Patent ID: 8536522

Claim:
A detachable and replaceable ion source for a mass spectrometer having a mass spectrometer mounting for detachably receiving said ion source, the ion source comprising: a housing with an open side which defines an ion source chamber, an ion source mounting means complementary to said mass spectrometer mounting to detachably couple with said mass spectrometer and to allow movement of the housing to bring the ion source chamber into a position of use at the inlet of said mass spectrometer and to take the ion source chamber from said position of use into a retracted position, sealing means to create an air tight seal between said housing and said mass spectrometer in order to seal said ion source chamber when the ion source chamber is in said position of use, and a release mechanism that cooperates with said mass spectrometer to allow said movement of said housing, wherein said sealing means comprises a seal with a substantially rectangular base mounted in a groove of said housing and an arcuate domed exposed deformable portion.