Mass spectrometer with laser spot pattern for MALDI
US9741550B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 27, 2014 |
| Grant date | Aug 22, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 27, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J49/0004
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to mass spectrometers with an ion source, comprising a UV laser system for mass spectrometric analyses with ionization of analyte molecules in a sample by matrix-assisted laser desorption, which, with very low energy losses, can produce a spatially distributed spot pattern with several intensity peaks of equal height, thus making it possible to achieve an optimum degree of ionization of analyte ions for any task. Such a spot pattern can be generated from the UV beam with high transverse coherence, using a combination of a lens array and a lens, provided that the lens array satisfies a mathematical condition for separation of the micro-lenses from each other (pitch) and their focal length. For example, a lens array with square or round lenses produces a pattern of nine and five spots, respectively. The lens arrays are inexpensive and do not require any lateral adjustment in this arrangement.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.