Patent ID: 8349603

Claim:
A cantilever system comprising: a cantilever, the cantilever comprising: a support portion; a lever portion provided on the support portion so as to protrude therefrom; a probe portion provided near a free end of the lever portion, the probe portion comprising a conductive probe, the conductive probe consisting of a material selected from the group consisting of single crystal diamond, polycrystalline diamond, nanodiamond, diamondlike carbon, amorphous carbon and combinations thereof, and an insulating film, the insulating film consisting of a material selected from the group consisting of polycrystalline diamond, nanodiamond, diamondlike carbon, amorphous carbon and combinations thereof to coat a periphery of the conductive probe, the conductive probe including a protruding portion protruded from the insulating film; an electrode pad provided on a proximal end portion on the support portion side of the lever portion; and a wiring portion to electrically connect the conductive probe and the electrode pad through the lever portion; a conductive stage comprising a conductive member having a placement surface on which a cell is placed; a resistance meter for measuring a resistance between the probe portion and the conductive stage to detect contact between the probe portion and the cell; a pulse generating unit for applying a pulse current between the electrode pad and the conductive stage when the probe portion is to be inserted into the cell; and a switch for changing over between the resistance meter and the pulse generating unit.