Patent ID: 9719853
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: G01J,G01N

Claim:
1. A handheld LIBS system comprising: a housing; an optics stage movably mounted to the housing including an optics head with a laser focusing lens; a spectrometer subsystem in the housing configured to receive electromagnetic radiation from a sample and provide an output; a nose section including: the laser focusing lens, an apertured end plate removably fastened to the nose section via at least one fastener, and an optically transparent shield spaced from the end plate and in front of the laser focusing lens protecting the laser focusing lens and defining a purge chamber between the shield and the removable end plate; a laser source in the housing oriented to direct a laser beam to the sample via the laser focusing lens, the shield, and the aperture in the end plate; and a purge gas source fluidly coupled to the purge chamber.