Centrifuge

Abstract

A centrifuge is provided. The centrifuge includes a power source, the power source configured to generate electrical power from a renewable power source. At least one battery electrically coupled to the power source. A motor is electrically coupled to the at least one battery. A rotor is coupled to the motor. The rotor has a generally cylindrical body and a pair of opposing openings opposite the motor, and a pair of holders each disposed in one of the pair of opposing openings, each of the holders having an opening on one end sized to receive a capillary tube.

1 . A centrifuge comprising:
 a power source configured to generate electrical power from a renewable power source;   at least one battery electrically coupled to the power source;   a motor electrically coupled to the at least one battery; and   a rotor coupled to the motor, the rotor having a generally cylindrical body and a pair of opposing openings opposite the motor, and a pair of holders each disposed in one of the pair of opposing openings, each of the pair of holders having an opening on one end sized to receive a capillary tube.   
     
     
         2 . The centrifuge of  claim 1  wherein the power source is a solar panel. 
     
     
         3 . The centrifuge of  claim 2  wherein the solar panel includes five 1000 mA, 0.55W solar panels. 
     
     
         4 . The centrifuge of  claim 1  wherein the pair of opposing openings are disposed on an angle. 
     
     
         5 . The centrifuge of  claim 4  wherein the angle is 65 degrees from a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         6 . The centrifuge of  claim 1  wherein the at least one battery includes a first battery and a second battery electrically coupled in parallel between the power source and the motor. 
     
     
         7 . The centrifuge of  claim 6  further comprising a controller configured to selectively couple the first battery to the motor. 
     
     
         8 . The centrifuge of  claim 7  wherein the controller is configured to charge the second battery with the power source when the first battery is coupled to the motor. 
     
     
         9 . A method of evaluating a patient's hematocrit comprising:
 separating a sample of blood in a capillary tube into a red blood cell portion and a plasma portion, the capillary tube having a bottom end;   providing a diagnosis card, the diagnosis card comprising:   a base line indicia;   a lower normal line indicia having a first starting point spaced apart from the base line indicia, the lower normal line indicia extending on a first angle relative to the base line indicia;   an upper normal line indicia having a second starting point coincident with the first starting point, the upper normal line indicia extending on a second angle relative to the lower normal line indicia;   a 100% level line indicia having a third starting point spaced apart from the first starting point, the 100% level line indicia extending on a third angle relative to the upper normal line indicia; and   placing the capillary tube against the diagnosis card with the bottom end placed adjacent the base line indicia.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising moving the capillary tube until the bottom end aligns with the base line indicia and an end of the plasma portion opposite the bottom end is aligned with the 100% level line indicia. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising diagnosing the patient as having anemic when the end of the red blood cell portion is between the base line indicia and the lower normal line indicia. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising diagnosing the patient as having polycythemia when the end of the red blood cell portion opposite the bottom end is between the upper normal line indicia and the 100% level line indicia. 
     
     
         13 . A system for evaluating a patient's hematocrit in a low resource area, the system comprising:
 a centrifuge comprising:
 a solar panel; 
 at least one battery electrically coupled to the solar panel; 
 a motor electrically coupled to the at least one battery; and 
 a rotor coupled to the motor, the rotor having a generally cylindrical body and a pair of opposing openings opposite the motor, and a pair of holders each disposed in one of the pair of opposing openings, each of the pair of holders having an opening on one end sized to receive a capillary tube; and, 
   a diagnosis device comprising a graphical screen, the graphical screen configured to display:
 a base line indicia; 
 a lower normal line indicia having a first starting point spaced apart from the base line indicia, the lower normal line indicia extending on a first angle relative to the base line indicia; 
 an upper normal line indicia having a second starting point coincident with the first starting point, the upper normal line indicia extending on a second angle relative to the lower normal line indicia; and 
 a 100% level line indicia having a third starting point spaced apart from the first starting point, the 100% level line indicia extending on a third angle relative to the upper normal line indicia. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the at least one battery includes a first battery and a second battery electrically coupled in parallel between the solar panel and the motor. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a controller configured to selectively couple the first battery to the motor. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the controller is configured to charge the second battery with the solar panel when the first battery is coupled to the motor. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the diagnosis device further comprises a camera. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the diagnosis device is configured to scale a photograph of the capillary tube acquired by the camera on the graphical screen. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the diagnosis device is further configured to superimpose the photograph of the capillary tube on the graphical screen with the base line indicia, the lower normal line indicia, the upper normal line indicia and the 100% level line. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the diagnosis device is configured to scale the photograph automatically.