Particulate matter detecting device

A particulate matter detecting device comprising:

• a sensor element having a plate-shaped element substrate, at least one pair of measurement electrodes arranged on one end face of said element substrate, a heater electrode arranged on either one of said end faces or inside thereof, and a plurality of lead terminals arranged on the other end face of said element substrate and electrically connected to each of said measurement electrodes and said heater electrode;
• and
• an outer sheath body having a columnar barrel portion and a barrel-portion end face arranged on one of end faces of said barrel portion and having an open frontal area formed for exposing said measurement electrode of said sensor element toward the outside of said one end face of said barrel portion, wherein
• said sensor element is arranged inside said barrel portion such that said measurement electrode is exposed from said open frontal area of said barrel-portion end face;
• and
• said one end face side of said outer sheath body is brought into contact with a gas to be measured, particulate matter contained in said gas to be measured is made to adhere to said measurement electrodes, and a change in electric characteristics between said measurement electrodes is measured so that the particulate matter in said gas to be measured can be detected.