Systems and methods for controlling flow through an open port interface
AssigneeDH Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.
InventorsChang Liu, Thomas Covey, Peter Kovarik
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Abstract
A method of adjusting a position of an electrode within a nebulizer probe of a mass spectrometry device having an open port interface for receiving a sample includes performing a first analysis of the sample at a first analysis condition including a first position of the electrode and a first flow rate. After performing the first analysis, a second analysis of the sample is performed at a second analysis condition including the first position of the electrode and a second flow rate higher than the first flow rate. Thereafter, a third analysis of the sample is performed at a third analysis condition including a second position of the electrode and the second flow rate.
Claims21
A method of adjusting a position of an electrode within a nebulizer probe of a mass spectrometry device having an open port interface for receiving a sample, the method comprising:
- performing a first analysis at a first analysis condition comprising a first position of the electrode in the nebulizer probe and a first flow rate, wherein performing the first analysis comprises:
- delivering a transport liquid to the open port interface at the first flow rate while ejecting a mixture comprising the sample and the transport fluid from the electrode in the first position;
- and
- analyzing the mixture at the first analysis condition with the mass spectrometry device to obtain a first analysis condition ion intensity signal;
- after performing the first analysis, performing a second analysis at a second analysis condition comprising the first position of the electrode in the nebulizer probe and a second flow rate higher than the first flow rate, wherein performing the second analysis comprises:
- delivering the transport liquid to the open port interface at the second flow rate while ejecting the mixture from the electrode in the first position;
- and
- analyzing the mixture at the second analysis condition with the mass spectrometry device to obtain a second analysis condition ion intensity signal;
- and
- after performing the second analysis, performing a third analysis at a third analysis condition comprising a second position of the electrode in the nebulizer probe and the second flow rate, wherein performing the third analysis comprises:
- delivering the transport liquid to the open port interface at the second flow rate while ejecting the mixture from the electrode in the second position.
A method of adjusting a position of an electrode within a nebulizer probe of a mass spectrometry device having an open port interface for receiving a transport liquid, the method comprising:
- delivering a transport liquid to the open port interface at a first flow rate while ejecting the transport liquid from the electrode in a first position relative to the nebulizer probe;
- analyzing the ejected transport liquid with the mass spectrometry device to generate an analysis signal comprising a test compound intensity signal and an associated noise;
- and
- after generation of the test compound intensity signal, delivering the transport liquid to the open port interface at the first flow rate while ejecting the transport liquid from the electrode in a second position relative to the nebulizer probe, wherein delivering the transport liquid to the open port interface at the first flow rate substantially eliminates the noise from the test compound intensity signal.
A mass analysis instrument comprising:
- an open port interface (OPI) configured to receive a sample;
- a liquid pump configured to pump a transport liquid into the OPI;
- an electrospray ionization (ESI) source, in liquid communication with the OPI, including an electrode within a nebulizer probe, wherein the electrode is movably positionable within the probe;
- a detector configured to detect ions emitted from the ESI source;
- a processor;
- and
- memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the mass analysis instrument to perform a set of operations comprising:
- pumping the transport liquid into the OPI at a first flow rate;
- during pumping at the first flow rate, with the electrode positioned at a first position, ejecting at least one of the transport liquid and the sample through the ESI source to be analyzed by the detector;
- analyzing the ejected at least one of the transport liquid and the sample to obtain a ion intensity signal;
- displaying the ion intensity signal;
- receiving an input from a user;
- and
- based at least in part on the input, performing at least one of:
- pumping the transport liquid into the OPI at a second flow rate while ejecting at least one of the transport liquid and the sample through the ESI source with the electrode in the first position;
- and
- pumping the transport liquid into the OPI at the first flow rate while ejecting at least one of the transport liquid and the sample through the ESI source with the electrode in a second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.