Abstract: This disclosure presents inventions for ionization, for example, for use in mass spectrometer devices and methods. In an embodiment, a device is provided for introduction of pulses of a first carrier gas into an ionization chamber and introduction of a second carrier gas into the ionization chamber. Electrodes in the chamber ionize the carrier gas and direct the ionized gas toward a sample for analysis. The second carrier gas can either assist in washing out the first carrier gas or may become ionized along with the first carrier gas to improve ionization of an analyte. In an embodiment, a method for producing ionized carrier gasses is provided.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present ambient ionization experiment, the abundance of background chemicals relative to ions of interest is decreased by pulsing the carrier gas used to generate the excited species directed at the sample. The excited species are stepwise directed at the sample reducing the overall abundance of background chemicals introduced into the ionizing region. In an embodiment of the present ambient ionization experiment, the combination of stepping the sample in front of the excited species and pulsing the carrier gas used to generate the excited species increases the sensitivity of detection.

Abstract: This disclosure presents inventions for ionization, for example, for use in mass spectrometer devices and methods. In an embodiment, a device is provided for introduction of pulses of a first carrier gas into an ionization chamber and introduction of a second carrier gas into the ionization chamber. Electrodes in the chamber ionize the carrier gas and direct the ionized gas toward a sample for analysis. The second carrier gas can either assist in washing out the first carrier gas or may become ionized along with the first carrier gas to improve ionization of an analyte. In an embodiment, a method for producing ionized carrier gasses is provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device to desorb an analyte using heat to allow desorption of the analyte molecules, where the desorbed analyte molecules are ionized with ambient temperature ionizing species. In various embodiments of the invention a current is passed through a mesh upon which the analyte molecules are present. The current heats the mesh and results in desorption of the analyte molecules which then interact with gas phase metastable neutral molecules or atoms to form analyte ions characteristic of the analyte molecules.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device to generate a chemical signature for a mixture of analytes. The present invention involves using a SPME surface to one or both absorb and adsorb the mixture of analytes. In an embodiment of the invention, the surface is then exposed to different temperature ionizing species chosen with appropriate spatial resolution to desorb a chemical signature for the mixture of analytes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device to desorb an analyte using heat to allow desorption of the analyte molecules, where the desorbed analyte molecules are ionized with ambient temperature ionizing species. In various embodiments of the invention a current is passed through a mesh upon which the analyte molecules are present. The current heats the mesh and results in desorption of the analyte molecules which then interact with gas phase metastable neutral molecules or atoms to form analyte ions characteristic of the analyte molecules.

Abstract: In various embodiments of the invention, a cargo container can be monitored at appropriate time intervals to determine that no controlled substances have been shipped with the cargo in the container. The monitoring utilizes reactive species produced from an atmospheric analyzer to ionize analyte molecules present in the container which are then analyzed by an appropriate spectroscopy system. In an embodiment of the invention, a sorbent surface can be used to absorb, adsorb or condense analyte molecules within the container whereafter the sorbent surface can be interrogated with the reactive species to generate analyte species characteristic of the contents of the container.

Abstract: In various embodiments of the invention, a sorbent coated mesh or grid introduced into contact with a sample can be monitored at appropriate temperatures, positions and time intervals to determine species present in the sample. The monitoring utilizes reactive species produced from an atmospheric analyzer to ionize analyte molecules present on the sorbent coated mesh or grid which are then analyzed by an appropriate spectroscopy system. In an embodiment of the invention, a sorbent surface can be used to absorb, adsorb or condense analyte molecules from the sample whereafter the sorbent surface can be interrogated with the reactive species to generate analyte species characteristic of the sample.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device to generate a chemical signature for a mixture of analytes. The present invention involves using a SPME surface to one or both absorb and adsorb the mixture of analytes. In an embodiment of the invention, the surface is then exposed to different temperature ionizing species chosen with appropriate spatial resolution to desorb a chemical signature for the mixture of analytes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device to generate a chemical signature for a mixture of analytes. The present invention involves using a SPME surface to one or both absorb and adsorb the mixture of analytes. In an embodiment of the invention, the surface is then exposed to different temperature ionizing species chosen with appropriate spatial resolution to desorb a chemical signature for the mixture of analytes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device to generate a chemical signature for a mixture of analytes. The present invention involves using a SPME surface to one or both absorb and adsorb the mixture of analytes. In an embodiment of the invention, the surface is then exposed to different temperature ionizing species chosen with appropriate spatial resolution to desorb a chemical signature for the mixture of analytes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device to desorb an analyte using heat to allow desorption of the analyte molecules, where the desorbed analyte molecules are ionized with ambient temperature ionizing species. In various embodiments of the invention a current is passed through a mesh upon which the analyte molecules are present. The current heats the mesh and results in desorption of the analyte molecules which then interact with gas phase metastable neutral molecules or atoms to form analyte ions characteristic of the analyte molecules.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device to generate a chemical signature for a mixture of analytes. The present invention involves using a SPME surface to one or both absorb and adsorb the mixture of analytes. In an embodiment of the invention, the surface is then exposed to different temperature ionizing species chosen with appropriate spatial resolution to desorb a chemical signature for the mixture of analytes.

Abstract: In various embodiments of the invention, a cargo container can be monitored at appropriate time intervals to determine that no controlled substances have been shipped with the cargo in the container. The monitoring utilizes reactive species produced from an atmospheric analyzer to ionize analyte molecules present in the container which are then analyzed by an appropriate spectroscopy system. In an embodiment of the invention, a sorbent surface can be used to absorb, adsorb or condense analyte molecules within the container whereafter the sorbent surface can be interrogated with the reactive species to generate analyte species characteristic of the contents of the container.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device to generate a chemical signature for a mixture of analytes. The present invention involves using a SPME surface to one or both absorb and adsorb the mixture of analytes. In an embodiment of the invention, the surface is then exposed to different temperature ionizing species chosen with appropriate spatial resolution to desorb a chemical signature for the mixture of analytes.

Abstract: In various embodiments of the invention, a cargo container can be monitored at appropriate time intervals to determine that no controlled substances have been shipped with the cargo in the container. The monitoring utilizes reactive species produced from an atmospheric analyzer to ionize analyte molecules present in the container which are then analyzed by an appropriate spectroscopy system. In an embodiment of the invention, a sorbent surface can be used to absorb, adsorb or condense analyte molecules within the container whereafter the sorbent surface can be interrogated with the reactive species to generate analyte species characteristic of the contents of the container.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device to generate a chemical signature for a mixture of analytes. The present invention involves using a SPME surface to one or both absorb and adsorb the mixture of analytes. In an embodiment of the invention, the surface is then exposed to different temperature ionizing species chosen with appropriate spatial resolution to desorb a chemical signature for the mixture of analytes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device to desorb an analyte using heat to allow desorption of the analyte molecules, where the desorbed analyte molecules are ionized with ambient temperature ionizing species. In various embodiments of the invention a current is passed through a mesh upon which the analyte molecules are present. The current heats the mesh and results in desorption of the analyte molecules which then interact with gas phase metastable neutral molecules or atoms to form analyte ions characteristic of the analyte molecules.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device to desorb an analyte using heat to allow desorption of the analyte molecules, where the desorbed analyte molecules are ionized with ambient temperature ionizing species. In various embodiments of the invention a current is passed through a mesh upon which the analyte molecules are present. The current heats the mesh and results in desorption of the analyte molecules which then interact with gas phase metastable neutral molecules or atoms to form analyte ions characteristic of the analyte molecules.

Abstract: This invention provides for the efficient positioning of a sample to be analyzed by using either magnetic or electro-mechanical fields to retain the sample in the ionization region. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sample is contacted with a sampler device, which is inserted into a chamber and accurately positioned using electro-mechanical devices. In an embodiment of the invention, the influence of an electro-mechanical field on the sampler device enables the sample to be positioned in the ionization region to be contacted by particles that result in ionization of the sample whereby rendering the resulting ions available for analysis.