth, said specimen being covered by a cover slip, said apparatus comprising

• a holder having a recess for receiving said slide, and an aperture for allowing radiation to pass therethrough,
• a holder clamp, mechanically secured to said holder wherein said holder clamp can be placed in mechanical contact with said cover slip, said holder clamp having an opening therethrough aligned with said aperture in said holder when said holder clamp is in mechanical contact with said cover slip,
• first magnetic means coupled to said holder, for applying a uniform magnetic attraction to said holder clamp such that, when placed in mechanical contact with said cover slip, said holder clamp exerts a uniform pressure on said cover slip to maintain a constant separation distance between said slide and said cover slip over said defined region, and
• a second magnetic means mechanically attached to said holder clamp, for working in concert with said first magnetic means by applying a uniform attractive force against said holder clamp, said second magnetic means for applying an opposite pole attraction to said first magnetic attraction applied by said first magnetic means, ensuring a constant separation distance between said slide and said cover slip.

An apparatus for measuring cell concentration in a biological fluid specimen, comprising,

• a slide holding a biological fluid specimen within a defined region of uniform depth,
• a substantially flat cover slip covering said biological fluid specimen,
• a holder having a recess for receiving said slide, and an aperture for allowing radiation to pass therethrough,
• a holder clamp formed to include magnetically susceptible material, mechanically secured to said holder wherein said holder clamp can be placed in mechanical contact with said cover slip, said holder clamp having an opening therethrough aligned with said aperture in said holder when said holder clamp is in mechanical contact with said cover slip, and
• first magnetic means coupled to said holder, for applying a uniform magnetic attraction to said holder clamp such that, when placed in mechanical contact with said cover slip, said holder clamp exerts a uniform pressure on said cover slip to maintain a constant separation distance between said slide and said cover slip over said defined region.