Patent ID: 7696475
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. An electrospray-assisted laser desorption ionization device adapted for use in a mass spectrometer which includes a receiving unit disposed to admit therein ionized analytes that are derived from a sample, and that are to be analyzed by the mass spectrometer, said electrospray-assisted laser desorption ionization device comprising: an electrospray unit including a reservoir for accommodating a liquid electrospray medium, and a nozzle which is disposed downstream of said reservoir, and which is configured to sequentially form liquid drops of said electrospray medium thereat, said nozzle being adapted to be spaced apart from the receiving unit in a longitudinal direction so as to define a traveling path; a voltage supplying member disposed to establish between said nozzle and the receiving unit a potential difference which is of an intensity such that the liquid drops are laden with a plurality of charges, and such that the liquid drops are forced to leave said nozzle as multiple-charged ones for heading toward the receiving unit along the traveling path; and a laser desorption unit adapted to irradiate the sample such that, upon irradiation, at least one of the analytes contained in the sample is desorbed to fly along a flying path which intersects the traveling path so as to enable said at least one of the analytes to be occluded in the multiple-charged liquid drops, and such that as a result of dwindling in size of the multiple-charged liquid drops when approaching the receiving unit along the traveling path, charges of the liquid drops will pass on to said at least one of the analytes occluded therein to form a corresponding one of the ionized analytes.