Patent ID: 9633828
Date: 2017-04-25
CPC Classifications: H01J

Claim:
1. An ion focusing member adapted for being disposed in a mass spectrometer including a metal capillary for spraying analyte ions and a mass analyzer having a sample inlet, the ion focusing member comprising: a ball having a surface with a plurality of dimples, a front side for facing toward the metal capillary, and a back side for facing toward and being located adjacent to the sample inlet of the mass analyzer; wherein the ball is adapted to be disposed at a spray path of the analyte ions, such that when the analyte ions are sprayed to the front side of the ball, the analyte ions flow along the surface of the ball to be collected at a downstream position of the back side of the ball, which in turn flow toward the sample inlet of the mass analyzer because of a potential difference established between the metal capillary and the mass analyzer.