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US 9,543,137 B2Granted
Sample droplet generation from segmented fluid flow and related devices and methods
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJames Alexander Apffel, Arthur Schleifer
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Abstract
A sample droplet generator transforms a segmented array of sample material into a continuous stream of droplets containing analytes. The droplets may serve as a sample source for a wide range of detectors and analytical instruments. As one example, the droplets may be introduced into an ion source of a spectrometer that measures ions produced from the droplets or photons emitted from the droplets.
Claims20
A sample introduction device, comprising:
- a segmented sample array source configured for flowing a linear segmented sample array comprising a plurality of first plugs alternately separated by a plurality of second plugs, wherein the first plugs comprise a first fluid and analytes and the second plugs comprise a second fluid different from the first fluid;
- and
- a sample droplet generator configured for generating a stream of droplets from the segmented sample array wherein the droplets comprise the analytes, the sample droplet generator comprising:
- a first tube comprising a first tube inlet communicating with the segmented sample array source and a first tube outlet, the first tube defining a sample path;
- and
- a second tube surrounding the first tube and comprising a second tube outlet, wherein the second tube defines a gas path between the first tube and the second tube leading to the second tube outlet, and the second tube outlet is positioned such that the sample path merges into the gas path, and
- wherein the first tube and the second tube extend along a longitudinal axis, and the second tube outlet is positioned at a downstream axial distance from the first tube outlet.
4 more elements
A method for generating droplets for analysis, the method comprising:
- flowing a linear segmented sample array along a sample path through a first tube and out from a first tube outlet, the linear segmented sample array comprising a plurality of first plugs alternately separated by a plurality of second plugs, wherein the first plugs comprise a first fluid and analytes and the second plugs comprise a second fluid different from the first fluid;
- flowing a gas along a gas path between the first tube and a second tube surrounding the first tube, and toward a second tube outlet, wherein the sample path merges into the gas path downstream of the first tube outlet such that at least the first plugs are broken into droplets comprising the analytes, and wherein the first tube and the second tube extend along a longitudinal axis, and the second tube outlet is positioned at a downstream axial distance from the first tube outlet;
- and
- emitting a stream of the droplets from the second tube outlet.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.