US 12,205,807 B2Granted

Multi-mode ionization apparatus and uses thereof

AssigneeMstm, LLC

InventorMilan Pophristic

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Abstract

An ionizing system includes a flange device for connection to a mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer having the property of providing a barrier between the lower pressure region of the spectrometer and a higher pressure region substantially at atmospheric pressure, and a channel therethrough providing fluid communication between the higher and lower pressure regions. A plate device independent of the flange device which can accommodate multiple samples, such as a sample plate device, when placed over the channel in the flange device substantially seals the channel Sliding the sample plate device while in intimate contact with the flange device provides a means to sequentially and rapidly expose said samples to the opening of the channel and thus the lower pressure region. Samples are ionized when exposed to the lower pressure region in as little as one sample per second using multiple ionization methods.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method for introducing at least one sample containing at least one analyte to an analyzer device to produce a plurality of gas phase ions of the at least one analyte, the method comprising:

providing a first plate device configured to facilitate delivery of the at least one sample to a sub-atmospheric pressure of the analyzer device, the first plate device comprising:
a sample plate, wherein the at least the sample is disposed on the sample plate;
and
a spacer plate having plurality of channels and a first edge;
connecting a flange device to the analyzer device, wherein a conduit passes through the flange device, the conduit having a first end open to the higher pressure external to the analyzer device and a second end open to the sub-atmospheric pressure of the analyzer device, and wherein the first end and the second end of the conduit are in fluid communication with each other, and wherein the higher pressure external to the analyzer device is substantially atmospheric pressure;
placing a first surface of the first plate device in contact with a first surface of the flange device;
aligning the sample on the sample on plate with a channel of the plurality of channels of spacer plate;
covering the first end of the conduit with the first plate device to form a substantial seal between the higher pressure external to the analyzer device and the sub-atmospheric pressure within the analyzer device, wherein the at least one sample is in position for the at least one analyte contained in the at least one sample to be converted to at least one of gas-phase ions or charged particles;
and
simultaneously removing the first plate device from the first end of the conduit and moving a second plate device to cover the first end of the conduit to maintain the sub-atmospheric pressure within the analyzer device by contacting the first edge of the spacer plate with a first edge of the second plate device.

7 more elements

A sample introduction system used with an analyzer device comprising:

a first plate device having at least one first surface, the first plate device comprising:
a sample plate;
and
a spacer plate having a plurality of channels and at least one first edge;
a second plate device having at least one first edge;
and
a flange device disposed between a sub-atmospheric pressure within the analyzer device and a higher pressure external to the analyzer device, the flange device comprising:
a conduit extending through the flange device and having a first end and a second end, the first end defining an opening configured to be disposed in the higher pressure external to the analyzer device, the second end defining an opening configured to be disposed in the sub-atmospheric pressure within the analyzer device, the first end and the second end being in fluid communication with each other;
at least one first surface of the flange device configured to be placed in contact with the at least one first surface of the first plate device, the first plate device configured to deliver the at least one sample to the sub-atmospheric pressure within the analyzer device when the at least one sample is aligned with a channel of the plurality of channels of the spacer plate and the first end of the conduit,
wherein, when the at least one first surface of the first plate device is in contact with the at least one first surface of the flange device and covers the first end of the conduit, the first plate device provides a substantial seal to prevent gas flow through the conduit, maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure within the analyzer device, and
wherein the at least one first edge of the spacer plate is configured to contact one of the at least one first edge of the second plate device such that, when the first plate device is removed from the flange device, the second plate device may be moved simultaneously in front of the first end of the conduit to maintain the sub-atmospheric pressure within the analyzer device.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/301,385Filed 31 Mar 2021 · us provisional application
Priority: 1 Apr 2020
Published: US 2021/0343518 A14 Nov 2021
Granted: 21 Jan 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

H01J 49/04
Details: arrangements for introducing or extracting samples to be analysed, e.g. vacuum locks; Arrangements for external adjustment of electron- or…
G01N 27/623
Ion mobility spectrometry: combined with mass spectrometry
H01J 49/0027
Particle spectrometers or separator tubes: methods for using particle spectrometers
H01J 49/0409
Arrangements for introducing or extracting samples to be analysed, e.g. vacuum locks; Arrangements for external adjustment of electron- or…:…