[A coordinate and area recording microscope for the topographic analysis of particle size distributions (author's...

A coordinate recording microscope equipped with a rolling disc planimeter is described. The application of the instrument for the analysis of cell size distribution in histologic preparations is demonstrated. The microscope stage is moved in x, and y directions by two digital micrometer spindles. The planimeter is equipped with a rotary encoder. The spindles and the rotary encoder are connected to digital counters which are input to a multiplexer. The multiplexer outputs the data to a teletype terminal both as hard copy and on paper tape. To avoid repeated measurements a video-acoustic monitoring system is provided. Processing of the data is carried out off-line with a IBM 1130 computer. Here the measured cells are displayed as points or circles on an oscilloscope. The distribution of cells of any size can be studied topographically in any region of the field of measurements.