Patent ID: 6126086
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: B05B

Abstract:
A nebulizer for nebulizing a liquid sample provided to said nebulizer, said nebulizer comprising:a first outer capillary tube leaving an inner diameter and an outer diameter, a second flexible inner capillary tube having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, said outer diameter of said second flexible capillary tube being smaller than said inner diameter of said first capillary tube, said second capillary tube being coaxially arranged within said first capillary tube such that an annular spacing exists between the outer diameter of said second flexible capillary tube and the inner diameter of said firs capillary tube, means for mounting said second flexible capillary tube and said first capillary tube in the coaxial arrangement, said second flexible capillary tube having a distal end and a proximal end, means for creating and electrical field in the vicinity of the distal end of said second flexible capillary tube, said means for mounting having a gas flow opening formed therein for allowing gas to flow into the space between the outer diameter of the flexible inner capillary tube and the inner diameter of the outer capillary tube, said proximal end of said second flexible inner capillary tube being open for allowing a liquid sample to be introduced into said second flexible capillary tube, and wherein gas is introduced through the gas flow opening and the liquid sample is introduced through the opening in said proximal end of said second flexible capillary tube at flow rates sufficient to cause liquid being projected from said distal end of said second flexible capillary tube to be nebulized due to both said electrical field and oscillation of said second flexible capillary tube caused by the gas flow, and wherein a standing wave is generated along the axial direction of at least a portion of said second flexible inner capillary tube.