Claims
- 1. A method of determining the turgor pressure of a cellular specimen, comprising:(a) providing a mechanical probe with a convex surface; (b) contacting a cellular specimen with the convex surface of the probe; (c) measuring an area of contact between the probe and the cellular specimen; and (d) calculating the turgor pressure of the cellular specimen using the measured area of contact.
- 2. The method of determining the turgor pressure of a cellular specimen according to claim 1, further comprising: applying a known force to the cellular specimen causing the probe to deform the cellular specimen.
- 3. The method of determining the turgor pressure of a cellular specimen according to claim 2, wherein the mechanical probe is transparent and further comprises a convex surface.
- 4. The method of determining the turgor pressure of a cellular specimen according to claim 3, wherein the transparent mechanical probe with a convex surface comprises a ball lens glued to an optically transparent support beam using an optical adhesive whose index of refraction matches the optically transparent support beam.
- 5. The method of determining the turgor pressure of a cellular specimen according to claim 2, wherein the measuring of step (c) is accomplished by viewing the area of contact with a means for magnification.
- 6. The method of determining the turgor pressure of a cellular specimen according to claim 2, wherein the measuring of step (c) is accomplished by viewing the area of contact with an optical microscope.
- 7. The method of determining the turgor pressure of a cellular specimen according to claim 2, further comprising: conveying to an image analysis system information taken from the measured contact area between the probe and the cellular specimen.
- 8. The method of determining the turgor pressure of a cellular specimen according to claim 2, further comprising: applying a plurality of known forces to the specimen; and determining the area of contact from the application of each such force.
- 9. The method of determining the turgor pressure of a cellular specimen according to claim 8, further comprising the step of extrapolating from the applied forces and respective contact areas to determine the turgor pressure.
- 10. The method of determining the turgor pressure of a cellular specimen according to claims 1, 2, 7, 8, or 9, further comprising:(i) locating the cellular specimen at the working distance of a microscope objective; (ii) introducing the probe between the objective and the cellular specimen; and (iii) measuring the area of contact of step (c) by viewing the area of contact through the microscope.
- 11. The method of determining the turgor pressure of a cellular specimen according to claim 2, 8 or 9, wherein the step (d) of calculating the turgor pressure comprises calculating the turgor pressure using substantially the relationship:W=pA×1.05, where p is the turgor pressure, A is the area of contact, and W is the force applied to the cellular specimen.
- 12. The method of determining the turgor pressure of a cellular specimen according to claim 2, further comprising contrasting the area of contact using a means for illumination.
- 13. The method of determining the turgor pressure of a cellular specimen according to claim 12, wherein contrasting the area of contact using a means for illumination further comprises transilluminating a path of observation.
- 14. The method of determining the turgor pressure of a cellular specimen according to claim 12, wherein contrasting the area of contact using a means for illuminating the area of contact further comprises directing light obliquely to a path of observation.
- 15. The method of determining the turgor pressure of a cellular specimen according to claim 12, wherein contrasting the area of contact using a means for illumination further comprises providing epi-illumination through an objective lens.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of copending PCT application No. PCT/US971/17442 filed Sep. 30, 1997 (now PCT Publication WO 98/14754), which claims priority from U.S. application Ser. No. 60/027,392, filed Sep. 30, 1996.
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Derwent WPI Abstract of SU 1766363. |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/027392 |
Sep 1996 |
US |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/US97/17442 |
Sep 1997 |
US |
Child |
09/274520 |
|
US |