# US 8,785,846 B2 · Systems and methods for analyzing a sample

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- Number: US 8,785,846 B2
- Document ID: US8785846B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/058,856
- Filed: 2013-10-21
- Published: 2014-05-22
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-05-20
- Assignees: Purdue Research Foundation
- Applicants: Purdue Research Foundation
- Inventors: Zheng Ouyang; Chen Tsung-Chi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8785846B2

## CPC

- H01J 49/0422: {for gaseous samples (interfaces to gas chromatographs G01N30/7206)}
- H01J 49/0013: {Miniaturised spectrometers, e.g. having smaller than usual scale, integrated conventional components}
- H01J 49/0495: {Vacuum locks; Valves (valves per se F16K)}
- H01J 49/10: Ion sources; Ion guns
- H01J 49/168: {field ionisation, e.g. corona discharge (atmospheric pressure corona discharge per se H01T19/00)}
- H01J 49/24: Vacuum systems, e.g. maintaining desired pressures
- H01J 49/26: Mass spectrometers or separator tubes
- H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H)

## Abstract

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for sample analysis. In certain embodiments, the invention provides systems for analyzing a sample that include an electric source, a vacuum chamber including a conducting member, in which the conducting member is coupled to the electric source, a sample introduction member coupled to the vacuum chamber, and a mass analyzer. The system is configured such that a distal end of the sample introduction member resides within the vacuum chamber and proximate the conducting member, such that an electrical discharge may be produced between the sample introduction member and the conducting member. A neutral gas that has been introduced into the vacuum chamber interacts with the generated discharge, producing ions within the vacuum chamber that are subsequently transferred into the mass analyzer in the vacuum chamber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sample analysis system, the system comprising:
a discontinuous sample introduction interface;
an ionization mechanism comprising a tube and an electrode; and
a mass analyzer located in a vacuum chamber that is separate and distinct from and operably associated with the ionization mechanism, wherein the ionization mechanism is positioned inside the vacuum chamber between the discontinuous sample introduction interface and the mass analyzer to interact with a sample gas after it has passed through the discontinuous sample introduction interface and produce ions of the sample gas that are received by the mass analyzer from the separate and distinct ionization mechanism.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the mass analyzer is for a mass spectrometer or a miniature mass spectrometer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the mass analyzer is selected from the group consisting of: a quadrupole ion trap, a rectalinear ion trap, a cylindrical ion trap, a ion cyclotron resonance trap, and an orbitrap.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the discontinuous sample introduction interface comprises: a valve for controlling movement of the sample gas into the system.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system according to claim 4, wherein valve is a pinch valve.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system according to claim 5, wherein discontinuous sample introduction interface further comprises a tube, wherein an exterior portion of the tube is aligned with the valve.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system according to claim 6, wherein the tube is a silicon plastic tube.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The system according to claim 6, wherein discontinuous sample introduction interface further comprises a capillary inserted into a first end of the tube, wherein the capillary does not overlap with a portion of the tube that is in alignment with the valve.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system according to claim 8, wherein the capillary is a stainless steel capillary.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the ionization source produces a discharge that interacts with the sample gas to produce the ions.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein operation of the mass analyzer is synchronized with opening and closing of the discontinuous sample introduction interface.