Patent ID: 6864091

Claim:
A sampling probe for delivering a reactant to a substance deposited on a substrate to form a reaction product and for transporting the reaction product to a product analyzer for analysis, the probe comprising an inner body and an outer body having an inner cavity sized and shaped for receiving the inner body, the inner body including an upper portion fixed relative to the outer body, a tip for engaging the substrate, and a resiliently compliant element connecting the tip to the inner body and permitting the tip to move relative to the inner body, the tip having a recess sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion of the reaction product, a reactant delivery passage extending through the probe to an outlet at the tip for delivering reactant to the substance on the substrate to form the reaction product, and a reaction product sampling passage extending from the recess adapted for connection to the product analyzer for transporting at least the portion of the reaction product to the product analyzer.