Back to results
US 12,651,735 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for washing sampling probe for use in mass spectrometry systems
AssigneeDH Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.
InventorsThomas R. Covey, Tim Haebe, Chang Liu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for delivering a liquid sample to an ion source for the generation of ions and subsequent analysis by mass spectrometry are provided herein. In accordance with various aspects of the present teachings, MS-based systems and methods are provided in which an open port of a sampling probe for receiving a specimen may be exposed to washing solvent to wash the sampling probe while fluid within the sampling probe remains continuously flowing.
Claims20
A system for performing chemical analysis, comprising:
- a sampling probe comprising:
- an outer housing having an open end;
- a liquid supply conduit within the housing, the liquid supply conduit extending from an inlet end configured to be fluidly coupled to a capture liquid supply source to an outlet end configured to deliver capture liquid to a sampling space at the open end of the housing, wherein the sampling space comprises a liquid-air interface for receiving a specimen within the capture liquid in the sample space;
- and
- a liquid exhaust conduit within the housing, the liquid exhaust conduit extending from an inlet end in fluid communication with said sampling space to an outlet end;
- and
- a wash station configured to be fluidly coupled to a washing solvent source, wherein the wash station is configured to receive at least the open end of the sampling probe such that, during operation, said open end remains submerged within the washing solvent provided by the washing solvent source while the capture liquid is flowing from the capture liquid supply source of the sampling probe, through the liquid supply conduit, through the sampling space, and to the liquid exhaust conduit.
4 more elements
A method for performing chemical analysis, comprising:
- receiving a specimen within a capture liquid at an open end of a sampling probe, said sampling probe comprising:
- an outer housing defining the open end;
- a liquid supply conduit within the housing, the liquid supply conduit extending from an inlet end configured to be fluidly coupled to a capture liquid supply source to an outlet end configured to deliver the capture liquid to a sampling space at the open end of the housing, wherein the sampling space comprises a liquid-air interface for receiving the specimen;
- and
- a liquid exhaust conduit within the housing, the liquid exhaust conduit extending from an inlet end in fluid communication with said sampling space to an outlet end;
- delivering the capture liquid from the sampling space to the outlet end of the liquid exhaust conduit;
- and
- submerging the open end of the sampling probe within a washing solvent in a wash station while the capture liquid is flowing from the capture liquid supply source of the sampling probe, through the liquid supply conduit, through the sampling space, and to the liquid exhaust conduit.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.