Abstract: A cell detachment method for detaching only a desired cell from a plurality of cells cultured on a substrate under predetermined culture environment conditions by using a scanning probe microscope having a probe, comprising: observing the plural cells; specifying the cell to be detached; moving the probe onto the specified cell; and pressing the prove against the specified cell with a predetermined force so as to detach the cell from the substrate.

Abstract: A cantilever includes: a lever portion; a holder portion supporting the proximal end of the lever portion; a probe portion arranged at the distal end of the lever portion and having a spherical surface to face a sample; and a retaining portion fixed to the distal end of the lever portion and retaining the probe portion to surround a periphery of the probe portion. There is provided a cantilever allowing mounting of a probe portion with little effect in a short time without using any adhesive.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a split probe tip on a cantilever comprises providing a cantilever having a surface on which is formed a probe that projects outwardly from the surface at one end of the cantilever, irradiating and scanning a tip of the probe with a focused particle beam directed in a direction that is inclined relative to the surface of the cantilever to obtain an image of the probe tip, and determining the center of the probe tip from the image of the probe tip. Then a first channel is formed in the probe tip at the center thereof by irradiating and scanning the center of the probe tip with a focused particle beam to form a split probe tip having two spaced-apart probe tip parts.

Abstract: In a method for fabricating a nanometer-scale structure by arranging nanotubes in a predetermined direction at a predetermined position, the method for fabricating a nanometer-scale structure comprises a first step of planarizing a substrate by etching a predetermined part by irradiating a focused energy beam to the sample, a second step of decomposing and depositing an organic gas into a columnar structure with an objective of determining the position and direction, and a third step of attaching and fixing the nanotube by using the thus deposited columnar structure as a standard of position and direction.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope has a probe needle and a control section that controls relative scanning movement between the probe needle and a surface of a sample in at least one direction parallel to the sample surface and controls relative movement between the probe needle and the sample surface in a direction perpendicular to the sample surface. A vibration source vibrates the probe needle at a vibrating frequency relative to the sample surface. An approach/separation drive section causes the probe needle to relatively approach to and separate from the sample surface at a predetermined distance while the probe needle is vibrated at the vibrating frequency relative to the sample surface by the vibration source. A detection section detects a rate of change in a vibration state of the probe needle in accordance with a distance between the probe needle and the sample surface.

Abstract: A scanning microscope probe in which a palladium covering film is formed on the surface of the protruding portion of a cantilever, and the base end portion of a nanotube is disposed in contact with the palladium covering film with the tip end portion of the nanotube protruding to the outside, thus allowing the tip end to be used as a probe needle end for detecting signals. A coating film is formed to cover all or part of the surface of this base end portion, and the nanotube is thus firmly fastened to the cantilever. Since the base end portion adheres tightly to the palladium covering film, both of them are electrically continuous. This palladium covering film allows, as an electrode film, the application of a voltage to the nanotube or the passage of an electric current through the nanotube, showing also good adhesion to the nanotube and cantilever.

Abstract: In order to establish processing techniques capable of making multi-tip probes with sub-micron intervals and provide such microscopic multi-tip probes, there is provided an outermost surface analysis apparatus for semiconductor devices etc. provided with a function for enabling positioning to be performed in such a manner that there is no influence on measurement in electrical measurements at an extremely small region using this microscopic multi-tip probe, and there are provided the steps of making a cantilever 1 formed with a plurality of electrodes 3 using lithographic techniques, and forming microscopic electrodes 6 minute in pitch by sputtering or gas-assisted etching a distal end of the cantilever 1 using a focused charged particle beam or using CVD.

Abstract: A cell detachment method for detaching only a desired cell from a plurality of cells cultured on a substrate under predetermined culture environment conditions by using a scanning probe microscope having a probe, comprising: observing the plural cells; specifying the cell to be detached; moving the probe onto the specified cell; and pressing the prove against the specified cell with a predetermined force so as to detach the cell from the substrate.

Abstract: In order to establish processing techniques capable of making multi-tip probes with sub-micron intervals and provide such microscopic multi-tip probes, there is provided an outermost surface analysis apparatus for semiconductor devices etc. provided with a function for enabling positioning to be performed in such a manner that there is no influence on measurement in electrical measurements, at an extremely small region using this microscopic multi-tip probe, and there are provided the steps of making a cantilever 1 formed with a plurality of electrodes 3 using lithographic techniques, and forming microscopic electrodes 6 minute in pitch by sputtering or gas-assisted etching a distal end of the cantilever 1 using a focused charged particle beam or using CVD.

Abstract: A cantilever includes: a lever portion; a holder portion supporting the proximal end of the lever portion; a probe portion arranged at the distal end of the lever portion and having a spherical surface to face a sample; and a retaining portion fixed to the distal end of the lever portion and retaining the probe portion to surround a periphery of the probe portion. There is provided a cantilever allowing mounting of a probe portion with little effect in a short time without using any adhesive.

Abstract: A living cell observing cell capable of measuring a surface of a membrane of a living cell or a rear surface side thereof and accurately performing structural analysis is provided. The living cell observing cell is used to culture at least one cell in a culture solution and observe the cells. The living cell observing cell includes a container body which stores the culturing solution and a flat location plate which is detachably fixed in the container body and has a plurality of protrusions formed in a predetermined interval on a surface thereof, wherein the cells are located on a plurality of the protrusions.

Abstract: A scanning microscope probe in which a palladium covering film is formed on the surface of the protruding portion of a cantilever, and the base end portion of a nanotube is disposed in contact with the palladium covering film with the tip end portion of the nanotube protruding to the outside, thus allowing the tip end to be used as a probe needle end for detecting signals. A coating film is formed to cover all or part of the surface of this base end portion, and the nanotube is thus firmly fastened to the cantilever. Since the base end portion adheres tightly to the palladium covering film, both of them are electrically continuous. This palladium covering film allows, as an electrode film, the application of a voltage to the nanotube or the passage of an electric current through the nanotube, showing also good adhesion to the nanotube and cantilever.

Abstract: In order to provide a scanning probe microscope and a scanning method which are capable of accurately approaching or contacting a probe needle and a sample surface irrespective of an irregularities shape of the sample surface, it comprises a probe needle 2 for relatively performing, with respect to a sample surface S, scans in two directions parallel to the sample surface S and a movement in a perpendicular direction of the sample surface S, a detection means 4 for detecting a measurement amount changing in compliance with a distance between the probe needle 2 and the sample surface S, an observation means 6 for gathering an observation data in a point of time at which the probe needle 2 has approached to or contacted with the sample surface S, a control means 5 for controlling the sans in the two directions and the movement in the perpendicular direction and an approach/separation drive section 24 for causing the probe needle 2 to relatively approach to and separate from the sample surface S at a predetermin

Abstract: In order to establish processing techniques capable of making multi-tip probes with sub-micron intervals and provide such microscopic multi-tip probes, there is provided an outermost surface analysis apparatus for semiconductor devices etc provided with a function for enabling positioning to be performed in, such a manner that there is no influence on measurement in electrical measurements at an extremely small region using this microscopic multi-tip probe, and there are provided the steps of making a cantilever 1 formed with a plurality of electrodes 3 using lithographic techniques, and forming microscopic electrodes 6 minute in pitch by sputtering or gas-assisted etching a distal end of the cantilever 1 using a focused charged particle beam or using CVD.

Abstract: In order to establish processing techniques capable of making multi-tip probes with sub-micron intervals and provide such microscopic multi-tip probes, there is provided an outermost surface analysis apparatus for semiconductor devices etc. provided with a function for enabling positioning to be performed in such a manner that there is no influence on measurement in electrical measurements at an extremely small region using this microscopic multi-tip probe, and there are provided the steps of making a cantilever 1 formed with a plurality of electrodes 3 using lithographic techniques, and forming microscopic electrodes 6 minute in pitch by sputtering or gas-assisted etching a distal end of the cantilever 1 using a focused charged particle beam or using CVD.

Abstract: In order to establish processing techniques capable of making multi-tip probes with sub-micron intervals and provide such microscopic multi-tip probes, there is provided an outermost surface analysis apparatus for semiconductor devices etc. provided with a function for enabling positioning to be performed in such a manner that there is no influence on measurement in electrical measurements at an extremely small region using this microscopic multi-tip probe, and there are provided the steps of making a cantilever 1 formed with a plurality of electrodes 3 using lithographic techniques, and forming microscopic electrodes 6 minute in pitch by sputtering or gas-assisted etching a distal end of the cantilever 1 using a focused charged particle beam or using CVD.

Abstract: A scanning probe is microscope has a cantilever having a probe at a disal end thereof and an oscillator for generating a resonance signal near a resonance of the cantilever. A vibrating device receives the resonance signal as a driving signal for vibrating the cantilever. A variable gain amplifier adjusts a gain of displacement signal corresponding to displacement of the vibrating cantilever so as to satisfy the equation G=(A/A0)*G0 to control a quality factor value of the cantilever resonance to an optimal quality factor value, where G represents a gain value of the variable gain amplifer, A represents a preselected oscillation amplitude of the oscillator, A0 represents an initial oscillation amplitude of the oscillator, and G0 represents a gain value of the variable gain amplifier when the initial oscillation amplitude of the oscillator is A0.

Abstract: A self-detecting type cantilever for an atomic force microscope (AFM) has an electro-flexural conversion element for converting a flexural amount of the cantilever into an electric current or voltage, a temperature measurement element disposed at a front end portion of the cantilever for measuring a temperature, and a heating element disposed at the front end portion of the cantilever for heating the temperature measurement element. The temperature measurement element and the heating element are superposed with each other on a main face of the cantilever via an electrical insulating layer. As a result, even if the amount of electric energy supplied to the heating element is reduced, it is possible to effectively supply an amount of heat necessary for measurement to the temperature measurement element. Therefore, by minimizing the heat to be supplied to a sample and the cantilever, the respondency of measurement is improved and temperature measurement can be performed with a high degree of accuracy.

Abstract: In order to provide a simple method for manufacturing a more finely detailed split probe with less damage being incurred, by tilting the whole of the microcantilever 6, it is possible to easily determine the center of the probe tip and decide processing position. Channel processing 1 and 2 is carried out using a small focused ion beam current over an extremely narrow range of the processing position. A channel 3 spanning a broad range connected to the channels 1 and 2 is processed using a focused ion beam current larger than the aforementioned focused ion beam current used at the channel processing of the channels 1 and 2, and the electrodes are cut.

Abstract: In a method for fabricating a nanometer-scale structure by arranging nanotubes in a predetermined direction at a predetermined position, the method for fabricating a nanometer-scale structure comprises a first step of planarizing a substrate by etching a predetermined part by irradiating a focused energy beam to the sample, a second step of decomposing and depositing an organic gas into a columnar structure with an objective of determining the position and direction, and a third step of attaching and fixing the nanotube by using the thus deposited columnar structure as a standard of position and direction.