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US 9,006,648 B2Granted
Microchips with integrated multiple electrospray ionization emitters and related methods, systems and devices
AssigneeThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
InventorsJohn Michael Ramsey, Andrew Chambers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Microchips which are particularly suitable for use with a mass spectrometer include a microchip body with at least one fluid channel formed into the microchip body and at least two flat monolithic closely spaced integrated ESI (electrospray ionization) emitters defined by shaped projections formed to extend from one side of the microchip body, a respective one being in fluid communication with a fluid channel. Related systems and methods are also described.
Claims24
A mass spectrometer analyzer system, comprising:
- a mass spectrometer with an inlet orifice;
- and
- a flat microchip comprising a perimeter with four sides and at least a first and second monolithic ESI (electrospray ionization) emitter, wherein the first and second ESI emitters reside on one side of the microchip and, during operation, are aligned proximate the mass spectrometer inlet orifice;
- and
- a control circuit configured to control fluid flow in the microchip to substantially synchronize respective ESI emitter spray with data acquisition of the mass spectrometer;
- and
- at least one power supply in communication with the microchip, wherein the control circuit is in communication with the at least one power supply and is configured to direct the at least one power supply to deliver power to the microchip to controllably cause the at least first and second ESI emitters to spray,
- wherein the at least first and second ESI emitters are in communication with a respective EO pump channel held by the microchip, and wherein the at least one power supply comprises a first power supply in communication with the first ESI emitter and a second power supply in communication with the second ESI emitter, and wherein the control circuit is configured to sequentially operate the first and second power supplies and synchronize the mass spectrometer data acquisition of emitter spray with switching of the first and second power supplies.
5 more elements
A method of obtaining sample data, comprising:
- providing a microchip with EO pump channels and between about 2-100 monolithic integrated separate ESI (electrospray ionization) emitters closely spaced apart about a single corner of the microchip, the ESI emitters having sharp tips, wherein the EO pump channels are curvilinear with a forwardmost segment residing proximate a respective ESI emitter tip;
- activating at least one emitter by supplying voltage to a corresponding EO pump channel;
- and
- acquiring signal data from spray plumes emitted by the respective separate ESI emitters using a mass spectrometer positioned proximate the microchip.
1 more element
A method of obtaining sample data, comprising:
- providing a microchip with EO pump channels and monolithic integrated separate at least first and second ESI emitters residing on a first end of the microchip;
- activating at least one emitter by supplying voltage to a corresponding EO pump channel, wherein the activating step is carried out by selectively activating one emitter or one emitter set at a time by supplying a high voltage to a corresponding EO pump channel;
- acquiring signal data from spray plumes emitted by the respective separate emitters using a mass spectrometer positioned proximate the microchip;
- and
- electronically synchronizing the mass spectrometer data acquisition with the activating step, wherein the electronically synchronizing step is carried out using an electrical component onboard the mass spectrometer,
- wherein the onboard component comprises a baffle control circuit having a trigger voltage output used to switch power supplies used to apply the voltage to the microchip EO pump channels.
3 more elements
A method of obtaining sample data, comprising:
- providing a microchip with EO pump channels and monolithic integrated separate at least first and second ESI emitters residing on a first end of the microchip;
- activating at least one emitter by supplying voltage to a corresponding EO pump channel, wherein the activating step is carried out by selectively activating one emitter or one emitter set at a time by supplying a high voltage to a corresponding EO pump channel;
- and
- acquiring signal data from spray plumes emitted by the respective separate emitters using a mass spectrometer positioned proximate the microchip,
- wherein the integrated separate ESI emitters comprise stacked emitters, and
- wherein the stacked emitters reside closely spaced apart about a single corner of the microchip.
3 more elements
A method of obtaining sample data, comprising:
- providing a microchip with EO pump channels and monolithic integrated separate at least first and second ESI emitters residing on a first end of the microchip;
- activating at least one emitter by supplying voltage to a corresponding EO pump channel, wherein the activating step is carried out by selectively activating one emitter or one emitter set at a time by supplying a high voltage to a corresponding EO pump channel;
- and
- acquiring signal data from spray plumes emitted by the respective separate emitters using a mass spectrometer positioned proximate the microchip,
- wherein the emitters are between about 2-100 emitters closely spaced apart about a single corner of the microchip.
2 more elements
A microchip for use with a mass spectrometer, comprising:
- a substantially rigid and planar microchip body;
- at least first and second fluid channels formed into the microchip body;
- and
- a plurality of flat closely spaced integrated ESI (electrospray ionization) emitters of between 2-100 defined by sharp tips, one or more of the ESI emitters in fluid communication with the first fluid channel and one or more of the ESI emitters in fluid communication with the second fluid channel, wherein at least one of the first and second fluid channels converges toward the other as the first and second fluid channels travel toward respective ESI emitters,
- wherein the ESI emitters are a plurality of closely spaced sharp tips residing about one corner of the microchip arranged and configured to spray fluid at an angle outward from the one corner.
2 more elements
A method of forming a microchip with ESI emitters for use with a mass spectrometer, comprising:
- providing a first substantially rigid substrate;
- forming fluid flow channels thereon;
- attaching a second substrate to the first substrate to enclose the fluid flow channels therebetween;
- then
- forming pointed spray tip projections on a first end of the attached first and second substrates to define between about 2-100 monolithic integrated separate ESI (electrospray ionization) emitters closely spaced apart about a single corner of the microchip.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.