Robust, rapid, secure sample manipulation before during and after ionization for a spectroscopy system
First Claim
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1. A device for ionizing an analyte comprising:
- a chamber with at least one port to allow the analyte to enter the chamber and adapted to mix the analyte with one or both dry powder and dry granule material;
a magnetic field source adapted to constrain the analyte mixed with the one or both dry powder and dry granule material within the chamber; and
an ionization source directed at the analyte within the chamber mixed with the one or both dry powder and dry granule material to form analyte ions.
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Abstract
This invention provides for the efficient positioning of a sample to be analyzed by using either magnetic or electro-mechanical fields to retain the sample in the ionization region. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sample is contacted with a sampler device, which is inserted into a chamber and accurately positioned using electro-mechanical devices. In an embodiment of the invention, the influence of an electro-mechanical field on the sampler device enables the sample to be positioned in the ionization region to be contacted by particles that result in ionization of the sample whereby rendering the resulting ions available for analysis.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for ionizing an analyte comprising:
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a chamber with at least one port to allow the analyte to enter the chamber and adapted to mix the analyte with one or both dry powder and dry granule material; a magnetic field source adapted to constrain the analyte mixed with the one or both dry powder and dry granule material within the chamber; and an ionization source directed at the analyte within the chamber mixed with the one or both dry powder and dry granule material to form analyte ions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A kit for handling a sample for ionization comprising:
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(a) a vial adapted to be opened and resealed containing one or both dry powder and dry granule material, where opening the vial and locating the sample in the vial and resealing the vial mixes the sample and the one or both dry powder and dry granule material; (b) a probe adapted to enter the vial and thereby position the one or both dry powder and dry granule material mixed with the sample onto the probe for removal from the vial; and (c) an analysis plate with one or both a fixed magnet and an electro-magnet adapted to move the one or both dry powder and dry granule material mixed with the sample from the probe onto the analysis plate while constraining the one or both dry powder and dry granule material mixed with the sample to one or more regions on the plate for ionization. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of ionizing a sample comprising:
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(a) mixing the sample with a material consisting essentially of one or both of a dry powder and dry granule material; (b) controlling the position of the sample mixed with the material in a chamber using one or both an electro-mechanical force and an electric field; and (c) generating one or more analyte ions of the sample in the chamber while the sample remains inside the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification