Solid-state flow generator and related systems, applications, and methods

Abstract

The invention, in various embodiments, is directed to a method for analyzing a sample using a solid-state flow generator that provides a flow of effluent including the sample through an ion mobility based filter.

1 . A method for analyzing a sample comprising:
 receiving an effluent including a sample,   generating a flow of the effluent using a solid state flow generator including:
 a first ion source, and 
 an ion attractor in fluid communication with the ion source for attracting ions from the ion source, and 
   passing selected sample ions through a time-varying field of an ion mobility based filter, and   detecting the ions exiting the ion mobility based filter.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising feeding the effluent from the solid state flow generator to the ion mobility based filter. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  comprising locating the solid state flow generator downstream of the ion mobility based filter and drawing the effluent through the ion mobility based filter using the solid state flow generator. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flow of effluent is via a flow path having first and second ends, comprising flowing the flow of effluent in a direction from the first end toward the second end. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the flow path has a plurality of axially extending sides. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the axially extending sides is open along at least a portion of it's length. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the flow path has an ovular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the flow path has an opening extending along at least a portion of it's length. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4  comprising defining at least one side of a portion of the flow path using a component on an integrated circuit board. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4  comprising defining at least one side of a portion of the flow path using a substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4  comprising introducing a fluid into the flow path for mixing with the flow of effluent. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid includes a dopant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the time-varying field includes an asymmetric field. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  comprising generating sample ions using a second ion source. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ion mobility based filter includes at least one of a DMS and IMS. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting is performed by at least one of a detector electrode, MS, and TOFMS. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  comprising flowing the effluent from a gas chromatograph in communication with the solid state flow generator. 
     
     
         18 . The method  claim 1  comprising arranging at least one of the solid state flow generator and ion mobility based filter in housing of a hand-held size or smaller.