Method and apparatus for improved electrospray emitter lifetime
US11562893B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 9, 2021 |
| Grant date | Jan 24, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 11, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB08B2203/02
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for cleaning a first electrospray emitter of a mass spectrometer comprises: changing an operating mode of the first electrospray emitter from a stable jet mode of operation to a dripping or pulsating mode of operation by lowering a magnitude of a voltage applied between a counter electrode and the first electrospray emitter, |V1|; moving the first electrospray emitter from a first emitter position from which electrospray ions are delivered to a mass spectrometer inlet to a second emitter position and, simultaneously, moving a second electrospray emitter from a third emitter position to a fourth emitter position; causing a cleaning solvent to flow through the first electrospray emitter at least until a droplet of the cleaning solvent forms on an exterior surface of the first electrospray emitter while operating the electrospray emitter in the dripping mode of operation; and causing the droplet to dislodge from the emitter exterior.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.