title: A vapor pressure thermometer for use in muscle microcalorimetry.
abstract: Measurement of the energy consumption of isolated cardiac trabeculae requires highly sensitive temperature sensors. In this paper we describe and characterize an initial prototype of a vapor pressure thermometer being designed and built for application to muscle microcalorimetry. The device exploits the change in vapor pressure with temperature of a solvent and the change in pressure with volume of a gas. The sensor achieves a sensitivity of 86 μm/K and a resolution of 3.6 μK. Predictions from a finite element model of the expected displacement compare favorably with the tests performed.
authors.affiliation: Auckland Bioenginee University of Auckland. cjoh09@aucklanduni.ac.nz
authors.forename: Callum M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Poul M F
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Ian W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Taberner
mesh_terms: D002151:Calorimetry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013821:Thermometers; D014159:Transducers; D055548:Vapor Pressure