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US 2001/0042829 A1Published application
Orthogonal ion sampling for APCI mass spectrometry
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJames A. Apffel, Mark H. Werlich, James L. Bertsch, Paul C. Goodley
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed wherein a plurality of electric fields and of orthogonal spray configurations of vaporized analyte are so combined as to enhance the efficiency of analyte detection and mass analysis. The invention provides reduced noise and increased signal sensitivity in both APT electrospray and APCI operating modes.
Claims57
An apparatus for providing a sample of charged molecules to a mass spectrometer, comprising:
- a first passageway having a center axis, and having an exit for discharging the sample in the form of an electrosprayed aerosol containing charged molecules;
- an electrically conductive housing maintained at a first potential and having an opening arranged adjacent to the first passageway exit;
- and
- a second passageway situated at least substantially within the housing and proximate to the opening in the housing, the second passageway having a center axis, an orifice for receiving at least a portion of the charged molecules from the first passageway, and an exit for providing the charged molecules to a mass spectrometer;
- wherein an angle formed between the center axis of the first passageway and the center axis of the second passageway is between about 75 degrees and about 105 degrees.
2 more elements
An apparatus for providing a sample of charged molecules to a mass spectrometer, comprising:
- a first passageway having an exit for discharging the sample in the form of an electrosprayed aerosol containing charged molecules, wherein said aerosol has a center axis;
- an electrically conductive housing maintained at a first potential and having an opening arranged adjacent to the first passageway exit;
- and
- a second passageway situated at least substantially within the housing and proximate to the opening in the housing, the second passageway having a center axis, an orifice for receiving at least a portion of the charged molecules from the first passageway, and an exit for providing the charged molecules to a mass spectrometer;
- wherein an angle formed between the center axis of the aerosol and the center axis of the second passageway is between about 75 degrees and about 105 degrees.
2 more elements
An apparatus for converting a liquid solute sample into charged molecules, comprising:
- a first passageway having an exit for discharging an aerosol containing charged molecules, wherein the aerosol containing charged molecules has a center axis;
- a second passageway for receiving the charged molecules from the first passageway, the second passageway having an entrance having a center axis, and being situated a distance from the exit of the first passageway, wherein an angle formed between the center axis of the aerosol containing charged molecules exiting the first passageway and the center axis of the entrance of the second passageway is about 75 degrees to about 105 degrees;
- a first voltage source;
- and
- a housing adjacent to and at least substantially surrounding the second passageway, the housing being coupled to the first voltage source.
2 more elements
An apparatus for converting a liquid solute sample into charged molecules, comprising:
- a first passageway having an exit for discharging an aerosol containing charged molecules, wherein the exit of the first passageway has a center axis;
- a second passageway for receiving the charged molecules from the first passageway, the second passageway having an entrance having a center axis, and being situated a distance from the exit of the first passageway, wherein an angle formed between the center axis of the exit of the first passageway and the center axis of the entrance of the second passageway is about 75 degrees to about 105 degrees;
- a first voltage source;
- and
- a housing adjacent to the second passageway, the second passageway being situated at least substantially within the housing, the housing being coupled to the first voltage source.
2 more elements
An apparatus for converting a liquid solute sample into charged molecules, comprising:
- a first passageway having an exit for discharging an aerosol containing charged molecules, wherein said aerosol containing charged molecules has a center axis;
- a second passageway for receiving the charged molecules from the first passageway, the second passageway having an entrance having a center axis, and being situated a distance from the exit of the first passageway, wherein an angle formed between the center axis of the aerosol containing charged molecules exiting the first passageway and the center axis of the entrance of the second passageway is about 75 degrees to about 105 degrees;
- an electrically conductive element situated adjacent to the exit of the first passageway, the aerosol exiting the first passageway being interposed between the electrically conductive element and the entrance of the second passageway;
- and
- a voltage source coupled to the electrically conductive element, the voltage source establishing an electric field for creating an electrostatic force that influences the charged molecules in the aerosol to move in the direction of the entrance of the second passageway.
2 more elements
An apparatus for converting a liquid solute sample into charged molecules, comprising:
- a first passageway having an exit for discharging an aerosol containing charged molecules, wherein the exit of the first passageway has a center axis;
- a second passageway for receiving the charged molecules from the first passageway, the second passageway having an entrance having a center axis, and being situated a distance from the exit of the first passageway, wherein an angle formed between the center axis of the exit of the first passageway and the center axis of the entrance of the second passageway is about 75 degrees to about 105 degrees;
- an electrically conductive element situated adjacent to the exit of the first passageway, the aerosol exiting the first passageway being interposed between the electrically conductive element and the entrance of the second passageway;
- and
- a voltage source coupled to the electrically conductive element, the voltage source establishing an electric field for creating an electrostatic force that influences the charged molecules in the aerosol to move in the direction of the entrance of the second passageway.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a passageway for providing a liquid solute sample in the form of an electrosprayed aerosol containing charged molecules;
- a housing unit situated adjacent to the passageway, the housing unit having an orifice for receiving charged molecules in the electrosprayed aerosol, the housing unit being maintained at a potential such that a potential difference exists between the housing unit and the passageway;
- and
- an internal conduit situated at least substantially within the housing unit;
- wherein the charged molecules are directed by electrostatic forces to travel along a trajectory from the passageway to the housing and through the internal conduit, the trajectory including at least one angular turn of between about 75 degrees and about 105 degrees.
2 more elements
A method of providing a sample of charged molecules to a mass spectrometer, comprising:
- discharging the sample from a first passageway having a center axis in the form of an electrosprayed aerosol including charged molecules;
- directing the charged molecules toward an electrically conductive housing by maintaining a potential difference between the housing and the first passageway, the housing being maintained at a first potential and having an opening arranged adjacent to the first passageway;
- receiving at least a portion of the charged molecules from the first passageway in an entrance of a second passageway at least substantially within the housing and proximate to the opening in the housing, the second passageway having a center axis, and an exit for providing the charged molecules to a mass spectrometer;
- wherein an angle formed between the center axis of the first passageway and the center axis of the second passageway is between about 75 degrees and about 105 degrees.
1 more element
A method of providing a sample of charged molecules to a mass spectrometer, comprising:
- discharging the sample in the form of an electrosprayed aerosol including charged molecules;
- directing the charged molecules toward an electrically conductive housing by electrostatic forces, the housing being maintained at a first potential;
- receiving at least a portion of the charged molecules in an entrance of a passageway at least substantially within the housing, the second passageway having an exit for providing the charged molecules to a mass spectrometer;
- wherein the charged molecules are directed by electrostatic forces to travel along a trajectory to the housing and through the passageway, the trajectory including at least one angular turn of between about 75 degrees and about 105 degrees.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.