Maldi sample plate
AssigneeMicromass Limited
InventorsJeff Brown, Dominic Gostick, Edouard S. P. Bouvier, John Charles Gebler, Peter Jeng Jong Lee, James Ian Langridge, Emmanuelle Claude, Weibin Chen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A MALDI sample plate 1 is disclosed which comprises a metallic substrate 2 having a circular groove or moat 3. A hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene layer 4 is applied to the substrate 2 and a central portion 5 of the substrate 2 is laser etched which roughens the surface of the substrate 2. A thin polystyrene layer is then applied to the polytetrafluoroethylene layer 4 and the central portion 5.
Claims51
A MALDI sample plate comprising:
- a substrate comprising a plurality of sample regions, wherein each sample region comprises:
- a laser etched portion formed in said substrate;
- a first portion surrounding at least part or substantially the whole of said laser etched portion;
- and
- a groove or raised portion surrounding at least part or substantially the whole of said first portion;
- wherein said sample plate further comprises:
- a first layer disposed on at least part or substantially the whole of said first portion wherein said first layer comprises a first hydrophobic material.
A sample plate for use in mass spectrometry comprising:
- a substrate comprising a plurality of sample regions, wherein each sample region comprises:
- a perimeter defining said sample region;
- an etched, roughened or indented portion within said perimeter and formed in said substrate;
- and
- a hydrophobic surface surrounding and/or covering said etched, roughened or indented portion within said perimeter.
A sample plate for use in mass spectrometry comprising:
- a plurality of roughened, etched or indented regions each coated with a material having a surface energy selected from the group consisting of:
- (i) <72 dynes/cm;
- (ii) ≦70 dynes/cm;
- (iii) ≦60 dynes/cm;
- (iv) ≦50 dynes/cm;
- (v) ≦40 dynes/cm;
- (vi) ≦30 dynes/cm;
- (vii) ≦20 dynes/cm;
- and (viii) ≦10 dynes/cm;
- and
- a groove or raised portion surrounding each said roughened, etched or indented region.
A method of making a MALDI sample plate, comprising the steps of:
- providing either a substrate having a hydrophobic coating on at least part of the surface of the substrate or a hydrophobic substrate;
- etching, roughening or indenting at least one etched, roughened or indented portion in said substrate by either:
- (i) laser ablation;
- (ii) chemical etching;
- (iii) electrochemical etching;
- (iv) mechanical etching;
- (v) electronbeam etching;
- or (vi) mechanical pressing;
- and
- coating at least a portion of said at least one etched, roughened or indented portion with a film of hydrophobic material.
A method of making a sample plate for use in mass spectrometry, comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate having a hydrophobic surface and having a plurality of sample regions defined by a plurality of grooves or raised portions;
- forming a roughened, etched or indented region within at least some of said sample regions;
- and
- coating at least a portion of at least some of said roughened, etched or indented regions with a hydrophobic material.
A method of preparing a sample on a MALDI sample plate, comprising:
- providing a MALDI sample plate comprising a roughened, etched or indented region having a hydrophobic coating on at least a portion of said region;
- and
- depositing sample(s) on to said MALDI sample plate, each said sample(s) having a volume selected from the group consisting:
- (i) 2-4 μl;
- (ii) 4-6 μl;
- (iii) 6-8 μl;
- (iv) 8-10 μl;
- (v) 10-12 μl;
- (vi) 12-14 μl;
- (vii) 14-16 μl;
- (viii) 16-18 μl;
- (ix) 18-20 μl;
- (x) 20-30 μl;
- (xi) 30-40 μl;
- (xii) 40-50 μl;
- (xiii) 50-60 μl;
- (xiv) 60-70 μl;
- (xv) 70-80 μl;
- (xvi) 80-90 μl;
- and (xvii) 90-100 μl.
A method of preparing a sample on a MALDI sample plate, comprising:
- providing a MALDI sample plate comprising a roughened, etched or indented region having a hydrophobic coating on at least a portion of said region;
- depositing sample(s) which include analyte on to said MALDI sample plate so that said sample(s) attaches to said roughened, etched or indented region;
- allowing said sample(s) to reduce in volume and so concentrate analyte on to said roughened, etched or indented region;
- and then
- washing said MALDI sample plate.
A method of automatically preparing a sample on a sample plate, comprising:
- providing a sample plate;
- automatically depositing sample(s) on to said sample plate so that sample(s) attaches to part of the sample plate comprising a roughened, etched or indented region having a hydrophobic coating on at least a portion of said region;
- allowing said sample(s) to reduce in volume and so concentrate analyte on to said roughened, etched or indented region;
- and then
- automatically washing said sample plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.