Soft ionization device and applications thereof
AssigneeIonfinity LLC
InventorFrank T. Hartley
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Abstract
A soft ionization device is disclosed that comprises a series of electrodes having pacing less than the means free path of the molecules to be ionized. In some embodiments, the soft ionization device is used in various applications that require ion or electron sources such as biological or chemical reactors, ion milling, and numerous replacements for conventional hot cathode systems. In another embodiment, a valence spectrometer is disclosed that is configured to variably ionize molecules by their valiancy. In other embodiments, the ionization device is coupled to a spectrometer for the characterization of biological matter. Also disclosed is a preconditioner for preparing biological matter to be ionized.
Claims25
A system, comprising:
- an ionizing device, comprising a substrate having at least one opening, a first conductive electrode extending on a first surface of said substrate and a second conductive electrode extending on a second surface of said substrate, and an insulating element separating said first and second conductive electrodes at said at least one opening, wherein said first and second conductive electrodes are separated by a width of said insulating element;
- and
- a detection system coupled to said ionizing device for characterizing genetic material.
A system for producing ions and electrons, comprising:
- an ionizing membrane having a thick supporting portion with pores formed in the thick supporting portion and having first and second metal eletrodes coated on surfaces of the thick supporting portion extending into the pores in the thick supporting portion, where a distance between the first and second metal electrodes within the pores of the thick supporting portion is less than the mean free path of a molecule being ionized;
- and
- a field generating element coupled to said ionizing membrane for directing the ions and electrons produced by said ionizing membrane.
A system for ionizing multiple samples in parallel comprising:
- an ionizing membrane having a thick supporting portion with pores formed in the thick supporting portion and having first and second metal electrodes coated on surfaces of the thick supporting portion extending into the pores in the thick supporting portion, where a distance between the first and second metal electrodes within the pores of the thick supporting portion is less than the mean free path of a molecule being ionized;
- and
- a plurality of inlets segregating the pores and configured to supply a different sample to each segregated pore on said ionizing membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.