Electrospray probe
AssigneeDH Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.
InventorsLeigh Bedford, Goran Ristic, Bradley B. Schneider
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrospray probe for use in an electrospray ion source is disclosed, which comprises a cannula extending from a proximal end having an inlet aperture for receiving a liquid sample containing at least one analyte to a discharge emitter end having an outlet aperture through which charged liquid droplets containing ions of said analyte are discharged, and an electrically conductive coating covering at least a portion of an external surface and at least a portion of an internal surface of said emitter end.
Claims20
An electrospray emitter for use in an electrospray ion source, comprising:
- a cannula extending from a proximal end having an inlet aperture for receiving a liquid sample containing at least one analyte to a discharge emitter end having an outlet aperture through which charged liquid droplets containing ions of said analyte are discharged, and
- an electrically conductive coating covering at least a portion of an external surface and at least a portion of an internal surface of said emitter end, wherein the at least the portion of the external surface of said emitter end and the coating covering the external surface of the emitter end include a tapered tip extending to the outlet aperture of the emitter end.
A mass spectrometer system, comprising:
- an ion source having an electrospray probe for generating ions,
- a curtain plate having an orifice for receiving at least a portion of said ions,
- one or more mass analyzers disposed downstream of said orifice of the curtain plate,
- wherein said electrospray probe comprises:
- a cannula extending from a proximal end having an inlet aperture for receiving a liquid sample containing at least one analyte to a discharge emitter end having an outlet aperture through which charged liquid droplets containing ions of said analyte are discharged, and
- an electrically conductive coating covering at least a portion of an external surface and at least a portion of an internal surface of said emitter end, wherein the at least the portion of the external surface of said emitter end and the coating covering the external surface of the emitter end include a tapered tip extending to the outlet aperture of the emitter end.
A process for ionizing a sample, comprising:
- providing an electrospray probe comprising a cannula extending from a proximal end having an inlet aperture for receiving a liquid sample containing at least one analyte to a discharge emitter end having an outlet aperture through which charged liquid droplets containing ions of said analyte are discharged, and an electrically conductive coating covering at least a portion of an external surface and at least a portion of an internal surface of said emitter end, wherein the at least the portion of the external surface of said emitter end and the coating covering the external surface of the emitter end include a tapered tip extending to the outlet aperture of the emitter end,
- maintaining said conductive coating at an electric potential difference relative to a counter electrode,
- introducing a liquid sample via said inlet aperture into said cannula so as to provide a flow of the liquid sample from said inlet aperture to said outlet aperture,
- wherein said liquid sample is discharged via said outlet aperture as a plurality of charged liquid droplets containing ions of said analyte.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.