Patent Application
20060054807
This application claims priority to Canadian Application No. 2,480,549 filed Sep. 15, 2004, hereby incorporated by reference herein.
This invention generally relates to the field of ionization sources, and more specifically concerns an apparatus and method for generating ionized samples through thermal desorption and/or vaporization.
Nowadays, a large amount of analyses are carried out by combining high resolution separation techniques and mass spectrometry. This combination of scientific instruments has become important in different domains such as those requiring a high quantity of analyses, due partly to the development of new molecules. This is particularly true for fields such as the pharmaceutical, environmental and proteomic industries.
The coupling of chromatography and mass spectrometry now achieves the highest molecular analysis performance. Different coupling and ionisation techniques have been developed using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. One such technique is called Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (hereinafter APCI). According to this technique, the sample and the mobile phase are first nebulized and dried at atmospheric pressure and then ionized by a corona discharge. One drawback of this technique is the use of a liquid mobile phase which introduces cross-contamination of the samples. Another well-known type of ionization source is called Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization, or MALDI. In this case, desorption and ionization of a solid state target material are induced simultaneously by heating the sample directly with a laser. The ionization process is carried out at atmospheric pressure or under vacuum via a matrix. Again, cross-contamination is introduced in the sample from the matrix. For both of these techniques, sample preparation and analysis are time consuming and contribute to most of the analysis cost.
In the prior art, various desorption and ionization techniques are found that aim at improving the basic APCI and MALDI approaches described above. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,747,274 (LI) discloses a technique employing numerous lasers operating in tandem on samples for increasing the throughput of MALDI-type apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 6,630,664 (SYAGE et al.) proposes an apparatus for photoionizing a sample that is circulating in an ionization chamber. The sample is ionized by a light source and electrodes direct the ionized sample to a mass spectrometer for analysis. U.S. patent application published under no. 2004/0245450 (HUTCHENS et al.) discloses another MALDI-type system. This technique does not, however, solve the issue of cross-contamination from the matrix. The desirability of having no matrix is actually mentioned by Hutchens, but he does not elaborate on an apparatus or method for enabling such a matrix-free technique.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,288,390 (SIUZDAK et al.) there is disclosed a method for desorbing and ionizing an analyte, which has been “loaded” onto a porous semi-conductor. Lasers irradiate the analyte-loaded semi-conductor to cause the analyte to desorb and ionize under reduced pressure. The absence of a matrix makes the preparation of each sample analyte less complicated than for the MALDI technique.
In summary, the prior art teaches various techniques for vaporizing and ionizing a sample of a substance, but these techniques are often hampered by extensive and complicated preparation steps, the risk of cross contamination between samples, the need for additional substances for composing the matrix and liquid mobile phase, or other effects of having a matrix or a liquid phase involved in the technique. There is therefore a need for a technique alleviating these drawbacks of the prior art.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for generating an ionized sample. The apparatus includes a heat conductive support adapted to load a source sample thereon. The apparatus also includes heating means for heating the support to cause heating of the source sample, which produces a desorbed sample through desorption of the source sample. A transfer tube is also provided. It has a first end and a second end. The desorbed sample is received at the first end. The transfer tube is provided with a carrier gas flow that flows through the transfer tube and carries the desorbed sample from the first end to the second end. The apparatus also includes ionizing means provided proximate the second end of the transfer tube for ionizing the desorbed sample, to obtain the ionized sample.
The present invention also provides an apparatus for generating a plurality of ionized samples. The apparatus includes a heat conductive support comprising a plurality of sections each adapted to load a source sample thereon. The apparatus also includes heating means for sequentially heating the sections of the support to cause heating of the corresponding source sample to produce a plurality of desorbed samples through desorption of each corresponding source sample. A transfer tube having a first end and a second end is included. The desorbed samples are sequentially received at the first end. The transfer tube is provided with a carrier gas flow therethrough carrying the desorbed samples from the first end to the second end. The apparatus also includes ionizing means provided proximate the second end of the transfer tube for ionizing each of the desorbed samples to obtain the ionized samples.
The present invention also provides a method for generating at least one ionized sample. The method generally includes three steps. First, at least one source sample loaded on a heat conductive support is provided. Second, for each source sample, the conductive support is heated to cause heating of the source sample, and thereby produce a desorbed sample through desorption of the source sample. Third, each desorbed sample is ionized, thereby producing the at least one ionized sample.
The advantages and operation of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the detailed description and referring to the drawings that relate to preferred embodiments of the invention.
While the invention will be described in conjunction with example embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included as defined by the appended claims.
In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals.
Generally speaking, a new ionization source at atmospheric pressure, preferably interfaced with mass spectrometry, has been developed in response to industry's needs and requests. In its preferred embodiment, the ionization source is based on a process of thermal laser desorption and thus has been named LDTD (Laser Diode Thermal Desorption). Thermal desorption is induced indirectly by a laser beam without a support matrix-unlike the MALDI technique—and ionization is achieved by a corona discharge without liquid mobile phase—unlike the APCI technique. The LDTD technique being matrix and mobile phase free, cross contamination of samples is virtually eliminated.
The present invention first provides an apparatus for generating ionized samples. Although the following description is applied to a system allowing the automated sequential generation of ions from a plurality of samples, it is understood that a simplified apparatus handling a single source sample at a time is also considered to be within the scope of the present invention.
The apparatus (10) also includes a heat conductive sample support (22), onto which the samples are loaded. The source samples are deposited onto the sample support (22), and may be adsorbed or dried thereon or adhere to the support (22) via other mechanisms. In the preferred embodiment, the support (22) preferably has different sections each provided with a well (24). Each well (24) is adapted to receive a loaded source sample therein, so that heating each well (24) will cause the desorption of the corresponding source sample, producing a corresponding desorbed sample (42). The induced desorption of the loaded source sample implies that the source sample is “unloaded” by desorption and/or vaporization or another release mechanism. Preferably, the support (22) includes a main body made of polypropylene or other insulating material, and each well extends therethrough and has a front end (27) and a back end (25). A sample holder (29), preferably metallic in construction, is inserted inside each well (24) and is adapted for receiving the source samples by the front end (27) of the well (24). As the sample holder (29) in each well is surrounded by plastic, the heat conductive property of the support (22) is therefore to a large extent limited to the well (24) portions alone, and thus the heating of one source sample loaded onto one sample holder (29) does not heat adjacent source samples sufficiently to cause premature desorption of those surrounding samples.
Some preferred shapes of the sample holders (29) are shown in
In a preferred embodiment, a coating (not shown) is deposited on the sample holders (29) prior to loading the source samples thereon. This coating promotes desorption of the source samples and/or improves ionization of the desorbed samples.
In an exemplary realization of the invention, automatic loading and unloading of numerous supports (22) into and out of the rest of the apparatus (10) is achieved by an automatic loader (not shown). For example, 10 supports (22) each having loaded source samples thereon, can be automatically loaded and unloaded one at a time. The support (22) may be advantageously designed with the same standardization criteria (9 mm between the wells, well of 8 mm of diameter) as other similar supports available on the market. This permits the use of any automated preparation system already available on the market.
Referring back to
The apparatus (10) further includes a transfer tube (26) having a first end (28) and a second end (30). The transfer tube (26) is provided with a carrier gas flowing therethrough, which is preferably continuous. The carrier gas is provided by a carrier gas tube (32), which is connected to the first end (28) of the transfer tube (26) via a nozzle (34). The nozzle (34) is arranged and adapted so that the carrier gas is injected into the front end of the well (24) and that the carrier gas flows through the transfer tube (26) from its first end (28) to its second end (30). The nozzle (34) preferably has a flare-shaped portion (38) for abutting on the support (22) when the piston (36) inserts the transfer tube (26) within each well (24). Preferably, the carrier gas is preheated in a gas heater (39) so that its temperature is controlled. The carrier gas may also include a reactive gas for promoting the ionization of the desorbed sample.
The transfer tube (26) is preferably provided with means for sequentially conveying the desorbed samples towards the ionizing means. Preferably, and as shown in
It should be noted that the means for sequentially conveying the desorbed samples (42) from the support (22) to the ionizing means, could take another form readily adapted by someone skilled in the art. The transfer tube (26) may comprise a plurality of entrances for the desorbed samples (42) to enter, and one common exit at the second end (30). Such entrances (not shown) would be open or closed according to which sample holder (29) is being heated. There could also be more than one transfer tube involved in conveying the desorbed sample to be ionized. The piston (36) could also be replaced by other driving means for sequentially driving the transfer tube (26) into the wells (24) of the support (22). These driving means may for example include motors, solenoids, combinations thereof or any other appropriate mechanism apt to move the transfer tube.
Likewise, other embodiments of transfer means could be readily implemented by a skilled worker.
In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in
Referring to
Referring again to
Preferably, the ionized samples exit the outlet orifice (50) and are led to a mass analyser such as a mass spectrometer (not shown). Moreover, the coupling of the LDTD apparatus to different mass spectrometers requires a minimum of mechanical modifications. However, ionized samples could possibly also be brought to other apparatuses or additional processes including ion reactions or other ion analyses.
It is also preferable to regulate the temperature of certain elements of the apparatus (10). In particular, the temperature of the laser diode array (12), the carrier gas and the transfer tube (26) are important parameters for the ionization method. A Peltier element (18) is used for controlling the temperature of the laser diode array (12). The laser diode array (12) is viewed as one unit, which is preferably maintained at a constant temperature by controlling the heat exchange. A gas heater (39) can be used for regulating the temperature of the carrier gas. The transfer tube may be heated or cooled in accordance with process parameters through any appropriate technique as well known in the art.
The elements of the apparatus (10) according to the preferred embodiment shown in
In another preferred embodiment, the ionizing needle (44) is controlled and triggered by the mass spectrometer (MS) or by the control box (52). This is shown in
The control system can also be envisaged to control other peripheral devices and elements that could be added to the apparatus. Notably, in reference to
Thus, the electronic control box (52) controls the diode current feedback loop, the diode temperature feedback loop (the Peltier element), the communications management, the ionization needle feedback loop, the UV source, the gas temperatures, the peripheral functions like the loader and protections such as high temperatures, diode current trip, opening of the box (52) during operation and also the presence of the support (22). The electronic control box is driven by the adapted software.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a method for generating ionized samples. This method includes the following steps:
For each source sample the following steps are then carried out:
Preferably, the steps described here above are conducted under atmospheric pressure conditions. Nevertheless, other pressure levels could be used for any one or all of the steps, by someone skilled in the art adapting the apparatus to suit vacuum or pressurized operating conditions. Such a modification could be due to a specific sample or analyte to be ionized, or other specific process conditions.
The electronic control system preferably controls the timing and other variables (temperature, pressure, gas flows, etc.) of the ionization. The ionisation source is controlled by software that allows the selection of various parameters such as the appropriate current and temperature of the laser diode array. It also allows the determination of the support position, the pre-desorption delay, the desorption delay and the post-desorption delay. Note here that the timing of the pre-desorption and post-desorption delays, as well as other desired delays, are predetermined by the operator. In particular, the post-desorption delay enables ionization and detection by the mass spectrometer to occur before the piston (36) is retracted. Preferably, the parameters (sequence and position of the samples) are imported from the mass spectrometer software in order to synchronize the data acquisition with the laser desorption. This allows the sequencing of a serial execution and therefore ensures repeatability and rapidity of analyses and minimizes the operator's intervention.
In summary, the LDTD apparatus and method manage to reduce desorption duration and thus increase analysis performance. A major breakthrough concerns reducing the desorption duration of the sample to about one second, which is 60 times faster than the usual techniques used in liquid chromatography. A second breakthrough is the absence of solvent (liquid phase or matrix) that allows the direct injection of the sample in its gaseous phase, preferably into the inlet orifice of a mass spectrometer. Such direct injection at an optimal distance increases the sensitivity of the mass spectrometer by a factor of approximately 20 relative to other standard techniques. The LDTD enables the efficient generation of ionized samples and is particularly advantageous for generating ionized analytes for mass spectrometry. Less sample material can be used for high-quality results and the loaded source samples are easily prepared. Thus the processing time and results quality are improved by the current invention.
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,480,549 | Sep 2004 | CA | national |
