Microneedle probe device for measuring sap flow rate of plant, and method for measuring sap flow rate of plant by using same

A method of measuring a sap flow rate of a plant, the method comprising:

• inserting a microneedle probe device into a plant, the microneedle probe device including a substrate having a thickness and a width of a microscale and two or more metal wires provided on the substrate, each of the metal wires provides for a measurement to determine a flow rate of sap at the respective metal wire, each of the metal wires is disposed on the substrate while being spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the at least a part of the substrate, so that the flow rate of the sap is measured at a plurality of places;
• heating the metal wires by applying a current to the metal wires for a predetermined time;
• and
• calculating the flow rate of the sap at each metal wire through a movement of heat generated in the respective metal wire according to a flow of the sap within the plant,
• wherein the calculating of the flow rate of the sap includes:
• measuring a change in resistance of each metal wire;
• calculating a change in a temperature of each metal wire based on the change in the resistance of the respective metal wire;
• and
• calculating the flow rate of the sap at each metal wire based on the change in the temperature of the respective metal wire.

A microneedle probe device for measuring a sap flow rate of a plant, the microneedle probe device comprising:

• a substrate having only one part insertable into a plant, the substrate having a thickness and a width of a microscale;
• a plurality of metal wires disposed on said only one part insertable into the plant, each of the metal wires provides for a measurement to determine a flow rate of sap at the respective metal wire, each of the metal wires is disposed on the substrate while being spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of said only one part of the substrate, so that the flow rate of the sap is measured at a plurality of places;
• a power source, which applies a current to the metal wires for a predetermined time and heats the metal wires;
• and
• a processor, which calculates the flow rate of the sap at each metal wire through a movement of heat generated in the respective metal wire according to a flow of the sap within the plant;
• wherein the processor includes:
• a resistance measuring module which measures resistance of each metal wire and a change in the resistance of each metal wire;
• a temperature calculating module which calculates a change in a temperature of each metal wire based on the change in the resistance of the respective metal wire;
• and
• a flow rate calculating module which calculates the flow rate of the sap at each metal wire based on the change in the temperature of the respective metal wire.