<p>The imaging apparatus comprises a micro-pipette (11) having a first electrode (12) within it and a second electrode (13) close to but outside of the micro- pipette (11). As the tip of the micro-pipette is brought close to a sample (14) variation of the current flowing between the two electrodes is representative of the distance separating the tip of the micro-pipette and the sample surface and monitoring variations in the current flow enables the topography of the sample surface to be imaged. To establish current flow between the two electrodes, an ionising source such as a UV lamp is used to ionise the environment in which the electrodes are located. The imaging apparatus enables scanning ion conductance microscopy to be performed without the need for the sample to be immersed in an electrolyte solution.</p>
