Inlet instrumentation for ion analyser coupled to rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometry ("reims") device

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed comprising a first device for generating aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of a target, an inlet conduit to an ion analyser or mass spectrometer, the inlet conduit having an inlet through which the aerosol, smoke or vapour passes, and a Venturi pump arrangement arranged and adapted to direct the aerosol, smoke or vapour towards the inlet.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first device arranged and adapted to emit a stream of electrically charged droplets towards a target in use;   a transfer capillary arranged and adapted to transfer ions generated from said target towards an ion analyser or mass spectrometer; and   a heating device arranged and adapted to heat either: (i) a capillary of said first device; (ii) said stream of electrically charged droplets emitted from said first device; (iii) said target; and/or (iv) said transfer capillary.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first device comprises a Desorption Electrospray Ionisation (“DESI”) device. 
     
     
         3 . An ion inlet device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said heating device comprises a heater. 
     
     
         4 . An ion inlet device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said heater comprises a wire heater. 
     
     
         5 . An ion inlet device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said heating device is arranged and adapted to heat said capillary of said first device, said stream of electrically charged droplets emitted from said first device, said target or said transfer capillary to a temperature of above ambient temperature, and/or to a temperature of at least 30° C., 50° C., 100° C., 200° C., 300° C., 400° C., 500° C. or greater than 500° C. 
     
     
         6 . An ion inlet device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said heating device is located adjacent an inlet to said ion analyser or mass spectrometer. 
     
     
         7 . An ion inlet device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said inlet forms the entrance to a first vacuum stage of said ion analyser or mass spectrometer. 
     
     
         8 . An ion inlet device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said heating device comprises a first heater that is arranged and adapted to heat the transfer capillary, such that the ions are heated before being passed onward to the ion analyser or mass spectrometer. 
     
     
         9 . An ion inlet device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first device comprises a sheath gas tube, and wherein said heating device comprises a second heater that is arranged and adapted to heat the sheath gas tube, such that solvent and/or a sheath gas is heated. 
     
     
         10 . An ion inlet device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the second heater is located at an end of the sheath gas tube nearest the target, such that the solvent and/or sheath gas is heated before being directed at the target. 
     
     
         11 . An ion inlet device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first device comprises a solvent capillary, and wherein the heating device comprises a third heater that is arranged and adapted to heat the solvent capillary, such that a solvent is heated. 
     
     
         12 . An ion inlet device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the third heater is located adjacent the solvent capillary near an end located away from the target. 
     
     
         13 . An ion inlet device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the third heater is located adjacent the solvent capillary such that the solvent is heated before it is surrounded by the sheath gas tube. 
     
     
         14 . An ion inlet device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said heating device comprises a fourth heater that is arranged and adapted to heat the target, such that the target is heated. 
     
     
         15 . An ion inlet device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the fourth heater is located beneath the target. 
     
     
         16 . An ion inlet device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the target comprises a swab, and wherein the fourth heater is arranged and adapted to heat the swab. 
     
     
         17 . A method of introducing ions into an ion analyser or mass spectrometer, comprising:
 producing ions by Desorption Electrospray Ionisation (“DESI”); and   transferring said ions into an ion analyser or mass spectrometer via a heated capillary.   
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising heating said capillary to a temperature of above ambient temperature, and/or to a temperature of at least 30° C., 50° C., 100° C., 200° C., 300° C., 400° C., 500° C. or greater than 500° C. 
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said step of producing ions comprises desorbing ions from a biologic sample, wherein said sample comprises lipids. 
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said sample comprises phospholipids.