VALVE AND MEMBRANE DEVICE

摘要

A combination of a membrane, such as a silicone rubber membrane, and a valve having a chamber within it, such as a solenoid valve. The present invention is suitable, for example, for use with a mass spectrometer. The membrane partitions the chamber into a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion. The valve has at least three passageways into it. The first two passageways lead to the first chamber portion. The third passageway leads to the second chamber portion. A solenoid plunger located within the chamber is used to close off the third passageway when desired. When used with a mass spectrometer, the third passageway is connected to the vacuum inlet of the mass spectrometer and a sample is flowed into and out of the first chamber portion via the first two passageways. A component of interest in the sample can permeate across the membrane into the second chamber portion and can flow via the third passageway to the mass spectrometer.