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US 10,854,440 B2Granted
Ion source
AssigneeMicromass UK Limited
InventorsMichael Raymond Morris, Steven Derek Pringle, Richard Ellson, Richard Stearns, Lars Majlof, Ian Sinclair
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of ionising a sample is provided, comprising providing a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample contains an analyte, applying one or more pulses of acoustic energy to the fluid sample to cause a spray of the fluid sample to eject from the surface of the fluid sample, and applying an AC, RF or alternating voltage to the fluid sample using an electrode.
Claims19
A method of ionising a sample, comprising:
- providing a fluid sample, wherein said fluid sample contains an analyte;
- applying one or more pulses of acoustic energy to said fluid sample to cause a drop of said fluid sample to protrude or eject from the surface of said fluid sample;
- and
- applying energy to said drop such that said drop is caused to fragment into a number of smaller drops, wherein said step of applying said energy to said drop forms a spray;
- applying a voltage to said fluid sample so as to cause analyte molecules in said spray to ionise and/or polarise;
- (a) holding said fluid sample at a relatively high potential, and holding an ion inlet device at a relatively low or ground potential, such that the volume between said fluid sample and said ion inlet device forms an electrolytic capacitor;
- and/or
- (b) holding an ion inlet device at a relatively high potential, and holding said fluid sample at a relatively low or ground potential, such that the volume between said fluid sample and said ion inlet device forms an electrolytic capacitor;
- and
- switching or repeatedly switching between (a) and (b) in a mode of operation.
7 more elements
An ion source comprising:
- a sample holder and an acoustic transducer, wherein said sample holder is for containing a fluid sample, and said acoustic transducer is arranged and adapted to apply one or more pulses of acoustic energy to said fluid sample to cause a drop of said fluid sample to protrude or eject from the surface of said fluid sample;
- a device arranged and adapted to apply energy to said drop such that said drop is caused to fragment into a number of smaller droplets droplets so as to form a spray;
- and
- one or more devices configured to:
- apply a voltage to said fluid sample so as to cause analyte molecules in said spray to ionise and/or polarise;
- (a) hold said fluid sample at a relatively high potential, and hold an ion inlet device at a relatively low or ground potential, such that the volume between said fluid sample and said ion inlet device forms an electrolytic capacitor;
- and/or
- b) hold an ion inlet device at a relatively high potential, and hold said fluid sample at a relatively low or ground potential, such that the volume between said fluid sample and said ion inlet device forms an electrolytic capacitor;
- and
- switch or repeatedly switch between (a) and (b) in a mode of operation.
7 more elements
A method of ionising a sample, comprising:
- providing a fluid sample, wherein said fluid sample contains an analyte;
- applying one or more pulses of acoustic energy to said fluid sample to cause a drop of said fluid sample to protrude or eject from the surface of said fluid sample;
- applying energy to said drop such that said drop is caused to fragment into a number of smaller drops, wherein said step of applying said energy to said drop forms a spray;
- applying a voltage to said fluid sample so as to cause analyte molecules in said spray to ionise and/or polarise;
- and
- maintaining a constant potential difference between said fluid sample and an ion inlet device.
3 more elements
An ion source comprising:
- a sample holder and an acoustic transducer, wherein said sample holder is for containing a fluid sample, and said acoustic transducer is arranged and adapted to apply one or more pulses of acoustic energy to said fluid sample to cause a drop of said fluid sample to protrude or eject from the surface of said fluid sample;
- a device arranged and adapted to apply energy to said drop such that said drop is caused to fragment into a number of smaller droplets so as to form a spray;
- and
- one or more devices configured to:
- apply a voltage to said fluid sample so as to cause analyte molecules in said spray to ionise and/or polarise;
- and
- maintain a constant potential difference between said fluid sample and an ion inlet device.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.