# US 11,304,637 B2 · Enclosed desorption electrospray ionization probes and method of use thereof

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- Number: US 11,304,637 B2
- Document ID: US11304637B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/066,727
- Filed: 2020-10-09
- Published: 2021-02-18
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-03
- Assignees: Purdue Research Foundation
- Applicants: Purdue Research Foundation
- Inventors: Robert Graham Cooks; Zheng Ouyang; Chien-hsun Chen; Ziqing Lin; Livia Schiavinato Eberlin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304637B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/1477: non-invasive
- A61B 10/0045: {Devices for taking samples of body liquids}
- A61M 11/00: Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes (in general B05B; {aerosol containers B65D83/14})
- A61M 25/00: Catheters; Hollow probes (dilators A61M29/00; {peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00} ; for measuring or testing A61B; {materials for catheters A61L29/00})
- G01N 33/4833: {of solid biological material, e.g. tissue samples, cell cultures (tissue in vivo A61B5/00; cell suspensions G01N33/48735)}
- H01J 49/0022: {Portable spectrometers, e.g. devices comprising independent power supply, constructional details relating to portability (small scale devices per se H01J49/0013 and H01J49/0018)}
- H01J 49/0404: {Capillaries used for transferring samples or ions (electrospray nozzles H01J49/167)}
- H01J 49/0445: {with means for introducing as a spray, a jet or an aerosol (electrospray ion sources H01J49/165)}
- H01J 49/167: {Capillaries and nozzles specially adapted therefor; (electrostatic spraying per se B05B5/00)}
- H01J 49/34: Dynamic spectrometers
- A61B 5/1405: {Devices for taking blood samples (devices for taking samples of other body liquids A61B10/0045)}
- A61B 5/145: Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration or pH-value {; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid or cerebral tissue} (non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06)
- A61B 5/150015: {Source of blood}
- A61B 5/150992: {Blood sampling from a fluid line external to a patient, such as a catheter line, combined with an infusion line; Blood sampling from indwelling needle sets, e.g. sealable ports, luer couplings or valves}
- A61B 5/157: {Devices} characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
- A61M 2202/0468: non-physiological
- G01N 2001/028: {Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H)

## Abstract

The invention generally relates to enclosed desorption electrospray ionization probes, systems, and methods. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a source of DESI-active spray, in which a distal portion of the source is enclosed within a transfer member such that the DESI-active spray is produced within the transfer member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ionization device, the device comprising:
an elongate tube that is at least one meter in length and comprises a proximal end configured to mate with an inlet of a mass spectrometer and open distal end, wherein the elongate tube further comprises an opening in a sidewall located at a distal portion of the elongate tube; and
a desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) source comprising a discharge tube;
wherein the device is configured such that a portion of the discharge tube is inserted through the sidewall of the elongate tube and terminates prior to the open distal end.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ionization device of claim 1, wherein the DESI source produces a DESI-active spray in a first direction within the elongate tube, and a velocity of the DESI-active spray in the first direction is reduced by a gas flow in an opposite direction generated in the elongate tube by a mass spectrometer that is coupled to the ionization device via the proximal end of the elongate tube.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The ionization device of claim 1, wherein the elongate tube is a catheter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The ionization device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the discharge tube is sealed within the elongate tube.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The ionization device of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the elongate tube is configured to interact with a surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The ionization device of claim 5, wherein the surface is tissue.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The ionization device of claim 2, wherein the mass spectrometer is a bench top mass
spectrometer or a handheld mass spectrometer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The ionization device of claim 2, wherein the DESI-active spray is generated by an electrospray device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The ionization device of claim 2, wherein the source produces the DESI-active spray without voltage.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The ionization device of claim 2, wherein the DESI-active spray comprises water.