Multiplexed inductive ionization systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11715633-B2
Application number	US-202117464135-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2021
Priority date	May 31, 2019
Publication date	Aug 1, 2023
Grant date	Aug 1, 2023

Abstract

The invention generally relates to systems including nanoelectrospray ionization emitters in a movable array format in which the emitters can be loaded, singly or simultaneously, through their narrow ends using a novel dip and go method based on capillary action, taking up sample from an array. The sample solutions in each emitter can be electrophoretically cleaned, singly or simultaneously, by creating an inductive electric field that moves interfering ions away from the narrow end of the capillary. Subsequent to cleaning, the emitters are supplied with an inductive electric field that causes electrospray into a mass spectrometer allowing mass analysis of the contents of the emitter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An online cleaning method comprising:
providing an ionization system comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of openings, each sized to receive a hollow elongate member that comprises a sample; an electrode within each of the plurality of openings, the electrode being configured to extend into the elongate member and terminate prior to the sample in the elongate member, wherein a rear of the electrode extends external to a back of each of the plurality of openings; a first voltage source configured to operably interact with the electrode; and a second voltage source, wherein the first voltage source is aligned with an inlet of a mass spectrometer and the second voltage source is not aligned with the inlet of a mass spectrometer; and
operating the system such that the second voltage source is used for electrophoresis to separate in the sample a target analyte from at least one salt and the first voltage source is used for inductive ionization of the target analyte that has been separated from the at least one salt via an applied Direct Current (DC) potential.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is loaded into each of the plurality of the elongated members and the then the plurality of the elongate members are loaded onto the system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the elongate members are loaded onto the system and then the sample is loaded into each of the plurality of the elongated members.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of the elongate members are simultaneously dipped into different vessels, each vessel comprising a different sample.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein prior to ionization, a voltage is applied to the sample in a manner that cause electrophoresis to occur within the sample, thereby separating in the sample the target analyte and at least one salt, which become differentially ionized.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the electrophoresis and the ionization occur with a single electrode.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the electrophoresis and the ionization occur with a plurality of different electrodes.

Assignees

• Purdue Research Foundation

Inventors

• Cooks Robert Graham
• Wei Zhenwei
• Mclaren David G

Classifications

• H01J49/167 Primary

  Capillaries and nozzles specially adapted therefor; (electrostatic spraying per se B05B5/00) · 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

• H01J49/0431

  for liquid samples (interfaces to liquid chromatographs G01N30/7233) · CPC title

• H01J49/0413 Primary

  for automated handling · CPC title

• H01J49/168

  field ionisation, e.g. corona discharge (atmospheric pressure corona discharge per se H01T19/00) · CPC title