Probe for measuring electric potential of cell

Abstract

A probe for measuring an electric potential of a cell includes a plate having a surface having a first cavity provided therein, and a sensor element provided in the first cavity. A second cavity is provided in the bottom surface of the first cavity. The first flow passage having first and second openings is provided in the plate. The first and second openings of the first flow passage open to the second cavity and outside the plate, respectively. The sensor element includes a thin plate, and a supporting substrate provided around the thin plate and in the first cavity of the plate. The thin plate has a through-hole therein having a first opening and a second opening communicating with the second cavity of the plate. The first flow passage allows fluid to flow therein. A sucking device is coupled with the second opening of the first flow passage as to suck the fluid flowing in the first flow passage. This probe can measure an electric potential of a cell floating in solution as it is in this environment.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
   
   
       34 . A probe for measuring an electric potential of a cell, said probe being arranged to be used with a sucking device, said probe comprising:
 a plate made of resin and having a surface, the plate having a first cavity provided in the surface of the plate, a second cavity, and a first flow passage provided in the plate, the first cavity having a bottom surface, the second cavity being provided in the bottom surface of the first cavity, 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; and   a sensor element made of silicon and provided in the first cavity, the sensor element including
 a thin plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface of the thin plate, the thin plate having a through-hole provided therein, the through-hole having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening of the through-hole opening to the first surface of the thin plate, the second opening of the through-hole opening to the second surface of the thin plate and connected with the second cavity of the plate, and a supporting substrate provided around the thin plate and in the first cavity of the plate, 
   wherein the first flow passage allows fluid to flow therein, and the sucking device is arranged to be coupled with the second opening of the first flow passage so as to suck the fluid flowing in the first flow passage, and   wherein the second opening of the second flow passage is arranged to be coupled to a pouring device, and the pouring device is operable to put fluid into the second opening of the second flow passage.   
   
   
       35 . The probe of  claim 34 , wherein the bottom surface of the first cavity and the second surface of the thin plate of the sensor element are flush with each other. 
   
   
       36 . The probe of  claim 35 , wherein
 the supporting substrate of the sensor element have a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the supporting substrate facing towards a direction identical to a direction towards which the surface of the plate faces, the second surface of the supporting substrate is provided on the bottom surface of the first cavity of the plate, and
 a third cavity is provided on the first surface of the thin plate. 
   
   
   
       37 . The probe of  claim 34 , wherein the supporting substrate of the sensor element is bonded to the plate. 
   
   
       38 . The probe of  claim 34 , wherein the plate further have a second flow passage provided therein, 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. 
   
   
       39 . The probe of  claim 38 , wherein the second opening of the second flow passage is arranged to be coupled to a pouring device, and the pouring device is operable to put fluid into the second opening of the second flow passage. 
   
   
       40 . The probe of  claim 34 , wherein a valve is arranged to be connected between the pouring device and the second flow passage. 
   
   
       41 . The probe of  claim 38 , wherein at least one of the first flow passage and the second flow passage has a curved portion. 
   
   
       42 . The probe of  claim 38 , wherein the plate includes a bump which is provided between the first flow passage and the second flow passage and  10  which projects toward the second cavity. 
   
   
       43 . The probe of  claim 34 , further comprising electrodes provided on the sensor element around the first opening of the through-hole and the second opening of the through-hole, respectively. 
   
   
       44 . The probe of  claim 34 , wherein the thin plate of the sensor element has a pocket provided therein at at least one of the first opening of the through-hole and the second opening of the through-hole of the thin plate, the pocket having a diameter larger than a diameter of the through-hole of the thin plate. 
   
   
       45 . The probe of  claim 34 , wherein the surface of the plate and the first surface of the thin-plate of the sensor element are flush with each other. 
   
   
       46 . The probe of  claim 45 , wherein
 the supporting substrate of the sensor element have a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the supporting substrate facing towards a direction identical to a direction towards which the surface of the plate faces, the second surface of the supporting substrate is provided on the bottom surface of the first cavity of the plate, and   a third cavity is provided on the first surface of the thin plate.   
   
   
       47 . The probe of  claim 34 , further comprising a well array having a first well, a second well, and a third well provided therein, the first well, the second well, and the third well having openings and bottom surfaces, respectively, wherein
 the bottom surface of the first well has a through-hole which is provided therein and which communicates with the second opening of the first flow passage,   the bottom surface of the second well has a through-hole which is provided therein and which communicates with the through-hole of the thin plate of the sensor element, and   the bottom surface of the third well has a through-hole which is provided therein and which communicates with the second opening of the second flow passage.   
   
   
       48 . The probe of  claim 47 , wherein the through-hole of the second well tapers toward the through-hole of the thin-plate of the sensor element. 
   
   
       49 . The probe of  claim 47 , further comprising:
 a first electrode provided in the second well; and   a second electrode provided in one of the third well and the first flow passage.   
   
   
       50 . The probe of  claim 47 , wherein
 fluid including a target cell is input in the second well,   fluid for detecting reaction with the target cell is input into the third well, and
 the first well is coupled to the sucking device. 
   
   
   
       51 . The probe of  claim 47 , wherein the second well is provided above the first surface of the thin plate of the sensor element. 
   
   
       52 . The probe of  claim 51 , wherein the through-hole of the second well has a size larger than a size of the thin plate. 
   
   
       53 . The probe of  claim 47 , wherein the through-hole of the first well is larger than the second opening of the first flow passage. 
   
   
       54 . The probe of  claim 47 , wherein the through-hole of the third well is larger than the second opening of the second flow passage. 
   
   
       55 . The probe of  claim 47 , wherein the well array has a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the well array having the through-hole of the first well, the through-hole of the second well, and the through-hole of the third well open thereto, the bottom surface of the well array and the surface of the plate is positioned in a plane. 
   
   
       56 . The probe of  claim 47 , wherein the well array comprises material identical to material of the plate. 
   
   
       57 . The probe of  claim 47 , wherein the plate and the well array comprise thermoplastic resin. 
   
   
       58 . The probe of  claim 47 , further comprising:
 another plate having a plurality of openings provided therein; and another sensor element including another thin plate, the another thin plate having a plurality of through-holes opening in a direction identical to a direction in which the plurality of openings of the another plate open,   wherein the well array further has a plurality of other wells, each of the other wells having bottom surfaces, the bottom surfaces of the other wells having a plurality of through-holes provided therein, respectively, and the plurality of through-holes of the other wells communicate with the plural openings of the another plate and the plurality of through-holes of the another sensor element, respectively.   
   
   
       59 . The probe of  claim 34 , the resin is exposed to the first flow passage entirely from the first opening of the first flow passage to the second opening of the first flow passage. 
   
   
       60 . The probe of  claim 38 , the resin is exposed to the second flow passage entirely from the first opening of the second flow passage to the second opening of the second flow passage. 
   
   
       61 . The probe of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 a first tube connected to the second opening of the first flow passage to suck the fluid through the first tube; and   a second tube connected to the second opening of the second flow passage to put the fluid into the second flow passage through the second tube.