Method and apparatus for measuring temperature changes generated by enzyme activity

Claim 2

Method for measuring enzyme activities comprising the steps of: a. providing a flow path for a fluid, a portion of said flow path being elongated and having a narrow transverse cross-section compared to the length thereof, said elongated portion being confined within a heat-isolated container; b. introducing a matrix-bound enzyme preparation into said elongated portion of the flow path; c. inserting heat-responsive sensor in intimate heat-exchanging relationship to said matrix-bound enzyme in said elongated flow path; d. producing a flow of fluid containing a substrate which is affected by said enzyme through said flow path, and; e. determining the enzyme activity solely by temperature changes sensed by said sensor.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein said elongated portion of the flowpath is arranged to surround said sensor.

Claim 4

The method defined in claim 2, wherein said elongated portion of the flowpath is arranged to define a helix.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2, which includes the step of conducting said fluid containing a substrate through another portion of said flowpath remote from said sensor and in heat-exchanging relationship to a thermostatic path prior to introducing said fluid containing a substrate to said elongated portion of the flowpath.

Claim 6

Apparatus for measuring enzyme activity resulting from contact between matrix-bound enzyme particles and a fluid containing a substrate affected by said enzyme, comprising: a. a closed container immersed in a thermostatic body of liquid; b. an elongated conduit defining a flow path for said fluid containing a substrate, a first portion of said flow path being in heat-exchanging relationship to said thermostatic body of fluid, a succeeding portion of the flow path being contained within said closed container in heat-isolating relationship thereto; c. said succeeding portion of the flow path being elongated and having a narrow cross-section with respect to the length thereof; d. matrix-bound enzyme particles contained in said succeeding portion of the flow path; e. heat sensor means in heat-exchanging relationship to said matrix-bound enzyme particles, whereby enzyme activity can be determined solely by temperature changes sensed by said sensor when said substrate flows through said flow path.

Claim 7

Apparatus for measuring enzyme activity resulting from contact between matrix-bound enzyme particles and a fluid containing a substrate affected by said enzyme, comprising: a. a closed container immersed in a thermostatic body of liquid; b. an elongated conduit defining a flow path for said fluid containing a substrate, a first portion of said flow path being in heat-exchanging relationship to said thermostatic body of fluid, a succeeding portion of the flow path being contained within said closed container in heat-isolating relationship thereto; c. said succeeding portion of the flow path being elongated and having a narrow cross-section with respect to the length thereof; d. matrix-bound enzyme particles contained in said succeeding portion of the flow path; e. heat sensor means in heat-exchanging relationship to said matrix-bound enzyme particles, whereby enzyme activity can be determined solely by temperature changes sensed by said sensor when said substrate flows through said flow path.

Claim 8

The invention defined in claim 5 wherein a portion of said conduit surrounds said heat sensor to define said succeeding portion of the fluid flow path.

Claim 9

The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said portion of the conduit which surrounds the sensor comprises a tightly wound helix defining the side wall of a vessel, one end of the helix being closed, and a heat-exchanging liquid being contained with said heat sensor in said vessel.