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. 04, 2014
Filed:
Oct. 19, 2012
Maurizio Splendore, Walnut Creek, CA (US);
Eloy R. Wouters, San Jose, CA (US);
Rohan A. Thakur, Fremont, CA (US);
Jean-jacques Dunyach, San Jose, CA (US);
Maurizio Splendore, Walnut Creek, CA (US);
Eloy R. Wouters, San Jose, CA (US);
Rohan A. Thakur, Fremont, CA (US);
Jean-Jacques Dunyach, San Jose, CA (US);
Thermo Finnigan LLC, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for introducing ions into a vacuum chamber of a mass spectrometer includes producing ions in an ionization chamber of an ion source. The ions are sampled into an intermediate pressure chamber via a first ion transfer tube. In particular, the pressure within the intermediate pressure chamber is maintained at a value that exceeds a maximum pressure for being sampled into the vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer. Some of the ions are sampled from the intermediate pressure chamber via at least a second ion transfer tube, the at least a second ion transfer tube having an outlet end that is in communication with a low-pressure chamber. In particular, the pressure within the low-pressure chamber is maintained at a value that is less than a maximum pressure for being sampled into the vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer. Some of the ions are sampled from the low-pressure chamber into the vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer.