Electrospray Capillary for Low-Volume Sample Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current microsampling techniques for ultra low-volume samples are inefficient, result in significant sample loss, and cannot be easily coupled with downstream separation techniques like liquid chromatography (LC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE), making them unsuitable for quantitative analysis.
Innovation Solution
An electrospray-assisted spray-capillary device that uses a chemically etched capillary with a conductive sheath flow to achieve stable electrospray, allowing for quantitative low-volume sample extraction and direct coupling with CE and LC techniques, enabling reproducible and high-throughput analysis of ultra low-volume samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If pump-based extraction or EOF-based extraction is used with micropipettes, then low-volume sample manipulation is achieved, but sample loss is significant and quantitative control is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical pump-based extraction systems with an electrospray-based system that uses electrical fields to drive sample extraction. The electrospray interface generates a stable, continuous spray of charged droplets that can be precisely controlled through voltage application, eliminating the mechanical complexity and sample loss associated with pump-based and EOF-based micropipette extraction methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in electrical parameters (voltage, current) to control the electrospray extraction process. By adjusting the applied voltage and electrical field strength, the system achieves precise control over sample extraction rate and volume, enabling quantitative manipulation of ultra-low volume samples while minimizing sample loss through optimized spray conditions.
2Measurement precision
If specialized microsampling techniques are developed, then sensitivity is improved, but device complexity increases and coupling with downstream techniques is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The electrospray-based microsampling device is designed with universal compatibility for coupling with multiple downstream analytical techniques including mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, and capillary electrophoresis. The standardized electrospray interface can be integrated into various analytical platforms without requiring proprietary or complex equipment configurations, thereby maintaining high sensitivity while reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrospray interface serves as an intermediary component that bridges the microsampling stage and downstream separation/detection techniques. This intermediate electrospray stage efficiently transfers ultra-low volume samples into formats compatible with LC and CE systems, simplifying the overall system architecture by providing a universal coupling mechanism rather than requiring complex direct integrations.
3Reliability
If electrospray is used for sample extraction, then quantitative control and reproducibility are improved, but stable electrospray generation is challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions to ensure stable electrospray generation, including pre-conditioning the electrospray capillary, pre-establishing the electrical field parameters, and pre-optimizing the sample introduction conditions. These preliminary steps create optimal conditions for stable electrospray operation, ensuring reproducible extraction performance while managing the complexity of electrospray stabilization through systematic preparation protocols.
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
The device achieves reproducible and quantitative microsampling with low injection flow rates, reducing sample loss and enabling efficient analysis of ultra low-volume samples, such as single cells, with improved sensitivity and throughput.
Implementation Method 1
An electrospray-assisted spray-capillary device that uses a chemically etched capillary with a conductive sheath flow to achieve stable electrospray
Implementation Method 2
Two approaches have been applied as the driving force for the operation of micropipettes: pump-based extraction and electro-osmotic flow (EOF)-based extraction
Implementation Method 3
one end of the capillary tubing is pulled to make a micropipette to aspirate samples into the capillary through a driving force
Data Source
AI summary
A spray-capillary device is configured to process ultra low-volume samples. The spray-capillary device includes a spray capillary that includes an inlet end and a discharge end. The spray capillary includes a porous section at the discharge end. A downstream connector provides an interface between the porous section of the spray capillary, a conductive fluid, and a high voltage electrical source. The application of voltage to the downstream connector causes electrospray ionization, which can be used to draw ultra law volume samples into the inlet end. A gas injection assembly can be used to increase the pressure on the inlet end of the spray capillary to encourage movement of the sample through the spray capillary. The spray-capillary device is well suited for providing ultra low samples to a mass spectrometer detection device.