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US 12,080,532 B2Granted
Devices and methods for laser-assisted micro mass spectroscopy
AssigneeChemring Sensors and Electronic Systems, Inc.
InventorsAshish Chaudhary, R. Timothy Short
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods disclosed provide a laser-assisted micro-mass spectrometer, which can include a pulsed inlet, a multi-wavelength laser system, and a first mass spectrometer module including a plurality of first ionization sources. In an embodiment, the pulsed inlet can be configured to receive a neutral sample of analyte material and provide it to said first mass spectrometer module.
Claims20
A laser-assisted micro-mass spectrometer, comprising:
- a pulsed inlet;
- a multi-wavelength laser system;
- a first mass spectrometer module comprising a plurality of first ionization sources;
- and
- a second mass spectrometer module comprising a plurality of second ionization sources;
- wherein said pulsed inlet is configured to receive a neutral sample of analyte material and provide it to said first mass spectrometer module;
- and
- wherein said pulsed inlet is further configured to receive said neutral sample of analyte material and provide it to said second mass spectrometer module.
5 more elements
A laser-assisted micro-mass spectrometer, comprising:
- a pulsed inlet;
- a multi-wavelength laser system;
- and
- a first mass spectrometer module comprising a plurality of first ionization sources;
- wherein said pulsed inlet is configured to receive a neutral sample of analyte material and provide it to said first mass spectrometer module;
- wherein said multi-wavelength laser system is configured to generate at least two laser beams, each laser beam being characterized by a respective wavelength;
- and
- wherein said at least two laser beams, when directed to a target of analyte material, are configured to generate said neutral sample of analyte material.
5 more elements
A laser-assisted micro-mass spectrometer, comprising:
- a pulsed inlet;
- a multi-wavelength laser system;
- and
- a first mass spectrometer module comprising a plurality of first ionization sources;
- wherein said pulsed inlet is configured to receive a neutral sample of analyte material and provide it to said first mass spectrometer module;
- wherein said plurality of first ionization sources is a plurality of vacuum ultraviolet light sources;
- and
- wherein each of said plurality of vacuum ultraviolet light sources comprise:
- a plasma cell for generating a plasma, the plasma cell comprising an anode, a cathode, a dielectric gap, and a window layer substantially transparent to at least a portion of vacuum ultraviolet light emitted by the plasma, the plasma cell being configured to contain a gas suitable for generating the plasma.
6 more elements
A laser-assisted micro-mass spectrometer, comprising:
- a valve associated with a pulsed inlet;
- a multi-wavelength laser system;
- a pulse control;
- wherein said multi-wavelength laser system is configured to generate at least two laser beams, each laser beam being characterized by a respective wavelength;
- and
- wherein said at least two laser beams, when directed to a target of analyte material, are configured to generate a neutral sample of analyte material;
- wherein said pulse control comprises non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a control processor cause the control processor to perform a method of acquiring said neutral sample, the method comprising:
- opening said valve;
- closing said valve after at least one of said two laser beams has generated said neutral sample, and at least a portion of said neutral sample has passed through said pulsed inlet.
6 more elements
A method of acquiring a neutral sample for mass spectroscopy, the method comprising:
- selecting a first laser wavelength for generating said neutral sample of analyte from a target;
- generating said neutral sample of analyte from said target using pulses of said first laser wavelength;
- opening a valve on an inlet to a first mass spectroscopy module, permitting fluid communication between said generated neutral sample and a region adjacent said first mass spectroscopy module;
- acquiring at least a portion of said neutral sample in said region adjacent said first mass spectroscopy module through said inlet for analysis by said first mass spectroscopy module;
- and
- closing said valve on said inlet.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.