Method and apparatus for measuring changes in cell volume

An apparatus for measuring change in cell volume comprising:

• a chamber defined by electrodes for measuring current flow;
• an inlet for introducing an electrically conductive extracellular fluid into said chamber;
• electrodes for applying a current through said chamber;
• said chamber having a volume between 2 and 100 times a volume of a cell introduced therein.

A method for measuring change in volume of cells due to a change in cellular environment comprising:

• disposing said cells in an electrically conductive extracellular fluid such that said extracellular fluid connects electrodes and the cells initially displace at least 3% of a volume of said electrically conductive fluid that would otherwise connect said electrodes;
• measuring a current flow between said electrodes due to an applied electromotive force (EMF) to obtain a first current flow result;
• altering the cellular environment;
• measuring a second current flow between said electrodes due to an applied electromotive force (EMF) to obtain a second current flow result;
• and,
• determining change in said cell volume due to change in cellular environment using the first and second current flow results.

A method for measuring a change in volume of cells comprising:

• providing a pair of electrodes;
• providing a first electrically conductive fluid electrically connecting the electrodes;
• measuring the resistance of said electrically conductive fluid;
• disposing cells within said electrically conductive fluid so as to displace at least 3% of volume of said electrically conductive fluid that would otherwise connect the electrodes;
• measuring the resistance of said electrically conductive fluid;
• and,
• correlating a change in the resistance of said electrically conductive fluid to a change in volume of said cell.