Discontinuous atmospheric pressure interface
AssigneePurdue Research Foundation
InventorsZheng Ouyang, Liang Gao, Robert Graham Cooks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of interfacing atmospheric pressure ion sources, including electrospray and desorption electrospray ionization sources, to mass spectrometers, for example miniature mass spectrometers, in which the ionized sample is discontinuously introduced into the mass spectrometer. Discontinuous introduction improves the match between the pumping capacity of the instrument and the volume of atmospheric pressure gas that contains the ionized sample. The reduced duty cycle of sample introduction is offset by operation of the mass spectrometer under higher performance conditions and by ion accumulation at atmospheric pressure.
Claims27
A discontinuous atmospheric pressure interface system comprising:
- an ionizing source for converting molecules into gas phase ions in a region at about atmospheric pressure;
- a trapping device;
- and a discontinuous atmospheric pressure interface for transferring the ions from the region at about atmospheric pressure to at least one other region at a reduced pressure, wherein the interface comprises a valve for controlling entry of the ions into the trapping device such that the ions are transferred into the trapping device in a discontinuous mode.
(canceled)
A method of discontinuously transferring ions at atmospheric pressure into a trapping device at reduced pressure, the method comprising:
- opening a valve connected to an atmospheric pressure interface, wherein opening of the valve allows for transfer of ions substantially at atmospheric pressure to a trapping device at reduced pressure;
- and closing the valve connected to the atmospheric pressure interface, wherein closing the valve prevents additional transfer of the ions substantially at atmospheric pressure to the trapping device at reduced pressure.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.