Abstract: A device may include a separation capillary having an injection end and a distal end, the injection end configured to receive analyte liquid and the distal end configured to expel the analyte liquid. A device may include a sheath capillary covering the distal end of the separation capillary, the sheath capillary having a diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the separation capillary at the distal end, the sheath capillary having a first end and a second end, the distal end of the separation capillary positioned between the first end and the second end of the sheath capillary, the sheath capillary carrying a fluid between the second end and the first end. A device may include an acoustic probe configured to vibrate positioned in contact with the at least one of the distal end of the separation capillary or the first end of the sheath capillary.

Abstract: In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, the disclosure, in one aspect, relates to a vibrating sharp edge spray ionization (VSSI) method suitable for coupling with a mass spectrometer, a VSSI method modified with a capillary suitable for use with continuous-flow separation methods such as liquid chromatography, and a VSSI method suitable for coupling with a capillary electrophoresis (CE) device in order to introduce the CE sample flow into a mass spectrometer. Also disclosed herein are devices for carrying out these methods and methods of making the same. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, the disclosure, in one aspect, relates to a vibrating sharp edge spray ionization (VSSI) method suitable for coupling with a mass spectrometer, a VSSI method modified with a capillary suitable for use with continuous-flow separation methods such as liquid chromatography, and a VSSI method suitable for coupling with a capillary electrophoresis (CE) device in order to introduce the CE sample flow into a mass spectrometer. Also disclosed herein are devices for carrying out these methods and methods of making the same. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, the disclosure, in one aspect, relates to a vibrating sharp edge spray ionization (VSSI) method suitable for coupling with a mass spectrometer, a VSSI method modified with a capillary suitable for use with continuous-flow separation methods such as liquid chromatography, and a VSSI method suitable for coupling with a capillary electrophoresis (CE) device in order to introduce the CE sample flow into a mass spectrometer. Also disclosed herein are devices for carrying out these methods and methods of making the same. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer comprises a drift tube defining a drift tube inlet configured to receive ions and a drift tube outlet. The drift tube is configured to separate ions in time as a function of ion mobility. The drift tube defines a first ion activation region between the drift tube inlet and the drift tube outlet. The first ion activation region is configured to selectively induce structural changes in at least some of the ions.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer instrument has a drift tube that is partitioned into a plurality of cascaded drift tube segments. A number of electric field activation sources may each be coupled to one or more of the plurality of drift tube segments. A control circuit is configured to control operation of the number of electric field activation sources in a manner that sequentially applies electric fields to the drift tube segments to allow only ions having a predefined ion mobility or range of ion mobilities to travel through the drift tube. The drift tube segments may define a linear drift tube or a closed drift tube with a continuous ion travel path. Techniques are disclosed for operating the ion mobility spectrometer to produce highly resolved ion mobility spectra.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for separating Ions based on ion mobility includes a conduit (12) defining a closed path. The conduit is configured such that a uniform electric field is produced about the closed path upon application of a voltage causing ions within the conduit (12) to move about the closed path and to separate the ions based upon ion mobility. A method of separating a plurality of ions is also disclosed.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer comprises a drift tube defining a drift tube inlet configured to receive ions and a drift tube outlet. The drift tube is configured to separate ions in time as a function of ion mobility. The drift tube defines a first ion activation region between the drift tube inlet and the drift tube outlet. The first ion activation region is configured to selectively induce structural changes in at least some of the ions.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer instrument has a drift tube that is partitioned into a plurality of cascaded drift tube segments. A number of electric field activation sources may each be coupled to one or more of the plurality of drift tube segments. A control circuit is configured to control operation of the number of electric field activation sources in a manner that sequentially applies electric fields to the drift tube segments to allow only ions having a predefined ion mobility or range of ion mobilities to travel through the drift tube. The drift tube segments may define a linear drift tube or a closed drift tube with a continuous ion travel path. Techniques are disclosed for operating the ion mobility spectrometer to produce highly resolved ion mobility spectra.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer instrument has a drift tube that is partitioned into a plurality of cascaded drift tube segments. A number of electric field activation sources may each be coupled to one or more of the plurality of drift tube segments. A control circuit is configured to control operation of the number of electric field activation sources in a manner that applies switched electric fields at a specified switching rate to the drift tube segments to thereby produce at the ion outlet only ions having a predefined ion mobility or range of ion mobilities.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for separating Ions based on ion mobility includes a conduit (12) defining a closed path. The conduit is configured such that a uniform electric field is produced about the closed path upon application of a voltage causing ions within the conduit (12) to move about the closed path and to separate the ions based upon ion mobility. A method of separating a plurality of ions is also disclosed.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer instrument has a drift tube that is partitioned into a plurality of cascaded drift tube segments. A number of electric field activation sources may each be coupled to one or more of the plurality of drift tube segments. A control circuit is configured to control operation of the number of electric field activation sources in a manner that applies switched electric fields at a specified switching rate to the drift tube segments to thereby produce at the ion outlet only ions having a predefined ion mobility or range of ion mobilities.