Systems and techniques for in-source ion separation
AssigneeThermo Finnigan LLC
InventorMikhail V. Ugarov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, devices, and methods for in-source ion separation are provided. An ion separator includes an ion transfer conduit fluidically upstream of and coupled with one or more components of an analytical instrument. The ion separator includes a gas conduit, fluidically upstream of and coupled with the ion transfer conduit, the gas conduit defining an internal volume. The ion separator also includes electronic circuitry defining an active surface exposed to the internal volume, the electronic circuitry being configured to energize the active surface. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide improved analysis of material samples based at least in part on in-source separation of relatively light ions from relatively heavy ions entrained in a gas flow.
Claims17
An ion separator for in-source ion separation, comprising:
- an ion transfer conduit fluidically upstream of and coupled with one or more components of an analytical instrument comprising an ion source, distinct from and fluidically coupled with the ion separator, the ion source being disposed upstream of the separator and configured to deliver a stream of ionized sample material to the ion separator;
- a curved gas conduit, fluidically upstream of and coupled with the ion transfer conduit, the gas conduit defining an internal volume, the gas conduit being physically disconnected from and oriented toward the ion source and configured to receive the stream of ionized sample material from the ion source;
- and
- electronic circuitry defining a curved active surface exposed to the internal volume, the electronic circuitry being configured to energize the active surface, wherein the active surface is disposed outside the internal volume.
An analytical instrument, comprising:
- an ion source configured to generate a stream of ionized sample material;
- a curved gas conduit, physically disconnected from and fluidically coupled with the ion source, the gas conduit being oriented to receive the stream of ionized sample material from the ion source, the gas conduit defining an internal volume;
- electronic circuitry defining a curved active surface exposed to the internal volume, the electronic circuitry being configured to energize the active surface, wherein the active surface is disposed outside the internal volume;
- an ion transfer conduit downstream of and fluidically coupled with the ion source via the gas conduit;
- and
- one or more components of the analytical instrument configured to receive ions of the stream of ionized sample material and to generate spectrometric data characteristic of the ionized sample material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.