Mass spectrometric system for rapid, automatic and specific identification and quantitation of compounds
US4008388A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 4, 1975 |
| Grant date | Feb 15, 1977 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 1995 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG16C20/20
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An automated mass spectrometric system which is capable of analyzing and identifying a wide variety of chemical compounds. A sample of an unknown compound, in liquid, solid or gaseous state, is introduced into the invented system. It may be a pure sample or a mixture of compounds. In either case, its mass spectrum is searched for selected peaks and an attempt is made to match such peaks to previously stored, characteristic spectra of one or more compounds in a predetermined family of compounds. Matching is on a probabilistic basis, reflecting the occurrence probabilities or uniqueness of the mass peaks found, and the accuracy with which the relative peak intensity pattern matches that of any of the compounds in the family of compounds sought. If one or more of the compounds in the family of compounds is identified as being present in the sample, its quantity is also determined automatically by the invention. Moreover a confidence index is generated as a measure of the likelihood that the compound identified as being present is in fact present. The present invention comprises a sample inlet device, preferably a flash evaporator and separator, a mass spectrometer, electronic means fo…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.