# US 11,908,673 B2 · Ion molecule reactor and setup for analyzing complex mixtures

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- Number: US 11,908,673 B2
- Document ID: US11908673B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/757,149
- Filed: 2018-10-19
- Published: 2020-07-30
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2017-10-20
- Assignees: Tofwerk AG
- Applicants: Tofwerk AG
- Inventors: Felipe Lopez-Hilfiker; Manuel Hutterli; Marc Gonin; Carsten Stoermer; Michael Kamrath
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11908673B2

## CPC

- H01J 49/049: {with means for applying heat to desorb the sample; Evaporation}
- G01N 1/2226: {Sampling from a closed space, e.g. food package, head space}
- G01N 33/46: Wood
- H01J 49/0459: {for solid samples}
- H01J 49/062: {Ion guides (linear ion traps performing mass selection H01J49/4225, mass filters H01J49/421)}
- H01J 49/145: {using chemical ionisation}
- G01N 2001/2229: {Headspace sampling, i.e. vapour over liquid}
- G01N 2001/2241: {purpose-built sampling enclosure for emissions}
- G01N 2035/0429: {Sample carriers adapted for special purposes}
- H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H)
- 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)

## Abstract

An ion molecule reactor for generating analyte ions from analytes comprises: a) a reaction volume in which reagent ions can interact with the analytes in order to form analyte ions; b) at least one analyte inlet for introducing the analytes along an inlet path into the reaction volume whereby, preferably, the inlet path runs essentially along at least a first section of the predefined transit path in the reaction volume; c) at least one reagent ion source and/or at least one reagent ion inlet for providing reagent ions into the reaction volume; d) optionally, at least one ion guide comprising an electrode arrangement which is configured for producing an alternating electrical, magnetic and/or electromagnetic field, that allows for guiding the reagent ions and/or the analyte ions at least along a section of the predefined transit path, preferably along the whole transit path, through the reaction volume. There is also provided a sampler comprising one or more chambers, wherein each chamber is configured for receiving an individual sample and comprises an inlet and an outlet, such that a gaseous fluid flow can pass through each of the chambers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Sampler for collecting at least one analyte from a sample, whereby the sampler is configured as a sampling unit, which is capable of sequentially collecting analytes from individual samples from a plurality of solid samples, whereby the sampling unit comprises a sample holder with several chambers wherein each chamber is configured for receiving an individual sample whereby each of the chambers comprises an inlet and an outlet, such that a gaseous fluid flow can pass through each of the chambers, whereas the inlets and the outlets are arranged on opposite sides of the chamber and whereby the sample holder comprises an inlet closing member which is configured to close and open at least a part of the inlets of the chambers as well as an outlet closing member which is configured to close and open at least a part of the outlets of the chambers whereby the inlet closing member and/or the outlet closing member are moveable with respect to the sample holder or vice versa, especially such that, upon a relative movement between the sample holder and the inlet closing member and/or the outlet closing member, at least a part of the inlets of the chambers and/or at least a part of the outlets of the chambers can be opened or closed simultaneously.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Sampler according to claim 1. whereby the sampling unit comprises a sample holder with several chambers wherein each chamber is configured for receiving an individual sample whereby each of the chambers comprises an inlet and an outlet, such that a gaseous fluid flow can pass through each of the chambers and the inlets are arranged in a common inlet plane, whereas all of the outlets are arranged in a common outlet plane.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Sampler according to claim 1 comprising channels between neighbouring chambers whereby the channels are configured to produce a curtain of a gaseous fluid between neighbouring chambers for separating the inlets and/or outlets of neighbouring chambers at least in sections.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Sampler according to claim 1 comprising at least one removal station for individually retrieving analytes evaporated from a sample in a specific chamber and removing them from the sampling unit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

Sampler according to claim 1 wherein the sample holder comprises a hollow cylinder, whereby the chambers are present in a wall of the hollow cylinder, wherein the sample holder is rotatably mounted in between the inlet closing member and the outlet closing member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Sampler according to claims 1 wherein the sampling unit additionally comprises a preheating station which is configured such that in operation the samples are flowed around with a gaseous fluid.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

Sampler according to claim 5, wherein the preheating station further comprises a loading unit for placing individual samples in the chambers of the sample holder whereby the loading unit comprises a series of receptacles in the form of cylindrical pipe pieces held together by links which are pivotable around the cylindrical pipe pieces.