Image analysis and measurement of biological samples

1. A cuvette comprising a sample chamber configured to hold a sample, at least a portion of said cuvette comprising an optically transmissive material, said optically transmissive material comprising an optically transmissive surface and a reflective surface, wherein said optically transmissive surface and said reflective surface are shaped and positioned to simultaneously provide a plurality of light paths from light provided by a single external light source, said plurality of light paths comprising:

i) a direct light path through said optically transmissive surface and to said sample chamber, and

ii) an indirect light path through said optically transmissive surface and within said optically transmissive material to said sample chamber, said indirect light path comprising a point of internal reflection at a reflective surface of said cuvette,

effective that light from said external light source passing through the optically transmissive surface simultaneously provides both epi-illumination and trans-illumination to said sample in the sample chamber, where epi-illumination comprises light traveling through said optically transmissive surface and further along a direct light path to the sample without reflection at a surface of the optically transmissive material, and where trans-illumination comprises light traveling through said optically transmissive surface and further along an indirect light path within the optically transmissive material and to the sample comprising at least one point of internal reflection from at least one reflective surface of said optically transmissive material.

2. The cuvette of claim 1 , wherein the sample chamber comprises an elongated channel.

3. The cuvette of claim 1 , further comprising one or more optically non-transmissive surfaces.

4. The cuvette of claim 1 , wherein said indirect light path within the optically transmissive material comprises at least one point of partial internal reflection of light at a reflective surface of the cuvette.

5. The cuvette of claim 1 , wherein said indirect light path within the optically transmissive material comprises at least one point of total internal reflection of light at a reflective surface of the cuvette.

6. The cuvette of claim 1 , wherein said cuvette comprises two or more sample chambers for holding sample.

7. The cuvette of claim 1 , comprising a reflective surface having a cross-sectional shape selected from a saw tooth vertical cross-sectional shape, and a step-shaped vertical cross-sectional shape.

8. The cuvette of claim 1 , wherein said sample chamber comprises an optically transmissive floor, said cuvette having an outer surface comprising at least one concave or convex structure configured to provide mechanical support to the cuvette.

9. The cuvette of claim 8 , wherein said at least one concave or convex structure has a cross-sectional shape selected from rectangular, triangular, circular, and semi-circular.

10. The cuvette of claim 8 , wherein said at least one concave or convex structure is configured to provide a pathway for internally reflected light within the cuvette.

11. The cuvette of claim 8 , wherein said at least one concave or convex structure comprises a surface, and wherein said surface is configured to reflect light within the cuvette.

12. The cuvette of claim 1 , wherein said single external light source is disposed at a position closer to said optically transmissive surface than to said reflective surface of said cuvette.

13. The cuvette of claim 1 , wherein said optically transmissive surface and said reflective surface are shaped and positioned to simultaneously provide light paths from light provided by a plurality of external light sources, each of said external light sources serving as a light source for a plurality of light paths, each of said plurality of light paths simultaneously comprising:

i) a direct light path through said optically transmissive surface and to said sample chamber, and

ii) an indirect light path through said optically transmissive surface and within said optically transmissive material to said sample chamber, said indirect light path comprising a point of internal reflection at a reflective surface of said cuvette, effective that light from each of said external light sources passing through the optically transmissive surface simultaneously provides both epi-illumination and trans-illumination to said sample in the sample chamber.

14. The cuvette of claim 13 , wherein each of said plurality of external light sources is disposed at a position closer to said optically transmissive surface than to said reflective surface of said cuvette.