Method and apparatus for flow cytometry linked with elemental analysis
OwnerDmitry R. Bandura, Vladimir I. Baranov +1inventors
InventorsDmitry R. Bandura, Vladimir I. Baranov, Scott D. Tanner
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Abstract
An apparatus (100) for sequentially analyzing particles such as single cells or single beads, by spectrometry. The apparatus, an elemental flow cytometer, includes means (102) for sequential particle introduction, means (104) to vaporize, atomize and excite or ionize the particles, or an elemental tag associated with an analyte on the particles, and means (106) to analyze the elemental composition of the vaporized, atomized and excited or ionized particles, or an elemental tag associated with the particles. Methods for sequentially analyzing particles such as singe cells or single beads by spectrometry are also described.
Claims60
An elemental flow cytometer, comprising:
- an introduction system for introducing particles sequentially into a device to substantially vaporize, atomize and excite or ionize the particles;
- the device to vaporize, atomize and excite or ionize the particles, configured for operation at atmospheric or higher pressure, the device being downstream of the introduction system for introducing particles sequentially;
- and
- a spectrometer to individually analyze elemental composition of one or more of the vaporized, atomized and excited or ionized particles.
A mass-spectrometer-based flow cytometer, comprising:
- an introduction system for introducing particles sequentially into a device to vaporize, atomize and ionize the particles or an elemental tag associated with the particles;
- the device to vaporize, atomize and ionize the particles or an elemental tag configured for operation at atmospheric or higher pressure and being downstream of the introduction system;
- and
- a mass spectrometer operatively connected and downstream of the device to individually analyze elemental composition of one or more of the vaporized, atomized and ionized particles or elemental tag.
A mass-spectrometer-based flow cytometer, comprising:
- an introduction system for introducing particles sequentially into a device to vaporize, atomize and ionize the particles or an elemental tag associated with the particles;
- the device to vaporize, atomize and ionize the particles configured for operation at atmospheric or higher pressure, and being downstream of the introduction system;
- an ion pretreatment device operatively connected to and downstream of the device to vaporize, atomize and ionize;
- and
- a mass analyzer operatively connected and downstream of the ion pretreatment device to individually analyze elemental composition of one or more of the vaporized, atomized and ionized particles.
A mass spectrometer-based flow cytometer comprising:
- means for introducing particles sequentially into a device to vaporize, atomize and ionize the particles or an elemental tag associated with the particles;
- a device to vaporize, atomize and ionize the particles or an elemental tag associated with the particles downstream of the means for introducing particles sequentially;
- an ion pretreatment device operatively connected and downstream of the device to vaporize, atomize and ionize;
- and
- a mass analyzer operatively connected and downstream of the ion pretreatment device to individually analyze elemental composition of one or more of the vaporized, atomized and ionized particles or elemental tag,
- wherein the ion pretreatment device comprises a vacuum interface and at least one of a high-pass mass filter downstream of the vacuum interface operated as a bandpass mass filter with low mass cut-offs, and a gas filled ion cooler cell downstream of the vacuum interface.
A mass spectrometer-based flow cytometer comprising:
- means for introducing particles sequentially into a device to vaporize, atomize and ionize the particles or an elemental tag associated with the particles;
- a device to vaporize, atomize and ionize the particles or an elemental tag associated with the particles downstream of the means for introducing particles sequentially;
- an ion pretreatment device operatively connected and downstream of the device to vaporize, atomize and ionize;
- and
- a mass analyzer operatively connected and downstream of the ion pretreatment device to individually analyze elemental composition of one or more of the vaporized, atomized and ionized particles or elemental tag,
- wherein the ion pretreatment device comprises a vacuum interface and at least one of a high-pass mass filter downstream of the vacuum interface and a gas filled ion cooler cell downstream of the vacuum interface wherein the high-pass mass filter and the gas filled ion cooler cell are in a shared housing.
A mass-spectrometer-based flow cytometer, comprising:
- an introduction system for introducing particles sequentially into a device to vaporize, atomize and ionize the particles;
- the device to vaporize, atomize and ionize the particles configured for operation at atmospheric or higher pressure, and being downstream of the introduction system;
- and
- a mass spectrometer operatively connected and downstream of the device to individually analyze elemental composition of one or more of the vaporized, atomized and ionized particles.
A method of introducing particles into a spectrometer, comprising:
- sequentially introducing particles into a device to vaporize, atomize and excite or ionize the particles, the device configured for operation at atmospheric or higher pressure;
- and
- introducing the vaporized, atomized and excited or ionized particles into a spectrometer to individually analyze elemental composition of one or more of the vaporized, atomized, excited or ionized particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.