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:
Sep. 30, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 17, 2000
Paul C. Goodley, Cupertino, CA (US);
Jean-Luc Truche, Los Altos, CA (US);
Agilent Technologies, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A source of ions for an analyzer includes a reservoir for containing a liquid and a channel having a first end opening into the reservoir. A nozzle element adjacent a second end of the channel includes a plurality of tips for producing individual droplets from the liquid. The plurality of tips reduces the likelihood that individual droplets will coalesce, increases the overall flow of material or analyte to the mass spectrometer and provides a level of redundancy in the delivery of liquid for producing droplets. The tips also may produce a higher current output and greater signal from the system, as well. With micro-miniaturization, the individual droplets are relatively small, thereby increasing the likelihood that ions would be ejected from the droplet surfaces under the influence of an electric field. Multiple nozzle elements can be used to more selectively deliver fluid droplets to the analyzer, or to increase the overall flow rate of droplets from the reservoir. The tips may have a volcano or truncated cone shape for the desired fluid delivery, electrostatic effects and manufacture ability.