Patent ID: 6265717
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer that comprises:a means for generating a plasma at a first, substantially atmospheric pressure;a means for introducing the sample into the plasma for ionization into analyte ions;a means for transferring said ions from the plasma into an interface stage, being set at a second pressure, defined between a sampling cone situated on the side of generation of the plasma, and a skimmer cone situated facing to the sampling cone; anda means of transferring the ions from the interface stage into a mass analyzer stage operating at a third pressure being lower than the first pressure and the second pressure, separated from the interface stage by the skimmer cone, having an ion lens region and a detector region for separating and measuring the analyte ions,wherein the skimmer cone and the sampling cone are configured to increase a local pressure between orifices of the skimmer cone and the sampling cone by generating a shock wave at a position upstream of the skimmer tip.