Abstract:
A method is disclosed comprising obtaining physical or other non-mass spectrometric data from one or more regions of a target using a probe. The physical or other non-mass spectrometric data may be used to determine one or more regions of interest of the target. An ambient ionisation ion source may then used to generate an aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of the target.
Abstract:
An interface for a mass spectrometer system is provided. The interface can include an inner ceramic tube fabricated from a first ceramic material and an outer tube fabricated from a second ceramic material surrounding the inner ceramic tube. The inner ceramic tube can have high electrical resistivity and high thermal conductivity and the intermediate ceramic tube can have an electrical resistivity that is at least an order of magnitude higher than the electrical resistivity of the first ceramic material and a thermal conductivity that is at least an order of magnitude higher than the thermal conductivity of the first ceramic material.
Abstract:
An inlet and vacuum system for a portable, or handheld, mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer comprises three vacuum chambers, which includes two ion funnels connected in series in the first two vacuum chambers, followed by a mass spectrometer analyzer and ion detector in the third vacuum chamber. The ion funnels are arranged with their central axes aligned in a linear fashion. The sample inlet to the portable mass spectrometer is from an external ion source, typically operating at atmospheric, or near atmospheric, pressure. An improvement in desolvation, and a reduction in the injection of neutrals, excited state molecules, and particulates into the analyzer is achieved by incorporating a lateral offset for the inlet capillary used to transfer ions into the first injection funnel. Additional efficiency for ion focusing is achieved by replacing the ion guide, typically used with atmospheric pressure ionization sources, with an additional ion funnel.
Abstract:
An apparatus for providing gaseous sample ions/molecules from liquid droplets containing sample ions/molecules. The apparatus has a chamber having one or more walls which define an interior of the chamber, the chamber being configured to receive liquid droplets containing sample ions/molecules. The apparatus also has a gas flow producing means configured to produce a flow of gas within the chamber for promoting evaporation of liquid droplets in the chamber to provide gaseous sample ions/molecules. The apparatus is configured such that the flow of gas produced within the chamber inhibits liquid droplets in the chamber from coming into contact with the one or more walls of the chamber.
Abstract:
A disruptor apparatus comprises a nozzle comprising: a converging section; a diverging section; and a throat between the converging section and the diverging section. The disruptor apparatus also comprises a holder configured to receive a fluid conduit, which comprises an outlet located in the converging section; and a channel disposed about the holder and configured to guide a gas past the outlet of the fluid conduit, through the converging section, through the throat and into the diverging section where the gas travels at supersonic speed and establishes a standing shock wave in the diverging section. A mass spectrometer and a method are also described.
Abstract:
An atmospheric pressure ionization apparatus includes a chamber, an ion inlet structure, an electrode, a sample emitter, and a gas passage. The ion inlet structure includes a sampling orifice. The electrode includes an electrode bore. An ionization region is defined between the ion inlet structure and the electrode. The flared structure is coaxially disposed about the ion inlet structure, and extends along an outward direction that includes a radial component relative to the sampling axis. The sample emitter is oriented at an angle to the sampling axis for directing a sample stream toward the ionization region. The gas passage directs a stream of gas from a gas source to the chamber. The flared structure and the wall cooperatively form an outward-directed portion of the gas passage that extends annularly about the sampling axis and along the outward direction. The gas flows through the outward-directed portion, around the flared structure, and toward the ionization region and the electrode bore.
Abstract:
A disrupter apparatus comprises a nozzle comprising: a converging section; a diverging section; and a throat between the converging section and the diverging section. The disrupter apparatus also comprises a holder configured to receive a fluid conduit, which comprises an outlet located in the converging section; and a channel disposed about the holder and configured to guide a gas past the outlet of the fluid conduit, through the converging section, through the throat and into the diverging section where the gas travels at supersonic speed and establishes a standing shock wave in the diverging section. A mass spectrometer and a method are also described.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for performing mass spectroscopy uses an ion interface to provide the function of removing undesirable particulates from an ion stream from an atmospheric pressure ion source, such as an electrospray source or a MALDI source, before the ion stream enters a vacuum chamber containing the mass spectrometer. The ion interface includes an entrance cell with a bore that may be heated for desolvating charged droplets when the ion source is an electrospray source, and a particle discrimination cell with a bore disposed downstream of the bore of the entrance cell and before an aperture leading to the vacuum chamber. The particle discrimination cell creates gas dynamic and electric field conditions that enables separation of undesirable charged particulates from the ion stream.
Abstract:
An on-axis ion source has an ionization chamber and an adjacent low-pressure region. The on-axis ion source also includes a capillary tube having an axial bore for supporting fluid communication between the ionization chamber and the adjacent low-pressure region, the axial bore of the capillary tube being substantially concentrically aligned with the orifice of a skimmer located downstream in the ion path from the capillary tube. A blocking element is provided in an aligned facing arrangement with the axial bore of the capillary tube and on an opposite side of the orifice relative to the capillary tube. The blocking element receives droplets or particles flowing through the axial bore of the capillary tube and passing through the orifice of the skimmer. The combination of an on-axis arrangement and the use of a blocking element results in improved signal-to-noise level due to enhanced ion transmission and reduction of noise arising from passage of undesolvated droplets and particles to the mass analyzer.
Abstract:
An Electrospray Ionisation ion source and an Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation ion source are disclosed which comprise a probe 1 comprising two co-axial capillary tubes 2,3. A blue-flame gas torch 6 is provided downstream of the probe 1 as a combustion source. An analyte solution is sprayed from an inner capillary tube 2 of the probe 1 and a combustible gas is supplied to an outer capillary tube 3 of the probe 1. The combustible gas supplies heat to aid desolvation of the droplets emerging from the probe 1 via combustion with the surrounding oxygen-containing atmosphere when combusted by the blue flame torch 6.