Looped ionization source
US8901489B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 15, 2012 |
| Grant date | Dec 2, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 15, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J49/168
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Looped ionization sources for ion mobility spectrometers are described. The ionization sources can be used to ionize molecules from a sample of interest in order to identify the molecules based on the ions. In an implementation, an electrical ionization source includes a wire that is looped between electrical contacts. The wire is used to form a corona responsive to application of voltage between the wire and the walls of an ionization chamber. The corona can form when a sufficient voltage is applied between the wire and the walls. A difference in electrical potential between the wire and a wall forming an ionization chamber, in which wire is contained, can be used to draw the ions away from the wire. In embodiments, the wire can be heated to reduce the voltage used to strike the corona. The ions, subsequently, may ionize the molecules from the sample of interest. The looped corona source can also be used in mass spectrometers (MS).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.