Patent ID: 8058611

Claim:
A system for preventing backflow in an ion source, comprising: a housing chamber; a continuous flow guide configured within said housing chamber, wherein said continuous flow guide comprises a converging first volume and a diverging second volume coupled at a minimal cross-sectional area; a spray probe disposed within said continuous flow guide and configured to provide a spray plume along a desired axis within said continuous flow guide; one or more gas inlets configured to provide an inert gas in a non-turbulent fashion so as to combine with said spray plume and fill said converging first volume; an exhaust drain port operably coupled to said diverging second volume of said continuous flow guide; and means to provide for a desired pressure differential within said converging first volume and said diverging second volume to induce a unidirectional flow past a sampling orifice of a mass spectrometer inlet additionally configured within said continuous flow guide, said unidirectional flow being further directed out of said exhaust drain port so as to prevent recirculation and thus minimize carryover, chemical noise, and source turbulence.