(19)
(11) EP 1 746 631 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
25.02.2009 Bulletin 2009/09

(43) Date of publication A2:
24.01.2007 Bulletin 2007/04

(21) Application number: 06117211.0

(22) Date of filing: 14.07.2006
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
H01J 49/16(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR MK RS

(30) Priority: 20.07.2005 GB 0514843
23.09.2005 GB 0519439

(71) Applicant: Microsaic Systems Limited
Woking, Surrey GU21 5BX (GB)

(72) Inventor:
  • Syms, Richard
    London W13 9UQ (GB)

(74) Representative: Moore, Barry et al
Hanna Moore & Curley 13 Lower Lad Lane
Dublin 2
Dublin 2 (IE)

   


(54) Microengineered nanospray electrode system


(57) This invention provides a method of aligning a nanospray capillary needle (107), a set of electrodes (111), and a capillary input to a mass spectrometer (106). The electrode system is formed using microengineering technologies, as an assembly of two separate chips. Each chip is formed on an insulating plastic substrate. The first chip carries mechanical alignment features (110) for the capillary electrospray needle and the API mass spectrometer input, together with a set of partial electrodes. The second chip carries a set of partial electrodes. The complete electrode system is formed when the chips are assembled in a stacked configuration, and consists of an einzel lens capable of initiating a Taylor cone and separating ions from neutrals by focusing.







Search report