Apparatus for measuring gas exchange

A method for measuring gas exchange comprising the steps of:

• providing a container having an open port for accessing said container;
• inserting a liquid medium into said container;
• inserting a reactant into said container for interacting with said liquid medium to produce a change in gas levels within said container;
• providing a removable stopper carrying an elongated tube and a controller for insertion into said port creating an airtight seal;
• inserting said stopper carrying said tube and said controller into said port so that a distal end of said tube is submerged in said liquid medium and said controller is in fluid communication with said container;
• and,
• operating said controller to direct said liquid medium into said tube to set the liquid medium at a desired level within said tube so that a change in gas levels within said container caused by the interaction of said reactant with said liquid medium results in a change in the liquid medium level within said tube to indicate gas exchange.

An apparatus for measuring gas exchange comprising:

• a stopper for use with a container having a liquid medium and a reactant for creating gas exchange, said stopper being adapted to be removably inserted into a port of said container to create an airtight seal with said container;
• a tube carried by said stopper for extending into said container to receive said liquid medium and monitor a change in the level of said liquid medium within said container as a result of gas exchange when said stopper is inserted into said port;
• and,
• a controller carried by said stopper for extending into said container to set the level of said liquid medium within said tube when said stopper is inserted into said port, and allowing for the level of said liquid medium within said tube to be reset without exposing an interior of said container to ambient air so that a change in gas levels within said container can be monitored.