Continuous flow mobility classifier interface with mass spectrometer
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsNicholas Brunelli, Konstantinos P. Giapis, Richard C. Flagan, Jesse L. Beauchamp, Evan Neidholdt
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Abstract
A continuous flow mobility classifier provide the ability to perform two-dimensional separation in mass spectrometry. An ionization system is used to ionize a sample. A differential mobility analyzer (DMA) (e.g., a nano-radial DMA) is coupled to the ionization system and to a mass spectrometer. The nano-RDMA is configured to separate the ionized sample by mobility for subsequent mass analysis by the mass spectrometer.
Claims14
A continuous flow mobility classifier-mass spectrometer system comprising:
- (a) a first ionization system configured to ionize analyte molecules in a sample;
- (b) a continuous flow radial differential mobility analyzer (RDMA) configured to analyze the ionized analyte molecules in a first dimension, wherein:
- (i) the RDMA is coupled to the first ionization system;
- (ii) the RDMA is coupled to a mass spectrometer;
- (iii) the sample is introduced into the RDMA;
- (iv) the RDMA is configured to employ axial electric fields to separate the ionized analyte molecules by mobility;
- and
- (c) the mass spectrometer configured to analyze the ionized analyte molecules in a second dimension, wherein:
- (i) a continuous flow of the ionized analyte molecules that have been separated by mobility are introduced to the mass spectrometer to determine a mass-to-charge ratio of a charged particle within the mobility separated ionized analyte molecules;
- and
- wherein:
- a sheath flow rate provided by the RDMA is lower as compared to a sheath flow rate produced by a continuous flow mobility classifier-mass spectrometer system without the RDMA;
- an instrument resolution of the RDMA has a value of at least seven (7);
- a sample outlet of the RDMA is aligned with an atmospheric pressure inlet (API) of the mass spectrometer;
- and
- a gap between the sample outlet and the API is minimized by adjusting a position of the RDMA.
A method for analyzing a sample comprising:
- (a) ionizing analyte molecules in a sample using a first ionization system;
- (b) analyzing the ionized analyte molecules in a first dimension by separating the ionized analyte molecules by mobility using a continuous flow radial differential mobility analyzer (RDMA) that employs axial electric fields, wherein:
- (i) the RDMA is coupled to the first ionization system;
- (ii) the RDMA is coupled to a mass spectrometer;
- and
- (iii) the sample is introduced into the RDMA;
- (c) introducing a continuous flow of the ionized analyte molecules that have been separated by mobility to the mass spectrometer;
- (d) analyzing the ionized analyte molecules in a second dimension by mass analyzing the ionized analyte molecules that have been separated by mobility using the mass spectrometer to determine a mass-to-charge ratio of a charged particle within the mobility separated ionized analyte molecules;
- and
- wherein:
- a sheath flow rate provided by the RDMA is lower as compared to a sheath flow rate produced by a continuous flow mobility classifier-mass spectrometer system without the RDMA;
- an instrument resolution of the RDMA has a value of at least seven (7);
- a sample outlet of the RDMA is aligned with an atmospheric pressure inlet (API) of the mass spectrometer;
- and
- a gap between the sample outlet and the API is minimized by adjusting a position of the RDMA.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.