113 results about "Neutral molecule" patented technology

A new ionization source named Surface Activated Chemical Ionization (SACI) has been discovered and used to improve the sensitivity of the mass spectrometer. According to this invention the ionization chamber of a mass spectrometer is heated and contains a physical new surface to improve the ionization process. The analyte neutral molecules that are present in gas phase are ionized on this surface. The surface can be made of various materials and may also chemically modified so to bind different molecules. This new ionization source is able to generate ions with high molecular weight and low charge, an essential new key feature of the invention so to improve sensitivity and reduce noise. The new device can be especially used for the analysis of proteins, peptides and other macromolecules. The new invention overcomes some of the well known and critical limitations of the Electrospray (ESI) and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometric techniques.

The present invention is a device to restrict the sampling of analyte ions and neutral molecules from surfaces with mass spectrometry and thereby sample from a defined area or volume. In various embodiments of the present invention, a tube is used to sample ions formed with a defined spatial resolution from desorption ionization at or near atmospheric pressures. In an embodiment of the present invention, electrostatic fields are used to direct ions to either individual tubes or a plurality of tubes positioned in close proximity to the surface of the sample being analyzed. In an embodiment of the present invention, wide diameter sampling tubes can be used in combination with a vacuum inlet to draw ions and neutrals into the spectrometer for analysis. In an embodiment of the present invention, wide diameter sampling tubes in combination with electrostatic fields improve the efficiency of ion collection.

A mass spectrometer interface, having improved sensitivity and reduced chemical background, is disclosed. The mass spectrometer interface provides improved desolvation, chemical selectivity and ion transport. A flow of partially solvated ions is transported along a tortuous path into a region of disturbance of flow, where ions and neutral molecules collide and mix. Thermal energy is applied to the region of disturbance to promote liberation of at least some of the ionized particles from any attached impurities, thereby increasing the concentration of the ionized particles having the characteristic m / z ratios in the flow. Molecular reactions and low pressure ionization methods can also be performed for selective removal or enhancement of particular ions.

The present invention is directed to a method and device to desorb an analyte using heat to allow desorption of the analyte molecules, where the desorbed analyte molecules are ionized with ambient temperature ionizing species. In various embodiments of the invention a current is passed through a mesh upon which the analyte molecules are present. The current heats the mesh and results in desorption of the analyte molecules which then interact with gas phase metastable neutral molecules or atoms to form analyte ions characteristic of the analyte molecules.

The present invention is directed to a method and device to desorb an analyte using heat to allow desorption of the analyte molecules, where the desorbed analyte molecules are ionized with ambient temperature ionizing species. In various embodiments of the invention a current is passed through a mesh upon which the analyte molecules are present. The current heats the mesh and results in desorption of the analyte molecules which then interact with gas phase metastable neutral molecules or atoms to form analyte ions characteristic of the analyte molecules.

The present invention describes apparatuses and methods that provide energy to ions in a non-thermal manner. The elevated ion energy minimizes or eliminates interferences due to clustering with polar molecules, such as water. The energized ions are separated in an ion mobility spectrometer. During the ion transportation and separation process, the elevated energy level of ions prevents them from clustering with neutral molecule inside the spectrometer. The additional electric field component only causes ions to reach elevated energy level, whereby the spectrometer can preserve its normal performance, meanwhile avoiding interference from water and other neutral molecules. A RF electric field is applied to the ions in ionization, reaction and separation region of ion mobility spectrometers.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for ionizing a neutral MALDI desorption plume, and in particular, for efficiently measuring the ionized MALDI desorption plume when post-ionization techniques are combined with a medium pressure MALDI-IM-oTOFMS instrument. Additionally, the present disclosure provides a method and apparatus that simultaneously separates tissue-sample MALDI ions by IM-oTOFMS according to their chemical family. After separation, the MALDI ions are directly compared to the ions created by post-ionizing the co-desorbed neutral molecules with a second laser wherein the second laser is delayed by a few hundred microseconds. The present disclosure further provides novel approaches that enhance the analysis of ions, including the use of giant fullerene internal standards to enhance mass accuracy, and ultraviolet (UV) declustering lasers to generate intact peptides and proteins, either of which may be followed by VUV post-ionization which generates identifiable structural fragments.

The subject invention pertains to a methods and devices for ionizing a sample material. The subject invention also relates to an ionization source and to a method of sampling gas-phase ions from a sample. An ionization source in accordance with the subject invention can be used in conjunction with mass spectrometry or other sampling techniques. The subject invention can utilize a means for desorbing gas-phase ions and neutral molecules from a sample and a means to generate reagent ions where the reagent ions ionize the desorbed neutral molecules so as to increase the population of gas-phase ions. The subject invention can incorporate laser radiation for desorbing gas-phase ions and neutral molecules from a sample. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention provides an ionization source that uses a pulsed laser for desorption, so as to produce a population of desorbed neutral molecules from a sample, as well as a number of gas-phase sample ions. In a further specific embodiment, the pulsed laser radiation can be adjusted such that neutral molecules are desorbed without the production of gas-phase sample ions by the laser radiation.

A mass spectrometer interface, having improved sensitivity and reduced chemical background, is disclosed. The mass spectrometer interface provides improved desolvation, chemical selectivity and ion transport. A flow of partially solvated ions is transported along a tortuous path into a region of disturbance of flow, where ions and neutral molecules collide and mix. Thermal energy is applied to the region of disturbance to promote liberation of at least some of the ionized particles from any attached impurities, thereby increasing the concentration of the ionized particles having the characteristic m / z ratios in the flow. Molecular reactions and low pressure ionization methods can also be performed for selective removal or enhancement of particular ions.

A mass spectrometer interface, having improved sensitivity and reduced chemical background, is disclosed. The mass spectrometer interface provides improved desolvation, chemical selectivity and ion transport. A flow of partially solvated ions is transported along a tortuous path into a region of disturbance of flow, where ions and neutral molecules collide and mix. Thermal energy is applied to the region of disturbance to promote liberation of at least some of the ionized particles from any attached impurities, thereby increasing the concentration of the ionized particles having the characteristic m / z ratios in the flow. Molecular reactions and low pressure ionization methods can also be performed for selective removal or enhancement of particular ions.

A mass spectrometer system includes a sample injection device defining a sample injection aperture. The system also includes an ion trap defining an ion outlet aperture. The ion trap is coupled to the sample injection device. The system further includes a detector positioned downstream of the ion outlet aperture. The system also includes an ion source coupled to the ion trap. The ion source is configured to ionize a sample injected into the ion trap and generate a plurality of ionized molecules within the ion trap. The ion trap is configured to maintain the plurality of ionized molecules therein while a plurality of neutral molecules migrate out of the ion trap until a predetermined pressure is attained in the ion trap.

A new ionization source named Surface Activated Chemical Ionization (SACI) has been discovered and used to improve the sensitivity of the mass spectrometer. According to this invention the ionization chamber of a mass spectrometer is heated and contains a physical new surface to improve the ionization process. The analyte neutral molecules that are present in gas phase are ionized on this surface. The surface can be made of various materials and may also chemically modified so to bind different molecules. This new ionization source is able to generate ions with high molecular weight and low charge, an essential new key feature of the invention so to improve sensitivity and reduce noise. The new device can be especially used for the analysis of proteins, peptides and other macromolecules. The new invention overcomes some of the well known and critical limitations of the Electrospray (ESI) and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometric techniques.

A microchip ring trap for cold atoms or neutral molecules consists of a particular multi-layer layout of wires on a microchip. These conductive wires may be produced by photolithography on a substrate (e.g. gold on sapphire). There are four wires crucial to the design, essentially a pair of “two-wire waveguides”. These wires are laid out on concentric circles with the inner and outer most wires on lower level of the chip, and the middle pair of wires on the top layer (the chip surface).

The invention belongs to the technical field of mass spectrometry and particularly relates to a cascade mass spectrometry method performed in an ion trap mass analyzer. The cascade mass spectrometry method performed in the ion trap mass analyzer specifically comprises three stages of ion selective segregation, collision induction dissociation and mass scanning and analyzing. According to the cascade mass spectrometry method performed in the ion trap mass analyzer, in the stage of collision induction dissociation, by changing the period of a radio frequency signal, namely changing the frequency of radio-frequency voltage loaded on an ion trap, parent ions with a certain mass-to-charge ratio undergo resonance excitation so as to obtain energy. The high-energy ions which undergo resonance excitation collide with neutral molecules in the ion trap and are dissociated, outcome ions are generated, and the cascade mass spectrometry is achieved. The cascade mass spectrometry method performed in the ion trap mass analyzer has the advantages that only arrangement of software can be used for changing the scanning period of the stage of collision induction dissociation in order to achieve collision induction dissociation, and thus, an experiment device and a method of cascade mass spectrometry can be obviously simplified.

The current invention involves a method and a device for generating and analyzing ions in order to analyze samples directly without sample preparation. The gaseous neutral molecules are desorbed under atmospheric pressure by a desorption method. The desorbed neutral molecules are then transferred into a low pressure region where they are post-ionized by a mist from an electrospray probe tip or by photons from a vacuum UV source. The generated ions are then focused in a time varying electric field in the low pressure chamber before they are transferred into a mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer for further analysis.

The invention belongs to the technical field of mass analysis, in particular to a tandem mass spectrometry analysis method performed in ion traps. The method comprises ion selective isolation, collision induced dissociation and quality scanning analysis. Dipole excitation voltages with asymmetric wave shapes are imposed on a pair of electrodes to generate dipole direct voltages, so that isolated parent ions obtain energy to be excited, collided with neutral molecules in the ion traps and dissociated, and tandem mass spectrometry analysis is achieved. The tandem mass spectrometry analysis method performed in ion traps has the advantages that additional direct current power supplies are not needed, and the dipole direct voltages can be obtained only through the control of software, and experiment devices and methods can be simplified apparently. Simultaneously, the parent ions are subjected to a non-resonance excited dissociation mode under the action of the dipole direct voltages, and abundant ion fragment information can be given through the non-resonance excitation of collision and dissociation.

A method of separating ions comprises applying a spot of a sample material to a target plate. The target plate is mounted in fluid communication with an ion inlet orifice of a FAIMS analyzer region and externally to the FAIMS analyzer region. Using a laser light source that is disposed external to the FAIMS analyzer region, the target plate is irradiated with light of a predetermined wavelength, the light of a predetermined wavelength being selected to affect the sample material applied to the target plate so as to produce ions of the sample material. The ions of the sample material are directed along an ion flow path between the target plate and FAIMS analyzer region, via the ion inlet orifice. A flow of a gas is directed counter-current to the ion flow path and passing through the target plate. The flow of gas through the target plate assists in desolvation of ions and directs neutral molecules away from the FAIMS analyzer region.

The present invention is a device to restrict the sampling of analyte ions and neutral molecules from surfaces with mass spectrometry and thereby sample from a defined area or volume. In various embodiments of the present invention, a tube is used to sample ions formed with a defined spatial resolution from desorption ionization at or near atmospheric pressures. In an embodiment of the present invention, electrostatic fields are used to direct ions to either individual tubes or a plurality of tubes positioned in close proximity to the surface of the sample being analyzed. In an embodiment of the present invention, wide diameter sampling tubes can be used in combination with a vacuum inlet to draw ions and neutrals into the spectrometer for analysis. In an embodiment of the present invention, wide diameter sampling tubes in combination with electrostatic fields improve the efficiency of ion collection.

Here is disclosed a method for generation of a molecular beam from a sample solution, comprising steps of operating a spray-in device to introduce the sample solution in atomized state into a spray chamber, impinging a suitable gas on the sample solution in atomized state or heating the sample solution in atomized state to generate solute molecules deprived of solvent molecules, and then ejecting these solute molecules through an orifice into a low air pressure chamber. The apparatus as well as the method according to the present invention enable to generate a molecular beam for a variety of molecules, particularly for the neutral molecules which can be decomposed by heating at a high temperature or those which can not be sublimated or vaporized even by heating at a high temperature, as long as the sample solutions are prepared. Due to the method as well as the apparatus according to the invention, it is possible to conduct the mass spectroscopy studies and also other spectroscopic analyses about the molecules and the molecular clusters containing in the molecular beam generated in this manner, for example, by irradiating laser beams. It is possible to also possible to deposit the molecules on a substrate.

The present invention is a device to restrict the sampling of analyte ions and neutral molecules from surfaces with mass spectrometry and thereby sample from a defined area or volume. In various embodiments of the present invention, a tube is used to sample ions formed with a defined spatial resolution from desorption ionization at or near atmospheric pressures. In an embodiment of the present invention, electrostatic fields are used to direct ions to either individual tubes or a plurality of tubes positioned in close proximity to the surface of the sample being analyzed. In an embodiment of the present invention, wide diameter sampling tubes can be used in combination with a vacuum inlet to draw ions and neutrals into the spectrometer for analysis. In an embodiment of the present invention, wide diameter sampling tubes in combination with electrostatic fields improve the efficiency of ion collection.

The present invention provides an electrochromic mirror including: a transparent substrate; a transparent electrode film which is formed on the transparent substrate and has conductivity; an electrochromic film which is formed on the transparent electrode film and can be colored by reduction; a light reflecting film which is formed on the electrochromic film and which hydrogen atoms or lithium atoms can permeate; a support substrate which has a conductive part having conductivity formed on at least one surface thereof; and an electrolytic solution containing at least hydrogen ions or lithium ions, and neutral molecules or negative ions which can be oxidized, wherein the transparent substrate is located close to the support substrate such that the conductive part faces the light reflecting film, and the electrolytic solution is enclosed between the light reflecting film and the conductive part.

A method for transporting ions within a mass spectrometer comprises: inputting the ions and neutral molecules to a first end of an ion transport apparatus comprising a plurality of non co-planar ring-shaped electrode portions having respective central apertures having centers that lie along a common axis and that define an ion channel, the radii of the central apertures decreasing in a direction from the first end to a second end of the ion transport apparatus; applying a set of Radio Frequency voltages to the plurality of electrode portions such that the ions remain substantially confined to the ion channel while passing from the first to the second end; and exhausting the neutral molecules from the ion transport apparatus though a plurality of channels or apertures other than the apertures that define the ion channel, the exhausting performed in one or more directions that are non-perpendicular to the axis.

Target molecules in a sample can be detected at an improved sensitivity by means of a mass spectrometer. A sample with or without a matrix is placed on a substrate and irradiated with a converged and pulsed primary beam selected from an ion beam, a neutral particle beam or a laser beam. Secondary ions and neutral molecules are emitted along with protons from the irradiated point of the sample as an electric field is applied between the substrate and an extraction electrode disposed above the substrate. A proton-control electrode is arranged in axial symmetry with the trajectory of the primary beam. A voltage is applied thereto so that the generated electric field decelerates the flying protons to raise their adhering efficiency to the flying neutral molecules.

The invention belongs to the technical field of mass spectrometric analysis and test, specifically to a desolvation and ionizationoun method through heating and an apparatus. The desolvation and ionizationoun method includes atomizing a sample to be tested, and heating the atomized liquid drops or particles of the sample through flame to be tested to evaporate solvent of ion sources and ionize neutral molecules. In this way, the gas phase sample ions are obtained. The apparatus comprises a sample atomizing device, a flame generator etc. The sample to be tested forms electriferous or neutral mist-like liquid drops at the outlet of an ion source sample atomizing device, solvent evaporation occurs to the electriferous or neutral mist-like liquid drops of the object to be analyzed when heated by flame to generate gas phase ions of which the mass spectrum can be detected, and proton-exchange reaction occurs to the neutral sample molecules and ions generated by flame to generate sample ions. The thermotropic solvent evaporation or proton-exchange reaction substantially improves the ionizationoun efficiency in the sample to be tested, the ion signal intensity of the sample is increased, and the sensitivity of mass spectrometry is effective improved.

The invention discloses a 4-hydroxy coumarin intercalated hydrotalcite blue-light composite luminescence material and a preparation method of the 4-hydroxy coumarin intercalated hydrotalcite blue-light composite luminescence material, belonging to the technical field of an inorganic / organic composite luminescence material. A surfactant with the molecular length similar with that of a neutral molecule of 4-hydroxy coumarin is selected, and a supermolecular composite luminescence material which is uniformly dispersed between hydrotalcite layers is obtained by co-intercalation of a co-precipitation method. According to the invention, space area-restricting action of a hydrotalcite stratified material and interaction between a subject and an object are utilized; immobilization of the neutral molecule of the 4-hydroxy coumarin is achieved; meanwhile, the conversion of emission into blue-light emission is achieved; and the fluorescence of a neutral fluorescent micromolecule is effectively improved, and a theoretical research foundation is provided for application of the hydrotalcite into a solid luminescence apparatus.

A mass spectrometer system includes a pulsed ion source configured to generate ionized molecules and neutral molecules. The system also includes a first enclosure coupled in flow communication with the pulsed ion source. The first enclosure defines a first vacuum chamber and an ion inlet aperture. The system further includes a detector positioned within said first enclosure and a plurality of ion transmission devices positioned within the first vacuum chamber and aligned with the ion inlet aperture. The plurality of ion transmission devices is configured to channel and accelerate ionized molecules through a first transmission path such that the ionized molecules and the neutral molecules are physically separated in space and temporally separated.

The invention relates to the filed of implantation of ion beams, and discloses an ion implanter system with a beam decelerator. The ion implanter system comprises an ion beam system and a target chamber system, wherein the ion beam system comprises an ion source generating ion beams and an electromagnetic device used for selecting, forming and transmitting the ion beams to a target chamber; and the target chamber system is used for scanning a target workpiece. The ion implanter system is characterized in that: the ion implanter system also comprises a deceleration device which is positioned at an upstream position of the target chamber system, reduces the energy of the ion beams and removes harmful upstream neutral molecules and atoms; and the deceleration device comprises a series of electrode pairs which are provided with side electrodes. The ion implanter system has the advantages of eliminating energy pollution of the ion beams and reducing the end effect of the electrodes by decelerating and deflecting the ion beams through multiple electrodes.

A method is provided for acquiring and interpreting data using a mass spectrometer, said method comprising: (a) generating a multiplexed mass spectrum using the mass spectrometer system, the multiplexed mass spectrum comprising a superposition of a plurality of product-ion mass spectra comprising a plurality of product-ion types having respective product-ion mass-to-charge (m / z) ratios, each product-ion mass spectrum corresponding to fragmentation of a respective precursor-ion type formed by ionization of a chemical compound, each precursor-ion type having a respective precursor-ion mass-to-charge (m / z) ratio and (b) recognizing a set comprising a precursor-ion type and one or more product-ion types corresponding to each of one or more of the product-ion mass spectra by recognizing one or more losses of a respective valid neutral molecule from each said precursor-ion type.

The invention provides a double-reflection type flight time mass spectrometric photoelectron velocity imaging instrument. The double-reflection type flight time mass spectrometric photoelectron velocity imaging instrument is provided with a laser sputtering ion source, a cooling ion trap, a flight time mass spectrum and a negative ion photoelectron velocity imaging system; the laser sputtering ionsource is used for generating cluster ions, after entering the cooling ion trap for imprisonment and cooling, and the generated cluster ions are accelerated vertically by an accelerating field and then enter the flight time mass spectrum. The negative ion photoelectron velocity imaging system is used for detecting emitted photoelectrons, and a photoelectron spectroscopy with a neutral cluster electronic structure is obtained. The laser sputtering ion source is used for generating cluster ions, after entering the linear ion trap for imprisonment and cooling, the generated cluster ions are accelerated vertically by an accelerating field and then enter the flight time mass spectrum, and the intensity distribution of the generated cluster ions is obtained through mass spectrometric detection.After the mass spectrum is analyzed, specific cluster negative ions are selected, and through the interaction with desorption laser, neutral molecules and the photoelectrons are generated. The negative ion photoelectron velocity imaging system is used for detecting the emitted photoelectrons, and the photoelectron spectroscopy with the neutral cluster electronic structure is obtained.