Open Port Probe Solvent Viscosity Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current open port probe (OPP) devices rely on low viscosity solvents, limiting the use of higher viscosity solvents that could enhance mass spectrometry and analytical techniques by improving operational stability, solubility, and reducing nebulizing gas flow requirements.
Innovation Solution
The system controls the temperature of solvents in the OPP to reduce their viscosity, allowing for the use of higher viscosity solvents by heating them to a range of 50-60°C, which maintains the viscosity below a threshold, enabling increased liquid flows and reduced gas flow requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If higher viscosity solvents are used, then operational stability and solubility are improved, but liquid flow rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the solvent from ambient to elevated (50-60°C), which fundamentally alters the viscosity characteristic. This parameter change enables higher viscosity solvents like water to achieve flow rates suitable for OPP operation while retaining their solubility and stability benefits at the new temperature state.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary heating of the solvent before it enters the OPP device. By pre-heating the solvent to the required temperature range, the viscosity is reduced in advance, ensuring proper flow characteristics when the solvent reaches the sampling tip, thus resolving the flow rate limitation.
2Loss of energy
If higher viscosity solvents are used, then nebulizing gas flow requirements are reduced, but liquid flow rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the temperature parameter of the solvent, the patent simultaneously achieves two effects: reduction of viscosity (improving liquid flow rate) and reduction of nebulizing gas flow requirements. The heated solvent state creates a more favorable balance between liquid and gas flow characteristics.
3Productivity
If low viscosity solvents are used, then liquid flow rate is increased, but operational stability and solubility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the solvent from a low viscosity state (ambient temperature) to a modified state (heated to 50-60°C) that exhibits both improved flow characteristics and enhanced operational stability. The temperature parameter change enables solvents like water to provide both high flow rate and high stability simultaneously.
4Productivity
If solvent temperature is increased, then viscosity is reduced and liquid flow rate is increased, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements preliminary heating of the solvent as a one-time action before analysis. The heated solvent then flows through the system at the required temperature, maintaining proper viscosity and flow rate throughout the analysis process, which minimizes continuous energy input while achieving the desired flow characteristics.
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 allows for the use of higher viscosity solvents like water, improving operational stability and solubility, increasing sample throughput, and reducing nebulizing gas flow, while preventing analyte sticking in the sample transport capillary.
Implementation Method 1
heating them to a range of 50-60°C, which maintains the viscosity below a threshold
Implementation Method 2
balances the Venturi effect generated by the nebulizing gas
Data Source
AI summary
A droplet (415) is ejected from a surface (411) of a fluid sample containing an analyte using an ejector (420). A solvent is pumped into a solvent inlet (432) of an open port probe (OPP) (430) spaced apart from the surface using a pump (438). The solvent is pumped to send it from the solvent inlet (432) to a tip (431) of the OPP (430) through a solvent capillary (434) of the OPP (430), receive the droplet (415) at the tip (431) where the droplet is combined with the solvent to form an analyte-solvent dilution, and transport the dilution from the tip (431) to an output (435) of the OPP (430) through a sample capillary (436) of the OPP (430). The solvent is heated to a temperature above a threshold temperature using a heating element (437). The solvent is heated to reduce the viscosity of the solvent below a threshold viscosity and maintain the viscosity below the threshold viscosity as the dilution is transported from the tip (431) to the outlet (435).