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:
Feb. 19, 2013
Filed:
Sep. 09, 2011
Bruce D. Quimby, Lincoln University, PA (US);
Harry F. Prest, Santa Cruz, CA (US);
Michael J. Szelewski, Hoeckessin, DE;
Michael K. Freed, Claymont, DE;
Bruce D. Quimby, Lincoln University, PA (US);
Harry F. Prest, Santa Cruz, CA (US);
Michael J. Szelewski, Hoeckessin, DE;
Michael K. Freed, Claymont, DE;
Agilent Technologies, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
In a mass spectrometer or gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system, a conditioning gas such as, for example, hydrogen is added to condition or clean one or more components or regions of the mass spectrometer such as the ion source. The conditioning gas may be added upstream of the mass spectrometer such as, for example, into a sample inlet or a chromatographic column, or may be added directly into the mass spectrometer. The conditioning gas may be added off-line, when the mass spectrometer is not analyzing a sample, or on-line during sample analysis. When added on-line, the conditioning gas may be mixed with a carrier gas such as, for example, helium. In another embodiment, the conditioning gas also serves as the carrier gas through the column; another gas such as, for example, helium may be added to the carrier gas stream.