Patent Number: 
Section: abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a sample repairing apparatus, a sample repairing method and a device manufacturing method using the same method, which can reduce an edge roughness in a repaired pattern and also can provide the repairing of a sample by applying an electron beam-assisted etching or an electron beam-assisted deposition. There is provided a sample repairing method comprising: (a) a step of focusing an electron beam by an objective lens to irradiate a sample: (b) a step of supplying a reactive gas onto an electron beam irradiated surface of said sample: (c) a step of selectively scanning a pattern to be repaired on said sample with the electron beam so as to repair said pattern by applying an etching or a deposition; and (d) a step of providing a continuous exhausting operation by means of a differential exhaust system arranged in said objective lens so as to prevent the reactive gas supplied onto said electron beam irradiated surface from flowing toward an electron gun side.