membranmeter

Membranmeter is a nonstandard term used to describe instruments and setups that assess properties of membranes, including biological membranes and synthetic polymer membranes. Because the term is not widely standardized, membranmeter often refers to equipment or configurations specialized for the specific membrane parameter of interest, such as membrane potential, permeability, or transport properties.

In biological contexts, membranmeter–like configurations measure electrical properties of cell or tissue membranes. Techniques such as patch-clamp, voltage-clamp, or current-clamp provide high-resolution data on membrane potential and ion-channel activity. Electrical impedance spectroscopy and related capacitance measurements yield information about membrane integrity, surface area, and dielectric properties. These approaches are common in physiology, pharmacology, and cell biology for assessing viability, permeability changes, and electrophysiological responses.

In materials science and chemical engineering, membranmeter–type arrangements are used to characterize transport through synthetic membranes. Permeation cells or diffusion cells establish a controlled gradient (pressure, concentration, or chemical potential) and monitor flux of gases, water, or solutes. From measured flux and driving forces, researchers derive parameters such as permeability, selectivity, diffusion coefficients, and fouling behavior. The tests may operate under constant-volume or constant-pressure conditions and can accommodate gas, liquid, or solution streams, along with temperature control.

Notes and limitations: because membranmeter is not a standardized designation, practical use relies on describing the exact method, sample type (cells, vesicles, polymer membranes), and the measurement principle. See also membrane potential meter, impedance spectroscopy, diffusion cell, and Ussing chamber for related techniques.