METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING A CONTACT AREA BETWEEN A PROBE AND A SPECIMEN

摘要

An optical probe (20) that is transparent contacts a surface (12) of a specimen such that an area of contact is formed. The probe's contact surface (P) has known geometry. By viewing the area of contact through the probe, the area of contact can be determined. The probe may be positioned between the specimen (10) and the objective of a microscope. The microscope and the probe provide a nondestructive and noninvasive instrument to measure the turgor pressure in a cellular specimen. The area of contact between the probe (20) and a cell is a function of the cell's internal pressure. Application of a known force between probe and cell in combination with knowledge of the probe's geometry permits the use of the contact area to provide a measurement of turgor pressure.