Direct injection micro nebulizer system and method of use

A method of nebulizing a sample solution comprising the steps of:

• a. obtaining a direct injection micro nebulizer system comprising:
• a primary body element,
• a sample delivery tube system, and
• a sample delivery tube system adjustment means;
• said primary body element being of a generally elongated shape presenting with a longitudinal dimension and having a first connection means at an upper aspect thereof, with upper aspect being defined as the vertically higher end of the primary body element as viewed in side elevation from a position perpendicularly removed therefrom while the longitudinal dimension thereof projects vertically upward and perpendicular to an underlying horizontal surface;
• and said primary body element also having a second connection means at a lower aspect thereof, aspect thereof, and a third connection means thereon;
• said sample delivery tube system comprising, at a minimum, a sample delivery tube;
• said sample delivery tube system adjustment means being connected to the primary body element at the second connection means thereof;
• said primary body element and sample delivery tube system adjustment means being centrally located longitudinally oriented holes therethrough;
• said sample delivery tube system being threaded into the centrally located longitudinally oriented hole in the sample delivery tube system adjustment means and through the centrally located longitudinally oriented hole through the primary body element so that the upper aspect of the sample delivery tube is at a position near the upper aspect of the primary body element;
• the position of the upper aspect of said sample delivery tube being precisely adjustable by manipulation of the sample delivery tube system adjustment means;
• said sample delivery tube allowing a sample solution to be entered thereto at a lower aspect thereof and be forced to flow through said sample delivery tube to the upper aspect thereof;
• said third connection means on the primary body element allowing gas to be entered into and force to flow through the annular space formed between the outer surface of the sample delivery tube and the inner surface of the centrally located longitudinally oriented hole through the primary body element;
• such that during use said sample solution flow and said gas flow are simultaneously ejected from the upper aspects of the sample delivery tube and the annular space between the outer surface of the sample delivery tube and the inner surface of the centrally located longitudinally oriented hole through the primary body element respectively and interact with one another such that the sample solution is caused to be nebulized;
• b. entering a sample solution to the sample delivery tube at the lower aspect thereof and causing said sample solution to flow to the upper aspect of said sample delivery tube and eject therefrom while simultaneously entering a gas flow into the third connection means on the primary body element and causing it to flow through the annular space between the outer surface of the sample delivery tube and the inner surface of the centrally located longitudinally oriented hole through the primary body element and eject from the upper aspect of said annular space, thereat interacting with the simultaneously ejected sample solution flow in a manner which causes the sample solution to become nebulized.

A sample analysis system for use with direct injection micro nebulizer systems comprising a specially designed torch of the type used in inductively coupled plasma analysis of samples, which specially designed torch comprises:

• an outer tube which concentrically surrounds an intermediate tube, each of said tubes being of a generally elongated shape presenting with a longitudinal dimension;
• outer, intermediate and sample flow ports;
• said sample flow and intermediate ports providing access to the space within the intermediate tube, said sample flow port being located at the lower aspect of the specially designed torch, with lower aspect being defined as the vertically lower end of said specially designed torch as viewed in side elevation from a position perpendicularly removed therefrom, with the longitudinal dimensions of the various tubes projecting vertically upward, perpendicular to an underlying horizontal surface;
• said direct injection micro nebulizer system, during use thereof, being inserted into the space within the intermediate tube of the specially designed torch by way of the sample flow port, such that said intermediate tube thereby concentrically encompasses said direct injection micro nebulizer;
• said intermediate flow port providing access to the annular space between the outer surface of the direct injection nebulizer system and the inner surface of the intermediate tube;
• said outer flow port providing access to the annular space between the outer surface of the intermediate tube and the inner surface of the outer tube;
• such that during use said outer and intermediate ports allow entrance of gas flows into the annular spaces within the specially designed torch said ports access, said gas flows serving to protect the tubes of the specially designed torch which they contact against the high temperatures and heat of a plasma which can be created inside the outer tube at the vertically upper aspect of said specially designed torch, and to aid nebulized sample to flow thereto.