Devices and methods for liquid sample injection for mass spectrometry with improved utilities
AssigneePhoenix S&T, Inc.
InventorSau Lan Tang Staats
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A new electrospray emitter capable of cone-jet mode spray for liquid flow-rates from sub-microliter/minute to 10's of microliters/minute is provided. The high efficiency of ionization and vaporization enabled by the disclosed spray emitter provides improved sensitivity for mass spectrometer detection. The disclosed spray emitter sprays consistently and robustly a liquid buffer having a large range of compositions of aqueous and organic solvents, and is not sensitive to the polarity of the electric field used to induce spray. The fluidic channel leading to the spray emitter opening does not have an internal taper rendering the spray emitter clog-resistant.
Claims20
A spray emitter for spraying a fluid comprising:
- an emitter body formed of a metal and having an inner channel formed therein that terminates at a spray emitter opening at a first end of the emitter body, wherein the inner channel is defined by an inner wall surface of the emitter body, the inner wall surface having a first portion that extends to the spray emitter opening, wherein the emitter body includes an end face that surrounds the fluid emitter opening at the first end of the emitter body, wherein the end face and the first portion define emitter surfaces that have a reduced surface roughness for reducing interfacial interaction with the fluid, the reduced surface roughness being a surface roughness less than 5 microns.
A spray emitter for spraying a fluid comprising:
- an emitter body having an inner channel formed therein that terminates at a spray emitter opening at a first end of the emitter body, wherein the inner channel is defined by an inner wall surface of the emitter body, the inner wall surface having a first portion that extends to the spray emitter opening, wherein the emitter body includes an end face that surrounds the fluid emitter opening at the first end of the emitter body, wherein the end face and the first portion define emitter surfaces;
- and
- a coating formed on the emitter surfaces, the coating being formed of gold and having a thickness of less than 50 angstroms.
A spray emitter for spraying a fluid comprising:
- an emitter body formed of a plastic and including a contoured upper surface that has a sample deposition area, the sample deposition area being defined by a trough so as to permit the fluid to be contained within the trough;
- and
- an electrical conducting device disposed within the sample deposition area and configured to form a liquid tip of a spray when an electric field of between 1 KV and 5 KV is applied to the electrical conductive device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.