Systems and methods for flash boiling of a liquid sample
AssigneeDH Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.
InventorPeter Kovarik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of ejecting a sample from a nebulizer nozzle fluidically coupled to a port via a transfer conduit includes receiving at the port a transport liquid and the sample. The transport liquid and the sample in the transfer conduit is transported from the port to a transfer conduit exit comprising an electrode tip. The transport liquid is ejected from the transfer conduit exit. The sample is ejected from the transfer conduit exit substantially simultaneously with ejecting the transport liquid. During ejection of the transport liquid and the sample from the transfer conduit exit, a pressure is generated at the transfer conduit exit substantially similar to a vapor pressure of the transport liquid.
Claims20
A method of ejecting a sample from a nebulizer nozzle fluidically coupled to a port via a transfer conduit, the method comprising:
- receiving at the port a transport liquid and the sample;
- transporting the transport liquid and the sample in the transfer conduit from the port to a transfer conduit exit comprising an electrode tip;
- ejecting the transport liquid from the transfer conduit exit;
- ejecting the sample from the transfer conduit exit substantially simultaneously with ejecting the transport liquid;
- and
- during ejection of the transport liquid and the sample from the transfer conduit exit, generating a pressure at the transfer conduit exit substantially similar to a vapor pressure of the transport liquid by ejecting a nebulizer gas from a nebulizer nozzle proximate the electrode tip substantially simultaneously with ejecting the transport liquid and the sample, wherein the nebulizer gas is ejected at a drive pressure sufficient to induce flash boiling of the transport liquid.
A mass analysis instrument comprising:
- a port for receiving a sample and a transport liquid;
- a transfer conduit coupled to the port and having a transfer conduit end opposite the port;
- an electrode tip coupled to the transfer conduit end;
- a nebulizer nozzle disposed proximate the electrode tip;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory storing instructions that are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the mass analysis instrument to perform a set of operations comprising:
- substantially simultaneously ejecting the sample and the transport liquid from the transfer conduit end;
- and
- performing a pressure-generating operation proximate the transfer conduit end, wherein the pressure-generating operation generates a pressure at the transfer conduit end substantially similar to a vapor pressure of the transport liquid by ejecting a nebulizer gas from the nebulizer nozzle substantially simultaneously with ejecting the transport liquid and the sample, wherein the nebulizer gas is ejected at a drive pressure sufficient to induce flash boiling of the transport liquid.
A mass analysis instrument comprising:
- a port for receiving a sample and a transport liquid;
- a transfer conduit coupled to the port and having a transfer conduit end opposite the port;
- an electrode tip coupled to the transfer conduit end;
- a vacuum chamber, wherein the transfer conduit end is disposed within the vacuum chamber;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory storing instructions that are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the mass analysis instrument to perform a set of operations comprising:
- substantially simultaneously ejecting the sample and the transport liquid from the transfer conduit end;
- and
- performing a pressure-generating operation proximate the transfer conduit end, wherein the pressure-generating operation generates a pressure at the transfer conduit end substantially similar to a vapor pressure of the transport liquid by applying a vacuum to the vacuum chamber at a vacuum pressure sufficient to induce flash boiling of the transport liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.