A method for removing deposits in a mass spectrometer ion source housing includes delivering a liquid from a liquid source to a surface within the ion source housing. The surface including an ultrasonic transducer embedded within the surface. The method further includes activating the ultrasonic transducer to ultrasonically remove the deposit.

Components of scientific analytical equipment, and particularly to methods for extending the operational lifetime or otherwise improving the performance of dynodes used in electron multipliers. The method includes: (i) increasing the secondary electron yield of a dynode and/or (ii) decreasing the rate of degradation of electron yield of a dynode, by exposing a dynode electron-emissive surface to an electron flux under conditions causing electron-impact induced removal of a contaminant deposited on the dynode electron-emissive surface. The conditions may be selected such that the electron-mediated removal is enhanced relative to a contaminant deposition process so as to provide a net decrease in the rate of contaminant deposition and/or a decrease in the amount of contaminant present on the dynode electron-emissive surface.

A method for removing deposits in a mass spectrometer ion source housing includes delivering a liquid from a liquid source to a surface within the ion source housing. The surface including an ultrasonic transducer embedded within the surface. The method further includes activating the ultrasonic transducer to ultrasonically remove the deposit.

A method and system for cleaning a field emission cathode device, the field emission cathode device including a substrate having a field emission layer engaged therewith, includes engaging the field emission cathode device with a vibration device such that the substrate is disposed above the field emission layer. The field emission cathode device is then vibrated with the vibration device in an X, Y, or Z direction at a predetermined frequency and at a predetermined amplitude for a predetermined time duration so as to clean the field emission cathode device by dislodging non-embedded particles from the field emission layer.

A method and system for cleaning a field emission cathode device, the field emission cathode device including a substrate having a field emission layer engaged therewith, includes engaging the field emission cathode device with a vibration device such that the substrate is disposed above the field emission layer. The field emission cathode device is then vibrated with the vibration device in an X, Y, or Z direction at a predetermined frequency and at a predetermined amplitude for a predetermined time duration so as to clean the field emission cathode device by dislodging non-embedded particles from the field emission layer.

An ion source apparatus has a body, a heat dissipating base, at least two supporting shafts, a guiding block, and a shunt. The body has a holding chamber formed inside the body. The heat dissipating base is located in the holding chamber of the body. The at least two supporting shafts are mounted through the heat dissipating base. The guiding block is mounted on the at least two supporting shafts, and is a hollow circular block. The shunt is located at a center of a top surface of the heat dissipating base, and is located below the mounting hole of the guiding block.

An electrode cleaning apparatus for an electro-hydrodynamic (EHD) air mover device includes a cleaning scraper formed of one or more non-conductive materials. The cleaning scraper is positioned on an elongate emitter electrode and has an opening sized and shaped to receive the emitter electrode such that the cleaning scraper is slidable longitudinally along the electrode. In one embodiment, the elongate emitter electrode is implemented as a conductive edge on a mounting isolator, and the cleaning scraper is configured to engage the conductive edge and remove deposits accumulated thereon during operation.