Abstract: A multiple electrode includes a plurality of micro-electrodes provided on a substrate, and a wiring portion for providing an electrical signal to the micro-electrodes or extracting an electrical signal from the micro-electrodes. Each micro-electrode has porous conductive material on its surface, and the impedance of the micro-electrode is 50 k? or less. Preferably, the porous conductive material is gold, and formed by the passage of current at a current density of 1.0 to 5.0 A/dm2 for 10 to 360 sec. The multiple electrode may include micro-electrodes provided on a substrate in the form of a matrix, a lead line connected to the micro-electrodes, and an electrical junction connected to an end of the lead line.

Abstract: A sensor capable of simply and quickly measuring the electrical activities of a number of cells simultaneously and a device comprising the sensor and capable of detecting the signal transmission between subject cells are provided. The sensor comprises a plurality of electrodes provided on a substrate. The electrodes individually measure a signal generated by a biological sample held by each of the electrodes. Each of the electrodes comprises a depression for holding the biological sample, a throughhole which is in communication with the depression and penetrates to a rear side of the substrate, an electrode portion, and a drawing line from the electrode portion. The electrodes are arranged so that the samples held by the depressions electrically communicate with one another.

Abstract: A method for extracting a signal of interest from a signal generated from at least one subject, comprises the steps of (A) obtaining a time-series signal generated from the subject as a data group consisting of a plurality of pieces of data, (B) obtaining a plurality of extracted data groups from the data group, wherein each extracted data group comprises a predetermined number of pieces of data selected from the data group, (C) calculating standard deviations of the plurality of extracted data groups to obtain a standard deviation group, and (D) referencing each standard deviation included in the standard deviation group and selecting the signal of interest.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for readily and reliably screening olfactory mucosa stimulating compounds are provided. An olfactory mucosa stimulating compound is sprayed through an atomizing nozzle 33 to an olfactory mucosa of a rat fixed in a test animal fixing device 32. A measuring electrode portion 10 is implanted in an olfactory bulb of the rat for measuring an electrical signal generated in the olfactory bulb. Efficacy of the olfactory mucosa stimulating compound is determined based on a correlation between an electrical signal measured by the measuring electrode portion 10 when the olfactory mucosa stimulating compound is sprayed on the olfactory mucosa of the rat and a physiological response induced in the rat.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide an instrument for pharmacologic measurement capable of detecting a very small and short time change in electric signal caused by a pharmacologic action of a biologic specimen with quickness and a high sensitivity by steeply decreasing an external disturbance component mixed into the system while dropping/exchange of medicinal solutions is conducted in a batch mode.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of moving a fluid in a capillary using a capillary chip having a layer including a polymer composition and a capillary formed on the surface or inside of the aforementioned layer including a polymer composition, wherein the aforementioned capillary has a movement control part, and the aforementioned movement control part includes multiple and sequential opening/closing parts; the aforementioned opening/closing part blocks movement of the fluid that flows in the aforementioned capillary by increase in the volume of the aforementioned polymer composition to result in the closed state, while it permits movement of the fluid that flows in the aforementioned capillary by decrease in the volume of the aforementioned polymer composition to result in the open state; and the aforementioned method of moving the fluid includes a step (a) of switching the aforementioned multiple opening/closing parts from the open state to the closed state sequentially in a movement direction by changing

Abstract: An extracellular potential measuring device includes a plate portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and an electrode provided on the second surface of the plate portion. In the plate portion, a pocket having an opening which opens to the first surface is formed, and a through-hole communicating to the second surface from the pocket. The through-hole communicates from a position which is closer to the opening than a deepest point of the first pocket. The electrode is provided around of the opening of the through-hole. In this device, even if a cell to be examined does not reach the deepest point of the pocket, a cell membrane of the cell can tightly attaches onto the through-hole securely without a clearance. Hence, culture solution inside the through-hole is isolated from culture solution over an upper surface of the plate portion, thereby allowing electrochemical changes caused by activities of the cell to be detected efficiently with a detector electrode.

Abstract: A device for measuring extracellular potential includes a diaphragm and a detecting electrode. The diaphragm is formed on one surface thereof with a depression including at least one curved surface, and a hole is provided so as to penetrate from the curved surface of the depression through to the other surface of the diaphragm. An opening on the curved surface of the depression is smaller than an opening on the other side, and a detecting electrode is provided on the wall surface of the hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reaction container, a reaction device, and a method of amplifying a nucleic acid, which are suitable for locally heating a sample which contains a nucleic acid, enable rapid control of temperature changes in the sample, provide easy fabrication, and are low cost. The invention provides a reaction container used for a nucleic acid amplification reaction, which includes a sample holding portion formed from a cavity in the reaction container; and a heating element for heating a sample which contains a nucleic acid and which is held in the sample holding portion, wherein the heating element is made of a conductive material and arranged at a location where the sample or the sample and the periphery of the cavity is (are) to be locally heated, the conductive material generating heat by electromagnetic induction.

Abstract: A sensing element for measuring extracellular potential including a substrate, a well provided in a substrate, a guide section provided on the wall of the well, and a detective electrode formed at a lower surface of the substrate. The guide section is for guiding drug. The well is provided at the bottom with a depression, and a first throughhole penetrating through the depression and the lower surface of the substrate. The well is for mixing a subject cell, a culture solution and the drug together. The above-configured sensing element accurately measures a change generated by a subject cell.

Abstract: A multiple electrode for measuring electro-physiological characteristics of a biological specimen includes a plurality of micro-electrode provided on a first region on a substrate, and a reference electrode provided in a second region on the substrate. The reference electrode includes at least one stimulus reference electrode for applying an electrical signal to the plurality of micro-electrodes. Preferably, the reference electrode includes at least one measurement reference electrode for detecting an electrical signal from the plurality of micro-electrodes, and the stimulus reference electrode is electrically insulated from the measurement reference electrode. Preferably, the second region is placed at a distance from an outer edge of the first region, and surrounds the first region.

Abstract: A method of measuring the physical and chemical properties of tissue or cells and a device for the same is provided, with which the physical and chemical environment of the tissue or cells can be changed arbitrarily corresponding to experimental necessities. The device comprises a system 40 for keeping the physical and chemical environment surrounding the biological tissue or cells constant, a system 50 for arbitrarily changing the physical and chemical environment, observation systems 10 and 20 for observing the physical and chemical properties of the tissue or cells, and a system 30 for comparing the change of the physical and chemical properties of the tissue or cells before and after changing the physical and chemical environment. The observation system 10 is a potential measurement device for measuring the electrophysiological properties of the tissue or cells.

Abstract: Convenient techniques for discriminating the base type in a base sequence of a nucleic acid are provided.

Abstract: A measurement device 10 includes a measurement cell 11. The measurement cell 11 includes a substrates 17 and a substrate 16 formed on the substrate 17. The substrates 16 and 17 are bonded to each other. Thus, a flow pass 9 is formed in the measurement cell 11. As shown in FIG. 3, on the substrate 17 of the measurement cell 11, provided are a concave well 19, a protruding microelectrode 1 connected to a terminal 4a and formed on a side wall surface of the well 19, communicating tubes 15a and 15b connected to both of side surfaces of the well 19 (i.e., the flow pass 9) to face to each other, resistance baths 6a and 6b connected to the communicating tubes 15a and 15b, thin film resistors 3a and 3b arranged in the resistance baths 6a and 6b, and a reference electrode 2 connected to a terminal 4b.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for readily and reliably screening olfactory mucosa stimulating compounds are provided. An olfactory mucosa stimulating compound is sprayed through an atomizing nozzle 33 to an olfactory mucosa of a rat fixed in a test animal fixing device 32. A measuring electrode portion 10 is implanted in an olfactory bulb of the rat for measuring an electrical signal generated in the olfactory bulb. Efficacy of the olfactory mucosa stimulating compound is determined based on a correlation between an electrical signal measured by the measuring electrode portion 10 when the olfactory mucosa stimulating compound is sprayed on the olfactory mucosa of the rat and a physiological response induced in the rat.

Abstract: A method of the immobilization is provided in which a cell can be immobilized with high accuracy in a state where its activity is maintained, even in a minute region, or a region that constitutes a complicated pattern. A method of the immobilization of a cell in which a cell is immobilized in a desired region among the surface of a substrate, which includes the step of forming a masking layer in a region except for the aforementioned desired region on the surface of the aforementioned substrate (St2), the step of immobilizing the aforementioned cell through bringing a solution containing the aforementioned cells into contact with the surface of the aforementioned substrate and the surface of the aforementioned masking layer (St4, St5), and the step of adjusting the pH of the aforementioned solution to give the condition which permits separation of the aforementioned masking layer from the aforementioned substrate without loss of the activity of the aforementioned cell (St6).

Abstract: An integrated electrode capable of immobilizing an isolated cell and/or a cultured cell on the electrode without giving any damage to its cell membrane, and capable of detecting an electrophysiological activity of the immobilized cell with sufficient sensitivity is provided. An integrated electrode having a substrate equipped with at least one electric conductor, and a wiring part which leads an electrical signal out from the aforementioned electric conductor, in which the integrated electrode can detect an electrical signal resulting from an electrophysiological change of a cell immobilized on the surface of the aforementioned electric conductor, and at least a part of the surface of the aforementioned electric conductor is coated with a dielectric material, with the aforementioned dielectric material being a positively charged polymer material, and the aforementioned cell being an isolated cell and/or a cultured cell.

Abstract: A base type determination primer for determining a base type of a monobasic substituted region of a target nucleic acid, wherein the primer consists of a single-stranded nucleic acid which is capable of hybridizing to the target nucleic acid such that a 3′ terminal thereof corresponds to the substituted region of the target nucleic acid, and wherein the single-stranded nucleic acid includes: a substitution corresponding region located at the 3′ terminal and consisting of a base complementary to any one of predictable types of bases in the substituted region of the target nucleic acid; an uncomplementary region adjacent to the substitution corresponding region on the 5′ terminal side thereof and consisting of two bases uncomplementary to the target nucleic acid; and a complementary region adjacent to the uncomplementary region on the 5′ terminal side thereof and consisting of five or more bases complementary to the target nucleic acid.

Abstract: A device for measuring an extracellular potential of a test cell includes a substrate having a well formed in a first surface thereof and a first trap hole formed therein. The well has a bottom. The first trap hole includes a first opening formed in the bottom of the well and extending toward a second face of the substrate, a first hollow section communicating with the first opening via a first connecting portion, and a second opening extending reaching the second surface and communicating with the first hollow section via a second connecting portion. The first connecting portion has a diameter smaller than a maximum diameter of the first hollow section, greater than a diameter of the second connecting portion, and smaller than a diameter of the test cell. The device can retain the test cell securely and accept chemicals and the test cell to be put into the device easily.

Abstract: A sensor capable of simply and quickly measuring the electrical activities of a number of cells simultaneously and a device comprising the sensor and capable of detecting the signal transmission between subject cells are provided. The sensor comprises a plurality of electrodes provided on a substrate. The electrodes individually measure a signal generated by a biological sample held by each of the electrodes. Each of the electrodes comprises a depression for holding the biological sample, a throughhole which is in communication with the depression and penetrates to a rear side of the substrate, an electrode portion, and a drawing line from the electrode portion. The electrodes are arranged so that the samples held by the depressions electrically communicate with one another.