Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Timothy Herbert Joyce

Jennifer Lu

Jean-Luc Truche

Jian Bai

Steven Michael Fischer

Darrell L Gourley

Glen F Ingle

Ying-Lan Chang

Paul C Goodley

Dan-Hui Dorothy Yang

Jerry T Dowell

Dan-Hul Dorothy Young

An apparatus for producing analyte ions for detection by a mass spectrometer is described. The apparatus includes an ion source in which the surface of a target substrate for holding an analyte sample includes structured carbon nanotube material. The structured carbon nanotube material is structured in terms of being situated on a selected portion of the target support surface an/or in terms of being aligned in a selected orientation.

Structured carbon nanotube tray for MALDI plates

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for use with a mass spectrometry system. The invention provides an ion source for providing radiative heating to an ionization region. The ion source includes a nanospray ionization device for producing ions and a conduit adjacent to the ionization device for receiving ions from the ionization device. The conduit includes a conductive material for providing indirect radiative heating to the ionization region. Direct radiative heating may also be provided using a heater in the conduit. The ion source may be used separately or in conjunction with the mass spectrometry system. When used in conjunction with a mass spectrometry system a detector may also be employed down stream from the device. A method for desolvating an analyte using the device is also disclosed.

Nanospray ionization device and method

The invention described herein provides a matrix-based ion source including a gas heating device for providing heated gas at a defined temperature to the ionization region of the ion source. The ion source may also include a temperature sensor. The heating device and temperature sensor may be operably connected to work as a closed feedback loop to provide gas at a constant, pre-determined, temperature to the ionization region. Also disclosed is a mass spectrometer system having the matrix-based ion source. A method of producing ions employing gas that is heated to a pre-determined temperature is also provided.

Apparatus and method for ion production enhancement

The invention provides an apparatus that produces analyte ions for detection by a detector. The apparatus includes a matrix based ion source having a target substrate including a carbon nanotube material for producing analyte ions, an ion transport system adjacent to the matrix based ion source for transporting analyte ions from the matrix based ion source; and an ion detector downstream from the ion transport system for detecting the analyte ions. The invention also provides a method for producing and detecting the analyte ions.

Target support and method

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for use with a mass spectrometry system. The invention provides an ion source, infrared emitter and sensor with closed control feedback loop coupled to the infrared emitter. Methods of control and heating using the apparatus of the present invention are also disclosed.

Apparatus and method for sensor control and feedback

A capillary for a mass spectrometry system is described. The capillary comprises a channel and a tip, and at least one of the channel and the tip comprises a nanowire material.

Nanowire capillaries for mass spectrometry

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for use with a mass spectrometer. The ion enhancement system of the present invention is used to direct a heated gas toward ions produced by a matrix based ion source and detected by a detector. The ion enhancement system is interposed between the ion source and the detector. The analyte ions that contact the heated gas are enhanced and an increased number of ions are more easily detected by a detector. The method of the invention comprises producing analyte ions from a matrix based ion source, enhancing the analyte ions with an ion enhancement system and detecting the enhanced analyte ions with a detector.

A capillary for a mass spectrometry system is described. The capillary comprises a channel and a tip, and at least one of the channel and the tip comprises a carbon nanotube material that provides a hydrophobic surface.

Capillaries for mass spectrometry

The invention provides an apparatus that produces analyte ions for detection by a detector. The apparatus includes a matrix based ion source having a nanowire target substrate for producing analyte ions, an ion transport system adjacent to the matrix based ion source for transporting analyte ions from the matrix based ion source; and an ion detector downstream from the ion transport system for detecting the analyte ions. The invention also provides a method for producing and detecting the analyte ions.

Nanowire target support and method

An ionization chamber for a mass spectrometry system is described. The ionization chamber comprises a housing defining an ionization region, and the housing comprises a carbon nanotube material.

Ionization chambers for mass spectrometry

The invention provides a substrate for use in an ion source of a mass spectrometer system. The substrate may be employed independently or in conjunction with an ion source or a mass spectrometry system. A substrate is provided having at least one pattern recognition site and a carbon nanotube adjacent to the pattern recognition site. Methods of making and ionizing samples using the pattern recognition site and carbon nanotube surface are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Timothy Herbert Joyce