Patent ID: 6479815
Filing Date: 2002-11-12
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An ion mobility spectrometer comprising:an ionization area for ionizing a substance which is to be analyzed, and forming a gaseous ion mixture; at least one ion gate adjacent the ionization area which gate can be electrically switched between a blocked and open state; a drift area neighboring the ion gate with an electrical drift field that is generated by conductor structures that are perpendicular to the drift path; and an ion collector that is connected to an electronics unit to detect contacting ions or electrons; wherein at least one of the ionization area and the drift area comprises opposing wall elements connected by at least one spacer, which wall elements have parallel, substantially planar opposing wall surfaces that delimit the gaseous ion mixture; and the ratio of distance between said wall surfaces that delimit the gaseous ion mixture to a field-generating width of the conductor structures perpendicular to a drift direction is less than 1:2.