Generation of a fast and homogeneous temperature step.
A method is described for the fast and homogeneous increase of the temperature of a biological specimen with a volume of 1 mm3 or less. Heating is obtained by joule dissipation from a 30 MHz alternating current. The step quality is determined by measuring the temporal and spatial behaviour of the temperature after a power pulse in and around the biological preparation. With the described equipment a temperature step of 3 degrees C can be obtained in 8 ms. The temperature step inhomogeneity is less than 15%. The compatibility of the method with electrophysiological and mechanical measurement and instrumentation is demonstrated by the detection of transients in transmembrane potential and force of a papillary muscle from the rabbit heart.
Metselaar
J W
JW
Department of Medical Physics, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Goovaerts
H G
HG
Crezee
J
J
D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D004566:Electrodes; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D011817:Rabbits; D011846:Radio Waves