Membrane for holding samples 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 membrane positioned one or both adjacent to the tube and inside the tube, wherein the ionizing species contacts the membrane one or both before and upon entering the proximal end of the tube, wherein the membrane has been in contact with the analyte prior to being positioned relative to the tube; and
a component for generating a plurality of ionizing species, wherein the plurality of ionizing species are directed at one or both the membrane and the proximal end of the tube.
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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
20 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 membrane positioned one or both adjacent to the tube and inside the tube, wherein the ionizing species contacts the membrane one or both before and upon entering the proximal end of the tube, wherein the membrane has been in contact with the analyte prior to being positioned relative to the tube; and a component for generating a plurality of ionizing species, wherein the plurality of ionizing species are directed at one or both the membrane and the proximal end of the tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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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 having a major axis; and an inner tube with a proximal and a distal end having a major axis;
wherein the outer tube and the inner tube major axis 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 membrane is positioned one or both inside the inner tube and adjacent to the tube;
wherein the analyte is present on the membrane;
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 the ionizing species interact with the analyte on the membrane, wherein a plurality of analyte ions are formed by the interaction of the ionizing species with the analyte in the membrane, wherein the ionizing species enter the inner tube in a direction parallel to the inner tube major axis and are transferred into the apparatus for analyzing the plurality of analyte ions. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for analyzing an analyte comprising:
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positioning a membrane which has been in contact with the analyte one or both adjacent to a tube and inside the tube, wherein the tube has 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 one or both the membrane and the proximal end of the tube;
wherein ions formed from the analyte are transferred into the mass spectrometer. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification