The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 20, 1993
Filed:
Jan. 02, 1992
Martine Bridenne, Massy, FR;
Eric Coffre, Trappes, FR;
Robert Hutton, Nantwich, GB;
Yves Marot, Versailles, FR;
L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des, , US;
V.G. Elemental Limited, Winsford, GB;
Abstract
Improvement to the process of elementary analysis of a specimen by high frequency inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, by means of an apparatus including a torch for producing plasma from a plasma producing medium and for injecting the specimen in this plasma and an interface for taking a sample in the specimen, comprising two consecutive conical members disposed along the same axis except that the conical members have angles with different apices and are each provided with an axial orifice enabling a fraction of the specimen to be analyzed to pass therethrough. According to the invention, a given quantity of a make-up gas is added to the specimen which is injected into the plasma, the make-up gas having a high heat producing power, so as to raise the temperature of the plasma for locally heating the sampling conical members thereby preventing the components of the specimen which are present in the plasma from depositing on the conical members. Preferably, the sampling conical members (18,19) are made of an alloy of niobium, hafnium, titanium.