Sampling system for use with surface ionization spectroscopy
First Claim
1. A gas ion separator for introducing ions into a spectrometer comprising:
- (a) an external ionization source, wherein one or more ions are formed by the external ionization source;
(b) a grid; and
(c) a jet separator, wherein the grid is operably connected to the jet separator, wherein one or more ions formed by the external ionization source are transmitted through the jet separator into the spectrometer, wherein the jet separator is made up of an inlet tube having a proximal end and a distal end and an outlet tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
wherein the proximal end of the inlet tube is closest to and the distal end of the inlet tube is furthest from the external ionization source, wherein the inlet tube and the outlet tube are substantially co-axial, wherein the inlet tube is positioned in a region of approximately atmospheric pressure, wherein the outlet tube is positioned in a vacuum region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In various embodiments of the invention, a device permits more efficient collection and transmission of ions produced by the action of a carrier gas containing metastable neutral excited-state species into a mass spectrometer. In one embodiment of the invention, the device incorporates the source for ionization in combination with a jet separator to efficiently remove excess carrier gas while permitting ions to be more efficiently transferred into the vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer. In an embodiment of the invention, improved collection of ions produced by the carrier gas containing metastable neutral excited-state species at greater distances from between the position of the analyte and the position of the mass spectrometer are enabled.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A gas ion separator for introducing ions into a spectrometer comprising:
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(a) an external ionization source, wherein one or more ions are formed by the external ionization source; (b) a grid; and (c) a jet separator, wherein the grid is operably connected to the jet separator, wherein one or more ions formed by the external ionization source are transmitted through the jet separator into the spectrometer, wherein the jet separator is made up of an inlet tube having a proximal end and a distal end and an outlet tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
wherein the proximal end of the inlet tube is closest to and the distal end of the inlet tube is furthest from the external ionization source, wherein the inlet tube and the outlet tube are substantially co-axial, wherein the inlet tube is positioned in a region of approximately atmospheric pressure, wherein the outlet tube is positioned in a vacuum region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19)
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17. A gas ion separator comprising:
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(a) an external ion source; (b) a vacuum region; (c) a grid; and (d) a jet separator; wherein the grid is operably connected to the jet separator, wherein the jet separator is made up of an inlet tube having a proximal end and a distal end and an outlet tube having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the inlet tube is closest to and the distal end of the inlet tube is furthest from the external ionization source, wherein the inlet tube and the outlet tube are spaced such that there is a gap, wherein the vacuum region is in contact with the gap. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification