Nano-electrospray nebulizer

• US 20050230498A1
• Filed: 04/06/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
• Original Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
• Inventors: Gedamke, Richard Erich, Ruediger, Waldemar
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/338
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/03 characterised by the use of gas , e.g. electrostatically assisted pneumatic spraying B05B5/04, B05B5/043, B05B5/047 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/066 with an inner liquid outlet surrounded by at least one annular gas outlet
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/7246 by pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/167 Capillaries and nozzles specially adapted therefor; electrostatic spraying per se B05B5/00

Abstract

A nebulizer is provided for use as an ion source for a mass spectrometer. The nebulizer includes a needle assembly that consists of an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner tube is received within the outer tube so as to define a nebulizer gas channel therebetween. A nebulizer gas supply is connected to the nebulizer gas channel. A nozzle is provided with an internal channel and an externally threaded portion. The nozzle channel has a portion adapted to retain the outer tube of the needle assembly. Inner tube clamping means, in the form of a conically shaped split end ferrule, is connected to the threaded portion of the nozzle, in alignment with the nozzle channel. A housing with a channel is provided. The housing channel has an internally threaded section. The nozzle portion carrying the ferrule is rotatably received in the threaded section of the housing channel. The housing channel also has a conically shaped surface potion that abuts the ferrule end, when the nozzle is rotated relative to the housing, to cause the ferrule end to compress to engage the inner tube. The inlet side of the housing channel is connected to receive the sample from a sample supply. The inner tube extends through the outer tube, the nozzle channel, the ferrule and the housing channel, so as to receive the sample at its inlet end.

Claims

1. A nebulizer for use as an ion source for a mass spectrometer, adapted for use with a sample supply and a nebulizer gas supply, said nebulizer comprising:

a needle assembly, said needle assembly comprising an inner tube and an outer tube, said inner tube having an inlet end and a portion received within said outer tube, so as to define a nebulizer gas channel therebetween;

a nozzle, said nozzle comprising a channel with a portion adapted to retain said outer tube;

means for connecting said nebulizer gas supply to said nebulizer gas channel;

inner tube clamping means, said inner tube clamping means being connected to said nozzle and having a channel aligned with said nozzle channel;

a housing, said housing comprising a channel having first and second portions, said first housing channel portion being adapted to receive said inner tube clamping means;

means for connecting said sample supply to said second portion of said housing channel, said inner tube extending through said outer tube, said nozzle channel, said inner tube clamping means channel and said housing channel, with said inlet end situated in said second housing channel portion to receive the sample.

2. The nebulizer of claim 1 wherein said nozzle comprises a rear section, and wherein said inner tube clamping means is received in said rear section of said nozzle.

3. The nebulizer of claim 1 wherein said outer tube retaining portion of said nozzle channel has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of said outer tube.

4. The nebulizer of claim 1 wherein said nozzle comprises a forward section and said outer tube retaining portion of said nozzle channel is situated in said forward section of said nozzle.

5. The nebulizer of claim 1 wherein said nozzle channel comprises a second portion having an inner diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter of said inner tube.

8. The nebulizer of claim 2 wherein said rear section of said nozzle has a substantially cylindrical shape.

9. The nebulizer of claim 2 wherein said rear section of said nozzle has an externally threaded surface.

10. The nebulizer of claim 2 wherein said rear section of said nozzle comprises a recess into which a portion of said inner tube clamping means is received.

11. The nebulizer of claim 9 wherein said portion of said housing channel comprises an internally threaded surface adapted to engage said externally threaded surface of said rear section of said nozzle.

12. The nebulizer of claim 1 wherein said housing has an axis and wherein a portion of the surface of said housing channel is inclined relative to said axis of said housing.

13. The nebulizer of claim 12 wherein said nozzle has a axis and wherein said inner tube clamping means comprises a part with a surface inclined relative to said axis of said nozzle, said inclined surface of said inner tube clamping means part being adapted to press against said inclined surface of said housing channel as said nozzle is received within said housing channel.

14. The nebulizer of claim 1 wherein said inner tube clamping means comprises a ferrule.

15. The nebulizer of claim 13 wherein said inner tube clamping means comprises a ferrule.

16. The nebulizer of claim 13 wherein said part of said inner tube clamping means is adapted to be compressed by said inclined surface of said housing channel to engage said inner tube.

17. The nebulizer of claim 1 further comprising compressible tubing situated between said inner tube clamping means and said inner tube.

18. The nebulizer of claim 1 further comprising a mounting platform having a recess into which said housing is received.

20. The nebulizer of claim 1 for use with a mass spectrometer having a sample target with an axis, further comprising means for mounting said housing with said needle assembly situated at a 45 degree angle relative to said target axis.

21. The nebulizer of claim 1 for use with a mass spectrometer having a sample target with an axis, further comprising means for mounting said housing for adjustment relative to said target axis in three directions.

6. The nebulizer of claim 6 wherein said nozzle has a middle section and wherein said second nozzle channel portion is situated in said middle section of said nozzle.

7. The nebulizer of claim 6 wherein said nozzle has a middle section and a rear section and wherein said second nozzle channel portion is situated in said middle section and said rear section of said nozzle.

19. The nebulizer of clam 18 further comprising spring clip means for retaining said housing in said mounting platform recess.

22. A nebulizer for use as an ion source for a mass spectrometer, the nebulizer comprising:

a needle assembly, said needle assembly comprising an inner tube and an outer tube, said inner tube being received within said outer tube;

a nozzle, said nozzle retaining said outer tube of said needle assembly;

compressible means mounted on said nozzle;

a housing with a channel, said nozzle being moveably received within said housing channel and movable relative therein between a first position, wherein said compressible means is in the uncompressed state and does not engage said inner tube, and a second position, wherein said compressible means is compressed to engage said inner tube, said inner tube extending through said outer tube, said compressible means and into said housing channel.

23. The nebulizer of claim 22 wherein said nozzle is rotatably received to said housing channel.

24. The nebulizer of claim 22 wherein said housing channel comprises an interior surface with a substantially conical portion.

25. The nebulizer of claim 24 wherein said compressible means comprises a part adapted to cooperate with said conical housing channel portion to compress said compressible means.

26. The nebulizer of claim 24 wherein said compressible means comprises first and second normally spaced parts adapted to cooperate with said conical housing channel portion to move towards each other to engage said inner tube.

27. The nebulizer of claim 22 wherein said compressible means comprises a ferrule.

28. The nebulizer of claim 22 wherein said nozzle comprises a rear section, and wherein compressible means is connected to said rear section of said nozzle.

29. The nebulizer of claim 22 wherein said nozzle comprises a channel with a first portion having an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of said outer tube.

30. The nebulizer of claim 29 wherein said nozzle channel comprises a second portion having an inner diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter of said inner tube.

31. The nebulizer of claim 22 wherein the portion of said nozzle received in said housing channel has a substantially cylindrical shape.

32. The nebulizer of claim 31 wherein said portion of said nozzle has an externally threaded surface.

33. The nebulizer of claim 22 wherein said nozzle comprises a recess into which a portion of said compressible means is received.

34. The nebulizer of claim 32 wherein said housing comprises a channel with an internally threaded surface adapted to receive said externally threaded surface of said nozzle.

35. The nebulizer of claim 22 further comprising compressible tubing situated between said compressible means and said inner tube.

36. The nebulizer of claim 22 further comprising a mounting platform having a recess into which said housing is received.

37. The nebulizer of claim 36 further comprising spring clip means for retaining said housing in said mounting platform recess.

38. The nebulizer of claim 22 for use with a mass spectrometer having a sample target with an axis, further comprising means for mounting said housing with said needle assembly situated at a 45 degree angle relative to said target axis.

39. The nebulizer of claim 22 for use with a mass spectrometer having a sample target with an axis, further comprising means for mounting said housing for adjustment relative to said target axis in three directions.

40. The nebulizer of claim 22 for use with a sample supply, wherein said inner tube has an inlet end situated within a portion of said housing channel and means for connecting the sample supply to said portion of said housing channel.