Patent ID: 6572825
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for use in evolving chemical substances from a substantially planar porous metallic substrate upon which the substances have been collected, the apparatus comprising:a substantially porous metal substrate for collecting chemical substances; a first support member made of electrically insulating material and including an aperture through said support member for the passage of evolved substances, a first electrical contact affixed to the first support member, in a first position, a second electrical contact affixed to the first support member in a second position opposite the aperture from the first position, each of said first and second electrical contacts having an outer surface spaced from said first support member, a second support member made of electrically insulating material, and a hinge connecting the first and second support members to permit the second support member to move relative to the first support member in rotation about the hinge from an open position wherein said support members are adjacent only at said hinge to a closed position wherein the outer surface of said contacts face said second support member, whereby in the open position said substrate can be removed from said support members and when said substrate is between the support members in the closed position, said substrate touches the first and second electrical contacts, thereby completing an electrical circuit wherein electrical current can pass through the substrate to evolve chemical substances through the aperture.