US 12,436,107 B1
Laser ablation system with in-chamber fiber optic detection for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
Ciaran J. O'Connor, Bozeman, MT (US); Jay N. Wilkins, Belgrade, MT (US); and Shane Hilliard, Bozeman, MT (US)
Assigned to Elemental Scientific Lasers, LLC, Omaha, NE (US)
Filed by Elemental Scientific Lasers, LLC, Omaha, NE (US)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/524,748.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/385,683, filed on Dec. 1, 2022.
Int. Cl. G01J 3/443 (2006.01); G01N 21/71 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/718 (2013.01) [G01N 2201/06113 (2013.01); G01N 2201/0826 (2013.01); G01N 2201/0833 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A laser ablation system, comprising:
an ablation chamber defining a window in a top surface of the ablation chamber and defining an interior region configured to hold a sample target for ablation by an ablation beam source to generate a plasma upon ablation;
a cup coupled to the top surface of the ablation chamber, the cup defining
an interior volume configured to be positioned above the sample target and within the interior region,
a first aperture configured to pass radiation from the ablation beam source, through the window, to the sample target within the ablation chamber, and
one or more fiber optic apertures extending through the cup to define one or more channels from an exterior of the ablation chamber to the interior volume of the cup; and
one or more optical fibers inserted through respective fiber optic apertures of the one or fiber optic apertures, each of the one or more optical fibers having an end positioned within the interior volume adjacent the sample target to receive light emitted from the plasma generation.