Abstract: An improved ion sampling tube designed to increase the amount of current delivered into the vacuum system of a mass spectrometer or other gas-phase ion or particle detectors or collectors. A device and method is disclosed that utilizes a tube with a high flow of ion entrained gas passing through the said tube. Said ions are directed from the tubular gas flow through an ion selective aperture and into an adjacent region and subsequently directed into a lower pressure region for detection or collection. The method is useful for enhancing the detection of analytes in solutions that are either nebulized or electrosprayed, and analytes present in gases. The method is also useful for isolating ionic species from the ion source from neutral gases and particles that may interfere or interact with analyte species. The method also decouples the high flow of the atmospheric pressure ion source from the low flow ion transmission into vacuum.

Abstract: An improved electrospray ion source for increasing the current generated from the electrospray process and of the type having a needle (10), a counter-electrode (20), a saddle or outer electrode (30), and concurrent flow of gas (92). A method and device is disclosed that utilizes a controlled electrospray nebulizer where an aerosol comprised of charged droplets and gas-phase ions is sprayed into a field-free or near field-free desolvation or reaction region (120).

Abstract: An improved ion sampling tube designed to increase the amount of current delivered into the vacuum system of a mass spectrometer or other gas-phase ion or particle detectors or collectors. A device and method is disclosed that utilizes a tube with a high flow of ion entrained gas passing through the said tube. Said ions are directed from the tubular gas flow through an ion selective aperture and into an adjacent region and subsequently directed into a lower pressure region for detection or collection. The method is useful for enhancing the detection of analytes in solutions that are either nebulized or electrosprayed, and analytes present in gases. The method is also useful for isolating ionic species from the ion source from neutral gases and particles that may interfere or interact with analyte species. The method also decouples the high flow of the atmospheric pressure ion source from the low flow ion transmission into vacuum.

Abstract: A thin laminated high transmission electro-optical lens populated with a plurality of apertures in communication with its laminates used to improve the collection, focusing, and selection of ions generated from atmospheric pressure sources, such as electrospray, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, inductively coupled plasma, discharge, photoionization and atmospheric pressure matrix assisted laser desorption ionization. The laminated lens is made of alternating layers of electrically insulating and metal laminates. The geometry of the lens may be planar or shaped into various curve shapes, any of which act to optimize both the direct current (DC) and alternate current (AC) electric field geometries and strengths across the lens for transferring virtually all the ions from the ion source into an ion-focusing region adjacent and upstream of a high pressure or atmospheric pressure interface to a mass spectrometer, ion mobility analyzer, or combination thereof.

Abstract: Improvements have been made for selective collecting, focusing, and directing of ions and/or charged particles generated at atmospheric or near atmospheric pressure sources, such as but not limited to, electrospray; atmospheric pressure discharge ionization, chemical ionization, photoionization, and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization; and inductively coupled plasma ionization. A multiple-aperture laminated structure is place at the interface of two pressure regions. Electric fields geometries and strengths across the laminated structure and diameters of the apertures; all of which act to optimize the transfer of the ions from the higher pressure region into the lower pressure region while reducing the gas-load on the lower pressure region. Embodiments of this invention are methods and devices for improving sensitivity of mass spectrometry when coupled to atmospheric, near atmospheric, or higher pressure ionization sources by reducing the gas-load on the vacuum system.

Abstract: An improved lens for collecting and focusing dispersed charged particles or ions having a stratified array of elements at atmospheric or near-atmospheric pressure, each element having successively smaller apertures forming a tapered terminus, wherein the electrostatic DC potentials are applied to each element necessary for focusing ions through the stratified array for introducing charged particles and ions into the vacuum system of a mass spectrometer. Embodiments of this invention are methods and devices for improving sensitivity of mass spectrometry when coupled to both high and low electrostatic field atmospheric pressure ionization sources.

Abstract: An improved tube for accepting gas-phase ions and particles contained in a gas by allowing substantially all the gas-phase ions and gas from an ion source at or greater than atmospheric pressure to flow into the tube and be transferred to a lower pressure region. Transport and motion of the ions through the tube is determined by a combination of viscous forces exerted on the ions by the flowing gas molecules and electrostatic forces causing the motion of the ions through the tube and away from the walls of the tube. More specifically, the tube is made up of stratified elements, wherein DC potentials are applied to the elements so that the DC voltage on any element determines the electric potential experience by the ions as they pass through the tube. A precise electrical gradient is maintained along the length of the stratified tube to insure the transport of the ions.

Abstract: The present invention includes a delivery means of material to be deposited onto thin film surfaces with precise spatial, temporal, compositional, and energy resolution for controlled reactions, patterning (2-dimensional and 3-dimensional), and removal of materials or reaction products of materials from thin film surfaces. The device includes a near atmospheric pressure means of generating ions, ion clusters, or charged particles as a material form to deliver said materials onto substrate surfaces. The device relies on shaped, patterned, conformal ion lenses, and individually addressable lens elements of a lens arrays to create an integrated deposition system for printed patterns of thin films. The devices and methods provide a novel approach to delivering materials to a surface, removing materials from a surface, or creating new materials at or on the surface.