Patent ID: 6163719
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A machine for estimating a membrane voltage of a cell, said cell having a membrane resistance and a membrane capacitance, said machine comprising:(a) a pipette electrode including a pipette current, a pipette voltage, a pipette series resistance, and a pipette shunt capacitance, and(b) a pipette current measurement means for generating a measured pipette current, and(c) a pipette voltage measurement means for generating a measured pipette voltage, and(d) an estimator means for computing a computed membrane voltage, wherein said estimator means uses said measured pipette current and said measured pipette voltage to compute said computed membrane voltage, andwherein said estimator means operates independently of said membrane resistance and said membrane capacitance, andwherein said estimator means operates without neutralizing said pipette shunt capacitance electronically.