Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method of attaching nanotube to probe holder, said method being characterized in that said method comprises: first process in which nanotubes ( 24 ) to be used as a probe needle are caused to adhere to an electrode in a protruding fashion; a second process in which said electrode to which nanotubes ( 24 ) are caused to adhere in a protruding fashion and a holder ( 2 a ) are caused to approach very close to each other, so that each of said naxiotubes ( 24 ) is contacted to said holder ( 2 a ) in such a manner that a base end portion ( 24 b ) of said nanotube ( 24 ) adheres to a surface of said holder with a tip end portion ( 24 a ) of said nanotube in a protruding fashion; and a third process in which an appropriate region of said base end portion of said nanotube adhering to said surface of said holder is irradiated by an electron beam so as to form a coating treatment so that said nanotube ( 24 ) is fastened to said holder ( 2 a ) by a resulting coating film ( 29 ) wherein at least said second and third processes are performed by direct observation in an electron microscope.