Laser Ablation Cell

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention is a specially designed laser ablation cell that features a flow channel with a nearly constant cross-sectional area, ensuring laminar gas flow. A sample chamber is placed adjacent to a lateral opening in the flow channel, allowing a laser beam to ablate (vaporize) material from the sample and instantly generate an aerosol plume. The design positions the sample close to the flow channel, resulting in rapid and efficient transfer of the aerosol for analysis, with minimal dispersion and very fast washout times. The system is especially suitable for applications like ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry), particularly for high-speed chemical imaging at fine spatial resolutions.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Laser ablation sample introduction for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis of industrial, geological, environmental, or biological samples.
• High-speed, high-resolution chemical imaging of sample surfaces for research in materials science, biochemistry, and pathology (e.g., imaging the spatial distribution of biomarkers in tissue).
• Elemental and isotopic mapping of thin film materials, metals, semiconductors, or other solid samples.
• Rapid diagnostics or forensic investigations requiring elemental fingerprinting and imaging.
• Development of advanced analytical instruments for trace detection and mapping of contaminants in microelectronic components.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Achieves ultra-short washout times (<30 ms), enabling much faster analysis and imaging speeds compared to conventional systems.
• Maintains laminar flow to minimize dispersion and maximize sample transport efficiency, leading to sharper signals and better spatial resolution.
• Highly adaptable for different sample types (biological tissue, hard matter, thin films, etc.), allowing for versatile analytical applications.
• Improves signal sensitivity and resolution, allowing detection and imaging at micrometer and sub-cellular scales.
• Modular and user-friendly design facilitates easy sample exchange and system optimization.
• Suitable for use with a range of mass spectrometer types (quadrupole, TOF, sector field), supporting multi-element and isotopic imaging.

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

A laser ablation cell (1) comprises a flow channel (11) having an essentially constant cross-sectional area so as to ensure a strictly laminar flow in the flow channel. A sample chamber (21) is provided adjacent to a lateral opening (14) of the flow channel. A laser beam (41) enters the sample chamber (21) through a lateral window (16) and impinges on a surface (24) of a sample (23) to ablate material from the sample. The sample may be positioned in such a distance from the flow channel that the laser-generated aerosol mass distribution has its center within the flow channel. This leads to short aerosol washout times. The laser ablation cell is particularly well suited for aerosol generation in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS), including imaging applications.