Acoustic sample introduction for mass spectrometric analysis
US6603118B2 · kind B2 · utility
26Cited by
8References
70Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 14, 2001 |
| Grant date | Aug 5, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 9, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/2575
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to the efficient transport of a small fluid sample such as that may be required by analytical devices such as mass spectrometers configured to analyze small samples of biomolecular fluids. Such transport involves nozzleless acoustic ejection, wherein analyte molecules are introduced from a reservoir holding a fluid into an ionization chamber of an analytical device or a small capillary by directing focused acoustic radiation at a focal point near the surface of the fluid sample. This facilitates the analysis of various types of analytes such as biomolecular analytes having a high molecular weight.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.