Ion mobility spectrometer

US5969349A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Bruker Saxonia Analytik GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Vitali Lvovich Budovich · Moscow, RU
• Alexei Anatolevich Mikhailov · Moscow, RU
• Gerd Arnold · Leipzig, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 9, 1997
• Grant date: Oct 19, 1999
• Expiry date: Jul 9, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N27/622
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Ion mobility spectrometer with a non-radioactive electron source to generate ions inside a reaction chamber. The reaction chamber consists of two partial chambers, one of which is evacuated and comprises the electron source, and the other one is connected to the drift chamber of the IMS via a shutter grid. The partition wall between both partial chambers is transparent to electrons but impermeable for gas molecules. The electron source may comprise a thermoemitter or a photocathode, which is illuminated from outside through a window. In this way, any contact between analyte and electron source is avoided, thereby improving the measuring stability and enabling operation in positive and negative mode.