Calibration of mass spectrometry systems
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorRaffaele Correale
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for operating a mass spectrometer (MS) includes establishing a pressure differential across a membrane wherein an upstream pressure in a calibrant gas inlet line on an upstream side of the membrane is greater than a downstream pressure in an ion source on a downstream side of the membrane; flowing a calibrant gas from the calibrant gas inlet line, through a nano-scale orifice of the membrane, and into the ion source; and maintaining the upstream pressure at a constant value. The calibrant may be flowed at a low flow rate. An MS system includes a membrane interposed between a calibrant gas introduction system and a mass spectrometer. The membrane may include an orifice of nano-scale diameter.
Claims20
A method for calibrating a mass spectrometer (MS), the method comprising:
- establishing a pressure differential across a membrane of the MS wherein an upstream pressure in a calibrant gas inlet line on an upstream side of the membrane is greater than a downstream pressure in an ion source of the MS on a downstream side of the membrane;
- flowing a calibrant gas from the calibrant gas inlet line, through a nano-scale orifice of the membrane, and into the ion source at a nanoflow flow rate, wherein said nano-scale orifice is formed through said membrane along a substantially rectilinear axis;
- and
- while flowing the calibrant gas, maintaining the upstream pressure at a constant value.
A mass spectrometry (MS) system, comprising:
- a calibrant gas introduction system comprising a calibrant gas inlet line;
- a mass spectrometer comprising an ion source, an ion detector, and a membrane interposed between the calibrant gas inlet line and the ion source, the membrane comprising a nano-scale orifice communicating with the calibrant gas inlet line and the ion source, wherein said nano-scale orifice is formed through said membrane along a substantially rectilinear axis;
- and
- a system controller communicating with the calibrant gas introduction system, and configured for maintaining an upstream pressure in the calibrant gas inlet line at a predetermined constant value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.