Patent ID: 6037179
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
An ionization detector for detection of an analyte, comprising:a source chamber having a source of ionizing particles and receiving a fluid stream of detector gas;an ionization chamber;an inlet connected to the ionization chamber for providing a sample gas stream containing the analyte into the ionization chamber; anda transitional structure located between the source chamber and the ionization chamber, whereby the ionization chamber is connected to the source chamber at an aperture therebetween and having a diverging bore so as to cause the detector gas to flow through the bore in the transitional structure and into the ionization chamber at a progressively decreasing linear velocity, and so as to allow the ionizing particles generated in the source chamber to be transferred to a detection zone in the ionization chamber; whereby analyte diffusion through the transitional structure is suppressed.