Patent ID: 7424980

Claim:
A nebulizer for use as an ion source for a mass spectrometer, adapted for use with a sample supply and a nebulizer gas supply, said nebulizer comprising: a needle assembly, said needle assembly comprising an inner tube and an outer tube, said inner tube having an inlet end and a portion received within said outer tube, so as to define a nebulizer gas channel therebetween; a nozzle, said nozzle comprising a channel with a portion adapted to retain said outer tube; means for connecting said nebulizer gas supply to said nebulizer gas channel; inner tube clamping means, said inner tube clamping means being connected to said nozzle and having a channel aligned with said nozzle channel; a housing, said housing comprising a channel having first and second portions, said first housing channel portion being adapted to receive said inner tube clamping means; means for connecting said sample supply to said second portion of said housing channel, said inner tube extending through said outer tube, said nozzle channel, said inner tube clamping means channel and said housing channel, with said inlet end situated in said second housing channel portion to receive the sample.