Miniature Mass Spectrometer for Earth Science Research, Phase I

By drastically reducing the physical footprint of a mass spectrometer to the size of a beverage can, Ceramitron could set a new performance/price standard in the miniaturized MS market. To do this, we propose eliminating the turbomolecular and roughing pumps in favor two chemical sorption pumps (a non-evaporable getter (NEG) and an ion pump), both integrated into the spectrometer's self-contained vacuum enclosure. Ceramitron's patented double-focusing 90^o magnetic-sector unit comprises three printed circuit boards, sandwiched together to form a vacuum-tight enclosure containing a dual-filament EI source, ion slits, a photo- lithographically-deposited energy analyzer, lenses and I/O pins, continuous-dynode electron multiplier and the sorption pumps. Target parameters: 200 daltons mass range, 200 resolving power, 5x10-5 Amps/Torr sensitivity, <2kg total weight, <10 watts power consumption. Sample pressure through a pulsed-gas inlet, with flow restrictor, is ~1E-5 Torr. Internal pumps maintain ~1E-6 Torr with no in-flow. Units will be optimized for harsh operating environments.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.