The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 14, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 07, 1997
Ross C Willoughby, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Chem-Space Associates, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
An improved electrospray ion production method and ion source designed to increase the current generated from the electrospray process. A method and device are disclosed that utilize controlled counter-ion impingement onto an electrospray cone-jet in order to increase the total current of the spray and impart additional energy into the surface of the cone-jet. Gas-phase counter-ions are generated external to the needle and attracted by the high field gradients into the surface of the electrospray cone-jet. The counterions impinging into the surface of the electrospray cone-jet will dissolve and participate directly or indirectly in an increased electron transfer rate at the needle electrode. This process results in increased total analyte ion transfer to the cone-jet surface, increased charge on droplets, and increased transport of analyte from the liquid into the gas phase. The method is useful for increasing the detection sensitivity of analytes in solution that are electrosprayed and analyzed with mass spectrometry.