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US 5,438,194 AGranted
Ultra-sensitive molecular identifier
AssigneeHigh Voltage Engineering Europa B.V.
InventorsReijer Koudijs, Marcel M. Mulder, Kenneth H. Purser, Frans W. Saris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Samples are directed into a liquid or gas chromatograph, and the output from the liquid or gas chromatograph is directed into the ion source of an accelerator mass spectrometry system so as to provide an ultra-sensitive identifier of molecules in the samples.
Claims14
A method for identifying and detecting molecules which have been labeled by a specific radioisotope or stable isotope, comprising the following steps:
- (1) separating various molecules in a sample by use of a chromatographic column, (2) coupling the output of said column directly into an ion source system where the molecules present in the said output are dissociated and negative ions produced, (3) directing said negative ions into a tandem accelerator mass spectrometer, thereby forming positive ions having high velocity, and (4) stopping said positive ions in a particle detector.
Apparatus for identifying and detecting molecules which have been labeled by a specific radioisotope or stable isotope, comprising in combination:
- (1) a chromatographic column for separating various molecules in a sample, (2) an ion source system for producing negative ions, (3) means for coupling the output of said column directly into said ion source system, (4) means within said ion source system for dissociating the molecules present in the said output, (5) a tandem accelerator mass spectrometer, (6) means for directing said negative ions into said tandem accelerator mass spectrometer, thereby forming positive ions having high velocity, and (7) a particle detector adapted to stop said positive ions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.