Patent ID: 8809773

Claim:
A probe, comprising: a first flow path; a second flow path formed by a membrane, said membrane separating said first and second flow paths, said membrane being a tubular membrane carried within a cylinder such that a space between an outside diameter of said membrane and an inside diameter of said cylinder defines said first flow path, said second flow path being formed by said tubular membrane, a liquid phase flowing in said second flow path within the tubular membrane in an opposite direction as material flowing in the first flow path between the tubular membrane and the cylinder; and a needle connected to said membrane to form a part of said second flow path; an electrode configured to apply a voltage across the membrane; wherein the liquid phase flows in said second flow path and is ionized at the end of said second flow path; wherein the electrode is in contact with the liquid phase flowing in said second flow path; wherein a flow rate in said second flow path is less than a flow rate in said first flow path.