Membrane Interface Apparatus and Method for Analysis of Volatile Molecules by Mass Spectometry
AssigneeCarnegie Mellon University
InventorMark E. Bier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosed method and apparatus couple a membrane interface directly to a mass spectrometer at atmospheric pressure. The membrane may be in capillary or sheet form and allows the introduction of a liquid or gaseous sample to one side of the membrane while the other side of the membrane is bathed with a solution that can easily be used in an atmospheric pressure ionization source. Volatile molecules permeate through a suitable membrane such as poly-dimethyl silicone (PDMS), mix into the appropriate solvent, and are ionized. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used in construing the claims.
Claims25
A probe, comprising:
- a first flow path;
- a second flow path defined by a membrane, said membrane separating said first and second flow paths;
- and
- a needle integrated with said membrane so as to form a part of said second flow path.
A method of operating a probe, comprising:
- flowing a material in a first flow path;
- flowing a fluid in a second flow path defined by a membrane, said first and second flow paths separated by said membrane;
- and
- transferring the fluid at the end of said second flow path directly to an ionization region of a mass spectrometer.
-28. (canceled)
A probe, comprising:
- a first fluid flow path;
- a second fluid flow path, said second fluid flow path having a section defined by a membrane;
- said membrane of said second fluid flow path positioned within said first fluid flow path, said membrane separating said first and second fluid paths;
- and
- a needle forming a portion of said second fluid flow path.
A method of operating a probe inserted in vivo in a first flow path, comprising;
- flowing a liquid through a second flow path, said second flow path having a section defined by a membrane, said membrane inserted in vivo into said first flow path, and
- transferring the fluid at the end of said second flow path to an ionization region of a mass spectrometer.
A probe, comprising:
- a first membrane;
- a second membrane positioned with respect to said first membrane so as to form a flow path therebetween;
- and
- a third membrane positioned with respect to said second membrane so as to form a flow path therebetween.
A method of operating a probe, comprising:
- transferring an analyte through a first membrane into a first mobile phase;
- transferring the analyte from the first mobile phase, through a second membrane, and into a second mobile phase;
- transferring the analyte from the second mobile phase, through a third membrane, such that the analyte pervaporates from said third membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.