Miniaturized mass spectrometer system

A self-contained analytical grade mass spectrometer system for testing a sample, said mass spectrometer system being contained in a single enclosure, comprising:

• a vacuum housing contained in said single enclosure;
• a double focussing analytical grade mass analyzer contained in said vacuum housing and having a resolution of greater than 1 AMU and a mass range of greater than 200 AMU and which provides an output signal representative of the characteristics of said sample under test;
• a gas chromatograph;
• a sample inlet and concentrator assembly for interfacing said double focussing analytical grade mass analyzer with said gas chromatograph;
• signal processing and control means for processing said output signal produced by said mass spectrometer system and for controlling the operation of said mass spectrometer system, said signal processing and control means being contained in said single enclosure;
• input/output means connected to said signal processing means for inputting data and information to and receiving data and information from said signal processing means and control means, said input/output means being contained in said single enclosure means;
• said single enclosure means having an internal volume of one cubic yard or less and weighing, together with said analytical grade mass spectrometer system, less than 300 hundred pounds;
• and
• wherein said analytical grade mass spectrometer system has a power consumption of less than 500 watts.

A mass analyzer assembly for use with an analytical grade mass spectrometer system for testing a sample, said mass analyzer assembly serving to provide alignment of an ion beam produced by said mass spectrometer, comprising:

• means for producing a source of ions from said sample under test and for focussing said produced ions into a focussed ion beam;
• means connected to said means for producing said source of ions for subjecting said focussed ion beam to a radial electric field;
• means for magnetically deflecting said focussed ion beam into an ion beam detecting means after said ion beam has been subjected to said radial electric field;
• means for producing a vacuum such that said ion beam is always under vacuum;
• and
• wherein said vacuum producing means further comprises unitary means for aligning at least any two of the following:
• (1) said source of ions, (2) said means for producing said radial electric field, (3) said means for producing said magnetic deflection of said ion beam, and (4) said ion beam detecting means.

An electric sector for use in a mass analyzer assembly of a mass spectrometer system, comprising:

• a mounting plate;
• a pair of electrically conductive sector plates insulatingly mounted to said mounting plate in such a manner that said pair of sector plates are aligned parallel to each other and perpendicular to said mounting plate;
• and
• each of said mounting plate and said pair of sector plates have a plurality of corresponding holes formed therein, in which a like plurality of spheres are positioned in order to provide said alignment and ensure said electrical insulation between said mounting plate and each of said pair of sector plates.

A self-contained portable analytical grade mass spectrometer system for testing a sample, said mass spectrometer system being contained in a single enclosure, comprising:

• a vacuum housing contained in said single enclosure;
• a double focussing analytical grade mass analyzer contained in said vacuum housing and having a resolution of greater than 1 AMU and a mass range of greater than 200 AMU and which provides an output signal representative of the characteristics of said sample under test;
• a gas chromatograph;
• a sample inlet and concentrator assembly for interfacing said double focussing analytical grade mass analyzer with said gas chromatograph;
• signal processing and digital data processing means for processing said output signal produced by said mass spectrometer system and for controlling the operation of said mass spectrometer system, said signal processing and control means being contained in said single enclosure;
• input/output means connected to said signal processing means for inputting data and information to and receiving data and information from said signal processing means and control means, said input/output means being contained in said single enclosure means;
• said single enclosure means having an internal volume of one cubic yard or less and weighing, together with said analytical grade mass spectrometer system, less than 300 pounds;
• and
• wherein said analytical grade mass spectrometer system has a power consumption of less than 500 watts.

An analytical grade gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system housed in an easily transportable single enclosure, comprising:

• a digital data processor for controlling an operation of said gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system and for processing spectra obtained by said system;
• a sample collection and sample introduction system;
• a temperature-controlled gas chromatograph being electrically connected to said digital data processor for controlling the temperature and sample flow through said gas chromatograph;
• said sample collection and sample introduction system being connected to said temperature-controlled gas chromatograph by a plurality of different sample pathways which provides a plurality of sample introduction modes for said gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system;
• an analytical grade mass spectrometer which includes a primary vacuum pump and has a mass range of greater than 200 amu;
• a mass spectrometer interface assembly connected between said gas chromatograph and said mass spectrometer, said mass spectrometer interface being electrically connected to said digital data processor for control of its temperature and sample flow;
• and
• wherein said digital data processor forms an integral part of said analytical grade gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system and provides control of the operation of said mass spectrometer, said gas chromatograph, said sample collection and sample introduction system and said mass spectrometer interface assembly, under programmed control and with keyboard entry by a user.

A sample collection and sample introduction system for an analytical grade gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system for providing a plurality of sample introduction modes into said gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system, comprising:

• a digital data processor for controlling said sample collection and sample introduction system;
• an injector port for receiving a sample to be analyzed by said gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system, said injector port including a heating means connected to be controlled by said digital data processor for providing thermal desorption of said sample;
• a concentrator port for receiving said sample to be analyzed by said gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system, said concentrator port including a heating means connected to be controlled by said digital data processor for providing thermal desorption of said sample;
• an atmospheric inlet for receiving an atmospheric sample to be analyzed by said gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system;
• a membrane separator connected between said concentrator port and said atmospheric inlet and the mass spectrometer of said gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system;
• a sampling pump connected to provide a source of suction through said membrane separator;
• and
• a plurality of sampling lines and sampling valves connected between each of said injector and concentrator ports, said atmospheric inlet, said sampling pump and said membrane separator, the operation of said valves being controlled by said digital data processor.