Specimen transfer container for ion microprobe mass analyzer

Claim 1

A specimen holder for use with an ion microprobe mass analyzer to provide for the transfer of a specimen to be analyzed from a specimen-loading facility to a specimen-analyzing chamber exhaustable to a predetermined pressure in said analyzer without exposing the specimen to an atmosphere reactive with the specimen, comprising an open housing having a receptacle at one end thereof for receiving a specimen container through the opening, sealing means at said open end of the housing disposed about said receptacle, removable lid means adapted to be disposed over said receptacle at said one end thereof in a contacting relationship with said sealing means, a passageway projecting into said housing in registry with said receptacle for placing said receptacle in communication with a source of vacuum to a pressure corresponding to said predetermined pressure for evacuating said receptacle and pulling said lid means against said sealing means for enclosing said receptacle, and valve means in registry with said passageway for selectively opening and closing said passageway, with said lid means being affixed to said housing upon evacuation of said receptacle and closing of said passageway by said valve means, whereby when said holder is positioned within the analyzer chamber and when said chamber is at said predetermined pressure, the cover is released from said contacting relationship with said sealing means so that the specimen may be analyzed.