Modified ion source targets for use in liquid maldi MS

Abstract

The present invention pertains to modified ion source targets suitable for use with liquid matrices (e.g., glycerol and lactic acid) in liquid matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) methods, as used, for example, in infrared (IR) liquid MALDI mass spectrometry (MS), preferably using time of flight (TOF) instruments. The modified targets comprise (a) a target plate (3) adapted for use in an ion source, said plate having an outward facing surface; and (b) a shielded sample cavity comprising: (i) a sample cavity (4) formed in said outward facing surface, said cavity having a sample cavity mouth and a sample cavity volume, and adapted to receive a liquid sample (5); and (ii) a perforated sample cavity shield (1), said shield covering said sample cavity mouth and having one or more exit holes through which ions formed inside the sample cavity may escape or be extracted. The present invention also pertains to ion sources, mass spectrometers, methods of MALDI and methods of mass spectrometry using such modified ion source targets.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.