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US 4,794,252 AGranted
Discharge ionization mass spectrometer
AssigneeVG Instruments Group Limited
InventorsRobert H. Bateman, David S. Jones
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AssigneeVG Instruments Group Limited
InventorsRobert H. Bateman, David S. Jones
Estimating the term…
The invention provides a mass spectrometer for the analysis of a sample dissolved in a fluid, and in particular a spectrometer for the analysis of high molecular weight compounds in the eluent of a liquid chromatograph. The fluid to be analyzed is at least partly vaporized and sprayed into the cathode dark space of a glow discharge. Ions characteristic of the sample are extracted from the discharge and subsequently mass analyzed. conveniently, spraying into the cathode dark space is achieved by making the cathode electrode of the discharge comprise the spraying means through which the fluid is sprayed. Little fragmentation of the high mass ions is caused by the process, and the invention extends the range of compounds which can be analyzed in comparison with similar prior art thermospray type mass spectrometers.
In a mass spectrometer adapted for the analysis of a sample dissolved in a fluid comprising:
In a mass spectrometer adapted for the analysis of a solution containing a sample comprising:
In a method of analyzing a sample dissolved in a fluid comprising at least partly vaporizing said fluid and spraying it into a glow discharge having a cathode dark space and established in a region maintained at a pressure substantially below atmospheric pressure, extracting from said discharge at least some of the ions characteristic of said sample formed therein, and subsequently mass analyzing said ions, the improvement in said method comprising spraying said at least vaporized fluid directly into said cathode dark space.
In a method of analyzing a sample dissolved in a solution comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.