# US 2014/0197333 A1 · Mass analyser interface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197333 A1 - Document ID: US20140197333A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/740,985 - Filed: 2013-01-14 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-14 - Assignees: Ionics Mass Spectrometry Group Inc. - Inventors: Charles Jolliffe; Lisa Cousins; Gholamreza Javahery - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197333A1 ## CPC - H01J 49/044: {with means for preventing droplets from entering the analyzer; Desolvation of droplets} - H01J 49/062: {Ion guides (linear ion traps performing mass selection H01J49/4225, mass filters H01J49/421)} - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) ## Abstract A mass analyzer includes a desolvation chamber into which an upstream gas is injected to provide a counter-flow to said downstream flow in the chamber. The counter-flow may slow the downstream flow of solvated ionized particles in the chamber, while allowing lighter desolvated ions to travel toward an outlet aperture of the desolvation chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mass analyser interface, comprising: a desolvation chamber having an inlet for receiving solvated analyte particles from a source of analyte particles, and an outlet aperture for feeding ionized particles from said desolvation chamber to downstream stages of a mass analyzer; an electric field source, for providing an electric field to urge ionized particles within said chamber from said inlet toward said outlet aperture, creating a downstream flow of ionized particles to said downstream stages of said mass analyzer; a gas injection port to inject an upstream gas proximate said outlet aperture, to provide a counter-flow to said downstream flow at said aperture, to slow solvated particles in said downstream flow more than desolvated ionized particles in said downstream flow as said ionized particles travel toward said outlet aperture; at least one evacuation port to allow injected gas to escape from said desolvation chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mass analyser interface of claim 1, wherein said chamber is maintained at a pressure below 1 atm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mass analyser interface of claim 1, wherein said source comprises an electrospray emitter, and wherein said solvated analyte particles are said solvated ionized particles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mass analyser interface of claim 1, further comprising a corona emitter to ionize analyte particles in said desolvation chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mass analyser interface of claim 1, further comprising a photo ionizer in said desolvation chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mass analyser interface of claim 1, further comprising: a second chamber in flow communication with said desolvation chamber, by way of said outlet aperture connecting said desolvation chamber to said second chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The mass analyser interface of claim 1, further comprising a controller to maintain pressure within said chamber at less than atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The mass analyser interface of claim 1, further comprising a heater for heating said desolvation chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The mass analyser interface of claim 8, wherein said heater heats said desolvation chamber to in excess of 100° C. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The mass analyser interface of claim 1, wherein said outlet aperture is located about a central axis of said desolvation chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The mass analyser interface of claim 1, wherein said downstream flow is along said central axis of said desolvation chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The mass analyser interface of claim 11, wherein said counter-flow is generally opposite to said downstream flow. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The mass analyser interface of claim 1, wherein said desolvation chamber is maintained at a pressure of between about 10 torr to about 700 torr. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The mass analyser interface of claim 1, wherein said desolvation chamber is maintained at a pressure of between about 30 torr to about 250 torr. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The mass analyser interface of claim 1, further comprising an ion guide in said desolvation chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The mass analyser interface of claim 15, wherein said ion guide acts as said electric field source in said desolvation chamber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The mass analyser interface of claim 16, wherein said ion guide comprises a stacked ring ion guide. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The mass analyser interface of claim 16 wherein said ion guide comprises a multi-polar ion guide. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A mass analyser comprising the mass analyser interface of claim 1, and a plurality of guide stages, downstream of said desolvation chamber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 4) The mass analyser interface of claim 4, wherein said source volatilizes said analyte particles. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The mass analyser interface of claim 1, further comprising a flow disruptor in said desolvation chamber along a path of said downstream flow. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The mass analyser interface of claim 21, wherein said flow disruptor comprises at least one jet nozzle. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The mass analyser interface of claim 21, wherein said flow disruptor comprises at least one jet nozzle that is not along said central axis. ### Claim 24 (depends on 3) The mass analyser interface of claim 3, further comprising a corona emitter in said chamber to aid in ionizing analyte in said chamber. ### Claim 25 A method of providing desolvated ions in a mass analyser, said method comprising: providing solvated analyte particles from a source of analyte particles into a desolvation chamber having an inlet and an outlet aperture; providing an electric field to urge ionized particles toward said outlet aperture in a downstream flow; heating said desolvation chamber to aid in desolvation of solvated ionized particles within said desolvation chamber; injecting an upstream gas proximate said outlet aperture, to provide a counter-flow to said downstream flow at said aperture, to slow said downstream flow and any solvated particles entrained therein; providing ionized particles from said desolvation chamber to a downstream stage of a mass analyzer by way of said outlet aperture. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising maintaining pressure in said desolvation chamber below atmosphere. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising ionizing analyte within said desolvation chamber. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprises guiding said ionized particles along a guide axis in said desolvation chamber. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein said analyte particles are provided from a source above atmosphere. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein said desolvation chamber is maintained between about 10 torr and 700 torr. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising ionizing at least some desolvated analyte particles in said desolvation chamber by way of at least one of a corona emitter and a photo ionizer. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, further comprising ionizing at least some of said desolvated solvated analyte particles at an electrospray source. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein said ionizing by way of at least one of a corona emitter and a photo ionizer and said ionizing at least some of said desolvated analyte particles at an electrospray source are performed concurrently.