Continuously moving target for an atmospheric pressure ion source
AssigneeMicromass UK Limited
InventorMichael John Tomany
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ion source includes a nebulizer and a target, with the nebulizer being arranged and adapted to emit, in use, a stream of analyte droplets which are caused to impact upon the target and to ionize analyte to form a plurality of analyte ions. The target comprises a pin or rod which is mounted off-set from a rotating shaft. The target is rotated or translated in use and follows an eccentric path such that the relative position between the nebulizer and target varies as the target is rotated or translated.
Claims20
An ion source comprising:
- one or more nebulisers and one or more targets;
- wherein said one or more nebulisers are arranged and adapted to emit, in use, a stream predominantly of droplets which are caused to impact upon said one or more targets and to ionise said droplets to form a plurality of ions;
- and
- wherein said ion source further comprises a first device arranged and adapted to rotate or translate said one or more targets substantially continuously so as to enable a stable ion signal intensity.
A method of ionising a sample comprising:
- causing a stream predominantly of droplets to impact upon one or more targets to ionise said droplets to form a plurality of analyte ions;
- and
- rotating or translating said one or more targets substantially continuously so as to enable a stable ion signal intensity.
A desolvation device comprising:
- one or more nebulisers and one or more targets;
- wherein one or more nebulisers are arranged and adapted to emit, in use, a stream predominantly of droplets which are caused to impact upon said one or more targets and to cause said droplets to form desolvated gas phase molecules or secondary droplets;
- and
- wherein said desolvation device further comprises a first device arranged and adapted to rotate or translate said one or more targets substantially continuously so as to enable a stable signal intensity.
A method of desolvation comprising:
- causing a stream predominantly of droplets to impact upon one or more targets and to cause said droplets to form desolvated gas phase molecules or secondary droplets;
- and
- rotating or translating said one or more targets substantially continuously so as to enable a stable signal intensity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.