Apparatus for preparing a sample for mass spectrometry
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United State Department of Energy
InventorEliel Villa-Aleman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for preparing a sample for analysis by a mass spectrometer system. The apparatus has an entry chamber and an ionization chamber separated by a skimmer. A capacitor having two space-apart electrodes followed by one or more ion-imaging lenses is disposed in the ionization chamber. The chamber is evacuated and the capacitor is charged. A valve injects a sample gas in the form of sample pulses into the entry chamber. The pulse is collimated by the skimmer and enters the ionization chamber. When the sample pulse passes through the gap between the electrodes, it discharges the capacitor and is thereby ionized. The ions are focused by the imaging lenses and enter the mass analyzer, where their mass and charge are analyzed.
Claims9
An apparatus for preparing a sample fluid for analysis with a mass spectrometer, said apparatus comprising:
- a chamber;
- a pulsed valve for injecting said sample fluid into said chamber, said pulsed valve having a pulse duration;
- and
- a capacitor carried within said chamber for ionizing at least a portion of said sample fluid, said capacitor having a time constant greater than said pulse duration, said sample fluid activating said capacitor when said sample fluid is proximate to said capacitor.
An apparatus for preparing a sample for analysis with a mass spectrometer, said apparatus comprising:
- a first chamber;
- a second chamber, said second chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber;
- a pulsed valve in spaced relation to said first chamber for injecting said sample into said first chamber in the form of sample pulses, said sample pulses having a duration;
- means for collimating said sample pulses, said collimating means disposed between said first and second chambers;
- and
- a capacitor carried within said first chamber for ionizing at least a portion of said sample, said capacitor having a time constant greater than said pulse duration, said sample pulses activating said ionizing means when said sample pulses are proximate to said ionizing means.
A method for preparing a gaseous sample for analysis with a mass spectrometer, said method comprising the steps of:
- injecting said sample into a chamber as a sample pulse;
- applying a charge to a pair of spaced-apart electrodes;
- and
- passing said sample pulse between said pair of electrodes, said sample pulse discharging said electrodes so that said sample pulse is ionized.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.