Patent ID: 8552368

Claim:
A low pressure ionization source usable with an instrument employing ionized target substances to detect trace atmospheric gases in a gas sample, said source comprising: a fixture securable to the instrument; a chamber within said fixture; at least one sample entrance passageway extending from an outer surface of said fixture to said chamber; an electrode receiver hole extending from a first end of said fixture to said chamber, said electrode receiver hole being configured to receive an electrode therein; a lamp receiver hole extending from an outer surface of said fixture to said chamber, said lamp receiver hole being configured to receive a lamp therein; and an ionized sample exit hole extending from said chamber to a second end of said fixture and proximal to a detector/analyzer unit of the instrument when the fixture is secured to the instrument, wherein the gas sample enters said chamber via said at least one sample entrance passageway and is ionized by a selected one of an electric potential and a light beam, wherein said electric potential is induced in said chamber between at least a portion of said fixture and an electrode receivable in said electrode receiver hole and said light beam is introduced in said chamber by a photoionization lamp receivable in said lamp receiver hole, and wherein at least a portion of the ionized gas sample exits said chamber via said exit hole to the detector/analyzer of the instrument.