Sample Transferring Apparatus for Mass Cytometry
AssigneeDvs Sciences Inc.
InventorRaymond Jong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a mass cytometer or mass spectrometer, a sample of elemental tagged particles is transferred from a dispersion to a gas flow through a carrier aerosol spray for atomization and ionization by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) source. The configuration of the sample transfer apparatus allow for total consumption of the sample by passing the sample spray through a deceleration stage to decelerate the spray of particles from its high velocity expansion. Following the deceleration stage, the decelerated sample of particles can be accelerated and focused through an acceleration stage for transferring into the ICP. This effectively improves the particle transfer between the sample spray and the ICP.
Claims21
1-18. (canceled)
A method for transferring a dispersion sample spray containing elemental tagged particles for analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass cytometry (ICP-MC), the method comprising:
- directing the dispersion sample spray into a decelerator tube;
- confining the dispersion sample spray along a predetermined length of the decelerator tube for decelerating the sample spray;
- discharging the decelerated dispersion sample spray from the decelerator tube;
- passing a sheath gas around the discharging decelerated dispersion sample spray;
- and
- accelerating the sheath gas and the discharged decelerated dispersion sample through a flow acceleration chamber and into the ICP-MC.
A sample transfer device for transferring a dispersion of particles in a sample spray into an instrument for mass analysis by a mass spectrometer, the apparatus comprising:
- a decelerator for receiving the sample spray from a nebulizer, the decelerator being adapted to promote spray recirculation and spray deceleration in a confinement passage defined by the decelerator and to conduct the spray from the nebulizer through the confinement passage to a decelerator outlet at the opposite end of the confinement passage;
- and
- an accelerator positioned to receive the spray from the decelerator outlet, the accelerator being adapted to accelerate the spray away from the decelerator through an accelerator outlet.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.