# US 8,772,710 B2 · Low temperature plasma probe and methods of use thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,772,710 B2 - Document ID: US8772710B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/010,130 - Filed: 2013-08-26 - Published: 2014-01-09 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2008-02-12 - Assignees: Purdue Research Foundation - Applicants: Purdue Research Foundation - Inventors: Zheng Ouyang; Jason Harper; Nicholas Charipar; Robert Graham Cooks - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8772710B2 ## CPC - H01J 37/32009: {Arrangements for generation of plasma specially adapted for examination or treatment of objects, e.g. plasma sources (plasma generation in general H05H1/24)} - H01J 27/022: {Details} - H01J 37/00: Discharge tubes with provision for introducing objects or material to be exposed to the discharge, e.g. for the purpose of examination or processing thereof (H01J33/00, H01J40/00, H01J41/00, H01J47/00, H01J49/00 take precedence) - H01J 49/02: Details - H01J 49/105: {using high-frequency excitation, e.g. microwave excitation, Inductively Coupled Plasma [ICP]} - H01J 49/142: {using a solid target which is not previously vapourised} - H05H 1/2406: {using dielectric barrier discharges, i.e. with a dielectric interposed between the electrodes} - H05H 1/30: using applied electromagnetic fields, e.g. high frequency or microwave energy (H05H1/28 takes precedence) - H01J 37/32348: {Dielectric barrier discharge} - H01J 2237/0044: of objects being observed or treated - H05H 1/2443: {the plasma fluid flowing through a dielectric tube} - H05H 2240/10: at atmospheric pressure - H05H 2240/20: Non-thermal plasma - Y10T 436/145555: Hetero-N - Y10T 436/147777: Plural nitrogen in the same ring [e.g., barbituates, creatinine, etc.] - Y10T 436/173076: Nitrite or nitrate - Y10T 436/203332: Hydroxyl containing - Y10T 436/24: Nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance or other spin effects or mass spectrometry - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) - H05H: PLASMA TECHNIQUE (apparatus or processes specially adapted for producing X-rays H05G2/00); PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention generally relates to a low temperature plasma probe for desorbing and ionizing at least one analyte in a sample material and methods of use thereof. In one embodiment, the invention generally relates to a low temperature plasma probe including: a housing having a discharge gas inlet port, a probe tip, two electrodes, and a dielectric barrier, in which the two electrodes are separated by the dielectric barrier, in which application of voltage from a power supply generates a low temperature plasma, and in which the low temperature plasma is propelled out of the discharge region by the electric field and/or the discharge gas flow. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for producing and analyzing a reaction product, the method comprising: providing a first compound in a non-gaseous state; providing a second compound in a non-gaseous state; simultaneously interacting the first and second non-gaseous compounds in their non-gaseous states with a probe that produces a discharge, wherein ions of the first compound are generated by the probe, and the second compound and the ions of the first compound are present in the discharge from the probe; conducting a reaction between the ions of the first compound and the second compound in the discharge from the probe to form a reaction product; and analyzing the reaction product by mass spectrometry. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the reaction is a complexation reaction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the reaction occurs while the ions of the first compound are in a gas phase. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the compounds is an organic compound. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the reaction product is an organic compound. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the reaction product is an oxidation reaction product. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the reaction is an ionic reaction. ### Claim 8 A method for producing and analyzing a reaction product, the method comprising: providing a first organic compound in a non-gaseous state; providing a second organic compound in a non-gaseous state; simultaneously interacting the first and second non-gaseous organic compounds in their non-gaseous states with a probe that produces a discharge, wherein ions of the first non-gaseous organic compound are generated by the probe, and the second organic compound and the ions of the first non-gaseous organic compound are present in the discharge from the probe; conducting a reaction between the ions of the first organic compound and the second organic compound in the discharge from the probe to form an organic reaction product; and analyzing the organic reaction product by mass spectrometry. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the reaction is a complexation reaction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the reaction occurs while the ions of the first compound are in a gas phase. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the reaction is an ionic reaction. ### Claim 12 A method for producing and analyzing a reaction product, the method comprising: providing a first compound in a non-gaseous state; providing a second compound in a non-gaseous state; simultaneously interacting the first and second compounds in their non-gaseous states with a probe that produces a discharge, wherein ions of the first compound and neutral gas phase molecules of the second compound are generated by the probe, and the neutral gas phase molecules of the second compound and the ions of the first compound are present in the discharge from the probe; conducting a reaction between the ions of the first compound and the neutral gas phase molecules of the second compound in the discharge from the probe to form a reaction product; and analyzing the reaction product by mass spectrometry. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the reaction is a complexation reaction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the compounds is an organic compound. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the reaction product is an organic compound. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the reaction product is an oxidation reaction product. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the reaction is an ionic reaction.