Surgery and Healing in the Developing World - Dartmouth-Hitchcock

CHAPTER 9
Lab-in-a-Suitcase: Saving Lives in Remote
Corners of the Globe
Hollee D. Van der Veen and Milton B. Amanyun
The Lab-in-a-Suitcase evolved over ten years, beginning with the work of
Dr. Kendall Smith in the mission field. The idea of miniaturization, port
ability, accessibility of power, cost containment and reliability of results
were beginning goals. International Aid, a nonprofit organization based in Spring
Lake, Michigan took these beginning concepts and began many further improvements.
The new technology represents a tremendous breakthrough in increasing
access to health care by meeting the needs of early and accurate diagnoses. Working
diagnoses are critical before courses of medical or surical therapy. Today, multiple
regimes are available. Pathogens, bacterial, viral or parasitic, are known vectors of
disease. Once the particular vector is identified, therapy can begin. Once the therapy
is begun, the progression and regression of disease states can be monitored, gauging
its effectiveness. This analysis is available with the Lab-in-a-Suitcase.
Born out of a need in remote sites, the Lab-in-a-suitcase has developed into a
low cost, portable, accurate diagnostic tool, providing access to under-served populations.
Lab-in-a-suitcase solves current challenges of power supply, level of technology,
training, supplies and repairs.
The main components of the lab-in-a-suitcase include a sturdy binocular microscope
with four objectives and thirty year anti-fungal warranty, a hematocrit centrifuge,
a urine centrifuge, a Neubauer hemocytometer, ESR sedimentation rate, and
digital field colorimeter, lending to the dexterity of the kit.
In order to carry out the demands of a modern society, the requirements for
dependable electrical power for such things as diagnostic testing, needs to be present
in a manner that will be effective for society. Examples of this are clearly evident
with the recent power outages in Chicago and New York City.
We must also take into consideration the recent emphasis on the aspect of “man
portable” power, consisting of generators, batteries and solar cells. The lab-in-a-suitcase
represented in this report, personifies this generation of lighweight, photo voltanic
solar cells, and environmentally safe Nickel metal hydride batteries (nigh). It provides
84 watt-hour (12 v7a) power source to run the portable laboratory. Energy for
the power source will come from the microscope AC adapter (12V 5a), solar panels,
or a car battery. Emphasis on the design of the power module, the weight of the
overall unit, and maintaining the battery’s performance. To accomplish these goals,
the NiMH battery was selected in conjunction with thin film amorphous silicon
solar panels made by United Solar in Troy, Michigan. Control for the power module
consists of energy regulating circuitry, a gas gauge charging circuit, and an output
regulator.
Surgery and Healing in the Developing World, edited by Glenn Geelhoed.