Patent ID: 7012249

Claim:
An apparatus for examining and inspecting at least one sample, in order to determine the characteristics of the sample, the apparatus comprising: i) a support for receiving a compact disc, the compact disc having deposited on a surface thereof at least one sample; ii) an inspection means for effecting a physical change in at least one sample, the inspection means capable of moving translationally in at least one of an X direction and a Y direction and being positioned for registration with the surface of the compact disc bearing at least one sample; iii) a traversal mechanism adapted for reciprocating movement to move the sample in and out of the path of the inspection means; and iv) a scanning assembly that includes a plurality of ion guide rods fixed in a positioning guide, the ion guide rods defining an inlet at a first end proximate to the compact disc, an outlet at a second end proximate to an entrance to the apparatus, the positioning guide further having a lens situated within the positioning guide for allowing the passage of laser energy through the positioning guide.