High Efficiency Sample Introduction System (HE-SIS)

Originally designed as a highly efficient single-cell sample introduction system, Glass Expansion's HE-SIS has been redesigned to provide superior performance across a wide variety of applications, including single-cell, single particle, nanoparticle, and low-volume sample studies, with up to 95% transport efficiency.

Select your instrument type HERE to find a HE-SIS to suit your ICP




Key HE-SIS Components

Conventional ICP-MS spray chambers have low transport efficiencies (typically < 5% TE) that filter out larger droplets ( > 5µm) from the nebulizer aerosol. The Glass Expansion HE-SIS features three critical components to overcome this significant sample transport deficiency.

(a) MicroMist™ HE Nebulizer

  • This specially designed concentric glass nebulizer is based on our popular MicroMist design, capable of efficiently nebulizing limited sample volumes at low sample and argon gas flow rates.

(b) Patent-pending MicroJet™ Gas Adapter

  • Our patent-pending MicroJet gas adapter shapes the nebulizer aerosol plume to reduce sample deposition on the spray chamber walls and enhance transport efficiency.

(c) Lotis™ HE Spray Chamber

  • The Lotis HE spray chamber directly couples to the ICP-MS torch, providing the highest transport efficiency and excellent washout between samples.



Superior Performance

In a comparison of the average sensitivity, Glass Expansion's HE-SIS provided a factor of 2 to 3 increase compared to another commercially available single-cell or laminar flow sample introduction system (BrandX). The sensitivity ratio of the HE-SIS to BrandX was averaged for 16 masses, ranging low to high at a nebulizer sample flow rate ranging from 4 to 100 uL/min.

This increase in sensitivity is indicative of the high quality design of the Glass Expansion HE-SIS and patent pending MicroJet which greatly improves the transport efficiency compared to other commercially available systems.




Optimizing Operating Conditions

With every sample introduction system, the operating conditions should be optimized in order to achieve the best performance possible. In our HE-SIS Webinar we highlight the optimization of the HE-SIS nebulizer and MicroJet.

This webinar is a great introduction to the HE-SIS and can be used as a tutorial to achieve optimum transport efficiency and understand each operating parameter of the HE-SIS and its effect on overall performance.




Instrument Specific Installation


Part Number Description
KT-1155 HE-SIS for Agilent® ICP-MS
KT-1172 HE-SIS for TOFWERK icpTOF
KT-1172 HE-SIS for Thermo® Q/RQ/TQ ICP-MS
KT-1172 HE-SIS for Thermo® Neoma MC-ICP-MS
KT-1184 HE-SIS for PerkinElmer® NexION 1000, 1100, 2000, 2200, 5000
KT-1204 HE-SIS for PerkinElmer® NexION 300/350
KT-1205 HE-SIS for Nu ATTOM
KT-1213 HE-SIS for Thermo® X Series
KT-1215 HE-SIS for Thermo® Neptune/Element
KT-1219 HE-SIS for Nu Vitesse

For more instrument models click HERE




Single-cell Literature




Customer Comments

(In reference to the High Efficiency Sample Introduction System) We have been using your system since we have got best transport efficiencies when compared to other ones in the market. Generally, we obtain something like 70-80% in bacteria and yeast and lower (50-60%) in eukaryotic cells and NPs.

University laboratory – Spain

We have been using the Glass Expansion High Efficiency Sample Introduction System in several studies including cells and Au NPs. Regarding the Au NPs, depending on operating conditions, transport efficiencies ranging between 60 and 95% were achieved.

ICP manufacturer - Europe

We tried the configuration you provided us, and the high efficiency sample introduction worked perfectly. We are tremendously grateful for your help.

University laboratory – Spain


Download Here:

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HE-SIS Flyer

HE-SIS Technical Note