Acoustic sample introduction for analysis and/or processing
US6710335B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 30, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 24, 2022 |
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 volume of fluid, such as may be required by mass spectrometers and other devices configured to process and/or analyze small samples of biomolecular fluids. Such transport involves nozzleless acoustic ejection. In some instances, sample molecules contained in droplets of fluid are introduced from a reservoir into an ionization chamber of an analytical device. In other instances, sample molecules are introduced into a small capillary by directing focused acoustic radiation at a focal point near the surface of a fluid sample. In still other instances, acoustic ejection is used to form an array on a surface, wherein the features of the array are ionized for analysis. The invention may be used with microfluidic devices. Thus, the invention facilitates the processing and/or analysis of various types of samples, such as biomolecules having high molecular weights.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.