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US 7,351,960 B2Granted
Enhanced ion desolvation for an ion mobility spectrometry device
AssigneeThermo Finnigan LLC
InventorMichael W. Belford
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Abstract
An ion spectrometer apparatus is disclosed having an ion source, an ion mobility spectrometer device such as a FAIMS cell, and a capillary for transporting ions from the ion source to the entrance of the FAIMS cell. The capillary is heated to promote evaporation of solvent from incompletely desolvated droplets entering the capillary inlet, thereby preventing or minimizing operational problems associated with the presence of wet material in the FAIMS cell. The FAIMS cell may be used to selectively transmit ions to a mass analyzer.
Claims19
Mass spectrometer apparatus, comprising:
- an ion source for generating analyte ions;
- high field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) cell having a plurality of electrodes, the FAIMS cell being operable to separate analyte ions according to their ion mobilities;
- and
- at least one elongated capillary for transporting the analyte ions from the ion source to the FAIMS cell, the capillary being heated to evaporate at least some of a solvent admitted into the capillary;
- and
- wherein:
- the capillary has an inlet orifice opening to a first region and an outlet orifice opening to a second region;
- an entrance of the FAIMS cell opens to the second region;
- and
- the first region is maintained at a significantly higher pressure relative to the second region.
7 more elements
A mass spectrometer system, comprising:
- an ion source for generating analyte ions by generating a spray of droplets of analyte in association with a solvent;
- a FAIMS cell comprising at least two electrodes defining a separation region, wherein the two electrodes have radially opposed spherical or cylindrical surfaces;
- at least one elongated capillary for transporting the analyte ions from the ion source to the FAIMS cell, the capillary being heated to evaporate at least some of a solvent admitted into the capillary;
- and
- a mass analyzer for mass analyzing ions selectively transmitted by the FAIMS cell.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.