Patent ID: 7736477

Claim:
A probe for measuring an electric potential of a cell, said probe being configured for use with a sucking device, said probe comprising: a plate having a surface; a first cavity provided in the surface of the plate, the first cavity having a bottom surface; a second cavity provided in the bottom surface of the first cavity; a first flow passage provided in the plate, the first flow passage having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening of the first flow passage opening to the second cavity, the second opening of the first flow passage opening outside the plate; a second flow passage provided in the plate, the second flow passage having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening of the second flow passage opening to the second cavity, the second opening of the second flow passage opening outside the plate; a sensor element provided in the first cavity, the sensor element including a thin plate and a supporting substrate, the thin plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a through-hole provided in the thin plate, the through-hole having a first opening which opens to the first surface of the thin plate and a second opening which opens to the second surface of the thin plate and the second cavity of the plate; a measuring stick having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected with the plate; a first tube having a first end connected to the second opening of the first flow passage and having a second end opposite to the first end of the first tube, the first tube extending along the measuring stick to the second end of the measuring stick; and a second tube having a first end connected to the second opening of the second flow passage and having a second end opposite to the first end of the second tube, the second tube extending along the measuring stick to the second end of the measuring stick, wherein the supporting substrate of the sensor element is provided in the first cavity of the plate, wherein the first flow passage is configured to allow fluid to flow from the first tube into the plate through the second opening of the first flow passage, and wherein the sucking device is operable to suck the fluid flowing in the first flow passage through the second end of the second flow passage and through the second tube so as to hold the cell on the first opening of the through-hole of the thin plate.