Patent ID: 6485173
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: G01K,G01N

Abstract:
A method of determining a change in volume occupied by a target molecule as the molecule transitions from a first structure to a second structure in response to a change temperature, the method comprising:(a) providing a first liquid holder containing a solution comprising a plurality of target molecules, and a second liquid holder containing a liquid in which no target molecules are present; (b) at each of a plurality of temperatures that span a range in which the target molecules transition from the first structure to the second structure, (i) applying a pressure perturbation to the solution in the liquid holder and to the liquid in the second liquid holder at that temperature; (ii) determining a differential heat effect between the first and second liquid holders in response to the pressure perturbation; (iii) calculating, from the differential heat effect, the heat effect of the target molecule in response to the pressure perturbation; and (iv) determining, from the calculated heat effect at that temperature, the value of a specific property of the substance at that temperature, said specific property being a function of the thermal coefficient of expansion of the target molecules; and (c) from the values of said specific property at the plurality of temperatures, calculating a change in volume occupied by the target molecule.