Micropillar array electrospray chip
US7928368B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 2, 2007 |
| Grant date | Apr 19, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 26, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J49/167
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to an electrospray ionization (ESI) device for forming a stream of ionized sample molecules. The device comprises a sample introduction zone for receiving a liquid-form sample, a tip for spraying the sample into aerosol or gaseous form, and a flow channel connecting the sample introduction zone and the tip. According to the invention, the flow channel comprises an array of transversely oriented microstructures adapted to passively transport the liquid-form sample introduced to the sample introduction zone to the tip by means of capillary forces. The invention concerns also a manufacturing method and applications of the ESI device, in particular mass spectrometry. The device can be used without external pumping of sample liquid.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.