Device and method for the preparation of samples for ionization by laser desorption in a mass spectrometer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10679837-B2
Application number	US-201715819466-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2017
Priority date	Dec 12, 2016
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

Presented is a device for the preparation of samples for ionization by laser desorption, especially MALDI, that comprises a sample support assembly with a surface which has an array of sites for holding substances, and an outer contour surrounding the sample site array, and a flat cover which can be placed flush on or over the surrounding outer contour such that a shielded gas compartment is formed between the cover and the surface, said cover having an array of apertures arranged such that each aperture comes to rest over a corresponding sample site. A gas transport system is also provided on the assembly and cover, which serves to introduce a protective gas into the shielded gas compartment between cover and surface so that a protective gas atmosphere is generated in the gas compartment to protect the substances on the sample sites against atmospheric influences. An associated method is also described.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Device for the preparation of samples for ionization by laser desorption, comprising:
a sample support assembly with a surface which has an array of sites for the acceptance of substances, and an outer contour surrounding the sample site array, and
a flat cover which can be placed with a flush fit on or over the surrounding outer contour such that a shielded gas compartment is formed between the cover and the surface, and which has an array of apertures arranged such that each aperture comes to rest over a corresponding sample site, wherein
a gas feed system is provided on the sample support assembly and cover with which a protective gas is introduced directly into the shielded gas compartment between cover and surface through one or more inlet(s) separate from the array of apertures so that a protective gas atmosphere is created in the gas compartment which protects the substances during their application to the sample sites against atmospheric influences, the protective gas escaping from the compartment via the apertures.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sample support assembly has a conductive plate with a surface which comprises the array of sample sites, and the plate determines the surrounding outer contour.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sample support assembly has a conductive plate, which can be accommodated in a holder and has a surface which comprises the array of sample sites, and the holder determines the surrounding outer contour.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the holder is bordered by sidewalls which extend at right angles, and the flat cover has the form of a plate and can be placed on the sidewalls.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the protective gas is fed into the gas compartment from the side of the sample site array and/or is at least partially drained from it.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the surrounding outer contour is rectangular in shape.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the cover has the form of a cap with sidewalls extending at right angles, and which can be placed flush around the sample site array.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the gas feed system comprises gas channels and gas inlets into the shielded gas compartment which are integrated in the side walls.

9. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the gas feed system comprises a tube which passes through an aperture in one of the side walls, the tube having apertures arranged on its cylindrical exterior surface which act as gas inlets into the shielded gas compartment.

10. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the gas feed system comprises gas outlets from the shielded gas compartment which are integrated in the side walls.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the flow cross-sections of the gas inlets and gas outlets are dimensioned such that a slight overpressure of protective gas atmosphere is established in the gas compartment.

12. Method for the preparation of samples for ionization by laser desorption, particularly matrix assisted laser desorption, the method comprising:
a) providing a sample support assembly with a surface which has an array of sites for the acceptance of substances, and an outer contour surrounding the sample site array;
b) placing a flat cover with an array of apertures with a flush fit on or over the surrounding outer contour such that a shielded gas compartment is formed between the cover and the surface, and each aperture comes to rest over a corresponding sample site;
c) generating a protective gas atmosphere in the shielded gas compartment between cover and surface by feeding directly into the gas compartment through one or more inlet(s) separate from the array of apertures a protective gas that escapes from the compartment via the apertures; and
d) applying substances to the sample sites by passing the tip of an application tool through the apertures in the cover to the corresponding sample sites.

13. Device for the preparation of samples for ionization by laser desorption, comprising:
a sample support assembly with a surface which has an array of sites for the acceptance of substances, and an outer contour surrounding the sample site array, and
a flat cover which can be placed with a flush fit on or over the surrounding outer contour such that a shielded gas compartment is formed between the cover and the surface, and which has an array of apertures matching the array of sample sites and arranged such that each aperture comes to rest over a corresponding sample site,

wherein
a gas feed system is provided on the sample support assembly and cover with which a protective gas is introduced directly into the shielded gas compartment between cover and surface so that a protective gas atmosphere is created in the gas compartment which protects the substances during their application to the sample sites against atmospheric influences, the protective gas escaping from the compartment via the apertures.

Assignees

• Bruker Daltonik Gmbh

Inventors

• Belau Eckhard

Classifications

• H01J49/0418 Primary

  for laser desorption, e.g. matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation [MALDI] plates or surface enhanced laser desorption/ionisation [SELDI] plates · CPC title

• H01J49/049 Primary

  with means for applying heat to desorb the sample; Evaporation · CPC title

• H01J49/0409

  Sample holders or containers (containers for retaining a material to be analyzed, B01L3/50, for DNA, C12Q1/6834, for biological materials, G01N33/543) · CPC title

• G01N27/628

  and a beam of energy, e.g. laser enhanced ionisation · CPC title

• H01J49/0459

  for solid samples · CPC title