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A fluid permeation testing apparatus provides for filling a first cavity of a test cell with a test fluid and filling a second cavity of the test cell with a challenge fluid. The challenge fluid comprises at least one analyte useful for testing permeation of the challenge fluid through a test film t

A fluid permeation testing apparatus provides for filling a first cavity of a test cell with a test fluid and filling a second cavity of the test cell with a challenge fluid. The challenge fluid comprises at least one analyte useful for testing permeation of the challenge fluid through a test film that separates the first and second cavities. Samples of the test fluid in the first cavity are introduced to a mass spectrometer, such as in a pulsed manner, without substantially changing the total pressure in first cavity. Samples of the test fluid in the first cavity may be introduced to the mass spectrometer while maintaining substantially balanced total pressures in the first and second cavities.

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What is claimed is: 1. A permeation testing apparatus, comprising: a mass spectrometer; a controllable valve comprising an inlet and an outlet, the outlet coupled to the mass spectrometer; a test cell comprising: a first cavity; a first port arrangement configured to facilitate fluid communication

What is claimed is: 1. A permeation testing apparatus, comprising: a mass spectrometer; a controllable valve comprising an inlet and an outlet, the outlet coupled to the mass spectrometer; a test cell comprising: a first cavity; a first port arrangement configured to facilitate fluid communication between the first cavity and a test fluid source and between the first cavity and the inlet of the controllable valve; a second cavity; a second port arrangement configured to facilitate fluid communication between the second cavity and a challenge fluid source containing a challenge fluid; and a support arrangement configured to suspend a test film between the first and second cavities; a pressure sensing arrangement configured to sense total pressures in the first and second cavities; and a controller coupled to the controllable valve, the controller configured to controllably actuate the valve to deliver samples of a test fluid in the first cavity to the mass spectrometer while substantially balanced total pressures are maintained in the first and second cavities. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mass spectrometer is configured to detect presence of an analyte of the challenge fluid using a selected ion monitoring technique. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the challenge fluid comprises a plurality of analytes, and the mass spectrometer is configured to detect presence of each of the plurality of analytes. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the mass spectrometer is configured to detect the plurality of analytes in a sequential fashion or in a concurrent fashion. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an analyte of the challenge fluid comprises an isotope of an element, and the mass spectrometer is configured to detect the isotope. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a solenoid-actuated sampling valve. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to pulsedly sample a volume of less than about 10 microliters of the test fluid in the first cavity. 8. The apparatus of clam 1, wherein a processor of, or coupled to, the testing apparatus is configured to determine a rate of permeation of the challenge fluid through the test film using data produced by the mass spectrometer. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the test and challenge fluids are gases. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the challenge fluid is liquid. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the test film comprises an ultra-low permeability film. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the total pressure in each of the first and second cavities is atmospheric pressure. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the total pressures in the first and second cavities differ from one another by no greater than 10 percent. 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support arrangement comprises a gasket arrangement provided at respective ends of the test film, the gasket arrangement and test film defining a seal between the first and second cavities. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: a sealing arrangement peripheral to the gasket arrangement; and a third port arrangement extending from a location between the sealing and gasket arrangements to an exterior surface of the test cell. 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the gasket arrangement comprises metal gaskets provided above and below respective end surfaces of the test film. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the gaskets are adhesively mounted above and below the respective end surfaces of the test film. 18. A permeation testing apparatus, comprising: a mass spectrometer; a controllable valve comprising an inlet and an outlet, the outlet coupled to the mass spectrometer; a test cell comprising: a first cavity; a first port arrangement configured to facilitate fluid communication between the first cavity and a test fluid source and between the first cavity and the inlet of the controllable valve; a second cavity; a second port arrangement configured to facilitate fluid communication between the second cavity and a challenge fluid source containing a challenge fluid; and a support arrangement configured to suspend a test film between the first and second cavities; a pressure sensing arrangement configured to sense total pressures in the first and second cavities; and a controller coupled to the controllable valve, the controller configured to controllably actuate the valve to deliver samples of a test fluid in the first cavity to the mass spectrometer without substantially changing a total pressure in the first cavity. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the total pressure in the first cavity differs from the total pressure in the second cavity. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the total pressures in the first and second cavities are substantially balanced. 21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the mass spectrometer is configured to detect presence of an analyte of the challenge fluid using a selected ion monitoring technique. 22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein an analyte of the challenge fluid comprises an isotope of an element, and the mass spectrometer is configured to detect the isotope. 23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the valve comprises a solenoid-actuated sampling valve. 24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the valve is configured to pulsedly sample a volume of less than about 10 microliters of the test fluid in the first cavity. 25. The apparatus of clam 18, wherein a processor of, or coupled to, the testing apparatus is configured to determine a rate of permeation of the challenge fluid through the test film using data produced by the mass spectrometer. 26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the test and challenge fluids are gases. 27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the challenge fluids are liquids. 28. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the test film comprises an ultra-low permeability film. 29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the total pressure in each of the first and second cavities is atmospheric pressure. 30. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the challenge fluid comprises a plurality of analytes, and the mass spectrometer is configured to detect presence of each of the plurality of analytes. 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the mass spectrometer is configured to detect the plurality of analytes in a sequential fashion or in a concurrent fashion. 32. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the support arrangement comprises a gasket arrangement provided at respective ends of the test film, the gasket arrangement and test film defining a seal between the first and second cavities. 33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising: a sealing arrangement peripheral to the gasket arrangement; and a third port arrangement extending from a location between the sealing and gasket arrangements to an exterior surface of the test cell. 34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the gasket arrangement comprises metal gaskets provided above and below respective end surfaces of the test film. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the gaskets are adhesively mounted above and below the respective end surfaces of the test film. 36. A permeation testing apparatus, comprising: a mass spectrometer; a test cell comprising a first cavity and a second cavity, the first cavity configured to contain a test fluid and the second cavity configured to contain a challenge fluid; means for introducing samples of the test fluid in a pulsed manner from the first cavity to the mass spectrometer without substantially changing a total pressure in the first cavity; and the mass spectrometer is configured to detect the presence of one or more analytes in the test fluid samples indicative of challenge fluid in the first cavity. 37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the introducing means comprises means for introducing samples of the test fluid from the first cavity to the mass spectrometer while maintaining substantially balanced total pressures in the first and second cavities.