Patent ID: 7135674

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a FAIMS analyzer for separating ions of a sample material and comprising an electrode having a first side and a second side that is opposite the first side, the first side of the electrode defining a boundary of a first region and the second side of the electrode defining a boundary of a second region; a gas inlet for providing a flow of a gas within the first region; an orifice having a periphery and being defined within a portion of the electrode for providing fluid communication between the first region and the second region; and, a laser-based ionization source for producing the ions of a sample material and comprising: a target plate disposed adjacent to the second side of the electrode and in an aligned relationship with the orifice, the target plate having a front surface for supporting the sample material thereon and having a back surface opposite the front surface, the target plate disposed for supporting a flow of the gas, via the orifice, in a direction from the first region to the second region; and, laser light source in optical communication with the target plate for irradiating the sample material supported thereon with light of a predetermined wavelength, for producing the ions from the sample material.