Electrified Microscopic Jet for Protein Fiber Diffraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for molecular analysis, such as Gas Dynamic Virtual Nozzle and Lipidic Cubic Phase Injector systems, are limited in their ability to work at nanometric scales, resulting in significant background noise and inefficiencies in analyzing small biological samples like protein fibers, due to their inability to produce microscopic jets with diameters smaller than 0.2 cm and velocities lower than 100 m/s.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that generate aerodynamically stabilized and electrified microscopic jets by using a capillary conduit with specific liquid properties and a concentric nozzle for a stabilizing gas stream, allowing for the production of nanometric jets with velocities exceeding 100 m/s and enabling interaction with high-energy beams like those from Free Electron Lasers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional jet generation technologies (GDVN, LCPI) are used, then jet streams can be produced for analysis, but the jet diameter cannot be reduced below 0.2 cm and velocities remain below 100 m/s, resulting in significant background noise
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of jet generation by applying electric fields to create electrified jets with diameters in the nanometric range (below 0.2 cm) and velocities exceeding 100 m/s. This parameter transformation enables reduced background noise while maintaining jet stability for analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces conventional mechanical jet generation systems (GDVN, LCPI) with an electrified jet system that uses electric fields and electrohydrodynamic forces. This substitution enables precise control of jet diameter and velocity, achieving nanometric scales and high speeds that mechanical systems cannot attain
2Measurement precision
If jet diameter is reduced to nanometric scales, then background noise is reduced, but conventional technologies cannot achieve such small diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces mechanical jet generation with electrified jet generation using electric fields. This substitution enables precise control of jet diameter at nanometric scales, achieving background noise reduction that was previously unattainable with mechanical systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transforms the jet generation mechanism to change physical parameters, achieving nanometric diameters through electric field control. This parameter transformation enables precise diameter control in the nanometer range, far below the 0.2 cm limit of conventional technologies
3Productivity
If jet velocity is increased to exceed 100 m/s, then measurement frequency and efficiency improve, but conventional technologies cannot achieve such velocities
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces mechanical propulsion with electrohydrodynamic propulsion using electric fields. This substitution enables jet velocities exceeding 100 m/s, which directly increases measurement frequency and productivity beyond the capabilities of conventional mechanical systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the velocity parameter through electric field application, achieving speeds over 100 m/s. This parameter change enables high-frequency measurements and improved productivity that were unattainable with conventional low-velocity jet systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces background noise, allows for the analysis of smaller samples with higher efficiency, enabling diffraction studies of single protein fibers and increasing measurement rates to over 1 MHz, thus improving the signal-to-background ratio and sample utilization.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first electrode (7) for connecting a voltage to the transport liquid (2), and a second opposite electrode (8) arranged at the outlet of the transport liquid capillary (3), wherein said electrodes (7, 8) are subjected to an electrical potential difference (V)
Implementation Method 2
A stream of stabilizing gas (9) is discharged concentrically with the transport liquid (2) through the nozzle (5)
Implementation Method 3
The end (4) of the transport liquid capillary (3) exceeds a distance of no more than five times the diameter of the discharge section (6) from said nozzle (5). Under all of the above conditions, the transport liquid (2) forms at the outlet section (4) of the transport liquid capillary (3) a stable conical capillary meniscus (10)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for the transport of biological or other samples and for analysis thereof by interaction with a pulsed and focused energy beam, comprising: a transport capillary (3) configured to house transport liquid (2), configured with an outlet section (4); a nozzle (5) disposed concentrically and externally to the transport capillary (3), wherein said nozzle (5) comprises a discharge section (6); and wherein the space between the transport capillary (3) and the nozzle (5) is configured to house a stabilizing gas (9); at least one electrode (7) for connecting a voltage to the transport liquid (2), in turn connected to an electrode (8) arranged at the outlet of the transport liquid capillary (3) and the nozzle (5) Wherein said electrodes (7, 8) are subjected to an electrical potential difference (V). The invention also relates to a method comprising the use of said device.