MASS SPECTROMETER

• US 20170011897A1
• Filed: 07/03/2014
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
• Original Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
• Inventors: YAMAGUCHI, Shinichi
• Granted Patent: US 9,741,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/626 calibration, baseline
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/724 Nebulising, aerosol formation or ionisation spraying or atomising in general B05B
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/0009 Calibration of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/0422 for gaseous samples interfaces to gas chromatographs G01N30/7206
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/0431 for liquid samples interfaces to liquid chromatographs G01N30/7233
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/0445 with means for introducing as a spray, a jet or an aerosol electrospray ion sources H01J49/165
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/145 using chemical ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/165 Electrospray ionisation

Abstract

The mass spectrometer (1) provides an ionization chamber (11) therein with: a probe (15) having a sample to be measured flow path (155) for spraying a sample to be measured; and a standard sample flow path (255) for spraying a standard sample used for the calibration of the mass-to-charge ratio of the mass spectrum into the ionization chamber. The standard sample is intermittently introduced into the ionization chamber via a pulse valve (216). Thus, mixing of the sample to be measured and the standard sample can be prevented, while the timing according to which the standard sample is introduced can be appropriately controlled. It also becomes possible to acquire an accurate mass spectrum for each sample to be measured even in the case where a number of types of samples to be measured are introduced into the ionization chamber one after another over a short period of time.

Claims

1. A mass spectrometer, comprising an ionization chamber where a sample is ionized, and a mass spectrometry unit into which ions are introduced from the ionization chamber, wherein

said ionization chamber has a housing that provides a space inside the housing,

a probe having a sample to be measured flow path in order to spray a sample to be measured into the inside of said ionization chamber is attached to said housing, and an ion introducing tube is created in said housing so that the inside of said ionization chamber and the inside of the mass spectrometry unit communicate,

a mass spectrum value that is gained by measuring a sample to be measured is calibrated using a mass spectrum value that is gained by measuring a standard sample, and

the mass spectrometer is characterized by further comprising a standard sample flow path that sprays a standard sample into the inside of said ionization chamber, and a pulse valve that is arranged in the standard sample flow path so as to introduce a standard sample intermittently.

2. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, characterized in that said standard sample flow path is arranged so that a standard sample can be sprayed between the spraying nozzle of said sample to be measured flow path and said ion introducing tube.

3. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, characterized in that said standard sample flow path is the same flow path as a dry gas flow path that sprays a dry gas or is the same flow path as a nebulizing gas flow path that sprays a nebulizing gas.

4. The mass spectrometer according to claim 1, characterized in that

said standard sample flow path is the same flow path as said sample to be measured flow path, and

a liquid standard sample is introduced by the pulse valve in the case where a sample to be measured is liquid, and a gas standard sample is introduced by the pulse valve in the case where a sample to be measured is a gas.

5. The mass spectrometer according to claim 4, characterized in that

an additional pulse valve that introduces a mobile phase intermittently is arranged in said standard sample flow path, and

a liquid mobile phase is introduced by the additional pulse valve in the case where a sample to be measured is a liquid, and a gas mobile phase is introduced by the additional pulse valve in the case where a sample to be measured is a gas.