The US Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent to Iris International Inc. of Chatsworth, Calif., for its automated technique for separating and identifying particles from cell samples. By analyzing particles contained in a slide-based sample for specific features, the system automatically performs complete blood cell and white blood cell counts using a microscope objective and a CCD camera. The device will be incorporated into the company’s 3 Gems cell morphology platform, a product with applications in hematology, urinalysis and body fluids testing.