US 4,738,655 A · Apparatus and method for obtaining a rapid hematocrit

Abstract

A hand-held centrifuge apparatus for sedimenting a fluid suspension in a sample tube, the sample tube being subjected to centrifugation at an acute angle to the axis of rotation. An electronic circuit activates an electric motor for a preselected time period as a function of voltage supplied by a battery to the motor to provide a predetermined degree of centrifugation to the sample. A voltage tester periodically tests the voltage in the circuit to assure that adequate voltage is being supplied by the battery. A deactivation circuit is actuated if inadequate voltage is sensed and a disabling circuit disables the electronic circuit until adequate voltage is again available. The disabling circuit is masked during acceleration to preclude deactivating the circuit when the motor is in acceleration.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A hand-held centrifuge apparatus comprising:

a housing;
a handle mounted to said housing, said handle comprising a receptacle for at least one battery;
an electric motor inside said housing;
a rotor rotatably mounted on said motor and rotatable inside said housing, said rotor including at least one holder for a sample tube;
said holder being mounted at an acute angle to the axis of rotation of said rotor;
battery means to drive said electric motor;
electronic circuit means for controlling the operation of said electric motor, said electronic circuit means including voltage test means to test the voltage in the electronic circuit to determine if adequate voltage is being supplied by said battery means across said electric motor if said voltage test means detects inadequate voltage.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for obtaining a rapid hematocrit

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for obtaining a rapid hematocrit

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16