Target support and method
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDan-Hui Dorothy Yang, Jennifer Lu, Ying-Lan Chang, Timothy H. Joyce
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Abstract
The invention provides an apparatus that produces analyte ions for detection by a detector. The apparatus includes a matrix based ion source having a target substrate including a carbon nanotube material for producing analyte ions, an ion transport system adjacent to the matrix based ion source for transporting analyte ions from the matrix based ion source; and an ion detector downstream from the ion transport system for detecting the analyte ions. The invention also provides a method for producing and detecting the analyte ions.
Claims41
A mass spectrometer system comprising:
- (a) an ion source for producing ions;
- (b) a surface disposed in the ion source for holding a sample, the surface comprising a uniformly distributed carbon nanotube material;
- (c) a laser for ionizing the sample on the carbon nanotube surface;
- and
- (d) a detector downstream from the ion source for detecting ions of the sample.
An ion source for use in ionizing a sample, comprising:
- (a) a laser;
- and
- (b) a surface for holding the sample, the surface comprising a uniformly distributed carbon nanotube material.
A method of making a surface for ionizing a sample in a mass spectrometer ion source, comprising coating a target substrate with a uniformly distributed carbon nanotube material.
A method of making a surface for ionizing a sample in a mass spectrometer ion source, comprising constructing a plate comprising a uniformly distributed carbon nanotube material.
A method of ionizing a sample in a mass spectrometer system, comprising:
- (a) preparing a surface comprising a uniformly distributed carbon nanotube material;
- (b) placing a sample on the surface comprising the carbon nanotube material;
- and
- (c) ionizing the sample.
A target substrate for use with a matrix based ion source, having a target substrate surface comprising a uniformly distributed carbon nanotube material that promotes ion formation from an ionizable sample.
A mass spectrometer system, comprising:
- (a) an irradiating source for ionizing a matrix based sample;
- (b) a hydrophobic target substrate adjacent to the irradiating source for supporting the matrix based sample, the hydrophobic target substrate having a target surface comprising a uniformly distributed carbon nanotube material for concentrating the matrix based sample on the target surface before it is desorbed and ionized to form analyte ions;
- (c) a collecting capillary downstream from the irradiating source for receiving the analyte ions produced from the matrix based sample;
- and
- (d) a detector downstream from the collecting capillary for detecting the analyte ions received from the collecting capillary.
A method for producing and detecting analyte ions in a mass spectrometer system, comprising:
- (a) applying a uniformly distributed carbon nanotube material to a target substrate surface for concentrating a matrix based sample;
- and
- (b) ionizing the matrix based sample to produce analyte ions;
- and
- (c) detecting the analyte ions.
An apparatus that produces analyte ions for detection by a detector, comprising:
- (a) a matrix based ion source having a target substrate comprising a uniformly distributed carbon nanotube material for producing analyte ions;
- (b) an ion transport system adjacent to the matrix based ion source for transporting analyte ions from the matrix based ion source;
- and
- (c) an ion detector downstream from the ion transport system for detecting the analyte ions.
A mass spectrometer system, comprising:
- (a) an ion source having a target substrate with a target substrate surface comprising a uniformly distributed carbon nanotube material for producing analyte ions;
- (b) an ion transport system adjacent to the ion source for transporting the analyte ions from the ion source;
- and
- (c) an ion detector downstream from the ion source for detecting the analyte ions.
A mass spectrometer system, comprising:
- (a) a matrix based ion source comprising:
- i. an irradiating source for ionizing a matrix and sample to form analyte ions;
- and
- ii. a target substrate adjacent to the irradiating source for supporting the matrix and sample, the target substrate having a target surface comprising a uniformly distributed carbon nanotube material for concentrating the matrix and sample on the target substrate surface;
- (b) a collecting capillary downstream from the irradiating source and the target substrate for receiving the analyte ions;
- and
- (c) a detector downstream from the collecting capillary for detecting the analyte ions received by the collecting capillary.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.