Image analysis and measurement of biological samples

1. A system for imaging a sample, the system comprising:

a stage configured to receive a sample vessel holder, the stage having an optically transmissive surface;

a sample holder containing said sample, the sample holder comprising a cuvette, the cuvette comprising an optically transmissive surface of the cuvette and a reflective surface of the cuvette,

wherein the optically transmissive surface and the reflective surface are each configured such that light passing through the optically transmissive surface simultaneously provides both epi-illumination and trans-illumination to the sample in the sample chamber,

wherein the epi-illumination comprises a light traveling from said illumination source to the sample without reflection at a surface of the optically transmissive material, and

wherein the trans-illumination comprises the light traveling within the optically transmissive material and to the sample following at least one reflection from at least one surface of said optically transmissive material; and

a light source for illuminating formed components in the sample through the stage,

wherein the sample holder comprises an interface surface configured to engage the optically transparent surface of the sample holder receiver whereby the interface surface conforms to the optically transparent surface without significant distortion of the light passing through the interface surface.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface surface of the sample holder is formed from a polymer material.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface surface of the sample holder is formed of a material softer than a material used to form the optically transparent surface of the sample holder receiver.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a compression unit for applying pressure to conform the interface surface to a shape configured to conform with the optically transparent surface of the sample holder receiver.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a handling unit configured to be coupled to the sample holder to facilitate transport of sample holder on and off the stage, and increase mechanical rigidity of the sample holder.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an opaque handling unit configured to be coupled to the sample holder.

7. The system of claim 1 , where all imaging of the sample is configured to occur without passing light in a substantially straight line through a first surface opposite a second surface, the first surface closer to the light source than the second source, to a detector.

8. The system of claim 1 , where the light source is not located on a first one side of the sample holder to deliver light to a detector on a second side opposite the first side of the sample holder, the first side closer to the light source than the second source.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sample holder comprises at least one concave or convex structure to provide a pathway for internally reflected light within the sample holder.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sample holder comprises at least one concave or convex structure that comprises a surface configured to reflect light within the cuvette.