Sample Loading Apparatus for Laser Ablation with Segmented Gas Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sample loading apparatuses for laser ablation suffer from inefficient aerosol transmission, elemental fractionation, and spectral interference due to air accumulation, leading to unstable and inaccurate analysis results.
Innovation Solution
A sample loading apparatus with a hermetically sealed sample chamber, aerosol channel, and gas management system that includes a shrinking mouth for sample fixation, a spring for secure positioning, and a gas outlet for air removal, enhancing aerosol transmission efficiency and maintaining consistent analysis conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large main sample chamber is used to accommodate multiple samples, then sample capacity is improved, but air replacement efficiency deteriorates causing oxygen accumulation and spectral interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sample chamber into multiple independent small chambers (first sample chamber, second sample chamber, etc.), each capable of being independently sealed and purged. This segmentation allows each chamber to be completely replaced with carrier gas without oxygen accumulation from other chambers, resolving the spectral interference issue while maintaining the ability to analyze multiple samples sequentially.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the gas replacement function from a single large chamber system and implements it in each small chamber independently through separate gas inlet and outlet channels. This ensures complete carrier gas replacement in each chamber, eliminating oxygen accumulation and its associated spectral interference problems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If samples are positioned at different locations in the sample chamber, then sample versatility is improved, but aerosol transmission efficiency deteriorates causing fractionation effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs each small sample chamber with a standardized structure where the sample position is fixed relative to the aerosol outlet. This ensures that aerosol generated from any sample always travels through the same path length and geometry to reach the mass spectrometer, eliminating fractionation effects caused by variable transmission paths while maintaining the ability to analyze different samples in different chambers.
3Reliability
If a small sample chamber is used to improve gas replacement efficiency, then air removal capability is improved, but sample capacity deteriorates to only one or two samples
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the total sample capacity into multiple small chambers, each optimized for complete gas replacement. Each chamber's small volume allows efficient carrier gas replacement to displace all air, while the multiplicity of chambers collectively provides capacity for multiple samples. This resolves the contradiction by distributing sample capacity across several efficiently-purged small chambers rather than one large chamber.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables simultaneous analysis of multiple samples with improved accuracy and reliability by minimizing spectral interference and maintaining consistent analysis conditions, thus enhancing the detection limits and accuracy of mass spectrometry results.
Implementation Method 1
the laser acts on the sample to ablate the sample
Implementation Method 2
ablate the sample by virtue of a light path, analyzes plasma generated by ablation
Implementation Method 3
a spring is arranged in the sample chamber and is used for enabling a sample target to be limited in the sample chamber and abutted at the shrinking mouth
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a sample loading apparatus for laser ablation, including a target seat, a base, an air channel, an aerosol channel and a sample chamber, wherein a shrinking mouth is formed in the top of the sample chamber and positioned on a lower surface of the aerosol channel; a spring is arranged in the sample chamber; an opening is formed in a lower surface of the sample chamber and communicated with an air outlet; a stop valve is arranged at the air outlet; one end of the aerosol channel is communicated with a carrier gas inlet, and the other end is communicated with an aerosol outlet; and a top of the aerosol channel includes a first transparent material. The present invention increases stable reliability in a continuous use process, and improves consistency of aerosol transmission efficiency, so that different samples are analyzed.