Instrumentation in diagnostic morphometry
Abstract
Although any classification is more or less artificial, equipment for quantitative microscopy can be classified into three groups: 1) non-automatic, 2) semi-automatic and 3) mainly automatic instruments. Each group of instruments has advantages and disadvantages, and "more expensive is not necessarily better". In the past years, microcomputers have become widely available at a low price level. Because of this mechanic counters can no longer rival with these instruments in price and certainly not in performance.
Digital image processing computers, DNA-slide scanners and flow-cytometers are still relatively expensive (US $ 50,000 - 120,000). Diagnostic applications mainly require more simple apparatus, such as a projection microscope for stereological analysis or a graphic tablet for nuclear measurements.