Systems and methods for transfer of ions for analysis
First Claim
1. A system for analyzing a sample, the system comprising:
- an ionizing source for converting molecules of a sample into gas phase ions in a region at about atmospheric pressure;
an ion analysis device; and
an ion transfer member operably coupled to a gas flow generating device, wherein the gas flow generating device produces a gas flow that transfers the gas phase ions through the ion transfer member to an inlet of the ion analysis device.
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Reexamination
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
20 Claims
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1. A system for analyzing a sample, the system comprising:
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an ionizing source for converting molecules of a sample into gas phase ions in a region at about atmospheric pressure; an ion analysis device; and an ion transfer member operably coupled to a gas flow generating device, wherein the gas flow generating device produces a gas flow that transfers the gas phase ions through the ion transfer member to an inlet of the ion analysis device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for analyzing a sample, the system comprising:
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an ionizing source for converting molecules of a sample into gas phase ions in a region at about atmospheric pressure; an ion analysis device; and an ion transfer member operably coupled to a gas flow generating device, wherein the gas flow generating device produces a gas flow that collects ions into the gas transfer member and transfers the gas phase ions through the ion transfer member to an inlet of the ion analysis device.
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19. A method of analyzing a sample, the method comprising:
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ionizing a sample to convert molecules of the sample into gas phase ions in a region at about atmospheric pressure; providing an ion transfer member coupled to a gas flow generating device to produce a laminar gas flow that transfers the gas phase ions to an inlet of the ion analysis device; and analyzing the ions. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification