APPARATUS FOR HOLDING SOLIDS FOR USE WITH SURFACE IONIZATION TECHNOLOGY
First Claim
1. A device for analyzing an analyte comprising:
- a tube with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the tube transfers one or more analyte ions into a mass spectrometer;
a component for generating a plurality of ionizing species, wherein the plurality of ionizing species are directed at the proximal end of the tube; and
a permeable barrier positioned inside the tube, wherein the permeable barrier has been in contact with the analyte.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a device to restrict the sampling of analyte ions and neutral molecules from surfaces with mass spectrometry and thereby sample from a defined area or volume. In various embodiments of the present invention, a tube is used to sample ions formed with a defined spatial resolution from desorption ionization at or near atmospheric pressures. In an embodiment of the present invention, electrostatic fields are used to direct ions to either individual tubes or a plurality of tubes positioned in close proximity to the surface of the sample being analyzed. In an embodiment of the present invention, wide diameter sampling tubes can be used in combination with a vacuum inlet to draw ions and neutrals into the spectrometer for analysis. In an embodiment of the present invention, wide diameter sampling tubes in combination with electrostatic fields improve the efficiency of ion collection.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A device for analyzing an analyte comprising:
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a tube with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the tube transfers one or more analyte ions into a mass spectrometer; a component for generating a plurality of ionizing species, wherein the plurality of ionizing species are directed at the proximal end of the tube; and a permeable barrier positioned inside the tube, wherein the permeable barrier has been in contact with the analyte. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 21, 22)
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9. A device for analyzing an analyte comprising:
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an apparatus for generating a plurality of ionizing species, an apparatus for analyzing ions formed from the analyte; an outer tube with a proximal and a distal end; and an inner tube with a proximal and a distal end;
wherein the outer tube and the inner tube are substantially co-axial, wherein the outer tube diameter is greater than the inner tube diameter;wherein the inner tube is positioned inside the outer tube;
wherein the permeable barrier is positioned inside the inner tube;
wherein the analyte is present on a permeable barrier;
wherein the mass spectrometer is positioned at the distal exit of one or both the inner tube and the outer tube;
wherein the plurality of ionizing species are directed towards the proximal end of the inner tube, wherein a plurality of analyte ions are formed in the inner tube and are transferred into the apparatus for analyzing the plurality of analyte ions. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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14. The device of claim 14 wherein:
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the proximal end of the inner tube is positioned a distance away from an area where the ionizing species interacts with the analyte of between; a lower limit of approximately 10−
5 m; andan upper limit of approximately 10−
1 m. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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23. A method for analyzing an analyte comprising:
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inserting a permeable barrier which has been in contact with the analyte into a tube with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the tube transfers analyte ions into a mass spectrometer; and directing a plurality of ionizing species at the proximal end of the tube;
wherein ions formed from the analyte are transferred into the mass spectrometer.
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Specification