Patent ID: 7259368
Filing Date: 2007-08-21
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for delivering ions to a vacuum chamber comprising: an enclosing ionization chamber including an ionization region and a vacuum interface at a vacuum interface voltage, wherein the vacuum interface allows the ionization chamber to communicate with the vacuum chamber; a first electrode disposed sufficiently close to a dispensing end of an electrospray assembly and having a first electrode voltage of a magnitude that forms ions in the ionization region and attracts the ions from the ionization region; a second electrode disposed in the ionization chamber at a second electrode voltage that repels the ions to a greater degree than the first electrode voltage; and means for generating a gaseous stream in a gas flow path extending from the first to the second electrode, wherein the gaseous stream provides the ions with sufficient velocity to overcome repulsion by the second electrode, wherein the vacuum interface voltage provides a third electric field region that is more attractive to the ions than the electrode field region of the second electrode.